Philadelphia

Two adults and one 7 year old are planning a 3 day trip to Pennsylvania landing in Philadelphia. Renting a car in Philadelphia will there be enough time for an quick overview to see the Liberty Bell etc. and then on to see Amish country? Maybe take in a quick Hershey tour and spend 2nd night somewhere in that area? I mapped out a rough map and it comes to something like a 250 mile round trip. Since we%26#39;ve never been there is this too ambitious? Any suggestions are greatly appreciated for scenic and/or interesting routes, must-sees, restaurants, hotels etc. and just how much we can we expect to take in.

Philadelphia

There is a lot more to see in Philadelphia than The Liberty Bell. Most visitors spend 2 or 3 days in Philadelphia itself, and do not need a car at all. IMO, the Amish country isn%26#39;t worth the trip. It%26#39;s pretty, but it%26#39;s really just farmland. I think your 7 yo would be bored for sure. Hershey, of course has the amusement park, but you can go to any amusement park for the same experience.

What are your interests and what do you hope to get out of the trip?

Philadelphia

We wanted to get some of the historical interests of the beginning of the America, Libery Bell and if there is something else that might be of interest in the historical way also that%26#39;s why I thought it would be good to see the Amish country and the simpler life, Philly Cheesteaks...kind of getting a general idea of what PA and Philadelphia are. We thought just a general overview. Is the Hershey tour worth seeing just to say we went there. I would not want to do the amusement park since we would be so limited on time but maybe just the tour. What do you suggest?

Where are you coming from? Are you really going to want to get off a plane (as it sounds like you%26#39;re doing) and then get into a car and drive around for several hours after just one day? It%26#39;s really up to you and your personal tastes, but I would say just enjoy what Philly has to offer. There%26#39;s the Natural History Museum, the Franklin Institute, the Camden Aquarium, Reading Terminal Market, the zoo, Fireman%26#39;s Hall Museum, plenty of playgrounds, etc. Lots for a 7 year old to enjoy.

The Hershey tour is not a factory tour (it was years ago)- and is not worth the trip now. As mentioned earlier, the Amish area is just rolling farmland with barns that have hex signs. It gets boring very quickly, especially for a 7 year old. There is so much to do In Philadelphia, I think your time would be better spent in the city.

Wow, you both have been so informative and I think we will give up on the road trip to the Amish country. We will be coming from Arizona and wanted to see some of the fall colors as well as the countryside that we don%26#39;t have in the desert. We also want to experience the ';best'; philly cheesesteak we can as well as other ';flavors'; of Philadelphia as well as finding a nice place to stay that won%26#39;t break the bank. Work for an airline so flying in and flying out. Trying to see as much as we can without being overwelmed by it all.

Okay! Fall foliage is usually best around the end of October/beginning of November, but it really does vary depending on the weather.

Where to stay... Suzanne or Lynn will be able to guide you through the Hotwire/etc maze as far as choosing a hotel goes.

';Best'; cheesesteak has pretty much been narrowed down to either Jim%26#39;s, at 4th %26amp; South, or Campo%26#39;s, at 2nd %26amp; Chestnut. Forget the famous pair of Pat%26#39;s and Geno%26#39;s. The experience is interesting, but the food is not very good. Tony Luke%26#39;s is also pretty good, but you need a car to get there.

I have to run out right now, but others will advise as to how to fill your days most efficiently.

I have to agree with others that you should spend your time in Philadelphia. There is an enourmous amount to see and do here. I will now consult with my seven year old for her recommendations:

Franklin Institute

Academy of Natural Sciences

Imperial Inn in Chinatown for dim sum

Reading Terminal Market

Franklin Court

Betsy Ross House

Fireman%26#39;s Hall

Philadelphia City Hall (open weekdays)

Franklin Square (mini golf, carousel, playground)

She also says you should just walk around Center City because it%26#39;s nice to look at all the different buildings from different times, and you might find something you want to go into.

That%26#39;s a start! Wait, she says ride the Duck.

Lynn

Just in case you are puzzling over riding ';the duck';, here is the link: www.phillyducks.com.

This sounds perfect, especially the ';Duck.'; Did you stay in the area? We%26#39;re also looking for accommodations for two nights...any suggestions? Thanks,

Three days doesn%26#39;t allow a lot of time for driving excursions outside the city but some close destinations you could consider are (1) valley forge park (2) brandywine river area or (3) new hope area.

Valley Forge National Park would be the one I%26#39;d recommend. It has a very informative visitors center and you can walk around and see the replicas of the cabins that were used by Revolutionary War troops. Sometimes there are costumed interpreters there as well.

http://www.nps.gov/vafo/