Five Philadelphia must-visits

Philadelphia's Reading Terminal Market is the oldest farmers' market in the USA. Photo / Creative Commons image by Flickr user ecv5

Founded in 1682, Philadelphia served as the US capital for a decade while DC was built. Here are six places you should visit when you're in this historic city.

Tasty treats

Here's some food for thought ... more than six million people visit Philadelphia's Reading Terminal Market, the nation's oldest farmers' market. The indoor foodie paradise boasts everything from local produce to artisan cheeses and desserts. Three of the 80 merchants are descendants of the original stand-holders when the market started in 1892.

Hands-on

If you're travelling with littlies, they can handle exhibits at the Please Touch Museum, where children are encouraged to learn through active touching and doing. There are two floors of interactive exhibit zones plus a restored 100-year-old carousel. Kids seven years and younger can play shop in the grocery store, climb on a bus or repair the car in the roadside display ...

Liberty Bell

Philadelphia is history. Founded in 1682 by William Penn, it served as the US capital for a decade while DC was built. Tourists visit Independence National Historical Park to see the Liberty Bell that summoned Philadelphia's citizens for a public reading of the Declaration in 1776. The bell's backdrop is Independence Hall which many Americans consider to be the birthplace of the United States.

Shop for rocks

The area bounded by Walnut, Chestnut, Seventh and Eighth streets includes the US' second-biggest concentration of diamond-sellers (after Manhattan's West 47th St). As well as the rocks, there are watches, gold jewellery and plenty other bling.

Captive attention

The highlight for many visitors to the Eastern State Penitentiary (which closed in the 1970s) is the cell of Al Capone, which the mob boss filled with fine furniture, oriental rugs and a radio. The Quaker-inspired prison opened in 1829 and sought to reform prisoners using isolation and reflection rather than capital punishment and physical abuse.

Stay for the play

Sport is ingrained in the city culture, especially for fans of the baseball icons Philadelphia Phillies. If you love sport, time your visit to catch a Phillies game at Citizens Bank Park.