Is there public transportation to the track from the 30th Street Amtrak Station?
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Public Transportation
Is there public transportation to the track from the 30th Street Amtrak Station?
Public Transportation
I%26#39;m assuming that you mean the Philadelphia Park Casino?
If so, then yes. You would take the subway (Market Frankford Line) to the Frankford Terminal, then take the #50 bus to Philadelphia Park. According to the SEPTA route planner this will take you 1 and 1/2 hours
go to www.septa.org for more info
Public Transportation
Thanks
Restaurants near I95 between Airport and Langhorne
We%26#39;ll be arriving late afternoon at Airport and will want to eat on our way to a Hotel in Langhorne.
Any suggestions that won%26#39;t take us too far from I 95, but going to a decent place in a safe neighborhood.
Email: hanstoby222@gmail.com
Restaurants near I95 between Airport and Langhorne
It sounds like you are more interested in convenience and safety than interesting food. If that is the case, then the trip to Langhorne is only about 45 minutes, and there are plenty of (chain) places there. The next most convenient stop is only about 15 minutes before Langhorne, and that would be Franklin Mills, right off the Woodhaven Road/PA Route 63 exit. There are several chains there also. Other than that, you are looking at downtown- or you could stop at Tony Luke%26#39;s and get a cheesesteak if that interests you (post back if it does, and we%26#39;ll give directions) - it%26#39;s about 5 minutes from the airport but will take a little bit of navigating to get to it.
Restaurants near I95 between Airport and LanghorneThanks!
I-95 runs along the eastern end of Center CIty. You can easily get off at Columbus Blvd and eat on South Street (South Street Souvlaki, South Street Diner, Pietro%26#39;s Coal Oven Pizza) or in Old City (Continental, Campo%26#39;s, and others depending on time of day).
Late afternoon parking is pretty easy on South Street and not too bad in Old City in the summer.
Lynn
If you will traveling during the week another possibility in Old City is The Plough and The Stars on 2nd St. just north of Chestnut. However, on Saturday and Sunday the kitchen closes from 2:30 to 5:00 pm.
Lynn
Is University City a safe area?
Hello. I looked into some bed and breakfasts that I liked in the University city area. Is this a safe area to stay in Philadelphia? I also looked into the Chestnut Hill area which seemed nice too. Can someone please help me decide with these 2 areas in Philadelphia? Thanks so much!!
Is University City a safe area?
The safety of the University City area has always been tenuous. It is usually okay, but muggings, especially after dark, are always a possibility. It is a fairly large area, so the exact location of the B%26amp;B is important. Also, I wouldn%26#39;t be surprised if the B%26amp;B was actually in a nearby adjacent area, such as Clark Park or Powelton Village, and not truly in University City. The adjacent areas are less safe. Additionally, Penn is out for the summer, so the number of people milling around will be few. Chestnut Hill would require daily trips (by train) into the city to see the sites, so is not as convenient as downtown or University City.
Philadelphia is not really known for its B%26amp;Bs. AFAIK, there are none that would rate any significant number of ';stars'; in a B%26amp;B guidebook, and the prices are not usually a whole lot less than a hotel.
But- the big question is, what do you want to do while you are here? That will help guide us to reccommend a place to stay.
Is University City a safe area?
Agreed with owlyn. UC is not a BAD area, but does require a higher amount of caution than some. On the campuses themselves is perfectly safe, but the surrounding areas can be a bit dodgy.
Depending on your budget, if you are looking for more of the B+B Botqiue hotel experience, I%26#39;ll throw out the Penns View hotel for starters and we can of course recommend some more.
Have you checked on hotwire for your dates? You might well be able to find a hotel in center city that will make your stay much more enjoyable and you will not have the incovenience of staying in the suburbs. You could also try bidding on priceline.
Thank you to all that have replied! I really appreciate it! We do plan to take the train into the city everyday. that is not an issue for us and we are well prepared for that. Most of the bed and breakfasts we chose are within walking distance to the train station. I was told that Chestnut hill is a nice area and pretty safe. The bed and breakfasts in university city were called...';the castle bed and breakfast'; and ';the carriage house';. The carriage house is booked and not available so that ends that. the others were located in chestnut hill in a quiet neighborhood. And I believe one other called ';Victorian Splendor'; is located by City line.
Also I would like to spend no more than $95 a night. I found a few that were $80 to $90 a night.
I was thinking of staying by the valley forge area but it takes from what i was told close to 50 minutes to get into the city plus the train tickets are about $10.00 or more for a round trip ticket.
so i figured the valley forge area was out of the question. is this info correct?
Valley Forge would be much less convenient and is not served by the SEPTA regional rail system so you would probably have to catch a bus.
From Chestnut Hill you can take the R7 Chestnut Hill East or R8 Chestnut Hill West lines into the city. The regular fare is $4.25 per person each way during peak hours..you must purchase your tickets at the station otherwise it is $5.00 on board the train.
Wow thats not a bad price. Sounds good! I was told if i stayed in the valley forge area oe just outside we would have to drive to Paoli, PA where the Septa Station would be and take the train from there. I was told it would take almost 50 minutes to get into Philly. And it would be more expensive to take the train too.
So i guess we will try to stay in one of the bed and breakfasts in Chestnut Hill. We were told it was an upscale nice neighborhood and the homes are very nice there. They call these places bed and breakfasts, but I think there mostly private guest homes just renting a room. Thanks again!
Anymore info send it my way!!
I lived about 4/5 blocks from The Castle for over 5 years. That particular area is very safe, and it%26#39;s convenient to the 34 trolley (runs along Baltimore Ave).
Wow theres a trolly down there? I wonder if that takes you to the Historic Area or close by it? Thanks for the info!
The trolley ends at 13th St, which is about 9 blocks to Independence Hall. It%26#39;s an easy walk, but if you wanted a more direct route, you could transfer to the blue line (Market-Frankford line) at 30th St Station. You would take that to 5th Street.
Figure that cabs will run you about $20 from Old City to your B%26amp;B.
The Chestnut Hill area can be as described, but it borders on some not-so-nice areas. It depends on the location of the B%26amp;B and its proximity to a train station. Also, there%26#39;s not much going on at night up there. But it sounds like you are determined to stay at a B%26amp;B. Please just check Hotwire or some similar site for your dates. You may find that hotels in the downtown area cost the same or less. Don%26#39;t forget to add in transportation costs to your room rate.
amish questions lancaster
I have always wished to visit the area of the Amish and luckily do so next month.
I read much here and good information.
A friend told me to vist the Millers Buffet on highway # 30 - he said it was very good - all you can eat and amish dishes.But very mixed reviews - under the restaurant heading here.
Any comments from any one there recently-
Thank You.
amish questions lancaster
WE used to go to Miller%26#39;s every year for Mother%26#39;s Day dinner. However, we haven%26#39;t been there in probably 6 years! It was always great when we were there, and crowded too!
amish questions lancaster
Personally,I would go down the street from Millers and go to Dienner%26#39;s.It is a Mennonite/Family owned restaurant that has a buffet. Miller%26#39;s.I feel is too commercial and is more for the bus tour crowd.Everytime my wife and me have been to Dienner%26#39;s we%26#39;ve always have heard locals in there. I know there will others who will give you good advice as to good restaurants that they know of also.
Have you been to any web sites? Here are two that are very helpful.
www.1800padutch.com
www.padutch.com This is the information center.
www.padutchcountry.com This is the web site for the Lancaster County Tourist Guide.
Have an enjoyable and safe trip.
God Bless,
popc
I also personally like dienners better also, but there will be a much bigger selection at Millers. Ironically, I will be at Millers myself for Thanksgiving day, as there aren%26#39;t many places open that day. I ate there a few years ago, I wouldn%26#39;t say it was bad, but I thought it was a lot of money at the time for what we had. I heard the prices have gone down since then. If anyone has been there recently, it would be good to hear some comments on the place.
how to get to York from DC?
We are hoping to take the Harley factory tour in late October. We will be staying in Washington DC for a few days and were hoping to make a day trip out to the factory, possibly also taking in the Hershey%26#39;s choclate factory (although this is definitly secondary to the main objective - the Harley factory). However, we won%26#39;t have a car. Is there any public transportation and how far is it from DC to the factory? is this do-able? Any suggestions welcome.
how to get to York from DC?
Public transportation between Washington, DC and York, PA would be limited to bus. Once in York you%26#39;d probably have to get a taxi (I%26#39;m assuming there is taxi service in York) from the bus station to the Harley factory. Getting from York to Hershey via public transportation would be difficult. You could probably get a bus from York to Harrisburg but then to get from Harrisburg to Hershey would involve the local CAT bus or a taxi which given the distance might be expensive. I%26#39;m not sure that the CAT bus has any stops near HersheyPark. There is no tour of the actual Hershey Chocolate factory - it is a ';mock'; tour that you ride at Chocolate World, outside the entrance to HersheyPark.
Actual travel distance/time from DC to York is around 100 miles/2 hours.
how to get to York from DC?
thanks for that info - looks like Hershey is definitely off the schedule and the Harley factory is a maybe. Do you have any idea of the cost of the bus-fare round trip DC to York - I%26#39;m thinking it might be cheaper (and easier) to hire a car for a day.
I don%26#39;t use public transportation, so I checked the bus website and if I%26#39;m reading the website correctly, it looks like a one way fare between DC and York is between 30 and 37 dollars per person. Here is the website I checked:
http://www.capitoltrailways.com/default.html
It may be cheaper to rent a car and then you could probably also visit Hershey.
thanks for your help. Looks like it is definetly cheaper to hire a car.
Spamalot questions
O Wise Ones,
We out of towners need help again. We%26#39;re staying at the Residence Inn downtown and going to see Spamalot on a Sunday evening. Is it easy and safe to take public transportation? And, does anyone have suggestions as to where to eat dinner before or after?
Thank You!
Spamalot questions
Spamalot is playing at the Academy of Music, just down Broad Street from your hotel, practically within view (if City Hall weren%26#39;t in the way.) An easy, pleasant walk of about 3 or 4 blocks. There will be lots of folks going to the theater and to dinner at the time.
I like Ernesto%26#39;s 1521 or Estia for pre-theater dinner, both close to the Academy and used to getting people out in time. http://www.ernestos1521.com/
http://www.estiarestaurant.com/
Spamalot questions
When I lived in Center City I had guests that stayed at the Residence Inn, and The Academy of Music is an easy walk of several blocks. As you walk around City Hall to Broad St, make sure its building is on your right.
