Danny and I lived here, in Old City, for 3 years. It’s been 10 years since we’ve been back and over the course of the last decade, I’ve been wanting to return to the city as tourists.

The City of Brotherly Duck!

As mentioned in previous posts, Danny and I love to take the hop-on hop-off bus no matter how dorky this is. We grabbed a couple of seats on the top level not knowing that the bus is the exact height of every tree in the city. We spent the 90 minute tour ducking under branches and even street signs. It was our guide’s first day on the job but I’m only sort of exaggerating when I tell you he was nearly beheaded by the Fairmount Avenue sign. Look, I’m not saying I don’t recommend this experience but what I am saying is to be ready to fight for your life. I literally left the tour with twigs in my hair.

It Was Cracked When We Got Here

We booked a timed entry and paid a buck each in exchange for a fact-filled 20 minute guided tour of two of the main rooms in Independence Hall, the very structure where the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were discussed and decided. The rooms are mostly staged with replicas, save George Washington’s Rising Sun Armchair, which he utilized pretty much every day for three months. The Pennsylvania Coat of Arms painting is also an original and one of the only artifacts that was actually in Independence Hall nearly 250 years ago. After years in storage and much in need of cleaning and preservation, the painting was returned to the courtroom wall just in time for this year’s 4th of July. Just outside you can see the plaques in the sidewalk marking where Abraham Lincoln and JFK stood and spoke, respectively.

The Liberty Bell is displayed behind glass across the street. It’s free, no tickets required but I recommend getting there early. I was delighted to learn that it rang for the first time on July 8, 1776. Exactly 206 years later, I was born.

A Humble Abode

The Museum of the American Revolution is an educational, family friendly affair with a wealth of interactive exhibits. The main event is George Washington’s war tent. Gather into a small theater to watch a dramatic, informative 12 minute short. Handed down from generation to generation, the Washington estate carefully preserved the tent through the Civil War when it was sold to raise funds for a charity. At some point it was purchased by a wealthy physician with a vision of displaying it in a museum dedicated to the American Revolution. This dream came to fruition in 2017. The film builds up the intensity, so that when (whoosh!) the curtain goes up and there are you, staring at his tent (his actual one!) you’re in a state of semi-disbelief. Until a few minutes go by and you realize you’re a room with a group of strangers, in silence, staring at a tent. It’s probably not quite what you’d expect, it’s less REI and a little more Ringling Bros. Photography was strictly prohibited, so I drew you a picture.

Yo Adrian!

In 1976, Sylvester Stallone famously ran up 72 stone steps to the entrance of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. I’ll never forget a 2009 radio station appearance wherein Danny led a large group of listeners donned in boxing robes up the famous Rocky Steps while I rode around in the street team’s car blasting “Eye of the Tiger” and “Gonna Fly Now” lol. The bronze statue of the Italian Stallion, I don’t mean Danny, is located at the bottom of the stairs, ready to pose with tourists.

Philadelphia is seeping with overwhelming amounts of history. Every corner, building, block of cobblestone has a story. The Society Hill neighborhood is one of the largest concentrations of 18th- and 19th-century houses in America. Walk these residential streets of gorgeous brick row homes and you’ll see proud homeowners displaying names and professions of early residents. Many of these same homes have medallions of 18th century fire insurance still affixed to their homes. It is said that the fire department would let your house burn to the ground unless one of these fire marks was displayed.

The Philadelphia Art Museum is 80,000 square feet filled with 240,000 items ranging from American, European, and Asian art to furniture, glasswork and quilts. You would need at least several days to cover it all. We had one day so we made a beeline for the rockstar section featuring the works of Picasso, Renoir, Matisse, Degas, Cézanne, Monet, Manet, Toulouse-Lautrec, Munch, and Danny’s doppelgänger van Gogh. We saw them all. Another favorite section housed early American relics like a teapot made by Paul Revere, George Washington’s flatware, and Abe Lincoln’s slop jar, which I thought was a receptacle for table scraps but let’s just say I was wrong. The Museum is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, so it’s important to plan accordingly.

“Imagination Is More Important Than Knowledge” - Albert Einstein

The Mütter Museum at the College of Physicians is for two types of people: Those with a genuine interest in science. And weirdos. But so many stories! It’s one of two places in the world where you can view pieces of Einstein’s brain, which for a time was stored in a jar underneath a beer cooler. (Honest!) One of the first sights is a wall of 139 skulls with placards detailing the country of origin, age, and cause of death of each individual. The Museum houses a vast array of conjoined specimens, most famously a cast of brothers Chang and Eng Bunker. The duo toured in “freak shows” for a time before marrying sisters and fathering 21 children. Just some of the curiosities on display include a gallery of 40 diseased eyeballs meeting your gaze, bed bugs extracted from a patient’s ear, a severely damaged coal lung, and a book bound with human skin. Out of respect for the deceased, no photos allowed. I’m not going to draw any pictures here, you’ll just have to use your imagination. Or not.

In Philadelphia, Born and Raised

It’s a rite of passage for any Bonaduce, married or born in, to make the pilgrimage to Birchrunville, PA. An hour northwest of Philadelphia situated amongst picturesque rolling hills, lies an historic circa 1863 schoolhouse. Purchased and converted to a family home by Danny’s parents in 1953, Danny lived here for his first 4 years before the Bonaduces relocated to Los Angeles. Approaching the schoolhouse, Danny shared that the brick walkway was placed there by his father. The structure is currently an office space occupied by a kind group of CPAs who allowed us to wander around inside.

Although not your typical summer vacation destination, Philadelphia is a beautiful city with great food, friendly people and was the location for the beginning of our great country. It also happens to be the location of the some of the early stages of mine and Danny’s relationship, and the roots of the Bonaduce family. Whoever said you can’t go home again clearly wasn’t from Philadelphia.

Amy & Danny’s Favorite Restaurants in Philadelphia

Pizzeria Stella - Neapolitan Pizza, the Tartufo is our fave

When it comes to cheesesteaks it’s all about Campo’s or Sonny’s

Zahav - Best hummus and laffa bread I’ve ever had

Monk’s - Belgian fare with an awesome beer selection

Amada - best authentic Spanish cuisine stateside

Yi Pin in Chinatown where I discovered tea smoked duck

have you spent time in philly?

Comment below to tell us all about your favorite experiences there!

Philly On The Fourth