Traveling With a Dog: Philadelphia
Whenever I travel somewhere, I always think, “I wish my dog could come with me.” So, when I was prepared to set off to Philadelphia for a concert and my mom suggested bringing my dog, Reese, I was over the moon. I would bring my dog with me every time I go to a concert, but I don’t feel comfortable leaving her in the hotel room alone, and with her separation anxiety (and mine), I don’t think she would feel comfortable with it either.
Since my mom was offering to stay with her while I was at the concert, I was set on bringing her and started planning for a day of adventure in Philadelphia! Admittedly, a couple of activities did get cut from our schedule for time’s sake, but we started the day in Valley Forge and ended up spending a lot more time there than we planned. I will include the extra stops that we didn’t get to at the end, but they won’t be included in our full itinerary.
Keeping in mind that we only had one day, and we had to drive home at the end of it, I wanted to add some shorter and longer stops into the itinerary. This itinerary also took place in October, right before it turned into an East Coast November, so also be mindful of when you are going, as we spent most of the day outside.
Reese in Tru by Hilton (Cleveland Midtown).
Where to Stay
A couple of years ago, I stayed at Tru by Hilton Audubon Valley Forge outside of Philadelphia, and it was one of the best Tru by Hilton stays I have ever had. The receptionist was so kind, and I even ended up trading phone numbers with her and inviting her to the concert I was going to. Since then, I told myself that anytime I’m going to Philly, I’ll be staying at this hotel. Regardless, if you’ve read this blog series in the past, you will know that Reese and I only stay in Tru by Hilton hotels.
Tru by Hilton is our all-time favorite hotel chain since it is exceptionally dog-friendly with free parking, complimentary breakfast, and very clean. I can’t stay in hotels that have wooden headboards, or really, wood anywhere, as I get a weird ick from them and immediately feel dirty. If this is how you feel as well, Tru by Hilton is your place. It is modern, clean, and everyone is beyond friendly.
For dogs, there are bathroom stations outside with waste bags, and the entire hotel is surrounded by seating if you want to be outside for a bit as well. Per stay, dogs usually cost $50-75, but if you have a service dog, they stay free. Reese loved this Tru by Hilton as much as I did, and we will definitely be back!
Where to Go
Valley Forge National Historical Park
After waking up, getting ready, and eating breakfast, we were ready to go! Tru by Hilton Audubon Valley Forge is only a six-minute drive from Valley Forge National Historical Park (as hinted at in the name). It is great to start early, since Valley Forge is way bigger than we thought it was. There was so much to see and do! Soon after we went, they also started a B.A.R.K. Ranger program, so stop by the Visitor Center first to see if you can start with a pamphlet of activities.
In Valley Forge, you will need to drive around to the locations if you want to visit important spots and monuments, since it is not walkable at all unless you want to spend all day going from one place to the next. We were able to walk around near the National Memorial Arch for some nice pictures, and then we took a drive to see Washington’s headquarters. For us, this was one of the most interesting parts of our trip, and I would mark it as a must-see. Washington’s home was fascinating to hear about, and if you don’t like history, this area of the park still offers a very peaceful place to walk your dog and enjoy the scenery.
Reese exploring Valley Forge National Historical Park.
Rocky Statue/Stairs
I hate to admit this, but Reese and I have not seen any of the Rocky movies, but we do love boxing, and Reese will throw down in the ring, so she wanted to get a picture next to the Rocky statue. After waiting in line to get our picture taken, we walked up the Rocky steps, and even if you don’t love Rocky or boxing, the view from the top of the stairs and the Philadelphia Museum of Art that sits at the top is reason enough to visit. Standing on the center stone at the top gives a wonderful panorama of the city, and if you love sculpture, it’s worth visiting to see the architecture and designs around the museum.
Reese with the Rocky steps.
Liberty Bell and Independence Hall
This is one of my favorite spots in Philadelphia, and it’s because of the beautiful greenery and historical yet modern architecture. I love seeing random yet exciting bits of history wherever I go, and the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall are two of those things. I personally think it is wild to see each in person because they are so impactful, yet sit in the middle of such a populated city where people naturally pass them every day. Dogs are not allowed in either, but Reese is a massive George Washington fan, so she took a picture with the buildings of both. Independence National Historical Park is also simply a great place in Philadelphia to take your dog to play or have a picnic.
Reese in front of Independence Hall.
Ben Franklin Museum & Grave
This was a Philadelphia landmark that I had never been to, and, man, oh man, was it hard to find. I don’t know if something was wrong with my phone, but I genuinely got so lost and could not find it at first. We ended up going between two buildings to find it, so if you feel stupid if you can’t find it at first, don’t. Once we were in, it was so interesting. It was very quaint and possibly underappreciated because we were some of the only people there. His grave is also very close by, so you can stop and see it through the fence, or pay to go into the graveyard, but the view from outside is adequate. We stayed outside of the museum to see the outline of his house and fact boards, but admission to the museum is cheap if you’re willing to take turns dog-sitting.
Reese at the Benjamin Franklin Museum.
Extra Stops
Extra dog-friendly stops include Fairmount Park, Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens, and Love Park. These are all stops that we will be making on our next Philadelphia trip, but because of the time we spent at Valley Forge and Independence Park, we didn’t end up having time to visit them on this one. Fairmount Park can be switched out with Independence Park if you want less history and more nature.
We skipped Love Park, not because of time, but because of parking. I had it on our list, and when I drove around a couple of times and no parking spots became available, I left. I have been to Love Park before, and I think it is a must-do at least once. Though in this moment, we weren’t looking forward to getting a picture here enough to park at a further distance or in a garage and then wait in line to get a photo.
On our next Philly trip, we will most definitely be stopping at Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens, because this was the only location that I was sad about missing, and it is what got pushed off the itinerary so we could stay longer at Valley Forge. Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens is an art gallery with an outdoor space, but everything is covered in mosaic artwork. I’ve never seen something like this, and neither has Reese, so we were looking forward to it, and I suggest everyone try to make time for it on your one-day itinerary to both experience the art and support a non-profit!
Reese walking the busy city streets of Philadelphia.
Where to Eat
Before heading home, I always stop at Baguette x Phorria. I love the interior, and I extra love the food. They also have absolutely delicious drinks, so if you have a long drive home, you will have both food and drinks for the ride. I recommend getting their bahn mi and a coffee or matcha, as I’ve had both and they’re excellent. Pets are welcome here, but this time around, we ended up getting our food to go and eating in the car with Reese. Since she is a long-haired dog, I don’t like bringing her into restaurants, but if you’re comfortable with it, then I recommend having a sit-down experience at Baguette x Phorria before you go.
For more food recommendations that are both quick and sit-down, Philly’s Chinatown has so many unique and delicious options. If you are ever in Philly without a dog, please make sure to stop in at all the businesses in Chinatown, as they have so much to offer and learn about!
Full Itinerary
Everyone’s trips look different and can be adjusted to best fit their furry companion, but I hope this gave a base outline for a great trip by itself! For our full itinerary, including driving time, please see below. We hope to see you on our next trip!
Reese’s full Philadelphia itinerary.