For pre-theater dinner, directly across the street from The Academy of Music is the DoubleTree Hotel, which has a mezzanine restaurant called ';Academy Cafe';. It does have a pre-theater menu, but of you go call ahead for reservations. (I love their mushroom bisque soup.) The cafe windows look onto the Academy of Music, and you can actually see when the doors open for the show.
One block further south at the corner of Broad and Spruce is Ted%26#39;s Montana Grill. The menu is hearty American fare, and quite reasonably priced-- probably the cheapest compared to the other restaurants along that part of Broad St.
Other close restaurants (but a little more pricey) are Bliss, Capital Grill, Sotto Varelli %26amp; Ruth Chris%26#39; Steakhouse. (And from personal experience, I do not recommend Italian Bistro or McCormick%26#39;s.)
As tom1234 suggested, I%26#39;ve heard great things about Estia, but have never dined there...yet.
I have eaten at Estia for pre-theater and can recommend. I%26#39;ve also eaten at Ernesto%26#39;s. I preferrEstia mainly for the atmosphere (Ernesto%26#39;s is small and can get loud). The food was good at both places.
Does anyone know if/when Zanzibar Blue will re-locate?!
Zanzibar was one of my favorite spots, and a GREAT place to entertain guests and tourists. I attended its last weekend when it closed in April 2007, but I thought it was planning to relocate. (??) Does anyone know anything about ZB? It was definitely THE CLASSIEST jazz joint in the city-- practically a Philly staple. It never should have been allowed to close. I heard that the Bynum Brothers were pushed out by developers, but I%26#39;m not entirely sure about this.
The Bynums also own Warmdaddy%26#39;s (on Delaware Ave). Cool %26amp; casual place, but it%26#39;s no where near the caliber of what Zanzibar Blue was. And I liked Warmdaddy%26#39;s much better when it was in Olde City.
Does anyone know if/when Zanzibar Blue will re-locate?!I haven%26#39;t heard any indication that Zanzibar Blue is going to reopen. Sorry!
Rent a car or Walk/Subway?
I will be in Philadelphia on Sep 10-13 and was wondering if it was worth it to rent a car or just walk and take public transit. I am not sure where to stay yet.
Is there enought to do in Philadelphia for 4 days or should I rent a car and do some day trips like new york, atlantic city
Appreciate in Advance
Rent a car or Walk/Subway?
You will not need nor want a car unless you are planning on visiting sites outside the city. Philadlephia is VERY walkable. You may not even need to take the subway or bus!
Rent a car or Walk/Subway?
Depending on your pace 3-4 days is a good amount of time for Philly (for example, for some people the Art Museum is a day, for some 2 hours, for some 2 days)...
Thank You Both
One quick question, Would it still be ok to do the walk/subway thing if we stayed out by the airport or suburbs
That could be doable but much less convenient. From the airport, there is a train (the R1) that takes you into the city. However, you must first get a shuttle from your hotel to the train. If you stay in the suburbs, it depends how close you are to a convenient train line. All in all it will be much easier and you will waste less time by staying in the city
I agree with rocknroll. You will be much happier staying in the city. From a monetary point of view, by the time you factor in commuting costs, it usually costs about the same to stay in town. Not to mention the convenience...
Parking in Center City Philadelphia is expensive, street parking can be hard to find, and the Parking Authority is one of the most efficient departments in Philly so tickets are a real possibility. As the previous posters have noted -- you don%26#39;t want a car in Philly. I also suspect the average city street is the width of a Kansas City driveway, so you might not enjoy driving here anyway. There are B%26amp;Bs in the city that might be cheaper than a hotel, but the extra expense of staying in Center City may may be offset by the convenience factor.
Thank You for your responses, i have been doing a lot of research so far. We got a room at the Marriott Downtown for 70 a night on priceline. We are looking forward to this trip.
That%26#39;s quite a deal and a good location, very central. You should be able to walk nearly everywhere or will be very close via public transit or taxi.
$70 a night at the Marriott Downtown? That%26#39;s an amazing deal! Their usual rate is in the $300s!
BTW, the hop on hop off bus stops right outside the Marriott.
how did you get that deal on Priceline? I could use some tips.
Seafood ????
#1 Thanks to all have responded to my past questions. #2 I finally took the plunge on Hotwire and the 3.5 in Society Hill as you predicted was the Sheraton. YAY! Hopefully we can deal with noise and pool. :) Our top priority was walking distance. I plan to search other post about parking. I am looking for a great Italian Restuarant. All of my husband%26#39;s grandparents came through Ellis Island from Italy. I%26#39;ve also heard there are some great seafood restuarants? or a local favorite. We will be ';celebrating'; our 35th anniversary while in your Historic City. We are looking for local/good. We don%26#39;t want to pack ';dress clothes';. I promise to write a trip report between Gettysburg and Philadelphia. We started our ';journey'; in Gettysburg but date is now in Phildelphia. We live in Williamsburg, VA so we don%26#39;t need period dress in Gettysburg.
Again, Many Thanks.........
Seafood ????
Philadelphia has many great Italian restaurants. The one I would recommend close to your hotel is Bistro Romano, excellent food and nice atmsophere in an historic building. http://www.bistroromano.com/
Also very close by is Positano Coast. I haven%26#39;t eaten there, but it seems to be very popular, with a nice outdoor dining space. Others will doubtless have good suggestions.
I think the best seafood restaurant within walking distance is Philadelphia Fish %26amp; Co. http://philadelphiafish.com/
Bookbinders is also close, a legendary institution, but $$$. http://www.bookbinders.biz/
Seafood ????
I%26#39;d certainly agree with Tom1234%26#39;s great choices!
Another to add to the list for consideration is Sfizzio%26#39;s, which is practically across the street from the hotel. I ate there about 2 years ago; casually nice atmosphere that offers Italian dishes and pizza with a innovative style. …aol.com/philadelphia/…v-108067171
For seafood, I%26#39;d opt for Philadelphia Fish %26amp; Co. over Bookbinders. They%26#39;re both very good restaurants, however, I have found Bookbinders over-rated and certainly over-priced, although the atmosphere is more casually upscale. PF%26amp;C is simply casual, moderately-priced, with a great menu and service.
Usually agree with Tom%26#39;s suggestions, but I did not like Positano Coast when I dined there last - nice atmosphere but overpriced for what it wasand mediocre food with extremely small portions. Service for us was dismal - waited 40 minutes to be seated beyond our reservations and our drink order was taken an additional 20 minutes later. I%26#39;ve only been there once, though and others have loved it, so just relating my experience.
However, I agree with Bistro Romano - excellent, do not miss the tableside Caesar salad. I also love their linguine and baby clams and hubby has had a long-time love affair with their lobster ravioli.
You could venture into South Philly for excellent homemade gnocchi at Mezza Luna or more traditional red-gravy Italian at Villa di Roma.
Glad the hotel worked in your favor on Hotwire. Hope you have a great time in Philly!
Suzanne
philadelphia also has a great selection of Italina BYOBs. Here%26#39;s a couple I have been yearning to go to but have not yet been
Modo Mio - a new Italian BYOB in Northern Liberties that is getting a lot of buzz click here for review
philly.com/inquirer/…20070902_Modo_Mio.html
Tre Scalini in South Philly philly.com/philly/…20070610_Tre_Scalini.html
Neither of these is as close as the other recommendations, just thought I would give you a few other options
I have been to Bistro Romano and didn%26#39;t like it as much as Suzanne and will have to respectfully disagree about both the caesar salad and clams which had so much garlic the time we went as to be practically inedible. We also had issues with the service. You may want to look through reviews on Tripadvisor. Some people really love this place and it is convenient.
I would trust Suzanne%26#39;s opinion regarding Positano Coast. As I said, I have not eaten there and only mentioned it because of its proximity.
Unfortunately, bakariman1%26#39;s suggestion,Sfizzio, has closed. Fortunately, it has been replaced by a terrific Israeli restaurant Zahav, which I highly recommend if that strikes your fancy.
tom1234---
Thanks for the update about Sfizzio%26#39;s-- I didn%26#39;t know it closed.
Since my last visit, several times I%26#39;ve suggested it when hanging out with friends, but was always out-voted. Now I%26#39;m glad the vote saved me the embarrassment! --LOL
rocknroll -
Haven%26#39;t been to Bistro Romano in about a year - wonder if something has changed?! I%26#39;ll have to go when I get back from the summer. I hope not...been dining there since the early 90%26#39;s and have always really liked this place...the atmosphere is great as well.
Suzanne
I was at Bistro Romano again Monday evening and was pleased as usual. I have to believe that rocknroll hit a very off night. Never had a problem there, but ';too much garlic'; isn%26#39;t in my vocabulary, so maybe my taste isn%26#39;t discriminating.
It%26#39;s hard to explain the varying opinions about Bistro Romano (and if you look on TA and Zagat you%26#39;ll find a similar mix of opinions). I did like the atmosphere but the service was terrible. It started with our table not being ready for a 6:30 dinner reservation, and having to wait in the bar for 15 minutes, where there are NO CHAIRS by the way. As we waiting more and more people came in and similarly were waiting. We were finally offered a table but it was right in the entryway. We did ask to move downstairs and the hostess agreed but was not very pleasant about it. Our waiter was very young and inexperienced and overall the whole dinner service seemed rushed.
I was not impressed with the food, for the price (over $200 for the four of us), and the aforementioned caesar salad was a total disappointment. Frankly I have had more enjoyable meals at a Bertucci%26#39;s. Since I live in the suburbs, I would not make the trip to Center City again to go to Bistro Romano, I would rather go to South Philly or one of the center city Italian BYOBs.
Since opinion is divided on Bistro Romano, I%26#39;ll suggest some other places within walking distance of your hotel. On South Street, I like Core de Roma, casual, inexpensive and very much a family affair, run by the owner and his two sons.
Just off South St on 3rd is a small BYOB that I like a lot, not much on atmosphere,(though if the weather is nice, there%26#39;s a pleasant little garden in back) but the food is excellent, Hosteria da Elio. The sweet potato gnocchi is incomparable.
