Why Philly is the Most Underrated City in America

As the season’s change and fall turns to winter, there’s no place in the U.S. more beautiful than the east coast, which is why we chose to stay close to home and venture to Philadelphia for our end-of-the-year stateside trip.

2017 was of significant importance as we marked two years since launching East Coast Contessas – and what a life-changing two years it’s been! In 2017 alone, we traveled to eight countries (including our holiday trip to Portugal and Spain) and partnered with hundreds of consumer and hospitality brands.

One of these early partnerships was with VisitPhilly.com, the official visitor website for Philadelphia travel and tourism.

To celebrate our two-year milestone, we set off in search of fried cheesesteaks, ice cold beer (Philly’s first business was a brewery!), and all of the historical knowledge we could get our hands on.

LODGING

For accommodation, we were hosted by Sonesta Rittenhouse Square, a modern and sleek hotel just steps from Philadelphia’s most historic sites – literally. In fact, one step out of the main lobby onto Market Street provides breathtaking views of Philadelphia City Hall to their right, while charming Rittenhouse Square is a two-block walk ahead.

As soon as we arrived, valet managed our car and bags while we checked in (check in is at 4 p.m. and check-out is at noon each day). We were escorted to our 340-square foot deluxe two queen guest room – one of 439 spacious, redesigned rooms and suites in the hotel featuring all the comforts and amenities of the perfect home-away-from-home.

The three of us had more than enough room to lounge, shower, do our hair and makeup in the spacious bathroom before going out, and eat the occasional night time snack while watching the -inch flatscreen.

 

Each of these deluxe rooms has been recently re-designed and upgraded to include complimentary wireless internet service, plenty of electrical outlets both near the desk and beds, and stylishly modern furnishings. While it was too cold for us to venture onto the roof, visitors who book a stay in the summer will even be able to take advantage of their rooftop pool. (We didn’t see the rooftop, but the view of the city from our room was amazing).

Before we left the hotel to begin our Philly beer and history tour (we’ll get to this later down the post), we paid a visit to the Sonesta’s ArtBar where we sampled some creative cocktails – or “liquid art” as the bartenders referred to it – and watched people hurry past on the busy sidewalks outside.

Artbar, which is located in the hotel’s main lobby alongside Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, offers small plates in a fresh and open-aired venue with happy hour specials from 5 to 7 p.m. every day. Visitors who wish to stay close by will find both comfort and convenience here.

To book a stay at Sonesta Rittenhouse Square for a quick business trip, a romantic getaway, family vacation or weekend escape, visit their website to view the latest packages and exclusives for AAA members and government employees, or call 215-561-7500.

Pro tip: Because the hotel is downtown, street parking is not an option. There is a parking garage attached to the hotel which is valet only and quite expensive ($40 a day).

DINING

Filled with some of the nation’s most sought-after cuisines, Philly is a town fit for foodies. Known for the infamous “Philly cheesesteak” sub, we were certain there had to be more to the city’s culinary scene, so we set out to find it.

For breakfast, we walked a few short blocks to Rittenhouse Square, the original home of Federal Donuts, also known as chef Mike Solomonov’s haven of crisp fried chicken wings and sandwiches, decadent doughnuts, and rich, flavorful coffee.

This isn’t a typical dough-shop, however. All the goods are fried up and fancy-fied right in front of patrons as they wait in line so they come out hot and fresh. And when they run out of a particular item? That’s it for the day, folks.

Featuring donuts with seasonal glazes and toppings (and a few regular appearances), the menu also offers a variety of fried chicken in both meal and sandwich form. For us, it was easy to choose what we wanted as soon as we walked in: one of everything.

 

To give our breakfast the perfect sweet-to-savory ratio, we ordered a signature fried-chicken sandwich with buttermilk ranch seasoning, American Cheese, dill pickle and spicy rooster sauce neatly placed on a toasted Martin’s potato roll. If ranch and cheddar don’t do the trick, Federal offers additional seasonings such as chili garlic, sweet soy garlic, and honey ginger.

Federal Donuts is open every day from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. or until sell out, and the fried chicken starts flowing at 11 a.m. until sell out (but pre-orders are available). Check their online menu for current seasonal flavors!

