By Arts & Culture Editor Joan Kirschner
After roughly 15 months back in Philadelphia, the city of my birth and teens (I lived elsewhere throughout my adult life), I’ve settled in to enjoy a different lifestyle than my ten years in Boston’s suburbs. I am a car free urbanite again, exploring what’s new and rediscovering the familiar, on foot and via public transportation.
My final “real” job ended at the close of 2025. Adapting to that new reality, adjusting my self-perspective, then dealing with the time-sucking unemployment bureaucracy was daunting, mentally and emotionally.
Now I’m free, and being back feels good. My time falls roughly into three buckets: I’ve bumped up my reading and reviewing a wide range of books, along with attending book-related events; second is self-care, including aqua fitness; and third participating and volunteering locally for AARP’s The Ethel, the all-women’s subset of the organization offering social activities in person and online.
Let me suggest a visit to Philadelphia, including some musts and lesser-known attractions. Though it’s a large city with many outlying neighborhoods, most visitors focus on its easy-to-navigate grid. It’s a walker’s paradise supplemented with plentiful public transportation. If you are 65 or over, bring your driver’s license to SEPTA’s transportation office at 1234 Market Street, and get a senior citizen transit card on the spot – then ride FREE anywhere in the city and suburbs, including the Airport train line that goes right to the terminals.
Most significant historical sites are clustered in and near Old City, a lively neighborhood of former factories converted to loft apartments and condos, plus unique small shops and eateries.
Close by are Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, Constitution Center, and Museum of the American Revolution, just to name a few. Adjacent is Society Hill, a leafy and elegant district of restored mostly Colonial-era townhouses.
The major museums are the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Barnes Collection, the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, and the Penn Museum. The Franklin Institute specializes in science. For something more avant garde, explore the mosaic installations of the Magic Gardens. See an unparalleled collection of rare books and manuscripts at the Rosenbach. The Fabric Workshop and Museum explores the textile arts. In Chestnut Hill, in the Northwest, reachable by public transportation, the Woodmere Museum is devoted to Philadelphia artists. The Grill at the Chestnut Hill Hotel is just one lunch option; afterwards check out the upscale shops along upper Germantown Avenue.
Back in Center City, no Philadelphia visit is complete without breakfast or lunch in the bustling Reading Terminal Market. Find every kind of ethnic food, Philly cheesesteaks (we like Gus’s) and hoagies, an oyster bar, fresh-made Amish doughnuts, and Bassett’s ice cream, the market’s oldest vendor (since 1892). Tip: weekend lunchtime draws crowds, so come early to explore, choose from the roughly 80 vendors, and find a seat!
After you’ve braved the market, head to Rittenhouse Square, a small, elegant park that’s great for people watching, and is surrounded by fine shops, restaurants, and hotels.
Have more time? Fishtown is a young, trendy gentrified neighborhood north of Center City with hot restaurants and bars; the Italian Market in South Philadelphia has traditional food vendors, small cafés and restaurants, mostly Italian, but also Mexican and Asian. Philadelphia also has a multi-block Chinatown, near the Reading Terminal Market.
One of Philadelphia’s best traditions is the expansive Flower Show, held annually in early March, just when you’ve had enough winter. Tip: attend as early as possible, while the displays are freshest.
My hometown is a great long weekend or full week’s destination from Boston. One final tip: plan way ahead and scout Amtrak for its remarkable bargain fares, which generally involve early morning or late evening departures. Be sure to also claim the senior discount. Happy trails!
Joan Kirschner is a freelance writer and editor who reviews books, museum exhibitions, theater, film, music, and travel experiences. Her commentary previously appeared on SonsiWoman.com, UllaPopken.com, WomenofGloucesterCounty.com, Trazzler.com, and IndieReader.com. She attributes a lifelong love of reading and cultural events to parents who encouraged those interests early on. Joan started out in retail copywriting, describing just about everything that was once sold in department stores, leading to a 45-year career in advertising and communications. She also taught adult ESL and finalized her formal work life with governmental work in grants administration. Joan is a reviewer at Reader Views and focuses on books on her blog, No Shortage of Words. She can also be found on Substack at Musings at Random