In Old City, on Front St, Spasso is a dependable choice, also reasonably priced and casual.
sat evening dinner with kids 8 & 11
staying overnight at sheraton society hill - need recommendations for dinner with kids 8 %26amp; 11 - something other than italian %26amp; on the fun side!
sat evening dinner with kids 8 %26amp; 11
Depends on your taste and price range. Here are two things that come to mind:
Jones, 7th %26amp; Chestnut. Really good versions of classic diner and comfort food in a modern, fancy but casual setting. Not expensive, but defintely not cheap.
Jim%26#39;s Steaks, 4th %26amp; South. Not a restaurant exactly, but great cheesesteaks and could be fun for all. Not fancy at all, but good, and inexpensive.
Others will probably have better ideas...
sat evening dinner with kids 8 %26amp; 11
How about Dave and Busters on the waterfront
Mexican Post in Old City might fit the bill...I am not a fan of D%26amp;B, although I can see the appeal for the kids, obviously...
Suzanne
Dave %26amp; Busters is a great idea! The kids will definitely love it and any ';big kids'; will too. :)
I%26#39;m with Suzanne. With all the great places to eat in Philly, even with kids, D%26amp;B is out.
Other possibilities:
Konak -Turkish, 200 block of Vine
Ariana - Afghan, 100 block Chestnut
Plough and the Stars - modern Irish Pub, great food (my kids and I just had lunch there today) 2nd St. just north of Chestnut
Chinatown - any number of places, just ask us for recs.
Lynn
The suggestion of Dave and Busters was responding to the word ';fun'; in the original post...while it may not be a gourmet establishment, I%26#39;ll bet your kids will have a blast there.
www.daveandbusters.com/Locations/default.aspx
On the other hand, if quality of the food is uppermost then I would go with one of the other excellent recommendations that have been posted.
My dislike of D%26amp;B is due in part to an ugly incident which occurred there a number of years ago. It caused a bias that I can%26#39;t get past.
That being said, if you%26#39;d be happy with average food and the kids really like arcade games, then D%26amp;B might be an option.
Lynn
Hershey vs. Dorney Park
Will be visiting Philadelphia in mid-August with 3 boys (11,11,12)
Would like to extend the trip for 3 days and had thought of the Lehigh Valley area (Iron Pigs game, biking, rafting, Dorney Park). Being told we should consider the Hershey area.
Any ideas on similar activities in the area. Reasons to pick Hershey over Dorney Park.
Thanks
Hershey vs. Dorney ParkAnother park to chose from would be Knoebels Grove Amusement Resort in Elysburg, PA (off I-80 near Bloomsburg). It%26#39;e been rated the top Family Amusement Park in the USA. Good food, great rides and family friendly prices. Top rated bumper cars, haunted house and pizza. Free parking, free admission (pay one price or use incrementally priced ride tickets) and free entertainment. Your boys will love it. They have three rollar coasters, but many more rides that are anchored to the ground. We%26#39;ve been twice, so far this year.
Hershey vs. Dorney ParkI admit to a bit of bias since I live within 15 minutes of Dorney but I think it%26#39;s an easier drive and a prettier area then Hershey.
I just went to my first Iron Pigs game a couple of weeks ago and was very impressed with the brand new park.
Lots of biking opportunites plus the Velodrome if you just want to watch the pro%26#39;s. http://www.lvvelo.org/
I like both the layout for the waterpark and the regular amusement park at Dorney better then the hilly set up at Hershey. I think the shows are better at Hershey, but that would not be a high priority for most kids. I think there are more coasters at Dorney, which is a real fun factor.
For rafting, I assume you are going white water rafting north of Allentown but you could also consider tubing down the Delaware in Bucks county or canoeing on the Lehigh.
Thanks to you both for the information. I think we%26#39;re leaning towards Dorney so we can build a couple of extra days in. I believe that area has more of the types of activities the boys would enjoy.
I hadn%26#39;t seen anything on tubing...any reccomendations on where to go?
Thanks
You can google Rafting on the Delaware River for more suggestions, but I think this is the one we used: http://www.delawarerivertubing.com/ but it might have been this one: http://www.rivercountry.net/ Sorry for the bad memory. :(
The road parallel to the river is very pretty and windy. The river does have a good current though so make sure the kids wear their life vests and bring some rope so you can tie the tubes together for fun.
I used to live 5 minutes from Dorney. But I%26#39;ve also been to Hershey plenty of times. Dorney has a better Water Park area. Hershey has better roller coasters. Depends what you %26amp; your boys are into. About an hour north of Hershey in Williamsport is the Little League Hall of Fame %26amp; Museum. It%26#39;s about 2 hours from the LV area.
If your kids like wild roller coasters knobles is not the place.I was born up by knobles and thats all thats there.Hershey though has extreme and mild roller coasters also hershey just bulit a new roller coaster ';farenhite';which is an extereme roller coaster.Hershey park is always crowded though.Dorney park also has extreme and mild coasters.Dorney park also buuilt a new coaster and it is usally not crowed.ALso dorney park is minutes away form lehigh valley.I like hershey but dorney pafrk is my favorite.
first visit-this weekend family 4- kids 8 & 12
We are staying in Mt Laurel and will have Saturday and Sunday to tour Philadelphia and would like to know what are the best and must see sites. Also what is the best way to get there. Thank you.
first visit-this weekend family 4- kids 8 %26amp; 12
Any particular interests? Historical, Museums, Sports, etc?
Also, will you have a car?
first visit-this weekend family 4- kids 8 %26amp; 12
Yes we have an car. We are interested in being able to see as many sites as we can in 2 days. Since we have never been here would like to see the Liberty Bell, Independance Hall, and I was thinking of The Eastern State Pennetentary. We live near DC and go there often, we went to the National Zoo today. So museums that are different from the Smithsonian%26#39;s in DC would be preffered. Thank you.
That helps.
Okay, other than maybe the art museums, there is not much that is going to stack up to the Smithsonian. So lets take Museums off the table for now.
Day 1 at least (could be 2 days EASILY) I would probably recommend the historic district. Start at the Philadelphia Visitors center and get timed tickets for independence hall. Then you can head to the Liberty bell, constitution center, maybe Franklin court. Rather than re-invent the wheel, I will point you to:
http://www.nps.gov/inde/
and
http://www.ushistory.org/tour/index.html
to research what elements may be of interest to you.
For lunch that Saturday, you could walk a few blocks to the Reading Terminal Market or there is Campo%26#39;s for steak sandwiches near the historic district.
On day 2, Sunday, if interested, I will recommend the Art Museum.
The reason is that Sunday is %26#39;Pay what you wish%26#39; admission.
http://www.philamuseum.org/visit/
Transport - Depending on where in Mt Laurel you are staying, your directions may vary, so I will leave you to the tender mercies of your hotel staff if you wish to drive in. There are many parking lots in the historic area from between $12-$20 per day. Once there, you can take the Phlash shuttle to the art museum on Sunday, after catching up on historical items of interest.
gophila.com/C/…1303.html
Another option would be to drive to the nearest Patco station (again may depend on which hotel) and take the Patco high speed line in. With 4 people the economics will be a wash pretty much.
Hope this gets you started.
Thank you very much. Is the Franklin Science Center worth the $$
I like it, and its kid friendly, but with the air and space and natural sciences museums in your backyard I don%26#39;t think it would offer enough bang for the buck.
I think your kids would very much enjoy the Franklin Institute...which is currently running a special exhibit about Pirates. The museum is an interactive science museum where your kids can learn hands on about gravity, electricity, weather, mechanics, etc. Don%26#39;t miss the walk-through exhibit on the human heart. There is also an IMAX theater and planetarium.
http://www2.fi.edu/
Also don%26#39;t miss the Constitution Center. http://constitutioncenter.org/
Thank you for the input.
We have an SUV.
For safety, cost, and walking distance,
Are there any places that are better to park than others? Is it better to park in a lot or on the street?
Personally, I prefer a garage.. Keeps the car cooler and dry entry in case of rain. The garage I prefer is a little far away however.
None of the lots or garages in the historic district are bad, there are many, the usual caveats about don%26#39;t leave valuables in plain view apply, of course.
Also, if your SUV is large, check heights, some garages might be tight!
Forget parking on the street. Almost all spots are either metered or timed (2 hour spots mostly), and you WILL get a ticket if you break any rule at all. The best place to park for price, safety, and convenience in the historic district is in the Philadelphia Parking Authority garage on 2nd Street between Chestnut and Walnut. The entrance is on the left hand side of the street. You can pay with a credit card. Use the same card when you enter and exit.
I%26#39;d skip the Franklin Institute if you%26#39;re accustomed to the Baltimore Science Center (I may have the name wrong. It%26#39;s right on the Inner Harbor and we loved it.).
I second the recommendation to visit the National Constitution Center. Also, Franklin Court is a must see.
Lynn
Breakfast near Bethlehem
Hi...anyone got a good suggestion for a hearty breakfast near Bethlehem. The hotel offerings are not worth the price and we would like to get a good start before heading home north.
Breakfast near Bethlehem
My husband and I just ate at Johnny%26#39;s Bagel and Deli located 1/2 block down the street from the Hotel Bethlehem. Our order consisted of bottled OJ, a huge bagel, a 3 egg Western omelet, eggs sunnyside with toast for less than 15 bucks. There are a few sidewalk tables for outside eating, too. Delicious, filling meal!
If you%26#39;re looking for an easy on/off highway place, there%26#39;s a Perkins located 1/2 mile off the 191 exit on Route 22 heading east.
Breakfast near Bethlehem
Thanks for the tips - I%26#39;m sorry I read them too late. BUT, for all tripadvisors...thank you ...
based on reviews we ventured into Bethlehem and found Billy%26#39;s Downtown Diner at 10 East Broad Street www.billysdiner.com.
Fantastic meal! The good news, despite a rather large crowd waiting outside, we (party of 7) were seated in 10 minutes. The owner Billy is also the doorman and personally greets all guests at each table. There is no ambiance whatsoever in the decor, but the music is great - diverse and cool. The food is a little slow in delivery, but well worth the wait. We had french toast, stuffed french toast (adorned with fresh fruits), quesadilla (thre%26#39;s also a lunch menu), salmon Benedict, salmon omlette, snazzy pancakes (filled with strawberries, choc chips and peanut butter), and a great specialty drink call Iced Cocoa...there was not one complaint and we really enjoyed the meal. Billy%26#39;s is a very busy place and could use a little help with bussing - I asked the waitress to do a second wipe on our table, and the floor could use sweeping more frequently, but the bathrooms were spotlessly clean.
