Nutmegger

Ooops! Never mind!

NoOfficialComment

Philly Cheese steak is a bit underwhelming if I'm honest - I got one from Jims on South Street and it was average.

Reading terminal market is great, always eat lunch there when I'm in Philly.

Other good shouts for some food in center city are The Continental ( Continental ) and El Vez ( El Vez ). Both are really fun in a group and quite lively.

Art museum, Franklin institute, a walk along boathouse row are all fairly close together.

Walking around the historic parts is enjoyable. I've never bothered queuing for the liberty bell, just looked at it through the window every time!

ScottUK1990

I think the cheesesteaks are a rite-of-passage rather than something you're meant to really enjoy. I preferred Pat's over Geno's (they're opposite each other).

Eastern state penitentiary is pretty cool and worth a visit, plus the already mentioned liberty bell, franklin institute etc.

I'd recommend one of the city-seeing tours early on, gets you a better idea of the city and allows you to pick some places you want to explore more (plus its hop on hop off).

Orangepants

Thanks for the suggestions. We will be doing the bus tour - on and off on the Thursday afternoon to get our bearings and see what we want to see. Both in San Diego and Boston, we did the Duck trip - the amphibious craft thingy that goes in the water and on land. They were fun.

The Philadelphia Pass is $80 for three days and gets you into 40 attractions so the main ones are included as part of that.

Looking forward to a great weekend.

Geezer123

Keep hearing great things about phillie these days

rpjs

It's one of my favourite American cities - only the summer climate puts me off! I also feel it's the most American big city I've visited in the US. NYC has its pretensions to be Capital of the World, and DC is the national capital and so in many ways atypical of other big cities. Boston is lovely, but feels, like New England as a whole, just that bit different from the rest of the country.

Philly is almost literally on the Mason-Dixon line, both North and South, and always feels archetypically American to me.

HumphreyC

I've heard Philly referred to as Bos-troit - I.E the history and architecture of a place like Boston but with the severe urban issues of Detroit. From what I've seen recently on various site this is no longer the case and it's going in the other direction (gaining population and gentrifying).

samiam1066

Suggest Fergies Pub on Sanson Street, has Saturday 4 pm free Irish music jam, also has cask beer and good mussels. I love Alma di Cuba to eat, there Lechon Asada is outstanding. Check out the Italian market on Saturdays and Sundays. Independence Hall and other historic sites explain the complications of American Independence. How they ever won still amazes me.

Orangepants

What a wonderful city. Had a great weekend. The Academy of Fine Arts was beautiful. The Constitution Centre - very interesting (did not queue to see the Liberty Bell). Franklin Institute - light hearted entertainment. Lunch at Reading Market on sat was fun, what a great market - bought some cheeses. Didn't run up the Rocky Steps! Loved all the murals around the city. Wish we had the time to do a mural tour and the mosaic gardens.

Went to a gorgeous Greek restaurant - Estia (needed my fix of taramasalata). Wine and cheese at a lovely little place called Tria, Happy Hours at M Restaurant and the last night at Talula's Garden which was fabulous.

Where shall we go next?

Sue

My step count has dropped considerably since we got back!!

I second that, it was a wonderful city (the company was pretty good too )

MarylandNed

I missed this thread. I agree that Philly is well worth a visit. I live 2.5 hrs away by car and have been a few times. My wife and I did a day trip with our 13 year old daughter last year and she loved it. We managed the following in one day:

- Liberty Bell (go early to avoid any lines - we got there about 9am and walked straight in and got unobstructed photos)
- Tour of Independence Hall
- Reading Market and had lunch there
- Benjamin Franklin grave
- Carpenter's Hall
- Franklin Post Office
- Benjamin Franklin Museum
- Photo with the Rocky statue and ran up the "Rocky steps" at the art museum (didn't go into art museum on this trip)

Pulaski

Gastonia?

Jerseygirl

Chicago, Vegas, Vancouver...

Sue

Oh dear ....

rpjs

AAARGH! It drives me crazy that people do this! The Philly Art Museum is a gem. Better than the Met in NYC I reckon, and on a par with the National Gallery in London.