Seven New Things Opening in Philadelphia This Year

By Megan Mentuck

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is a city packed with history. From the Liberty Bell to the Independence Mall, there are so many rich historical sights to see in this fantastic city.

GoNOMAD spoke with Cara Schneider from Visit Philly about some of the city’s best new tourist attractions.

Schneider said about her city, “It’s the same—but better. All these really cool spaces that were dormant or underused have been turned into these really cool places!”

The new places that Schneider mentioned ranged from museum exhibits to park routes on the city’s rivers.

#1 Faith and Liberty Discovery Center

The Faith and Liberty Discovery Center opens in Philadelphia on May 5th of this year.

The $60 million dollar, 40,000-square-foot project will be opened on the city’s Independence Mall.

The Discovery Center was founded by the American Bible Society with the goal to observe the similarities between the founding of the country and the bible.

The Faith and Liberty Discovery Center (FLDC) has some interesting artifacts as well as digital and immersive experiences.

#2 Live! Casino & Hotel

In early 2021, the Live! Casino & Hotel opened in South Philadelphia. The place is massive at 1.5 million square feet.

It is also ideally located within walking distance of three of the city’s professional sports hubs: Lincoln Financial Field, Wells Fargo Center, and Citizens Bank Park.

In addition to a casino complete with table games and slot machines, the Live! Casino & Hotel is also home to restaurants and bars that offer visitors a variety of food and drink options.

These include an Asian-style restaurant, prime rib restaurant, and of course a sports bar as well as other choices.

So, whether you’re looking for a place to stay, eat, or bet, Live! Casino & Hotel is a new spot in the city to check out!

#3 Centennial Innovations at Please Touch Museum

The Please Touch Museum is unlike other museums you may have been to—you can touch the art!

Despite being a museum typically geared towards children, adults can also enjoy this unique 500-square-foot immersive art experience.

With two floors of galleries ranging from imaginative displays to real-life models, the Please Touch Museum is sure to inspire and educate.

‘Centennial Innovations’ is the museum’s new exhibit that opened this past April.

In the spirit of commemorating Philadelphia’s routes and connection to the founding of the country, Centennial Innovations aims to retell the story of the Centennial of 1876.

The Centennial of 1876 was a celebration held in Philly  recognizing100 years since the country’s founding.

#4 The Clay Studio: Brand New Location and Building

Another interesting new place opening in Philadelphia is The Clay Studio. It is set to open in Kensington this upcoming fall in a brand, new building built specifically for The Clay Studio.

The Clay Studio is a new community art studio where you can take classes, participate in artist residencies, and view unique art exhibitions.

The building being built in South Kensington will be a 34,000-square-foot space.

It will showcase works from Kukuli Velarde, Ibrahim Said, and Molly Hatch, artists who specialize in ceramics.

Their works will be shown in the brand new exhibit, Making Places Matter.

If you’re interested in making dabbling in ceramics yourself, after visiting Making Places Matter, you can head down to the Community Studio and make clay art of your own!

#5 River Trail Upgrades

When we asked her what other places there were to visit in Philly, Schneider said, “If people are interested in outdoor time or river views, we have two different rivers to choose from.”

The two different rivers are the Schuylkill River and the Delaware River.

The central section of the Delaware River Trail is currently under construction but is set to open fall of 2021.

The new and improved trail will accommodate walkers, cyclists, and joggers by providing a safe section of pathway separate from motor vehicles where visitors and residents alike can enjoy the outdoor opportunities in Philadelphia.

#6 New Breweries Opening Up—Making Greater Philadelphia’s Craft Beer Trail Even Longer!

Philadelphia is a city known for its delicious craft brews and this year, it’s adding more places to choose from to its list!

Some of the craft breweries that will be opening up include Victory Brewing Company, Cartesian Brewing, Mystic Ways Brewing, and Aristaeus Craft Brewing Co.

The different spots will offer visitors a unique experience and a unique craft beer! Check out their brew options and start planning your own brewery itinerary.

#7 Kampar Kitchen

One unique new addition to the city that Schneider told me about was Kampar Kitchen.

When a local woman’s restaurant, known as Saté Kampar closed down earlier this year due to the pandemic, she took it as an opportunity to put an idea she had been considering into action.

Kampar Kitchen, her new business, is a way to encourage people to try food they may not have had before. The way it works is that Kampar Kitchen brings in different chefs and gives them space and opportunity to create their own meals which people can then order and enjoy at home.

The ingenious idea has allowed a plethora of chefs to show off their culinary talent and allowed more people to try food they may not have previously had the chance to.

Plan Your Trip!

With endless opportunities for excitement, Philadelphia offers visitors a fulfilling and enjoyable trip.

And in 2021, with new things being introduced in the city, there are even more exhibits to see, places to eat or drink, trails to walk, and casinos to visit!

Schneider said about Philly, “It’s a really big and diverse city. There’s just so much to choose from.”