Books & Cooks (Weekends)
Philadelphia, USA
Culture shock rating
Worried we’re going to shock your senses? Relax! We believe part of the fun of travel is immersing yourself in the destination and its culture, meeting the people, and learning what makes the place tick. We’ve got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The cultural shock rating ranks how different the experience is from most Western cultures. But no matter the level, don’t worry, you’ll have a local, in-the-know guide with you every step of the way.
Low
Consider these tours your 101 intro to a place. Transportation might be private or a very comfortable public option, and the activities are usually visits to iconic sites and locations that are familiar to most Western cultures – but that will still give you fantastic insight into a destination.
Medium
Expect to rough it for parts of this tour, whether that’s on a packed public bus or in a local market off the tourist trail. There might be a few language barriers or unfamiliar cultural customs, and you’ll get an experience different from what you're used to at home.
High
You're out there in the global community! We’re going to take you down streets you’d rarely explore on your own, introduce you to local customs and languages, and take you for a ride in whatever transport is available. Get ready to take it as it comes, whatever comes. There might be a shock, but oh man, it’s worth it.
Physical rating
Worried our tours are too tough? Relax! From leisurely strolls to muscle-burning treks, we’ve got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The physical grading gives you an idea of how much huffing and puffing you can expect on the tour.
Low
Slow and steady is all you need here. These tours have very limited physical activity, such as walking relatively flat streets, sites, or markets, and climbing in and out of the transport provided.
Medium
Not too hard, not too soft, these tours are just right! You can expect a bit of physical activity, but nothing overly challenging – perhaps walking up and down hills, riding a bike for up to 30 kilometers along mostly flat terrain, or jumping in a kayak for a gentle paddle on flat water.
High
Get ready for a workout! These tours are our most challenging and involve intense walking, hiking, kayaking, swimming, or bike riding. You could be making steep climbs by foot or pedal, or working your core in the water. We recommend you have a good level of fitness to join this tour.
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Tour snapshot
Combine street food and brain food on this Philadelphia tour that takes in the hallowed halls of academia, the glory of the grand terminal, the worship of college basketball, and the fun of food trucking!
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Highlights
- Satisfy your mind and body by visiting some of Philadelphia's universities as well as the city's best food trucks!
- Stroll through Philly's campuses and marvel at their beauty and history
- Discover Philly's food trucks and indulge in the city's best street food
- Take a peek into some of the most iconic college sports venues
- Meander through a neighbourhood filled with Victorian architecture
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Schedule details
- Duration: 3 Hours
- Meeting point:
Inside 30th Street Station, near the center of the station next to the WWII Memorial
- Starting time: 10.00 AM
- Ending point:
Clark Park or Baltimore Ave. Trolley Station
Language: English
Inclusions: Local English-speaking guide, trolley token.
Exclusions: Food or snacks from the food trucks, tips and gratuities for your guide.
Get a healthy dose of nutrition for you body and brain on this Philadelphia city tour that takes you through the city's iconic university campuses and finds Philly food trucks along the way. If only school lessons were like this, right?!
Your Philadelphia tour begins at the city's largest transport hub, 30th Street Station, where you'll get a glimpse of the fine architecture inside the grand terminal, and you'll be in the centre of the action for all the of transport passing through Philadelphia. Once you've met your local guide, we'll leave the station and take a walk towards our first stop.
We'll quickly reach Drexel University, where we'll pop into one of their new green quads and stop at their gorgeous Main Building, the first building that existed on this campus. We'll continue our walk past one of the city's most famous music venues, and underneath the highline where the trains pass by high above us - a thrilling experience to say the least!
Next on this Philadelphia city tour enter Penn Park, which has one of the best spots to catch a view of the stunning Philly skyline. Next up we have a great stop for sports lovers as we pass by some of the most legendary college sports venues in the USA - you might even get to see inside one of them and into the museum. If you're a fan of basketball, you won't want to miss this!
From there we head to to the heart of Penn's campus, the very first public university in the USA. We'll take you past the architectural wonder that is the library, as well as the home of the very first Student Union in the USA, and a spot that is definitely in the running for most beautiful college campus in the country!
From there, we continue deeper into the neighborhood. We walk past Woodlands Cemetery, one of the city's most historic burial grounds, through University of the Sciences, then into a residential neighborhood with some beautiful Victorian architecture.
We then arrive at Clark Park, where you may well find some food trucks! You'll get your pick of the finest street food around and have a chance to rest your legs while tucking into some delicious Phildelphia food. From the park, we finish this Philadelphia food tour tour with a view of Baltimore Avenue's restaurants, cafes, shops, and markets, where you can happily reflect on all that you've seen.
To finish up, we'll arrive at the trolley stop and your local guide will provide a token for each person, which is valid for one ride in the city. This street trolley ride is a unique experience and you'll have the option to ride back to 30th Street Station or continue into the city centre. If you need a hand in finding your way back to your accommodation, your guide will be more than happy to point you in the right direction.
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Additional information
Inclusions: Local English-speaking guide, trolley token.
Exclusions: Food or snacks from the food trucks, tips and gratuities for your guide.
Your Trip: For your Urban Adventure you will be in a small group of a maximum of 12 people
Confirmation of booking: Please contact Philadelphia Urban Adventures to confirm your tour 24 hours prior to departure.
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Local contact
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