Afternoon: The Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Rocky Statue

 

On sunny Sunday in Philadelphia feels complete without a stop at the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the famous Rocky statue. The wide “Rocky Steps” leading up to the museum are one of the city’s most popular free attractions, made famous by the training scenes in the Rocky movies. Families, runners, and tourists all take turns jogging up the 72 steps and raising their arms at the top, just like Rocky Balboa. From the top, you get a beautiful view down Benjamin Franklin Parkway and across the city skyline.

To make the climb easier, I was grateful for my comfortable walking shoes (I use these ones: Amazon link) and a lightweight day backpack to carry water, snacks, and jackets for the kids (Amazon link). A small 

crossbody bag kept our passports, cards, and phone close to me the whole time (Amaz

on link).

At the bottom of the steps, the bronze Rocky statue has become a must‑do photo stop, especially for visitors with kids who enjoy the idea of standing with a “champion”. There is often a short line, so it helps to have your phone ready on a small tripod or selfie stick to take quick family photos without rushing (Amazon link). The area around the statue is flat and paved, which is helpful if you’re using a travel stroller for younger children (Amazon link), and on busy days you may even see food trucks nearby for a quick snack break.

After photos at the statue, climbing the steps slowly with the family becomes part exercise, part fun. At the top, you can look for the small bronze footprints set into the stone, marking the exact spot where Rocky stood with his arms raised in the film. If the weather is unpredictable, a light packable jacket or sun hat is very useful while you enjoy the view (Amazon link). From there, you can decide whether to go inside the museum to explore its large art collections or simply enjoy the view and the fresh air before heading back down.