Philadelphia is credited as the birthplace of our nation—the Declaration of Independence was signed here in 1776—so there is no shortage of historical sites to visit. The best place to start is the Independence Visitor Center (6th and Market Streets, 215-965-7676), where you’ll find an endless supply of information, maps and tours of nearby attractions, including everything from the Liberty Bell and the new National Constitution Center to the houses where Ben Franklin and Betsy Ross, creator of the American flag, lived. There’s a lot to see and lines can be long, so don’t try to do too much, or you will get overwhelmed. These sites have been here for hundreds of years, and they’ll still be here next time you come.

If you’re a museum kind of person, the city has plenty of them to keep you busy—somewhere around 20. The Philadelphia Museum of Art (26th Street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway, 215-763-8100, philamuseum.org) is one of the country’s largest museums of any kind, with more than 300,000 objects on display. Whether you’re into Picasso, Warhol or medieval body armor, there’s something for you. The Franklin Institute Science Museum and Academy of Natural Sciences are also nearby, if your inner science geek is begging to come out.

If you want to get off the beaten path and away from the other tourists, there are also a couple of unusual museums worth checking out: The Mütter Museum (19 South 22nd Street, 215-563-3737, collphyphil.org) has a fascinating, though not-for-the-faint-of-heart, collection of anatomical specimens, antique surgical instruments and other supremely weird stuff. But if President Grover Cleveland’s jaw tumor and casts of conjoined twins are a bit too much for your taste, head to the Wagner Free Institute of Science (1700 West Montgomery Avenue, 215-763-6529, wagnerfreeinstitute.org). They have a collection of hundreds of animal specimens, including the first saber-toothed tiger found in America, enclosed in a three-story 19th-century museum space that hasn’t been touched since, well, the 19th century. It looks as it did in 1880.

Once you’ve had your fill of history, a little modern-day people-watching is in order at one of Philadelphia’s many public parks. The best is Rittenhouse Square (19th and Walnut Streets), in the heart of the city’s posh shopping district and close to most of the better hotels. On your way, stop at Philadelphia’s most popular café, La Colombe (130 South 19th Street, 215-563-0860), where you’ll find the finest cup of coffee around (Martha Stewart gets her coffee shipped from here). If you’re in the mood to spend some money, there are dozens of well-appointed shops (think Tiffany & Co, Burberry and Williams-Sonoma) on Walnut Street, between Broad and 20th, that will be glad to help you.