Frommer's on foot in Philly

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The tour of the house is short, but there's a large garden to explore. Directly opposite the house, you'll find the Mulberry Market, an upscale deli with seating in the rear.

Continue west on Arch Street until you find 3rd Street. At the corner of 3rd Street, turn north (toward the Ben Franklin Bridge) to reach the:

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9. Old City galleries and shops

This block of N. 3rd Street has some of the coolest Old City furniture, crafts, and art you can find. I love Foster's Urban Homeware at no. 124, and the OLC lighting store at no. 152.

Cross 3rd Street to the Hoop Skirt Factory at 309-313 Arch St., dating from 1875, and the charming Loxley Court just beyond, designed by carpenter Benjamin Loxley in 1741. (It stayed within the family until 1901.) On the south side of Arch Street is the:

10. Arch Street Meeting House

This is the largest Quaker meetinghouse in America, a simple 1805 structure with a substantial history.

Walk west on Arch Street and make a right when you reach 4th Street. Walk north on 4th Street to no. 151, the:

11. Old First Reformed Church

Built in 1837 for a sect of German Protestants, the building survived a stint as a paint warehouse in the late 19th century. The church functions as a small and always full youth hostel during July and August.

Continuing on 4th Street and crossing under the gloomy piers of the Benjamin Franklin Bridge, you'll see 235 N. 4th St., the:

12. Old St. George's Methodist Church

This was the cradle of American Methodism and the scene of fanatic religious revival meetings in the early 1770s.

Cross to the other side of 4th Street, below Vine, to find:

13. St. Augustine's Roman Catholic Church

This is another 18th-century building. This one was built for German and Irish Catholics who couldn't get to St. Joseph's, south of Market Street, because of muddy streets. Villanova University, and the Augustinian presence in the United States, started here. The building actually only dates from 1844; the original burned down during anti-Catholic riots.

Now, keep walking west along the bridge to 5th Street, then head south along:

14. Independence Mall

Independence Mall is a swath of urban renewal that has recently been graced with the new Independence Visitor Center, beautiful landscaping, and a new home for the Liberty Bell.

Walk over to the area between Market Street and Arch Street to visit the:

15. Independence Visitor Center

For a general rest stop, tickets to chief Independence National Historical Park sights, and information about the city and region, this facility is superb.

Walk 1 block north to:

16. National Constitution Center

At the upper end of the Mall (Florist St.) is the bicycle and pedestrian entrance to the Benjamin Franklin Bridge; cycling or walking across the bridge makes for a thrilling but time-consuming expedition.

Continuing on, head down 5th Street, stopping at the:

17. U.S. Mint

Of the three mints in the country (the others are in Denver and San Francisco), Philadelphia's is the oldest and the largest. (Note that with security concerns the Mint is generally closed to walk-up traffic; see our review for operational hours.)

Just south of the Mint, on Arch Street, is:

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