Philly Is More Than Cheesesteaks

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is a bustling city with over six million residents. It has an urban feel Downtown with noticably one of the most tattooed populations in the United States. There's a healthy mix of nationalities with diverse neighborhoods to explore extending out to Germantown and Chinatown with Latin barrios and Italian influences along the way.

An English Quaker founded the city in 1682 and Philadelphia made history when the Declaration of Independence was signed there in 1776. The architecture and museums reflect that rich history all over Philly.

Colleges and universities have made Philadelphia a top place to study and the cuisine has evolved to much more than cheesesteaks. While sampling the cheesesteaks around town, I found Jim's Steaks to be the best. Arrive early before the lines grow long and no saving seats as the place fills up quick so think of it like a game of musical chairs.

The dining scene is as diverse as the city is with new restaurant openings such as Angelo's Pizza and the Korean-fusion Crunchik'n in the Midtown Village area. Cadence on Girard Avenue was outstanding and the assembly of food is captivating to watch in the open kitchen.

Take a bird's eye view of your surroundings by heading up the One Liberty Observation Deck. The sheer amount of museums can be overwhelming, but one of my favorites was the National Liberty Museum. The LGBT portion upstairs may move tourists to tears and the gallery of a 21-foot Flame of Liberty is begging for Instagram pictures. The Barnes Foundation is a must see spot to take classic art from Pablo Picasso and Vincent van Gogh.

The Franklin Institute has lots for the kids and the Marvel Universe of Super Heroes temporary exhibit is not to be missed. It closes September 11 and even has my buddy Chris Evans' Captain America shield on display.

The Kimpton Hotel Palomar Philadelphia is a good place to hang your hat and is located in the middle of the downtown area on South 17th Street. The customer service at the front desk was extremely helpful. They directed me to the gay bar Woody's where I felt right at home. The locals were friendly and ready for a good time downstairs with dancing upstairs if that's your style. More dancing can be found at Voyeur Nightclub that will run down the runway until the break of dawn.

Other points of interest include the Philadelphia Zoo and I even tried a ghost tour that was more silly than scary. Make sure to drop by Philadelphia's Magic Gardens with thousands of glittering mirrors, see as many building murals as you can, give the Rocky statue a high five and visit the Liberty Bell up close before you leave.

Philadelphia has much to see and do, so head over to VisitPhilly.com for more suggestions and start planning a trip today!