A Rocky start running into the historic heart of Philadelphia
IT was while racing my son up the Philadelphia Museum of Art steps made famous by Rocky star Sylvester Stallone that I had a flashback to our very recent arrival in the history-steeped American city.
Approaching Philly on a Greyhound bus, I lost count of the number of giant roadside billboards advertising personal injury lawyers. My favourite proclaimed the services of ‘Philadelphia’s Brightest (and Baldest) Lawyers’. In a concrete jungle of competitors, that one stood out.
In a city renowned for some pretty famous legislation, I wondered what Benjamin Franklin and co would have made of it? In 1776, the Founding Fathers signed the Declaration of Independence in Independence Hall here and, just 11 years later, it’s where the framework for the U.S. Constitution was hammered out. The city was, for a period, the nation’s capital and there’s a sense of that everywhere you go.
America loves an underdog story and so I channelled the Rocky Balboa training montage sequence in my head after challenging my son to a race up those famous steps. As I saw him stumble just ahead of me on those Rocky Steps, I wondered whether the bald lawyers would cash in if he fell and hurt himself? And, more importantly, could I gain competitive advantage from his slip? Watch the next video to find out…
The 72-step run was a cheesy but fun and essential item on the Philly bucket list, alongside - of course - a snapshot next to the Rocky statue at the bottom. We were far from alone in succumbing to the cheesy homage and the film connection has inspired a regular Rocky Run, which I would love to return for. A gaggle of schoolchildren followed in our footsteps, squeals of laughter as they raced to the top. Could the Highlands benefit even more from connections with famous movies?
A brilliant overview of the city is offered from the Loews Philadelphia Hotel, an architectural landmark, and one of the city’s first skyscrapers, right in the centre. We opted to walk to it straight off the Greyhound. Hoofing it under the warm Pennsylvanian sun gave us an instant orientation lesson as we passed through Chinatown, my wife tempted by some delicious dumplings which tasted all the better after our journey.
From our hotel room windows we enjoyed a jaw-dropping view out across the city and were able to pick out some of the landmarks we planned visiting. I’d highly recommend staying here for this bird’s-eye perspective and its incredibly convenient location, which made our plan of walking everywhere a logistic no-brainer. Those 30,000-plus step days also justified treating ourselves to a dinner at the excellent in-house Bank & Bourbon restaurant.
Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau is a good starting point to bone up on this World Heritage City - one that will be a FIFA World Cup host in 2026.
The 133-year-old Reading Terminal Market, another local landmark, was just steps away from the hotel. A trusted source for fresh produce, seafood, meats and cheese housing around 75 local businesses, it’s foodie heaven. I picked up the best cup of coffee I found during our wee United States jaunt there and also got my first taste of the Philly cheesesteak, beyond doubt the city’s most famous food. I remembered a Philly native now based on the Black Isle telling me about these years ago and let’s just say they did not disappoint.
While it doesn’t make a sound, the Liberty Bell’s message rings loud and clear: “Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof.” This inscription is one reason it became a symbol to abolitionists, suffragists and other freedom-seekers throughout history.
And as with Independence Hall, it’s impossible not to feel the hand of history on your shoulder as you wander this area and think of those who blazed a trail that would forever change the course of this nation.
Guided tours of the UNESCO World Heritage Site are available.
The Benjamin Franklin Parkway, modelled after the Avenue des Champs-Élysées in Paris, is dubbed Philadelphia’s most artistic mile.
Important cultural institutions housed here include the Barnes Foundation, The Franklin Institute, The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University and, of course, the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
The city rewards a good long wander on foot, revealing all manner of interesting nooks and crannies, amongst them the Delaware River waterfront, now a buzzy hub.
Remember to keep looking up every so often and you’ll see bold murals which are part of a trail that actually started in response to graffiti. Now the self-proclaimed mural capital of the world’, Philadelphia has turned a challenge into an opportunity which has been seized boldly.
It made me think of Invergordon’s own mural trail, another great idea which, like many others, started with the seed of an idea, a vision and great determination to make it happen come what may. As a first time visitor to the city, that was part of the overall Philadelphia vibe. It’s a city which takes great pride in its storied past yet is clearly not content to rest on its laurels as it looks to the future. The City of Brotherly Love welcomed us with open arms and left us with many reasons to want to return again some day.
Fact file
Loews Hotel, 1200 Market Street, Philadelphia, 19107. www.loewshotels.com/philadelphia-hotel
The Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau, which has its own website, is also a great place to mine more information.
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