If you are in this area, it%26#39;s well worth the trip. Under $70 for 7 including several rounds of drinks (tea, coffee, juices, soda, and...iced cocoa). Charming staff too!
Try the Blue Sky Cafe on 4th st. on the south side. It%26#39;s a quaint little cafe, with a fantastic menu. Warning: the pancakes take 1/2 hour to order, because they make the batter from scratch for each order. They are very eggy and heavy, and a normal adult can only eat one. Great atmosphere, nice decor including gallaries of local artists, clean, huge mugs of coffee, good prices. they have their menu posted at http://www.theblueskycafe.com/. I%26#39;d recommend it for a ';hearty'; meal... just make sure you have time!
yumm, you are making me want to drive down again just for breakfast! Thanks - we%26#39;ll definietly check this out on the next visit (which may be in two weeks.)
I live 20 minutes from these places and I%26#39;ve never heard of them! I%26#39;ll have to visit them soon. Yum!
Restaurants in Gettysburg area
Any suggestions for restaurants in the Gettysburg area? Good American or Italian fare at reasonable prices.
Restaurants in Gettysburg area
We like the PIKE - it%26#39;s American, great food, and you can get a great coupon at Restaurant.com.
Restaurants in Gettysburg area
Good basic food: The Gingerbread Man on Steinwehr Avenue and perhaps O%26#39;Rourke%26#39;s in the same street.
Though a chain restaurant the Friendly%26#39;s in Gettysburg has always been good when I have eaten there.
It is a few miles east of Gettysburg on 116 but for superb Italian food -- made by Italians -- go to Gina%26#39;s. Not so inexpensive but very good.
As locals, (during the off season) we too, like O%26#39;Rorke%26#39;s and the Gingerbread Man. We also like the Springhouse Tavern which is located at the Dobbin House. The Dobbin House is good, and nice for special occasions, but somewhat pricey. The Springhouse Tavern is more informal. Olivia%26#39;s (on Rte. 97 outside of G-burg) is pretty good and seems to do a nice business. Their prices are a little high, but you get large portions.
I second the vote for Olivias. Mamma venturas on the square is also really good.
The Pub in the square (circle) is good too.
The only thing I would add about The Pub (on the square circle) is that the service tends to suck.
Bella Italia is excellent!
We will be in Gettysburg on Wednesday night--thanks to all for your suggestions! Looking forward to our trip.
Which city should I stay in?
I am planning to take a trip to Hershey but also going to visit Lancaster, Gettysburg and Philadelphia. Where would the best place be to stay if I%26#39;m going to be traveling to all other locations? Need help..can%26#39;t decide?
Which city should I stay in?
Lancaster is mostly in the middle of it all but i would stay in philly.its more fun.
Which city should I stay in?
Lancaster would put you about in the middle of Philadelphia and Hershey; however, you%26#39;d be a greater distance from Gettysburg. You might want to stay in Philadelphia while you visit that area and then stay in the Harrisburg area to visit Hershey, Gettysburg, and Lancaster.
Mapquest mileage as follow
lancaster----gettysburg---about-55 miles
'; hershey------ '; 28 miles
'; philadelphia '; 80
Price wise-philly+hershey most $$$
I personally would stay in Lancaster or perhaps Phila just while there.You will pay for parking there if your downtown only few exceptions.
restaurants
looking for not to be missed restaurants in the area -we will be visiting west chester kennett square in late August-thanks
restaurants';Not-to-be-missed'; as in the food is fabulous and money is no object?
If so, here%26#39;s a starter list, pretty much in order of our preference:
*Gilmore%26#39;s on E. Gay St. in West Chester. Chef/owner used to be at Le Bec Fin. BYO, dinner only. Reservations an absolute must on weekends.
*The Gables on Route 1 in Chadds Ford. Ask for the patio. Lunch and dinner; both great.
*Catherine%26#39;s in Unionville. BYO, dinner only.
*Sovana Bistro, Rtes. 82 %26amp; 926 in Kennett Square (strip shopping center, but don%26#39;t let that put you off). Used to be BYO, not sure now.
*Dilworthtown Inn %26amp; Blue Pear Bistro off 202 south of West Chester. The ';grand dame'; of fine dining in the area, and its relatively new, more casual offshoot.
*Spence%26#39;s Cafe on E. Gay St. in West Chester. Fine dining till 10, funky bar w/ live music after. Can%26#39;t remember if it%26#39;s BYO or not.
Also quite good, if not quite to the standards set above: Marshallton Inn near West Chester. The Farmhouse in Avondale. Brandywine Prime in Chadds Ford.
Local color: Hank%26#39;s in Chadds Ford for breakfast. Buckley%26#39;s Tavern on Route 52 just across the state line in DE. The Whip English tavern in Coatesville (not in the decrepit steel town, but in horse country that shares the ZIP code).
Enjoy!
Bridges into Harrisburg
Hello out there - I%26#39;m bridge-phobic! Can anyone tell me the route with the least scary bridge to cross coming into Harrisburg from the west? I%26#39;ll be coming up I-83 or I-81 from Maryland.
Thanks,
Scare-D-Cat
Bridges into Harrisburg
I81 is actually the bridge over the Susquehanna. Don%26#39;t like bridges myself and this is perfect. You don%26#39;t even notice it hardly...it doesn%26#39;t go way up with tons of metal or anything. Just sort of goes with the flow of the rest of the interstate.
Harrisburg is a great place. If you look out over the Susquehana at sunset you%26#39;ll get a beautiful view.
Bridges into Harrisburg
...don%26#39;t look while you%26#39;re driving though. wait till you get to the other side and touch that land:)
Both I83 and I81 go over the Susquehanna River. I81 is actually a little longer, both are busy highways. Not much difference in heights. What part of Maryland are you coming from and where are you going? It might be easier to advise with the additional info since the bridges aren%26#39;t much different.
Both I-81 and I-83 will take you over the river. This question stirred up quite a debate between my husband and I! Neither bridge is at all scary, so go with the one that best fits your route. (Our scariness rating: You don%26#39;t get the feeling of going way up in the air, you don%26#39;t feel like you%26#39;re close to the edge, it%26#39;s not very long, and there aren%26#39;t open grates.) If you are coming from the Baltimore area and headed to the Hershey/Lancaster area, I-83 is the best. It is four lanes in each direction over the river, so you don%26#39;t get that edge feeling. However, there are exits right off the bridge, so there is a bit of merging and congestion.
If you are coming from Hagerstown or points west, I-81 is the way to go...be aware that it gets lots of truck traffic, moreso I think than I-83, which is more a commuter route. I dislike I-81 through Chambersburg and Carlisle, and I generally avoid it. But the bridge area is not so bad.
Just in case you veer from the charted path, AVOID Rt 34 over the Juniata in Newport. Just trust me! :)
Another option would be to take I 83 North and get on the PA Turnpike at New Cumberland, head east and cross the river on the brand new turnpike bridge - very wide, not scary. Get off the turnpike at the Harrisburg East exit, proceed straight through the toll booth and take Route 283 North to return back to I 83 North.
If you%26#39;re bridge-phobic I%26#39;d stay away from the 81 bridge. There is a ton of tractor trailer traffic on 81 and they definitely do not go the speed limit. I%26#39;m not sure if they%26#39;re currently doing work on the bridge or not as I avoid it as much as possible. But if they are working on the bridge it makes the truck traffic much worse.
I say go either 83 or the turnpike bridge both have wide lanes and are nicer to drive on.
Gettysburg w/o a car
Hi,
Is it possible to get to the reenactments, tour the battlefields w/o a car if I stay near Lincoln square?
Best Western reviews are mixed except for the location so I%26#39;m trying to find a place near there to stay hoping that I can walk to the sites.
I%26#39;d really appreciate b%26amp;b or hotel recommendations that are walking distance to the museums %26amp; battlefield attractions.
Thanks.
Gettysburg w/o a car
I%26#39;ve been to Gettysburg several times, and while I%26#39;m not sure of the location of the new visitors center with respect to the battlefield, I would say that you could stay somewhere and certainly see some of the battlefield, but understand that the battlefield covers 6,000 acres has 30 miles of roads, and over 1,400 monuments all told. I know it takes 2-3 hours to tour it by car and I%26#39;ve seen folks on bikes doing it, but I suspect you would be pretty limited on foot. Can you walk to the Visitors Center and take one of the tour buses that will drive you around? They aren%26#39;t that expensive.
Gettysburg w/o a car
I would like to walk to the visitor center %26amp; take the tours. I%26#39;m also trying to get hotel/b%26amp;b suggestions (other than Best western) that are walking distance to town stuff %26amp; the visitor%26#39;s center I guess.
I%26#39;d better let a local person answer that question since I don%26#39;t know the hotels in relation to the new center and the town itself.
Your best bet for lodging near part of the battlefield would be the Quality Inn on Steinwehr Ave. It sits at the base of Cemetery Hill and a few hundred yards from Cemetery Ridge so there are two battlefield areas that would be an easy walk. Other parts of the battlefield are a more significant hike; not knowing how much walking you want to do or are able to do, you could at least see some of it.
The new Visitor Center is rather farther removed from hotels and B%26amp;Bs than its predecessor. It is - roughly - about a half-mile or so from the nearest lodging, maybe a bit more. There are, however, little trolley buses that pick up and drop off from spots in town to the Visitor Center and back. This would no doubt help you.
A couple other places you might stay within walking distance of some of the battlefield might be the Holiday Inn on Baltimore St and the Brickhouse Inn B%26amp;B. But probably the best selection for your situation is Quality Inn in Steinwehr.
I intended to add that I would not stay in Lincoln Square given your situation. Too far from most of the battlefield.
Being a walker myself I consider prety much any place close enough [I should tell you that I%26#39;ve been known to put on 25+ miles a day walking around when in Gettysburg]. If your main interest is getting to the Vistor%26#39;s Center stay in one of the places on Stienwere Ave [sorry sp]. If you walk past the old vistors center and down to Mead%26#39;s Headquarter, cross the road and you%26#39;ll find a lovely walking path that brings you right to the new center.
I like the Quality Inn on Stienwere myself, or in a pinch the Holliday Inn.
The public trolley runs April-October. Here is a link to the route and stops:
gettysburgbattlefieldtours.com/Trolley.html
There are plans to extend public transportation in the region, but those are still in the works.
