If I could only use one word to describe the city of Philadelphia. I know exactly what I’d choose:

 

Surprising.

 

Really, almost everything I’d heard about Philly — aside from endless word about the deliciousness of its cheese steaks — alluded to its roughness.

Its edge.

Its subtly induced reputation for hard knocks and downed luck and overbearing, relentless strife.

From the obvious overtones of Bruce Springsteen’s “Streets of Philadelphia” to Will Smith’s epic fight on the basketball court during the opening credits of The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, the city was advertised as lonely and dangerous. With its gritty undertones of dreary streets and gray skies serving as cinematic backdrops for the trials of Sylvester Stallone and Tom Hanks in Rocky and Philadelphia, the city was portrayed bleak and hopeless.

Because of these things, Philadelphia just sat, dusty and neglected in the back of my mind, as this place I’d probably never care to see.

But then?

But then I saw it.

I really saw it.

I saw its richness in history, art, museums, green space, food, and culture.

And suddenly, I felt very, very misinformed.

I only had one day to explore, but now I know this: Philadelphia, I will be back.

Just giving you a heads-up.