Society Hill Philadelphia, PA

With its brick-paved sidewalks, cobblestone alleyways, and gorgeous historic architecture, Society Hill is one of Philadelphia's oldest and most sought-after neighborhoods. The name is slightly misleading -- it isn't on a hill and it has nothing to do with social standing. Instead, the name is derived from the original settlers, a group of Free Society of Traders who received land from William Penn back in 1682. They planted a flag on a small hill in the neighborhood, and the area quickly became known as the "Society's Hill."

Society Hill contains a variety of spectacular buildings, some dating to its original settlement. The neighborhood was diverse, even back in the 1700s, with small row houses sitting next to mansions. One of those mansions, the Physick House, built in 1786, is one of the neighborhood's last surviving Federal-style mansions. Today, it is a house museum that offers public tours. Other historic landmarks in Society Hill include Old St. Joseph's, a Roman Catholic church founded in 1733; the Shippen-Wistar House, built around 1750 (by the first doctor to use bodies for dissection, Dr. William Shippen); and Old Pine, a church built in 1766.

Society Hill is home to one of the five public squares laid out by William Penn, Washington Square. Back then, it was used as a pasture and a burial ground. Today, it is a picturesque park with a fountain, sitting next door to some of Philadelphia's major landmarks, including Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. Head to Headhouse Square to shop at the oldest farmer's market in Philly, the Headhouse Square Farmer's Market, and stroll the cobblestone Dock Street to enjoy some of Philly's best restaurants and theaters.