Philadelphia may conjure images of Rocky, the Liberty Bell, and cheesesteaks. But if you’ve been to the City of Brotherly Love and only have a short time in town, skip the main attractions and experience the little things that locals love, like craft beer and coffee, inventive food trucks, beautiful bike paths, and street art.
oM photographer and longtime Philly traveler Emily Frances shares snapshots of some of the best offbeat places to check out next time you’re in the neighborhood.
1. Cucina Zapata: This Thai/Mexican fusion truck located on Drexel University’s campus, (only a short walk from 30th St. Station, Megabus, and Bolt Bus stops), turns out some tasty dishes, including the Cap’n Crunch crusted tilapia burrito, satay chicken, and short rib tacos. Cucina Zapata is only open Monday-Friday and will close once their food is out. Prepare for a bit of a line, and bring cash.
2. Mural Arts Tour: You’ll find beautiful hand painted murals scattered throughout Philadelphia. Mural Arts Tours provides a variety of guided excursions by bus, bike and foot that tell fascinating stories of the artists behind the walls.
3. Yards Brewing Company: If you like beer, Yards is a must-stop on your visit to Philly. On weekends, the brewery offers free tours to the public.
4. Biking Philly: Those looking for an easy bike ride should rent a cruiser from Wheel Fun and roll down four-mile Kelly Drive along the Schuylkill River. More advanced cyclists would do well to pick up wheels at Fairmount Bikes before heading towards South Street, Northern Liberties or the Delaware River Path. If you’d like to avoid a bustling urban environment, stick to the pathways and bike lanes like those on Spruce and Pine Streets.
5. Grace Tavern: Tourists will easily miss this little bar, but you won’t. Enjoy a diverse and delicious tap list, good jambalaya, and a fun local scene.
6. Elixr Coffee: Fuel a day of sightseeing with a cup of Joe from Elixr Coffee. Every year, the Center City location commissions six mural installations to create unique artwork on the café walls.
Consult oM’s transit guide from NYC to Philly. Here are more of our favorite things to do in Philly.
Photos: Top shot of Shepard Fairey artwork by Steve Weinik. All others by Emily Frances
Sarah Knapp is a Brooklyn based entrepreneur whose love for the outdoors and community building led her to the October 2013 creation of OutdoorFest. She has a BA in History, is a Wilderness First Responder and a NY state hiking, camp and boating guide. Her proudest achievement to date is reading the Aeneid in Latin. 
Allison was one of our first top writers and Chief Editor but is no longer working with offMetro. Allison is a native New Yorker, who has lived in Rome, Tuscany, Melbourne, Toronto and Los Angeles. She frequently contributed travel pieces to Family Travel Forum, using her own children as guinea pigs as they travel the globe. She never missed a chance to sample local delicacies, as her love for travel goes hand-in-hand with her love for food and wine. 
Josh Laskin is a freelance travel writer and photographer based in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. When he is not at work or on the road, you can find him in the mountains snowboarding, climbing, hiking, fly fishing, mountain biking, and eating bagel bites.
Annie is a travel writer, environmentalist, and surfer based in Venice, CA. She heads up our West Coast team, keeps our grammatical errors in check, and makes sure our California writers always have a plan for their next adventure. Follow Annie’s travels @annelisemcb.
Carly Pifer is a freelance writer who has been known to follow whims inspired by romantic movie scenes or colorful street style shots to India, Japan, Tunisia and Argentina. After stints living in Seoul, Boston, Paris and Los Angeles, writing and searching for something intangible, she landed somewhat steadily in Brooklyn and has begun to find inspiration in her more immediate surroundings. 
Kate E. O’Hara is a New York based freelance writer and photographer who loves all things food—especially the people who make it and market it. Her writing aims to capture the essence of the food experience; the stories that go well beyond a plate of ingredients. In addition to her love of food, Kate is also known to have a hankering for red wine and craft beer. You can also find Kate on Instagram