Public Transportation

Is there public transportation to the track from the 30th Street Amtrak Station?

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 Langhorne

Thanks!

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

day cream

cryptoapi vs capicom

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!

networking

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.

day cream

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

Ceviche?

Does anyone know of anywhere in the area that makes ceviche?

Thanks in advance:)

Micki

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 Park

Another 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 Park

I 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.

about interracial couples

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!

day cream

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!

migrating existing portal

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.