Brunch

To help soak up the fried goodness consumed at Federal Donuts, we made a visit to Tattooed Mom (TM) for some upscale bar grub and creatively cool cocktails. Centrally located on Philly’s South Street, Tattooed Mom has been offering laid-back lunch, dinner, late night snacks, and locally sourced draft beers for 20 years.

TM’s is anything but an ordinary bar. Adorned with 80’s-themed velvet chairs, floral couches, and tables filled with costume jewelry and temporary tattoos – it’s a trip back in time.

 

We met with TM’s owner, Robert Perry, who walked us through the creation of the menu and the hidden passageways that encompass the restaurant, literally. Prior to sinking our teeth into brunch, Robert gave us a behind-the-scenes tour of the upstairs bar, which resembled a scene straight out of Stranger Things.

We already knew Philly was the king of cheesesteaks, but TM takes the concept to an entirely new level with their “Chubby Changa” wrap. Fried cheesesteak slices, smashed tater tots, a fried egg, mushrooms, onions, and sriracha ketchup in a flaky, crispy shell are not of this world.

Another perk of TM’s that we can’t go without mentioning, is the restaurant’s love for our veggie-only friends. Sure, burger aficionados from far and wide can get their hands on a juicy meat patty, but the vegan burger (pictured below) gives the red meat a run for its money.

To wash down all the fried goodness, the bartenders whipped up some of their most popular cocktails including the “Tiki Kitty (which comes in a cat tiki mug),” the “Pop Rocket” (with, you guessed it, pop rocks),” and the Manana De Los Muertos (the perfect brunch cocktail featuring a generous ratio of coffee).

 

To find out more about any of the items we included above, visit Tattooed Mom’s at 530 South Street, or give them a call at 215-238-9880. Don’t forget to wish them a Happy Birthday as they celebrated their 20th recently!

Oshii Poke

On third stop on our foodie tour was to Philly’s Chinatown neighborhood for some fresh and innovative cuisine from our friends at Oishii Poke.

A poke bowl, a food trend you have probably seen clogging up your Instagram feed, is a Hawaiian dish that takes raw fish (or sometimes chicken!) and mixes it in with rice and all the toppings and sauces you can think of.

 

Oishii Poke lets you customize your poke bowl–or a poke burrito or a poke salad –with everything from chicken to eel.  You can then mix and match 26 different toppings and sauces to make your perfect bowl. Think of it as if Sweet Green made sushi.

 

Kuriimii SoftServe
For dessert, we crossed the street to Kuriimii Soft Serve to try some of the most Instagram-able ice cream we have ever seen at east coast contessas. The brightly-lit ice cream shop, which played the perfect mix of K-pop and ’00s music in the background, offers basic flavors like Strawberry and Vanilla and some more adventurous tastes like Charcoal and Green Tea.
While we got to sample them all, we got large orders of the Strawberry, Charcoal, and Taro flavors, topping them with cinnamon toast crunch, fruity pebbles, marshmallows, and sprinkles (we also had to talk ourselves down from adding gold flakes. Yes, GOLD FLAKES).

ACTIVITIES

Everyone knows that Philly’s history is unparalleled (don’t tell our friends in D.C. we said that), but we were in the mood for something a bit different. 

Philly Urban Adventures offers up some of the cities most popular boozy tours, including “Philly on Tap,” a two-hour tour that led us through the city’s legendary beer scene with numerous tastings at pubs and microbreweries throughout downtown.

We made a toast in Philadelphia’s oldest (and most festive) pub, McGillin’s Old Ale House, built in 1860, and sampled craft brews at an Irish pub with local flair, and a modern beer café where we picked what we wanted out of refrigerators by the bottle.

 

At each location, our tour guide talked about the history of the bar, why they are so popular, and why locals crave a unique and authentic setting to enjoy food and drinks with friends, family, and co-workers.

At the end of the tour, we were each served two appetizers to pair with our brew or cocktail of choice and stayed long after our tour guide was gone to chat and mingle with those in our group.

Not only is it an effective way to meet fellow travelers and new friends, but it’s great exercise and provides a new outlook on city life in Philly, especially after the sun goes down.

