Flavors of Philly Tour
You might not know there is a proper technique to ordering a Philly cheesesteak, but you can learn the preferred etiquette on the Philadelphia City Food Tours’ Flavors of Philly Tour. Recommended for first-time visitors to Philadelphia, the tour uses all the senses to teach participants about the cuisine, culture and history of Philadelphia.
Guests will savor classic Philly concoctions such as cheesesteaks, cheese wiz fries, tomato pies, soft pretzels and two sweet treats from the Reading Terminal Market.
“The Reading Terminal Market is truly the melting pot of Philadelphia,” said Ferguson. “You can see the office worker, the conventioneer and everyone else under the sun. You won’t see any McDonald’s or chain restaurants in the building — only regional vendors.”
Guides looking to infuse humor and history into the food tour tell fascinating stories about each dish and relate their own personal Philadelphia food experiences. Participants sample cuisine from five unpretentious local gems, including a mom-and-pop pizzeria and a soft-pretzel bakery.
As the local eateries lie in Philadelphia’s historic district, guides can point out fascinating architectural structures such as the City Hall and other favorites while moving from one eatery to the next.
For palates seeking more particular fare, the company also offers a Decadent Gourmet Tour, an Ethnic Eats Tour and a Craft Beer and Artisanal Cheese Tasting.
Philly by Night
Tours stream through Philadelphia’s beloved historic sites by day, but fewer visitors take in the city’s nightly spectacle. The Philly by Night tour reveals the starry loveliness of the city with an extension of the Big Bus tour from Philadelphia Trolley Works.
“The tour works because Philadelphia is a beautiful city by night,” said Ferguson. “There is a Georgian period feel to the urban center that you can really see when it’s all lit up.”
Groups sit on the open-air upper deck of the bus for 360-degree views of Philadelphia’s most notable attractions. The city keeps all of the major cultural institutions, historic buildings and statues lit up for a glowing evening display.
The bus rides past historic highlights such as Penn’s Landing, Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, Chinatown, the Avenue of the Arts and the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The tour can appeal to groups with both first-time visitors to the city and travelers who have been here before. The excursion covers the same route as the typical bus tour but with a completely different look and feel.
Passengers can hop off the bus at various stops around the city to drink in the stunning luminosity of Philadelphia at night.
