Street Food for Thought
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 spots, and the fun of food trucking!
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Highlights
- Experience the best of Philly’s street food in the city’s University City neighborhood
- Get to know two of Philly’s major universities through their unique, eclectic, and tasty food trucks
- Discover Drexel University’s historic architecture with a local to tell you all about it
- Visit the University of Pennsylvania’s iconic sports venues, impressive libraries, and picturesque campus
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Schedule details
- Duration: 2.5 Hours
- Meeting point:
Inside 30th Street Station, near the center of the station next to the WWII Memorial.
- Find the exact meeting point with what3words:
- Starting time: 11.00 AM
- Ending point:
40th St. Trolley Station - The traveler will be able to ride the trolley (token provided) back to 30th St. or continue into Center City.
Language: English
Inclusions: Local English speaking guide, food from three food trucks, trolley token.
Exclusions: Additional food and drink beyond what is included, items of a personal nature, tips and gratuities for your guide.
Feed your mind as well as your belly on this Philadelphia city tour that bypasses the usual Philadelphia tourist spots and sends you back to school on the university campuses. Don't worry, there won't be an exam at the end - there'll be food trucks instead!
Your Philadelphia tour begins at Philadelphia's largest transportation hub, 30th St. Station. You'll get a glimpse of the fine architecture inside the grand terminal, and be in the midst of the busy intersection of trains, buses, subways, and trolleys. We leave the station on foot and begin the journey down Market Street and the neighborhood's research core.
Before we make it very far, we’ll stop for a taste of the Caribbean or we'll keep it local, at our first group of food trucks. It’s a bit of a hidden gem here, and you’ll be amazed at the quantity and quality of food being produced here.
Just down the road we'll reach Drexel University, where we'll head down one of their new green quads and into the beautiful Main Building, the very first building on Drexel's campus. You'll meander down the hill past World Cafe Live and underneath the highline as trains are passing high above (don't panic, that's not quite as scary as it sounds!).
From here on this Philadelphia tour we enter Penn Park, a brand new green space with spectacular views of the Philly skyline. After soaking up this incredible panorama, your tour continues over the train tracks and passes by some of the most iconic college sports venues in the country - Franklin Field and the Palestra. Sports fans, this is the real deal and you won't want to miss it! If you’re lucky, you may even have the chance to see inside the famous Palestra and their wonderful college basketball museum.
We’ll reach our second group of food trucks just in front of Franklin Field, and the variety here is pretty impressive. You’ll also get to experience this chaotic and wonderful food scene during the heart of lunch – a truly local experience!
From there we head to the heart of Penn's campus, the very first public university in the United States. We'll take you inside Fisher Library, an architectural masterpiece by Frank Furness. We'll walk by College Hall, Penn's first building on the campus, and go inside Houston Hall, home of America's first Student Union. From there we walk up Locust Walk, arguably the most beautiful city campus setting in the country. We all know that Philadelphia is a city rich in US history, but with a local to guide you through these historical campuses you get a behind the scenes look into what college may have been like over 100 years ago.
From there, we end up on Spruce Street, where there are dozens of food trucks all in a row. Here, you’ll be treated to something sweet at our final food truck spot of the tour. This is one of the best spots for food trucks in Philly, and in our opinion, a Philadelphia food tour wouldn't be complete without stopping here!
Finally, we walk through more of the campus and and if time allows a hidden nature preserve and pond. When we arrive at the trolley stop, your guide will provide a token for each person, which is valid for a ride on the trolley. This street trolley ride is a unique experience and you'll definitely feel like a Philadelphia local once you've taken a trip on it! From this point, you'll have the option to ride back to 30th St. or continue into the city center. If you want some tips on more things to do in Philadelphia that day, just ask your local guide!
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Additional information
Inclusions: Local English speaking guide, food from three food trucks, trolley token.
Exclusions: Additional food and drink beyond what is included, items of a personal nature, 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: If you have your voucher, your booking is confirmed. We'll see you at the start point. Get in touch if you have any concerns or require more information via the email address or phone number (business hours only) on your voucher.
Closure of sites: Please note that Fisher Library will have restricted access during finals period.
Child Policy: This is a child-friendly tour. Children between the ages of 6 and 11 inclusively are permitted on this tour. Children younger than 6 are permitted at no extra cost, but please make sure you inform our guides of this before you take the tour.
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Local contact
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