To book a tour with Philly Urban Adventures, visit (website) or call. Pro tip: wear comfortable walking shoes and a light jacket as it can get relatively cool in the evenings. Also, grab a small snack before the start of the tour – trust us!

Eastern State Penitentiary

The next morning after checking out of the Sonesta, we entered one final destination into the GPS: Eastern State Penitentiary.

Once the most famous and expensive prison in the world – and a Philly staple – the eerily beautiful architecture of Philly’s Eastern State Penitentiary (ESP) now stands as a shell full of mystery, untold stories, and haunting history.

The world’s first true “penitentiary,” ESP now serves as a raw reminder of the way things once were during the age of the American Revolution and the birth of prison design and reform.

In its hay day, ESP was truly a masterpiece of its time. Its high-vaulted, skylit ceilings gave prisoners a rare glimpse of light, which designers thought would encourage spiritual reflection and change.

While the prison ultimately shut down in 1971 after 142 years, thousands of visitors pass through what remains of the cells, hallways, and underground passageways one frequented by former inmates such as Al Capone. Thrill-seekers from far-and-wide also make a trip to the haunt to experience “Terror Behind the Walls,” the prison’s infamous annual Halloween experience.

To purchase tickets for guided or self-guided tours of ESP, click here.

CONCLUSION

No matter the season, Philly has something for every family and everyone. If you’re looking for convenient accommodation close to a majority of the city’s main attractions, click on the link to the Sonesta Rittenhouse Square provided above, and if you happen to stop in to visit any of our partners mentioned above, don’t forget to tell them the East Coast Contessas sent you.

 

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1. @lodgecastiron Museum + @sopitt_bigbadbreakfast. Located in the heart of cast iron’s hometown of South Pittsburg, Tennessee, this museum is a must for those who love cooking, history, food culture, and very large skillets! After the museum, grab brunch at Big Bad Breakfast (the chicken + waffles and cornbread omelet are 😍)
2. @rembrandtscoffeehouse. This cozy European style cafe serves unique coffee drinks and teas, fresh-baked breads, breakfast sandwiches, and beautiful pastries. Try a raspberry vanilla iced brew with an Egg + cheese biscuit sammy ♥️
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#VisitChatt #ChattanoogaTN #Chattanooga #tnvacation • Southeast USA • Visit the USA • USA roadtrip • summer road trip •
5 𝙋𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙚𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙤𝙤𝙜𝙖, 𝙏𝙚𝙣𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙚: 𝙋𝙖𝙧𝙩 2!

If I learned anything during my recent trip to @visitchatt, it’s that there’s so much more to the city than meets the eye. It’s home to some of the most popular attractions in the US, sure, but it also boasts plenty of hidden gems and unique local experiences. Add these 5 locations to your Chattanooga itinerary (you won’t regret it!):

- Tennessee Aquarium @tennesseeaquarium. Home to more than 12,000 animals representing close to 800 species, it features two sections (Ocean and River) and is one of the largest aquariums in the U.S.
- 1885 Grill @1885grillstelmo. This southern coastal restaurant specializes in fresh seafood, high quality steaks, and comforting soul food. Order their wings with Carolina Gold BBQ!
- Rock City Gardens @seerockcity. Located on Lookout Mountain, Rock City Gardens features a 4,100-foot Enchanted Trail with incredible rock formations, magical caves, native plant species, waterfalls, and a panoramic view of Seven States!
- Massey’s Kitchen @masseyskitchenlookout. This Mediterranean inspired restaurant just opened in June and is Chattanooga’s new hot spot. The food is incredible and their outdoor patio is perfect for dining al fresco. Order the baked feta 🤤
- The Read House Hotel @readhousehotel. This historic jazz era hotel from the 1870’s has hosted famous people including Oprah, Winston Churchill, Walt Disney, and Elvis Presley. It’s even rumored to have a permanent guest — a ghost in room 311!

