Philadelphia is chock full of its tourist cliches and must-sees. Cheesesteaks, colonial sightseeing, and the Rocky statue are all Philly staples, but at Jean Madeline Aveda Institute, we absolutely love our city during the holidays.
The City of Brotherly Love gets a little bit more brotherly, the scenery gets a lot more spectacular, and there's a TON to do, even on the chillier days of the year. That's why we've put together the ultimate guide to Philly during the holidays, right here in our blog.
Powder or no powder, Philly turns into somewhat of a winter wonderland after Thanksgiving hits! This is definitely the low-hanging-fruit of Philly winter attractions, but we'd be remiss if we didn't tell you to check out Christmas Village at LOVE Park.
Decor, events, and incredible food abound with 2017's German themed set-up. Best of all, it's open until Christmas Eve, so you've got plenty of time to get down there.
Another must-see this winter is the Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest at Penn's Landing. The waterfront is always a great spot, but come Thanksgiving, the game changes. The attraction features a full-size ice skating rink, Christmas lights galore, fire pits, activities and more. It makes for a perfect date night, family outing, or just a nice little escape from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Got a sweet tooth? You're right, that's a stupid question. We'll just send you right to Termini Bros Bakery. Any time of year we love the cannolis and authentic Italian rum cake, but pizzelles are a Christmas time tradition!
If you're heading to the Reading Terminal Market location, you may as well just stick around for awhile. There's a ton of great eats there on any given day, and plenty of yummy seasonal munchies this time of year.
You can also take a ride on the Hanukkah side by checking out Latkepalooza over on Broad Street. The potato pancakes (like most other seasonal Jewish food) are absolutely to die for, and the event is part of the quintessential multiculturalism of Philadelphia.
It's no secret that the winter holidays have a lot of religious influence. Not everyone celebrates that way, but Philadelphia has a slew of beautiful churches and cathedrals that have a variety of services (like Christmas Eve mass at Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul), holiday events, and more that are simply beautiful.
To put the cherry on top, Philly's got some amazing shopping. King of Prussia Mall, one of the larger malls in the country, is only half an hour away, but you don't have to leave the city to find plenty of awesome spots to swipe the little plastic card.
Philly is great this time of year when it comes to pop up markets, seasonal shopping vendors, and more. Any of the events mentioned above are sure to have great local vendors with a wide array of awesome gift options, but make sure to check out the Holiday Market at Dilworth Park too!
For something a little less novelty and a little more retail-y (can I speak to a manager, please?) University City, where Jean Madeline happens to have a campus location, is packed with great retailers. You can also head over to the Macy's in Center City for a peep at one of the coolest buildings in the city AND some of the best holiday shopping around.
Did we miss any of your favorite winter Philly spots? Let us know in the comments!
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