5 Lesser-Known Philly Attractions To Explore
Independence Hall, LOVE Park, the Reading Terminal Market, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art regularly top the list of iconic sites associated with Philadelphia. While these venues are popular tourist…
Independence Hall, LOVE Park, the Reading Terminal Market, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art regularly top the list of iconic sites associated with Philadelphia. While these venues are popular tourist destinations, there's much more to experience in Philadelphia. Explore the following five lesser-known Philly attractions, as identified by the editors of the website Islands.
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Philadelphia's Magic Gardens
Philadelphia's Magic Gardens on South Street presents an immersive mosaic environment by Isaiah Zagar. The gardens, indoor-outdoor spaces, and hidden basement mosaics. A 10 a.m. Morning Magic tour is more exclusive, as the public isn't allowed in until 11 a.m. The Guided Site tour lets you see the mosaicked basement that isn't open to the public.
Shoe Museum
The Shoe Museum at Temple University's School of Podiatric Medicine features about 1,000 shoes. You can see footwear worn by a range of celebrities, such as first lady Mamie Eisenhower, Lucille Ball, and basketball legend Julius "Dr. J" Erving, who played for the Philadelphia 76ers. You can also view examples of shoes from around the world and from different time periods, including sandals from Egypt that are over 2,000 years old, and shoes from the Mummers.
The museum is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday to Friday. You can explore the exhibits through a self-guided tour.
Shofuso Japanese Cultural Center
The Shofuso Japanese Cultural Center in Fairmount Park is a seasonal site featuring a 17th-century guesthouse, teahouse, gardens, koi ponds, and murals. Admission, on a timed-entry system, offers guests access to traditional programs and exciting discoveries.
Wagner Free Institute of Science
The Wagner Free Institute of Science is a free natural history museum dating back to the 1850s. It houses more than 100,000 specimens in a Victorian-style display. The institute is open Tuesday to Friday and seasonally on the first Saturday of the month. Be sure to check the institute's website for opening dates.
Wyck Historic House, Garden, and Farm
The Wyck Historic House, Garden, and Farm in Germantown dates to the 1690s. It showcases a colonial-era house, historic rose gardens, and seasonal tours, plus annual events such as a roses celebration.
From Thursday to Saturday, visitors can drop in for a tour between 12:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., or you can make an appointment for a Tuesday or Wednesday tour. This site is closed from late November through early April.
