What to do in Philadelphia
To be honest, Philly has never been on my radar as a ‘must visit’ place. The only reason we were lucky enough to visit this incredible city was because we wanted to visit my unlce, and let me tell you, I was definitely taken by surprise when we got there!
Getting there
To get to this wonderful city, we took a train from New York (Moynihan Train Hall at Penn Station) to Philadelphia (William H Gray III 30th St. Station). The tickets cost $19 USD each, and in one hour and twenty minutes were stepping foot into the beautiful, 1920s style train station in Philly.
Accomodation
We stayed with my uncle, well and truley in the outer suburbs of Philly, which was not too convenient for exploring the city. If I could recommend an area to stay in, I would suggest staying in the area pictured below. As we were told, the far North and far South of the city can be a little dodgy, so its safest to stay in the middle (that is where you want to be anyway!).
Museums, Galleries and Historical Sites
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Philadelphia Museum of Art, also famous for the steps that Rocky trained on, is a huge building and the crown jewell of the city. We got to go there during the night for a special Halloween celebration, and I can now say from experience that those steps are not easy to see in the dark!
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The Rodin museum is another stunning place that is worth a visit. Of course it is home to one of the world’s most famous statues - “the Thinker”. This museum is really tiny, so you can reserve it for a day when you might be feeling lower on energy. We had to find out the hard way, but the museum is only open Friday to Sunday.
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The Liberty Bell is a really significant symbol in the history of America, particularly for marginalised groups. The exhibit is free, but it tugs on the heart strings because you get to see the role this bell played for women during the suffragete movement as well as its’ original significance in the bid to abolish slavery in America.
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This was one of the coolest buildings in Philly…not gonna lie, I let out multiple gasps at this 167m tall building. Philadelphia City Hall is not only a stunning display of civil engineering and architechture, it was also a significant place for government and legal proceedings.
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Logan Square was such a beautiful little park that we stumbled upon by complete accident. I was mesmerised by the beautiful sculpures in the fountain and the greeny surrounding it. This is a great place to visit when strolling around the city.
Reading Terminal Market
When the name “Cappadocia” translates to “The land of beautiful horses”, how can you not experience a horse ride through the valleys at dusk?!
This experience was affordable, lasted for 2 hours and was great fun! I don’t think experience with horses is necessary, however you do have to have a cool demeanour because horses can feel when you start to freak out… We were led by guides at the front, the back and the sides of the group, and made our way through the scenic golden landscape on horseback.
Tips: wear a sports bra, pants and enclosed shoes.
Hike on the Appalacian Mountain trail
If you are not afraid of heights (or are trying to conquer the fear), this is an absolutely incredible activity to tick off your bucket list. I booked the experience through Turquaz Balloons, for $300 AUD - which included pick up from hotel, breakfast and drop off. A 4.15am start was quite a shock to the system, but it really is worth the sleep depravation!
To see the experience, watch my vlog on Tik Tok or read a more in-depth blog here.
Pay a visit to Longwood Gardens
This Turkish cooking class was an absolute treat, and I couldn’t reccommend it more, whether you are in a big group, a couple, or travelling solo!
We were picked up from our accommodation in a horse drawn buggy and taken to King’s Valley, where local women taught us how to make traditional Turkish dishes. Once the food was ready, we had a sit down meal, including desserts and Turkish coffee.
The whole experience took around 6 hours, and is a great activity to immerse yourself in the local culture.
Where to eat
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King’s Coffee is a great little spot for breakfast or lunch. Here you can try a variety of delicious food and drinks, including Salep - a traditional hot and milky drink.
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Mozaik is located in the heart of Goreme and is a great spot for dinner and a stroll around the local markets.
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Seten was one of my favourite restaraunts in Cappadocia. We came here for a couple of lunches and dinners, so I would HIGHLY reccommend to try this place.
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Haruna offers delicious food and cocktails. They have a great rooftop for sunset drinks and a nice interior.
NBA Game at Wells Fargo Center
Although we visited Cappadocia towards the end of summer, the temperature still rose to about 32-35 degrees celscius during the day. Because of this, I found two beautiful spots to hang out and swim by the pool, the first one being Local Cave House Hotel (who did charge us €15 to go in) and Aza Cave Hotel, which we could enter due to staying in Koza Cave.