With history around every corner β and probably next door to a cheese steak place β you won't need to spend a lot of Benjamins for a great trip to the City of Brotherly Love.
Philadelphia boasts free tours of many of its most famous places and plenty of other ways to have fun without emptying your wallet.
Historic places: The city's most famous historic locations β Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell β are right next door to each other, and free.
At Independence Hall, see the Spartan room where more than a decade of frustration with the British monarchy resulted in the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, and a young democracy struggling for direction drafted the Constitution in the summer of 1787.
Just across the street, visit the Liberty Bell, which once hung in the tower of Independence Hall and later became a symbol of the abolitionist movement in the 1830s. The bell toured the country as an anti-slavery icon before its crack expanded while ringing for Washington's 114th birthday in 1846. It hasn't rung since, but more than 2 million people a year visit the bell in a new visitors center opened in 2003.
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Just across the green expanse of Independence Mall is the National Constitution Center, a sparkling new interactive history museum dedicated to the nation's birth. It's a bargain for history buffs at $12.
Philadelphia's historic district also includes Congress Hall, where the legislative branch met until 1800, and the United States Mint. Both are free to tour. The home of Philadelphia's most famous seamstress, Betsy Ross, is a few blocks away. Admission is $3 or $5 for the audio tour.
Arts and culture: The sprawling Philadelphia Museum of Art is home to a permanent collection of more than 300,000 pieces ranging from Asian art to Colonial furniture. General admission is $14; pay what you wish on Sundays.
As always, a run up the museum's front steps like Rocky β or a breathtaking view of the Schuylkill River and its colorful boathouses from the back steps β is free.
More sights: Philadelphia's City Hall, one of the world's largest municipal buildings, offers spectacular views of the city from its 500-foot-high observation deck for $5.
Dining: The cheese steak is the city's most famous sandwich, and there are plenty of places to get a good one. Pat's and Geno's are the two big rivals, standing on opposite corners in South Philadelphia's Italian Market area, where the cheese steak got its start. But Jim's on South Street β the "hippest street in town," as the song goes β as well as Tony Luke's and John's Roast Pork are local favorites. You don't need a map or an address; just ask a local.
Beer: If you're looking for a Yuengling β Philly's favorite brew β pop in to virtually any happy hour in the city. Order a $2 "lager." You'll get a Yuengling.
Monk's Belgian Cafe (264 S. 16th St.) offers a dizzying array of beers, domestic and imported, and delicious food. The french fries ($4.50) with bourbon mayonnaise are worth the trip alone.
For local flavor, the Standard Tap (901 N. Second St.) offers brews from nearby Dogfish Head, Victory, Flying Fish and Philadelphia Brewing Co.
Getting around: Subways, trolleys and buses are all $2 per ride. The best way to hit the highlights is the Phlash bus, which is $2 per ride or $5 to ride all day. It loops through the historic district and up through the city's museums with 21 stops and connections to mass transit. The Phlash bus runs May through November.
More online
• Official Visitor Site for Greater Philadelphia: www.gophila.com
• City Pass: www.citypass.com/city/ philadelphia.html
• Philly Fun Guide: www. phillyfunguide.com
• Philly Half Off: www. phillyhalfoff.com