Since 10 rides are only $5, my advice would be to stay at the James Gettys--I%26#39;ve never stayed there, but it has good reviews and is in a neat part of town--and take the trolley to get around. The James Gettys is on the first block west of the square on Rt 30. You%26#39;ll be within a block of a coffee shop, bakery, and several other dining choices, as well as a grocery store. From the west side of the square, you can also walk to Seminary Ridge, which is not on the trolley line but is very interesting.
Good luck with your planning!
Just a question---if no car--how are u getting there?
There is no train or bus station or airport in gettysburg
We might drive, but my husband wants to do as much on foot aw possible. Once he parks, he doesn%26#39;t want to open the car again until it%26#39;s time to leave. I%26#39;m trying to situate us walking distance to the restaurants and battlefields. Hopefully not more thatn 15 min walk to each. but that may not be possible.
Thanks.
Traveling alone to JT
I need a day away from all the craziness in my life right now but will be traveling alone...I would like to go possibly this weekend...8/10 (a Sunday). C
an anyone recommend what I can do being by myself...do not have a companion to travel with and needing a day to relax and take in the sights.
thanks for your anticipated help.
Susan
Small Hotel near PA Renaissance Faire
I am trying to find out the name of a little ';mom/pop hotel located on the main road between Lebaon and the PA Renaissance Faire. It has a pool on the front lawn, I think it is white with blue trim and it is near the Quintin Riding Stables. I%26#39;ve been by it many times but don%26#39;t remember the name. Thank you.
Things to do near Spring Gulch
Will be camping at Spring Gulch this weekend with two families, 6 kids ages 11-15. While the website looks like there is a lot to do at the campground, what else is nearby? Parks? Hiking? Does anyone know how far to whitewater rafting and what tour companies to use? Thanks!
Things to do near Spring GulchYou aren%26#39;t that far from Hershey, maybe an hour or less. The shopping around Kitchen Kettle Village on rt. 340 is a lot of fun, with beautiful gift shops. On rt. 30 around 10 minutes away from the campground are the outlets, rockvale and tanger. I can%26#39;t help you with the outdoor activies, we never did that there, we saved that for when we camped up in the mountains. Spring Gulch was always the '; Amish Country'; for us. Your kids are a little old for the buggy rides, and strasburg railroad rides (at least the 15 yr olds). There is also a great mini golf course in Strasburg, called the Village Greens, that my kids at that age loved. It%26#39;s nice to take a ride to in the evening, and you can get ice cream or shakes there also. I%26#39;m sure ohers will pipe in with some ideas shortly. Enjoy.
Revere, Eden, Bird in Hand or Fulton?
We will be spending 3 nights in Lancaster and I can%26#39;t seem to choose between these hotels. We have two children (5 years old) who love to swim.
The rate for the revere is $129 a night for a room with two queens in the main building.
The rate for Eden is $179 a night for 2 queens, or $225 a night for a suite.
Bird in Hand is $143 a night for 2 queens in the pool building.
Fulton is $149 a night for 2 queens.
I am just so confused, is the Eden that much better that it is more expensive? I would like a suite, but not sure it is worth that much more.
Any help would be appreciated.
Revere, Eden, Bird in Hand or Fulton?
Among your choices - Personally I like the Eden. It has a classier feel to it than the other hotels you have listed.
The Fulton - people love this place - I don%26#39;t see it. Reminds me of a cheap Las Vegas motel. Very ornate.
Revere - Its a Best Western. This would probably be my second choice - among your picks.
Bird in Hand - never been there. Sorry can%26#39;t help.
Did you try The Fairfield Inn or Hilton Garden Inn? Both are in Granite Run. I like both of these places. Both are clean, well maintained establishments.
Revere, Eden, Bird in Hand or Fulton?
I%26#39;m only familiar with the Eden %26amp; Bird In Hand. The rooms at the Eden are much nicer in my opinion, they are beautiful. The location is more central to everything (which may or may not be an issue for you, depending on what is on your agenda) and you have easy access to rt 30 and other major routes. Dining options are flexible, with restaurants nearby as well as inside the hotel.
Kids like Bird In Hand better, from my experience. The pools (bigger), the putt putt, etc. The restaurant is decent, but gets VERY crowded. Traffic is a little more congested in that area, too (single-lane). There are things to do within walking distance, unlike the Eden.
If I was choosing between those two, I would pick BIH for travel with kids, or Eden for an adult getaway.
Hope that helps a bit :)
I booked the BIH since this trip is all about the kids!
Thank you both for responding!
good to hear you found the advice you were looking for, hope you have a great time in the area.
p.s. where in Ny are you from I am a born and raised long islander
I love in Westchester County, not too far from LI.
I%26#39;ve only stayed at the Revere in a family suite. Very roomy and clean. Stayed there last year and will be staying there again later this month.
first trip to philly
I am making my first trip to philly in october to see the flyers and canadians play. My wife and I are staying in NYC but travelling to philly on the day of the 13 early in the morning and spending the day checking out the sites. Its my first time in the NYC/philly area. Is Amtrak the best way to get from manhattan to Philly? It looks like the station in philly is fairly close to the Wachovia centre. If amtrak is not he way does anybody know what to take? We would be heading back to New York after the game(11:00pm) Also are there ant tours of the wachovia centre that you can take. I am a life long flyer fan and want to get as much flyer history, tours that I can. Whats the best place to get a real philly cheese steak. Sorry about all the question, hopefully someone can answer some for me. Thanks
first trip to philly
The fastest, though not the least expensive way from NYC to Philadelphia is indeed by AMTRAK. Once you get to 30th Street Station, transfer to the SEPTA regional rail. Take any train that is going to Market East station- that is the closest to the sites (about 5-6 blocks). You can get a cheesesteak at Campo%26#39;s, 2nd %26amp; Market. Or, you can transfer to the Market-Frankford (Blue) line- ask inside the train station how to find it *(exact fare neeeded ($2/person). You could take that line eastbound and get off at 5th Street for the sites, or 2nd street for the cheesesteak. They are only 3 blocks apart.
30th Street Station is not near the Wachovia Center.
You would need to take the Broad Street Subway (Orange Line) to get to the Wachovia Center. You can pick that up at Broad %26amp; Walnut. That is about 10 blocks from Independence Hall. There are several ways to get there if you don%26#39;t want to walk, but it%26#39;s only about a 15 minute walk right up Walnut Street. Coming back, the easiest (and safest) thing to do is to take the subway back to Broad %26amp; Walnut and catch a cab to 30th Street Station (5 minute ride).
There are tours of the Wachovia Center, but you may be better off contacting them. The one I was on was paid for by someone else and included a 76ers game superbox and autograph session- so it cost $$$ and was paid for by a company. Don%26#39;t know if there are free ones.
first trip to philly
It appears that you intend to take the 10:45 p.m. train from Philadelphia to NYC, so please allow time to get from the Wachovia Center to 30th Street Station after the game.
the best place to get a cheesesteak is a highly debated question. If you search this forum with the work ';cheesesteak'; you will find numerous posts on this topic
It doesn%26#39;t sound like its in your plans but it might be more fun to stay over in Philly than to try to train back to NYC in the middle of the night
The best place for Philly Cheeseteak is Jim%26#39;s on 4th %26amp; South Street http://www.jimssteaks.com/. Don%26#39;t forget to get a Philly pretzel too, they%26#39;re the best.
www.southstreet.com/index.php鈥?/a>
gophila.com/c/鈥?303.html
You may want to consider taking this bus, it drop-off/pick-up is listed on the website. This is just a quick way to get around Philly, and visit most historical places.
Amtrak is the best way to go to Philly. Have a good time with your wife. My husband and I are going to Canada in a couple of weeks.
Thanks for the advise, we are super excited to visit philadelphia and new york. There appears to be a 10:45 train that leaves back to nyc, but we may be cutting it close, so there is also a 12:30am going back, we are going to catch that one i think.
The Sterling Inn -overpriced and in need of repair- 2008
I recently stayed at the Sterling Inn and was not happy with the lack of maintenance and the overall conditions of the inn.
The cottages and the buildings in general were in desperate need of a new paint job and repair. There were cob webs in the corners and very little cleaning done to the room. The lake had paddle boats that were broken and the lake looked quite stagnant. The food was good and the restaurant staff was excellent. They made all the difference. Seems like the inn just does not have enough help to maintain the Inn properly. We paid too much for what we got.I was not satisfied and would not return again.
Revere Inn and Suites - tell me about the standard rooms
Hi, my family and I will be going to Lancaster next month and we have reservations at this hotel - after reading the great reviews. However, I was wondering about the size of the rooms - we are booked in a double queen in the main bldg. Has anyone ever stayed in this type of room ? If so, please tell me about it, oh, and what kinds of foods did they have for breakfast ? Have a couple of picky children to deal with, lol. Thanks in advance.
Revere Inn and Suites - tell me about the standard rooms
You made a great choice in picking this hotel. I%26#39;ll be there myself next month. The double queen rooms in the main building are very roomy. They are nicely decorated, and they are very, very clean. The breakfast is great for a freebie. They have hard boiled eggs, croissant egg and ham sandwiches, breakfast burritos, make your own waffles, cold and hot cereals. Bagels, bread, english muffins, fruit, and doughnuts, muffins. Juice , milk , coffee, and tea. Also yogurt.It%26#39;s a very family orientated place, with an indoor and outdoor pool. It%26#39;s probably the nicest place in the area, without going for a resort type of place. Willow Valley gets great reviews, but it%26#39;s more of a resort, with resort prices. The best western eden inn, is also very nice, pretty rooms, with very modern touches, but not the warmth and the homey feeling as in the revere inn. You must have noticed there is never a bad review of this place, vs. the others, where there are always mixed reviews. There is nothing to find fault with in the revere inn. Enjoy your stay, and if you see a large group of women in the breakfast room, or wheeling up the luggage carts filled with the days shopping, you%26#39;ll know it%26#39;s my group there. We go on twice a year shopping trips, and always stay here.
Revere Inn and Suites - tell me about the standard rooms
Thanks so much, you%26#39;re right, I did notice that there are no bad reveiws of this place. I have stayed at the Eden resort and it was nice, but pricey. I usually like to get a suite with the kids, since I get up early and they don%26#39;t, but we%26#39;re not looking to spend so much on this trip. BTW, have to you ever been on the ghost trip walking tour ? If so, how is it ?
