Philadelphia has gotten a lot of tourist mileage out of cheesesteaks and people running up the stairs at the Museum of Art, a la Rocky Balboa. While I wouldn’t want to spoil anyone’s Philly fun, the city is packed with things to do the travel brochures often overlook. I grew up there, and go back at least a half-dozen times each year to visit family, so let me tell you about a few places that are slightly off the beaten path.

Don’t get me wrong, a visit to Independence Hall to check out the Liberty Bell is a must and it’s always a kick to walk down one of the city’s oldest streets — Elfreth’s Alley — which probably looks the same way it did back in the time of Benjamin Franklin and Alexander Hamilton. But I’ve enjoyed introducing friends to Philly institutions and neighborhoods that are often overlooked by first-time visitors.