MY FAVORITE HISTORIC SITES

Rob is putting together a walking guide for old city (you'll get that when you get here), so basic information on those sites will all be covered. These are my personal favorite sites.

1. Eastern State Penitentiary, 22nd and Fairmount in the Fairmount section of the city (http://www.easternstate.org/): This is the earliest penitentiary in the city and it by far my favorite historic site in the country. It is in a ruin state and creepy as all. Steve Buschemi narrates the audio tour. It is super.

2. The Philadelphia Museum of Art, Benjamin Franklin Parkway (http://www.philamuseum.org/): The building is gorgeous, the view from the front is beautiful, and the collection is pretty great. Definitely worth a visit.

3. Boathouse Row and the Waterworks, on the eastern banks of the Schuylkill River just north of the PMA (http://www.fairmountpark.org/Rowing.asp). This is part of the Fairmount Park system, which is the largest urban park in the world. The park has dozens of historic houses, hundreds of sculptures and public art, and several thousand acres. Boathouse Row and the Waterworks is arguably the most lovely section of the park. The Waterworks Museum is really interesting and admission is on a voluntary basis -- it is all about how we get our water. Here is a link to an interactive map of the park: http://citymaps.phila.gov/ParksAndRec/cmFairmountParkMap.aspx?ADDRESS=KELLY+DR+%26+LEMON+HILL+DR&PX=2686309.60588735&PY=242312.900673455

4. Rittenhouse Square on a Nice Day: If it is nice out, Rittenhouse Square is beautiful and it makes for some of the best people watching you can find.

5. Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, Broad and Arch, just north of City Hall (http://www.pafa.org/Museum/Research-Archives/The-Buildings/Landmark-Building/63/): This is probably my favorite building in the city, designed by Frank Furness. It was restored to all of its Victorian-Hoo-Ha grandeur about 10 years ago and it is really beautiful. But, I'm sort of a building nerd.

6. The Basillica of Saints Peter and Paul, On the Parkway at 18th Street (just north of Logan Circle) (http://www.sspeterpaulcathedral.catholicweb.com/). If you want to go to mass on Sunday, this would be the place to do it. Gorgeous. Stunning.