Actually, I was on the ghost tour that leaves from Mrs. Penn%26#39;s shop in Strasburg. It was alright. It%26#39;s been many years, so I can%26#39;t really comment on it now. By the way, the revere has 2 bedroom suites, but they are hard to get, usually sold out, months in advance, but they also have family suites. Not really 2 separate rooms, it%26#39;s a very long room with 2 queens, dresser, tv, and a half wall with a pull out sofa bed, chair, desk, etc, and another tv. Does give you more room, and they are not usually very expensive. Enjoy.
Please don%26#39;t go to Lancaster! This is the Puppy Mill Capital of the U.S.
I stayed at the Revere last summer in a family suite and will be there again the week of 8/18/08. We loved it last year and are looking forward to our stay again. I didn%26#39;t see the standard rooms, but the family suite was very spacious. 2 queen beds separated by a 1/2 wall from a living room with recliner, chair and sleeper sofa. There was a refrigerator. There were 2 televisions in the room. One on each side of the 1/2 wall. I was also told that either the microwave or toaster in the breakfast area was accessible 24 hours a day if you need it for your kids to eat something.
My kids (3 1/2 year old twins) are also very picky eaters and both found things to eat at their breakfast.
The indoor pool was very nice and there are laundry facilities which are always good when traveling with kids.
I definitely recommend this hotel.
Hi Brooklyn mom of twins... If you see 6 crazy ladies piling out of the hotel with van and suv packed to the roofs, you%26#39;ll know it%26#39;s me, with shopping group. We%26#39;ll be there from the 15, leaving the 18th... (lol).
I%26#39;ll be on the lookout MittMott. We are checking in on the 18th. I have to thank you because your rave reviews for the hotel as well as your pointing out that the hotel didn%26#39;t have negative reviews was what prompted me to stay there last year instead of country inn and suites.
Thanks.
You%26#39;re welcome. Enjoy your trip. I have to say about the Revere Inn, it%26#39;s true, I do rave about it over all other places. I have found that after about 25 years of visiting the area, and staying in many of the places there, including many of the mentioned places, that the only place that consistently performs is this place. You aren%26#39;t getting the upscale granite there, (and I%26#39;m a hotel snob, and only usually like these type of places), but they are always spotless, tastefully decorated, not old, just plain pretty country, a good value money wise, with a nice breakfast and location, and the truth is, there isn%26#39;t a place in the area that can boast of that. I%26#39;ve stayed in the eden inn, and it%26#39;s nice, very modern, etc, but it doesn%26#39;t have the same feel as staying in the revere inn. We stay at least twice a year, and sometimes more. Again, enjoy your trip.
Rides for 3 year old
I have taken my daughter to Disney and she loves rides like Tower of Terror and Splash Mountain, Big THunder Mountain etc. She is 42 1/2 in. without shoes so about 43 inches with shoes. I see they have several rides and a couple of coasters for her height. Are the coasters appropriate for a 3 year old dare devil? or are they too much for her to handle at that age. I see on is a water coaster and one even goes upside down. I am so surpirsed that the hight requirement is only 42 inches.
Rides for 3 year oldOne of my children was about 5 years old when tall enough to ride some of the coasters at HersheyPark and did just fine. The Trailblazer, Comet, and SuperDooper Looper are the more ';milder'; coaster in my opinion. The Lightning Racer and Wildcat are a little more wicked and definitely not as smooth a ride. The water coaster, if you are referring to the Roller Soaker, isn%26#39;t really much of a ';coaster.'; The Trailblazer, Comet, and Super Dooper Looper should be fine for a dare devil, but obviously, you know your child best and should judge accordingly. Some of the other coasters may be a bit much for a younger child and the height requirements are probably higher.
Rides for 3 year oldYour child meets the height requirements for a ';Reeses'; and I don%26#39;t think they would be too much if she is brave.
The only upside down roller coaster that she would be permitted to ride is the Superdooperlooper and it is just one loop and not bad at all. The Trailblazer is fun, not scary. The Comet is probably the most daring of coasters for her height. Like the earlier person said, the Roller Soaker is not a scary ride in the least. The more daring roller coasters require a minimum height of either 48 inches or 54 inches.
A hint about height requirements: if your daughter is close in any category, go to the ';Family Health and Services Center'; by the Claw. They will do an offical measurement of your child and stamp their hand with the proper designation...a really nice thing because the ride attendants will measure any child whose height is questionable before letting them on a ride.
There are many rides for your daring youngster - some might be too much for you if you%26#39;re anything like me!
Superdooper looper,trailblaizer,and comet i think are the only ones that she can ride and the super dooper looper is the only one that goes upside down.
Thanks we just got back from our 3 day Hershey Trip yesterday. We had lots of fun. My 3 year old daughter and 5 year old son loved the COmet the best. The line was so long but they wanted to do that one twice during our trip. They also got on the looper coaster and my 5 year old loved that one two. My 3 year old did not like that one too much. I don%26#39;t think she liked to loop. She loved the howler and the Priate boat. My kids are little dare devils when it comes to rides. We could not find the trail blazer on the first two days but on our last day we aksed someone a worker and they directed us to the trailblazer but when we go all the way back there they did not want to get on.
Help remembering name...
Ok, everytime we make a stop in Philly we try a new cheesesteak place. About two years ago we had what we think are the best, but I can%26#39;t remember the name. All I know is it was a bit from downtown and next to a gas station. Across the street was a club ';I think'; by the same name. Very few seats inside. Can anyone tell by my lack of directional sense and memory which place this is?
BTW, finally did the Pat vs. Genos comparison last month. Yuck. Both tasted like cardboard. Lines down the street just for that? Just goes to show you what good advertising on FoodTV and the Travel Channel can buy.
Help remembering name...
Tony Luke%26#39;s, Front %26amp; Oregon.
Battlefield Tour guide for after dinner?
Does anyone know of a reputable battlefield tour guide who will go after 6 pm? In the heat if summer, I%26#39;m thinking this would be the best time to tour.
Battlefield Tour guide for after dinner?
Take a look at past postings on this forum, you%26#39;ll see certain names mentioned quite frequently.
If you like, send me a direct message and I%26#39;ll see if I can find some info on a couple of them from my previous visits.
You may be right about the heat. Another good time would be 6:00 AM.
Battlefield Tour guide for after dinner?
If you go on the website for the new visitor%26#39;s center you can actually see what time slots and dates are available for a LBG tour.
i think there is a tour but i think its based on ghosts
Licensed battlefield guides don%26#39;t do ghost tours. This person wants a battlefield guide.
oliveri`s crystal lake hotel.
this is a great place to stay , has 100 seater + restaurant by the lake with fab veiws and mouth- watering dishes.聽 A++++++++聽 5*. and i was wondering why you dont show this on your map? with golf course`s a stone` throw away.
restaurants near plymouth meeting
Relatives staying at Plymouth Meeting, looking for recommendations on places to eat convenient to their hotel. Not too fancy.
restaurants near plymouth meeting
Cracker Barrel - south on 476, one exit from the mall. Also Ruby Tuesday at same exit next to the Hampton Inn. At the mall, find Atlanta Bread Company for lunch or lite dinner, and an Italian chain, Bertucci%26#39;s, for great pizzas, pasta dishes, etc.g
restaurants near plymouth meeting
just to clarify the request, would prefer recommendations to non-chain places, casual, that locals like
A couple of options, but closer to Chestnut Hill. Plymouth Meeting is dominated by chains restaurants.
Bruno%26#39;s - on Germantown Ave in Lafayette Hill, right on the edge of Fairmount Park, across from Chestnut Hill College (about 5-6 minutes from the mall.) Casual dining and fare - great hoagies, sandwiches and the like. Also good for breakfast.
If they want to take the drive into Chestnut Hill, here are my recommendations:
Cafette - off the beaten path of Germantown Ave, this is on Ardleigh Street, which runs one block over and parallel to G-town Ave. Very reasonable prices, great comfort food.
Cin Cin - best Chinese food in the area. Somewhat pricey but worth it. Lunch is a great bargain for the quality of the food.
McNally%26#39;s Tavern - home of the ';Schmitter'; - I actually like it better than a cheesesteak! Small Irish pub with good, basic sandwiches and the like.
Chestnut Grill - attached to the Chestnut Hill Hotel, good food - you can park in the lot behind the hotel for free.
If they want to travel in the other direction a few minutes, Conshohocken offers some options as well:
The Boathouse - good casual place for burgers, excellent wings and an amazing New England clam chowder
Great American Pub - another good burger and wing pub
Viggiano%26#39;s - I have not been here (going this Saturday night) but reasonably priced Italian and BYOB
Coyote Crossing - decent Mexican, but kind of pricey for what you get - the outdoor garden makes it worth it as well as some killer margaritas
Totaro%26#39;s - if they want to splurge, this is a hidden gem in Conshy. Doesn%26#39;t look like much from the outside, but some of the best Italian this area offers. Not cheap, though.
Hope that helps!
Suzanne
I was thinking about Chestnut Hill too. Have you been to the Persian kebab restaurant Shundeez that was written up in Sunday%26#39;s food section?
I have not been there and I missed the writeup. I%26#39;ll have to look it up online. I love Chestnut Hill because it is unique and quaint as well.
Suzanne
Viggiano%26#39;s is excellent, I%26#39;m sure you%26#39;ll enjoy it.
Thanks for all your recommendations. The Boathouse looks like it has a great beer selection which would go great with the wings.
Rocknroll,
I do really like the Boathouse for its excellent wings and beer but seriously, if anything is a NE clam chowder fan, they make a great one there, so don%26#39;t hesitate to order. I use to live across the street from the Boathouse in my younger grad school years and many a nights my hubby and I made dinner from a bowl of soup and an order of 20 wings washed down with a pitcher of Sierra Nevada. I don%26#39;t understand why I put on 15 lbs living there???!!!
Suzanne
How about JB Dawsons.
McNally%26#39;s Tavern - home of the ';Schmitter'; - I actually like it better than a cheesesteak! Small Irish pub with good, basic sandwiches and the like.
I%26#39;m all over this place. Leaving right after I type this post.
salon near station square
Ladies -- Any recommendations for a nice salon near the Sheraton Station Square (easy to find, preferably within 5-10 minutes)? I%26#39;ll be in town for a wedding and would like to schedule an apppointment for a style / updo. Thanks!
salon near station squareYou can take the T over to town and make an appt at Spa Uptown. They are located in the Marriott across from Mellon Arena. Ask for Jack - he is really good.
