Rocky’s Legendary Philadelphia Weekend

Night 1

Having fun and living like a legend – that’s what this weekend is all about, right? Don’t waste any time getting the festivities started. After checking into your hotel, walk or take a cab to the Irish Pub in the Rittenhouse Square area. The casual menu and relaxed atmosphere will put you in a very social mood – just like Rocky’s son when he was hanging out with his friends in Rocky Balboa.

Day 1

Rocky knows how to have a good time, but he’s also serious about staying in shape. Start your day with a morning jog along the waterfront at Penn’s Landing, which was on the route of Rocky’s training runs. If the Independence Seaport Museum had been there during the original film, maybe Rocky would have selected a whole new career. You can spend hours watching the master boatbuilders handcraft wooden boats.

When it’s time to eat, head to the famous Italian Market. During the early movies, Rocky was too focused on his training runs through the nation’s oldest and largest working outdoor market to sample the homemade goodies, fresh produce and flavorful cheeses. But in newest film, he spends time there stocking up on provisions for his restaurant. You’ll want to hit Sabrina’s Cafe: The brunch menu featuring stuffed French toast, frittatas and fresh-baked breads is a knockout.

Be sure to save room for dessert. One of Isgro’s fresh-made cannolis will satisfy your sweet tooth as you stroll through the dozens of vendors and shops that line the street. And while you won’t be able to go in the back and use the hanging meats as punching bags like Rocky did, you’d be remiss not to stop into one of the neighborhoods famous butcher shops. There are five located in Italian Market, including D’Angelo Bros. Meat Market, Cannuli’s Quality Meats and Poultry, Esposito’s Meats, Hollywood Meat Market and Orlando’s Meats.

After brunch, pick up your City Pass for admission to six cultural attractions and transportation on a Victorian trolley. You’ll swing by City Hall, just as the cameras did in the newest Rocky movie and arrive at the scene of Rocky and Adrian’s engagement in Rocky II – the Philadelphia Zoo, where you can tour the new Big Cat Falls exhibition or soar high above the city in a hot air balloon.

Night 2

Time for dinner! The Italian-inspired menu at the Victor Café in the heart of South Philly—which makes an appearance in Rocky Balboa as Adrian’s, our hero’s restaurant—hits just the right note. So does the waitstaff. Many are classically trained singers who break out into a favorite operatic aria as the muse hits them.

Much as you might want to linger, there simply isn’t time. Your next stop is the Blue Horizon. If Rocky’s cinematic adventures in the ring have you wanted to experience the real thing, take a taxi to this 1860s-era mansion that has become a national location for boxing fans. There isn’t a bad seat in the house, and the Horizon’s legendary status makes this a must for boxing purists.

Day 2

This is the day. Those famous steps are waiting for you. As you make your way along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, just as Rocky once did, to the Philadelphia Museum of Art, you’ll pass The Academy of Natural Sciences, The Franklin Institute Science Museum and the Rodin Museum. (Be sure to stop by later.) Right now, your eyes are on those steps. Before making your dash to the top, get a photo taken with the Rocky statue to the right of the steps. Then, the climb begins. When you get to the top of the stairs, pump your fists in the air and take in the view. The skyline has grown so much since the 1976 movie that you might not even recognize it. But don’t stop there. Inside is one of the world’s great art collections, and home to many international special exhibits. Then, head to Boathouse Row. You’ll see it in Rocky Balboa, but why wait? Take a stroll or rent a bike or rollerblades and partake in a favorite Philadelphia pastime – enjoying the outdoors along Kelly Drive.

Now that you’ve worked up an appetite, it’s time for your reward. Rocky couldn’t resist a trip to Pat’s for an authentic Philadelphia cheesesteak during his training, and neither should you. The famous shop where the cheesesteak was invented more than 70 years ago makes a brief cameo in the original film. To order like a native, ask for “one with” (you’ll get onions) or “one without” (no onions). It’s pretty much a mandatory part of any Rocky tribute in Philadelphia.

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