6 of the best neighborhoods in Philadelphia

Philadelphia is the home of Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence and Constitution were signed.

Did you know that it is more? The largest urban park in the nation is located there. Philadelphia's vibrant and distinctive neighborhoods are one of the best ways to learn about the city. On your next visit to the City of Brotherly Love, here are six of the best things to see.

Brewerytown is the place to buy specialty foods

Provisions are available for a picnic in the park.

The Northwest of Center City is best known for its century-old brew history and is also a great place to shop for lunch after a visit to the Museum of Art or the Philadelphia Zoo. Pay a visit to Heather Thomason's snout-to-tail butchery, for a sandwich of house-made Mortadella and other Italian specialties, and pick up provisions from local businesses like chocolate or ice cream sandwiches.

Spot Burger is one of the best cheesesteaks in town and you can get a few beers from their selection. You can find yourself the perfect picnic spot at the 9200-acre park. If one of the rowing clubs is going to have a regatta, Glendinning Rock Garden is a top option.

Fishtown is the best place for beer lovers

You can explore the city's beer scene.

One of Philadelphia's most vibrant neighborhoods is Fishtown, which is home to a robust craft beer scene. Visitors can tour the facility to learn about the history and process of the brewery before sampling two beers.

You can find a seat in the courtyard at Evil Genius and order one of the inventive beers, like a chocolate peanut butter Porter or a guavaIPA. Tired Hands has a city outpost called St. Oners that serves up a fresh selection of beers.

East Passyunk is great for foodies

Take a tour of the neighborhood's best restaurants.

One slanted street leads to the South Philly neighborhood of East Passyunk. One of the city's best bagels can be found at Vanilya, which is a few blocks south. Sausage rolls, shepherd's pie, and fish and chips can be found at Stargazy.

The distillery makes a cocktail with small batches of Whiskey. For dinner, book a table in the garden at regional Italian restaurant Le Virtu, or at Laurel for chef Nicholas Elmi's tasting menu featuring seasonal ingredients. Chris D'Emilio uses fresh ingredients and his grandmother's recipe to make water ice at his store.

Old City is packed with beautiful stores

Souvenirs can be obtained here.

Philadelphia's Old City is the historical center. You can look at Betsy Ross's flag or the crack in the Liberty Bell to understand American democracy. It is a shopping haven as well. You can find a great selection of Japanese stationery and home accessories at Omoi Zakka. At Cuttalossa and Parisa you can find Turkish textiles and Persian rugs.

There is chocolate that has been made for 150 years in the store. Plan to visit Art in the Age more often. Shop for spirits, barware, and all the ingredients to mix up your own great version at home after visiting the handsome little bar in the back.

University City has lots of history and artwork

Here, you can find cultural highlights that are under the radar.

The University of Pennsylvania is one of the higher learning institutions located here. College bars and pizza joints aren't the only places to go. There are galleries at the Penn Museum that show artifacts from Africa, Central America, and beyond.

There are sculptures by world-famous artists on Penn's campus. The entrance to College Green is located on the corner of 34th andWalnut Streets. Taiwanese shaved ice and small-batch popsicles can be found at Ice Cave. If you want to stay nearby, you can book a room at the Cornerstone Bed and Breakfast.

The North Broad neighborhood is experiencing a rebirth

You can see public art on the streets.

Since the reopening of the Met Philly, the North Broad neighborhood has been experiencing a bit of a renaissance. There are a lot of big-name performers here.

You can book a table at a restaurant on Broad Street before the show. Cicala has southern Italian cuisine like homemade pasta with angus and linn with mussels. Osteria is a great place to sample more of the city's best Italian food. The neighborhood has a lot of public art, with the 55ft North Poles lining Broad Street from Hamilton Street to Glenwood Avenue.