Keep an eye out for Part 3 and let me know which location you would visit first! 🇺🇸 {ad} #hosted
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#VisitChatt #VisitChattanooga #Chattanoooga #ChattanoogaTN #onlyinTennessee #tennesseeaquarium #tnvacation • southeast U.S. • U.S. road trip • visit the U.S. • United States travel •
If you’re looking for the perfect end of summer U.S. vacation destination, Chattanooga, Tennessee is it. @visitchatt 🇺🇸 

I recently spent a few days exploring this lively town for the first time, and unsurprisingly found so much to love about it. If you’re planning a trip to the U.S. soon — or you live here and want to explore more of your own backyard — you won’t regret putting it on your travel bucket list. 

To help you plan, below are 5 things not to miss when in The Scenic City: 

📍Ruby Falls (@rubyfallscave) Millions of years old but discovered in 1928, it’s the largest underground waterfall in the U.S., and is located more than 1,120 feet under the surface. 
📍Wildflower Tea Shop & Apothecary (@wildflowerteashop) This whimsical vegan-friendly coffee and tea shop stocks a wide variety of loose leaf teas and herbs and other locally made products. I recommend getting the Iced Chocolate Chai with oat milk for a cold treat!
📍Lookout Mountain Incline Railway (@ridetheincline) With a 72.7% grade, it’s one of the steepest passenger railways in the world. The ride is well worth it with stunning views of Lookout Mountain from the top!
📍Frazier Five and Dime (@frazierfiveanddime) Anything you order at this North Shore eatery will be 10/10, but I especially loved the street corn with hot Funyuns and the cheesy cauliflower au gratin 🤤
📍Walnut Street Bridge. With a 1/2-mile span, it’s one of the longest pedestrian bridges in the world and provides amazing view of the riverfront. 

Which location would you visit first? Let me know in the comments below, and stay tuned for parts 2 + 3! 
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#VisitChatt #VisitChattanooga #chattanoogatn #chattanoogatennessee #onlyintennessee (AD) *hosted* • USA Travel • USA Explores • summer travel • visit the USA •
Welcome to one of the most underrated southern cities in the U.S.: @visitchatt! 

While most travelers flock to Music City year after year, just a couple hours drive southeast you’ll find a true gem hidden in the lively city of Chattanooga, Tennessee. 

Here’s some fun facts about the “The Scenic City”:

✧ MoonPies were invented here! These graham cracker marshmallow sandwiches are covered entirely in melted chocolate and are so delicious.

✧ It’s home to the Incline Railway, one of the steepest passenger railway lines in the world!

✧ Chattanooga boasts one of the largest collections of American art in the country at the Hunter Museum. 

✧ One of the world's longest pedestrian bridges can also be found in Chattanooga.

I’ll be sharing more from my time in @visitchatt, and you can also see what I experienced there by clicking on my Chattanooga highlight badge above.

Have you visited Chattanooga yet? 
📍: Chattanooga Choo Choo 
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#VisitChatt #VisitChattanooga #Chattanooga #chattanoogatennessee | southern cities | summer travel | summer road trips | visit the USA |
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Enjoy a beach close to the city or take a boat to the nearby islands (Rosario, Playa Blanca, or Isla Grande). Some resorts even offer private beach experiences such as the Beach Club at @dreamsresorts Karibana Cartagena. 

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Cartagena • Colombia travel • Cartagena de Indias • South America • summer vacation •
Food and travel are intertwined. Almost any memorable journey starts (and ends) with a great meal, and my trip to Cartagena was no exception 🇨🇴 

Cartagena has just about any type of cuisine a traveler could want or imagine. From local delicacies to unique international fare, during our stay at @dreamsresorts Karibana Cartagena, we were able to taste foods from all over the world at each of their five on-site restaurants. From the freshest local seafood to freshly baked pastries, it was an amazing experience!

Everything we ate was absolutely delicious, but my favorites are below:

• Fried fish (pescado frito)
• Caramelized banana pancakes
• Torta de Tres leches
• Coconut rice
• Coconut fish soup (sancocho de pescado con coco)
• Colombian style arepas (with quesito Colombiano)
• Guava and cheese pastries (Pastel Gloria)
• Oyster au Gratin
• Seafood risotto with truffle smoke
• Pasta alla Ruota (pasta in a cheese wheel)
• Copoazú ice cream (white chocolate)
• Chicken pasteles
• Colombian empanadas 

Which of these would you try first? 🍲🍤🍮🥥🦪🥭

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