They also do great messages if you have time!
salon near station squareIf you have a car you could drive down Carson Street; there%26#39;s a Philip Pelusi on Carson, and a J DeStefano in the South Side Works. There%26#39;s not much within five minutes walking distance of Station Square.
Best Parking Option Courtyard Marriott at City Hall
Don%26#39;t want to pay for valet service offered by the Hotel. Is there a safe cheap alternative?
Best Parking Option Courtyard Marriott at City Hall
philapark.org/parkinglocator/parking_locator鈥?/a>
Don%26#39;t go by the prices on the right side- they are commuter prices. Explore the various parking lots for accurate pricing. Philadelphia Parking Authority garages usually have the best price. The closest one listed is at 1501 Arch, $19/day. In this case, valet service may be the best bet, as you would also have in/out privliges.
Best Parking Option Courtyard Marriott at City Hall
The garage on Filbert street (signed for the Reading Terminal market) is currently $18 per day with no in/out. They do raise the price if anything big is at the convention center.
thanks again!
Best Options to entertain a 2.5 year old?
We%26#39;ve already lined up Sesame Place, Please Touch Museum, and the Franklin Institute. Any other ideas?
Best Options to entertain a 2.5 year old?
Your child is probably too young for the FI. Consider the Academy of Natural Sciences instead. Outside In, on the 3rd floor of the Academy, is especially nice for toddlers.
The Reading Terminal Market is another favorite spot because of all the activity, food, music (there%26#39;s a piano at one seting area and other live music at Friday lunchtime) and just a really good vibe. My kids have always been happy to go there.
Depending on your child, the Philadelphia Museum of Art may be a good choice. My daughter always loved it, my son at 2 1/2 was too rambunctious.
Lynn
Best Options to entertain a 2.5 year old?
Definitely agree on substituting the Academy for the FI. The dinosaur area and the diaramas should also be entertaining. As I recall there is an area where you can ';dig'; for fossils. Also, there is a butterfly room.
The Philadelphia zoo is another possibility.
Ditto on the zoo or Nat Sciences versus the FI. Even though they are more kid focused, the FI is still targeted for ages 6 and up in general.
There%26#39;s a park near Old City called Three Bears park, if you just need somewhere to let off some steam (depending on where you are staying)
…parentsconnect.com/attraction/three-bears-p…
Three Bears is on the 300 block of Delancy. We love it!
Lynn
The seasame street place and the philadelphia zoo just be careful outside of the zoo area its a bad part.
thanks everyone! will definitely swap out the fi for something else. appreciate your help.
The Adventure Aquarium in Camden is right across the river. My little one loves it.
Bars for pre-game on saturday
Can someone recommend some downtown bars where we can grab a few drinks before hopping on the train to the Phillies stadium? Fun casual drink specials, etc...
Bars for pre-game on saturday
* Good Dog, 224 S. 15th (15th %26amp; Locust)
* Fergie%26#39;s 1214 Sansom
* McGillian%26#39;s 1300 block Drury (between broad %26amp; 13th, just below Sansom.
ghost tour in strasburg
my 15 year old daughter and i are going to lancaster in a few weeks, we are staying at willow valley...has anyone taken the ghost tour, if so, how was it? thanks.
ghost tour in strasburg
I went on it a few years ago. It was enjoyable. You walk around the town and they stop at some houses/landmarks and share ghost stories
Hershey Stadium Question
Is tailgating allowed in the Stadium parking lot? We%26#39;ll be seeing Springsteen in a few weeks and his typical concerts consist of thousands of people showing up hours early to get the party started in the parking lot! Just wondering if Hershey is strict when it comes to tailgating?
Hershey Stadium Question
Tailgating is allowed at Hershey. Almost every concert has tailgaters. I don%26#39;t know the rules Hersheypark has for tailgating, but I%26#39;m sure a quick phone call could get them answered. I will say that Hersheypark has a large security staff and the Derry Twp police and State Police (barracks across the street) are always on hand as well...
I would keep in mind traffic into Hershey if you have never been here on a day with a big concert. Backups can occur for miles and a single accident can and has caused many people to be late for a concert. Coming from York, you might be best to look at alternate routes than 83-322 (like 83-turnpike-exiting on PA 283)
Hershey Stadium Question
Thanks Hersheyfolks! We%26#39;re used to arriving hours before the concert and Bruce is always at least an hour late to start his shows. We did call over the weekend and they said tailgating is allowed but no alcohol, open fires and 1 parking space per vehicle. I%26#39;ve heard from other people that they are pretty strict with enforcing their rules. Oh well, we%26#39;ll still have fun!
Just keep in mind if you arrive too early around noon the parking staff may make you park with the Hershey park crowds.
My daughters and I arrived around 12:00 for a Jonas Brothers concert and encountered this problem. I expalained to the staff that we were there for the show not the park and they allowed us to park by the stadium. Many others were not so lucky.
My advice to you would be to try to park by the stadium but as close to the exit as possible. It took us over an hour to exit. Hershey park does a very poor job of traffic control after a concert.
My suggestions for parking would be to park as
FAR AWAY from the stadium as possible! It will mean more walking at the beginning and end of the concert, but we%26#39;ve found our exit to be much easier by doing the following:
There are two, perhaps three automatic lift gates on the opposite side of parking from where you enter. They dump you onto Park Drive. Drive around a bit and find them. Park close to them and back into the space.
If you make a left onto Park Drive, you will be eventually be forced onto Chocolate Ave. Make a right onto Chocolate Ave and it will become 322 East. You can follow this to get onto 81 or 83 (which will take you to any other major artery) Avoid Hersheypark Drive and anything that feeds into it.
Another suggestion (if you are not tailgating) is to park at the parking garage on Chocolate Ave next to Houlihans and walk in. It is a 10 minute walk at most and will get you in and out quicker than anything. There is no fee to park at the garage. Walk to the back of the garage and follow the fence surrounding Hersheypark (go left!!) and you will come to an entrance between Hersheypark and Chocolate World. Simple!
The key to avoiding problems when there are 30k+ people is to not get stuck with all of them!
hersheyfolks, you have made my day with the suggestion of the parking garage. I%26#39;ll also be going to the Springsteen concert and was dreading the traffic congestion.
Road trip - healthy eating - help please
I am planning to drive across the US, from North East to South West, in August 2008.
Can anyone suggest places to reliably find healthy food whilst driving - markets or stores or eating places?
I do not eat many food types - including all this:
No dairy, no sugar, no gluten, no alcohol, no fruit (sugar), no wheat, no caffeine, no %26#39;junk%26#39;.
I do eat wholegrains, nuts, seeds, fish, meat, pulses (beans), sprouted seeds, and so on, but only when free of sugar. I eat a lot of vegetables, freshly cooked and organic where possible.
I eat little salt and oddly butter is allowed. Goats products are also ok, as is occassional natural yoghurt but milk is out!
The last time I did this journey, the food choices on route were very disappointing and after week two my guts were aching from lack of fibre (despite a supply of figs and fibre, they could not combat the processed white flours and refined foods).
The route is not yet defined but it is a big country and despite a lot of ';good places to eat';, it is the %26#39;other%26#39; places that are of concern - where there seems only fast food outlets and foods from flour, fat and sugar.
Has anyone a tip for where to find reliable supplies, a particular store or chain?
The car is to be loaded up with supplies, obviously, and this diet does allow meat and fish and rice and beans and vegetables ... but, any tips would be very helpful - and useful to many other people too, not just travellers but all who have weight to lose, nutrients to find, and who care for their bodies.
Best wishes - and thanks in advance!
Malcolm
Road trip - healthy eating - help please
Two food store chains meeting your needs have moved into this region in recent years. They are Trader Joe%26#39;s and Whole Foods. See www.traderjoes.com and www.wholefoodsmarket.com for locations. Also, Wegmans stores, are large supermarkets centered largely in New York state. They would also carry many of the products you need. See www.wegmans.com for locations. If you would like the names of specific restaurants, I would map out the trip and ask for suggestions specifically in the cities of your travel.
Road trip - healthy eating - help please
Another site to visit is localharvest.org. Searchable by state or zip code, it can help you find organic farms, co-ops, and farmers%26#39; markets.
Even in the past five years, large grocery stores have started carrying more of the products you%26#39;re looking for. Giant, a regional chain, has entire organic and whole foods sections in most stores.
As you plan your trip, you may want to look for the college towns, especially in rural areas, as they will have more food choices.
Good luck and enjoy your trip!
Train or bus to NYC
Driving from Ohio east on I-80, which is the best destination for a place where we can stay the night and then take a train or bus to NYC the following morning. We%26#39;d want a place where we can safely park our car while we stay overnight in NYC.
Train or bus to NYCStroudsburg would be a good spot. Regular bus service and lots of daily commuters to NYC. Here%26#39;s the schedule: www.martzpoconos.com/from-stroudsburg-pnr.asp (PABT is Port Authority Bus Terminal.)
Train or bus to NYCStroudsburg...seriously?! I%26#39;m smiling to myself because I%26#39;ve been to NYC just once in my lifetime -- 40 years ago when I was working as a counselor at Camp Eljabar in Dingman%26#39;s Ferry, and on my day off several other counselors and I caught a ride to Stroudsburg and took the bus to NYC for the day.
Park crowds on the Tuesday of the Springsteen concert?
I had been planning to take Tuesday, August 19, off from work to take the family (including kids 9 and 6) to Hershey Park and avoid the weekend crowds. Checking the Hershey website today... oh no! The Bruce Springsteen concert at the Hershey stadium is that evening! Can any Hershey regulars advise me whether my crowd-avoidance strategy is now bust? Any guesses whether the lines would be so long as to make a trip not worthwhile? (My family would not have the patience to go on a weekend, for example.) For context, we went to Hershey park midweek at the end of August last summer and had a great time. Except for the Boardwalk area, lines were plenty short for us.
Thanks!
Park crowds on the Tuesday of the Springsteen concert?
