Travel Postcard: 48 hours in Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA (Reuters Life!) - Got 48 hours to explore Philadelphia? Reuters correspondents with local knowledge give tips on how to make the most out of a short stay in one of America's most historic cities.

FRIDAY

6 p.m. - For a pre-dinner beer or two, check out the Nodding Head Brewery and Restaurant in Center City. It's one of a number of independent local breweries that is helping to restore Philadelphia's reputation as a center for craft beer making.

8 p.m. - The Tin Angel, a cozy second-floor live-music venue near the busy corner of Second and Market Streets, regularly hosts nationally known artists. Past acts have included Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, and Richie Havens. It's joined with the Serrano restaurant.

SATURDAY

10 a.m. - Time to see the sights. The Liberty Bell is Philadelphia's most famous historic landmark. The cracked bell was rung on July 8, 1776 to summon the people of Philadelphia to a reading of the newly written Declaration of Independence. It's in a special pavilion on Independence Mall, the center of Philadelphia's historic area.

11 a.m. - Independence Hall. Within walking distance of the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall was where the Declaration of Independence was adopted on July 4, 1776 and the U.S. Constitution drafted in 1787. The National Park Service provides free tours on a first-come-first-served basis. At the other end of Independence Mall is the National Constitution Center, housing a permanent exhibition on the U.S. Constitution.

1 p.m. - Reading Terminal Market. It is a bustling city-center food emporium where you can buy anything from bagels to brisket to bananas, as well as prepared food from many nations. Grab lunch in the no-frills food court and watch the world go by.

2 p.m. - South Street. A potpourri of some 300 shops and around 60 restaurants, cafes and bars, this street between Front and Seventh claims to have something for everyone, and is lively day and night. It also has fringe theater and live music venues.