Anytime there is a concert in the evening you risk the crowds in the park being bigger; however, it%26#39;s not a certainity especially since this is a weekday concert. Sorry I can%26#39;t offer any more definite info.
colonial/revolutionary america themed vacation help
Hi. I posted this on another forum, so hopefully I鈥檒l hear back from someone! :-P My family is doing a one week vacation next summer. I have two boys, one will be 12 and the other 8. My wife and I decided to do a Colonial America themed trip because our oldest will be learning some american history in the upcoming school year. We have 9 days, traveling from New Hampshire. We want to hit Philadelphia, Washington, and Williamsburg.
We are going to make an entire year out of the theme, visiting Minuteman National Historical Park (Lexington and Concord) on Patriot鈥檚 Day in April, and in June, visit Bunker Hill and walk the Freedom Trail in Boston...see Boston Tea Party, Old North Church, Paul Revere House, Faneuil Hall/Quincy Market, graves of revolutionaries...etc. I love colonial and revolutionary american history, so I have brought my boys up with the same passion. Not too worried about them being bored with all the history involved. We do the Lexington Green battle reenactment every year. I figured if they get tired of the 1770s, we%26#39;ll end the trip with Busch Gardens. So far we have come up with this itinerary:
DAY
1: Drive to Philadelphia
2. Philadelphia - Independence National Historical Park (Visitor Center/Independence Hall/Liberty Bell/ National Constitution Center/Ben Franklin Grave)
3. Valley Forge National Historical Site; drive to DC
4. Washington - White House (outside view), National Mall (Washington/Lincoln/Jefferson/war memorials鈥tc), US Capitol Building and the new visitor center, tour
5. Washington - National Archives (Charters of Freedom), National Museum of American History; maybe an hour at the end of the day seeing the most significant items at the National Air %26amp; Space Museum
6. Mount Vernon in the morning (3 hours enough?), then head to Colonial National Historical Park, primarily to see Yorktown for a few hours in the afternoon鈥?google maps says 2.5 hours away from Vernon, so I rounded to 3 hours to be safe, should be in Yorktown by 3:00? Closes at 5:00, so this is my biggest concern if we鈥檒l have enough time there. If the visitor center closes at 5:00, can we still drive around into the evening? Someone let me know how I can make this day worth it for both places, because I would like to take part in the siege walking tour. I would like to spend atleast 3 hours at each.
7. Colonial Williamsburg
8. Busch Gardens Williamsburg
9. LONG drive back over Chesapeake Bay Bridge to home in New Hampshire
Thanks in advance for you help! Cheers鈥ike
colonial/revolutionary america themed vacation help
Quick thoughts, thats a little ambitious, but doable.. Your missing some stuff in Philly but hitting the main things. Pre-order your independence
hall tix on line to make sure you get an early time.
Day 4 in washington is light, but you%26#39;ll need the rest. Can%26#39;t speak to day 6.
colonial/revolutionary america themed vacation help
I%26#39;m a Philly native and have taken plenty of out-of-town friends on tours of the city, especially the little known and less touristy parts.
I agree with the other poster in regards to ordering tix in advance. Not that long ago, there was never a line to get into Independence Hall or to really see the Liberty Bell. That has all changed.
In June, I took my gf%26#39;s mother and friend (both native NYers who%26#39;d never been to Philly proper) on my ';Taste of Philly'; walking and driving tour.
The wait to get into the State House (aka Independence Hall) was 3 hours. The line snaked around and around. The wait for the Liberty Bell was at least an hour. I miss the old glass pavilion it was housed it. I%26#39;d have my friends put their noses up to the glass is there were more than a dozen people in line to get in.
Read up on the Bell, it had little to nothing to do with Independence. Once you know the ';story'; you might elect to avoid it all together other than just to say you saw it.
Don%26#39;t forget Betsy Ross%26#39;s house a couple blocks away to the north. Ben Franlin%26#39;s House, post office and print shop are on 3rd and Market. Be sure to go to the underground museum circa 1976 and ';talk'; to dead presidents!
I recommend visiting the nationally acclaimed Franklin Fountain for some non-colonial homemade turn-of-the-century ice cream at 2nd and Market. Independence MALL is at 5 and Market.
For cheesesteaks, try Campo%26#39;s right on Market between 2nd and 3rd. Quality steaks and they are on South Philly seeded rolls. I recommend that you stay away from Jim;s on South St. And, it%26#39;s not worth going to South Philly to try Pat%26#39;s or Geno%26#39;s. It%26#39;s easy to get lost going there and the neighborhood can be rough. If you do decide to go to Pat%26#39;s and Geno%26#39;s, take a cab (don%26#39;t have them wait for you after the drop you off!!!) and order one steak from Pat%26#39;s and then cross the street to Geno%26#39;s and order one there. Eat them side by side. Then hail another cab and have them take you straight up 9th Street through the Italian (and now ';Mexican';) Market. You%26#39;ll see the same street scenes in the original Rocky movie.
If you do the Rocky steps, take a cab there. At the top you%26#39;ll find Rocky%26#39;s bronzed footprints and a statue at the bottom of the steps to the left.
Philly is as walkable as Boston, which is where I%26#39;m headed to next week in fact.
Elfreth%26#39;s Alley is the oldest residential street in the US and is usually a quaint starting point for any of my homemade tours. It%26#39;s in the shadow of the Ben Franklin Bridge, too!
Visit Washington Sq which is 1/2 a block behind Independence Hall. There%26#39;s a statue of Washington and it%26#39;s the burial ground for a number of Revolutionary soldiers and the grave of the Unknown.
From NH to Philly, it%26#39;s about 6 hours. Leave early enough and you can get a lot of the little things I mentioned done the first day and leave the 2nd day for the bigger items: Independence National Historical Park -- Visitor Center/Independence Hall/Liberty Bell/ National Constitution Center (which is all part of the same thing), Ben franlin%26#39;s House. His grave is a few blocks away.
Betsy Ross%26#39; house takes about 15 minutes to run through it. There are colonial dressed actors out front in the courtyard. I think they are more entertaining than the house itself which may or may not have been the actual house she lived in! SHHHH! Don%26#39;t tell anyone that.
I%26#39;d check out the Quaker Meeting House that is on the grounds of the Independence National Historical Park (northeast corner). There is usually a really good actor there in a rocking chair who is a real present day Quaker.
A block or 2 north is something very uncolonial... the US Mint.
I%26#39;d visit Christ%26#39;s Church on 2nd above Market where Washington prayed, Carpenter%26#39;s Hall and Tun Tavern, which no longer stands, Carpenter%26#39;s Hall is traditionally held as the place where the Marine Corps was founded. The 2nd National Bank is worth a visit, as well.
Valley Forge is really a half day trip, at best. Give yourself about 30 to 45 minutes to get there on I76 with light to medium traffic. I haven%26#39;t been there in years, but have heard there are a lot of improvements. The log cabins are neat, especially for kids. They may have colonial actors there now. One of the largest malls on the East Coast is a stone%26#39;s throw from VF, King of Prussia Mall.
Down aways from VF and KofP Mall is the Battle of Brandywine site just north of the Delaware border.
Just off 95 in DE near the very last exit before Maryland is the site of the only Rev. War battle fought in DE, Cooch%26#39;s Bridge. If you want to visit a site, I%26#39;d go with Brandywine. It%26#39;s huge part of the larger Chadds Ford/Brandywine Valley area. Cooch%26#39;s Bridge is hard to access with the traffic and you%26#39;d miss it if you blinked.
The Battle of Germantown took place about 6 miles from Independence Hall. It%26#39;s within Philadelphia and very quaint and not a site most people visit. A little off the beaten path, but not as much as Cooch%26#39;s Bridge.
The trip to DC will take you 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 hours depending upon traffic. The Valley Forge area can be EXTREMELY congested near and during rush hour, especially on I76. I95 South shouldn%26#39;t be a problem (watch for PA State Troopers near the Philly airport and in DE near Newark by the MD border) until you get between Balto and DC. The Beltway can be murder at rush hour, as well.
You may find you%26#39;ll need more than 1 1/2 days in Philly after all.
Have fun!
You should really visit Washington Crossing PA/NJ. It%26#39;s a little less than an hour north of the city and is at the very least as interetsting as Valley Forge. You can hit it on you way in by getting off the NJT at Exit 7, and take I-195 West to NJ-29 North. It%26#39;s about a 30 minute ride from Exit 7. You can park on the PA or NJ side and walk across the bridge. The PA side is more interesting, IMO.
Also, IMO, you are doing yourselves a disservice by not spending more time in DC. While it has nothing to do with Colonial America, there is so much to see there. When you visit the Vietnam War Memorial, bring tissues. Get to The National Archives first thing in the morning- before they open. The line gets very, very long, and it is really the one thing in your entire tour that should not be missed. You will wish you spent more time at the Air %26amp; Space Museum, though.
Also, keep in mind that Colonial Williamsburg is a re-creation, not the real thing.
Bobbyjack - welcome to the Philly forum. Great post!
Many locations along the East Coast have sites from the Revolutionary War, but only Philadelphia (and more broadly Pennsylvania) is the place where our country%26#39;s foundation was laid. My advice to you while in Philly is to skip sites that have to do only with the War and focus on establishment of US government, particularly the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. What many people don%26#39;t realize is how much our civil liberties were inspired by the laws of William Penn. The National Park focuses on the narrow span of years of the Revolutionary War and does not get into early Philly history.
By the way, the ';fighting'; Quaker Meetinghouse is a neat stop but has little significance to the establishment of the nation. You%26#39;d learn more at either the Atwater Kent Museum or the Arch Street Meetinghouse at 4th and Arch. (This is still an active Friends Meeting.)
Also, if you want to see another extraordinary aspect of Colonial Philly, tour the Old Philadelphia Congregations. These sites are still active religious communities with Colonial or Federalist Era roots. They are witness to the diversity that resulted from the tolerence here. Even if you don%26#39;t visit the sites, I recommend the website holyexperiment.org.
With regard to the Liberty Bell, I agree that with limited time I%26#39;d skip it in favor of Franklin Court. Also, I%26#39;d skip the Betsy Ross House (more lore than history) in favor of Elfreths Alley, a more expansive look at the homes of the Colonial working class.
If you were going to spend more time here I%26#39;d say take half a day to tour Cliveden, where the Battle of Germantown was fought. The home, with furnishings, documents, paintings, etc., was given to the National Trust in 1972 after being in the same family almost continuously since the Colonial Era. Incredibly comprehensive tour.
Lynn
Mike
If you haven%26#39;t already, take a look at ushistory.org. This is, IMO, the best website for planning a visit to Philly.
Lynn
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