Philadelphia ?

Old Aug 20th, 2014, 08:53 AM
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Philadelphia ?

We have been to The States many times before (from Scotland).

We have been offered silly flight prices to West Palm Beach then onto The Bahamas which includes a full day in Philadelphia.

Simple question what could we do with 24 ours in Philadelphia ?

My current only knowledge of the city is based on a Bruce Springsteen video and cream cheese!
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Old Aug 20th, 2014, 08:56 AM
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http://www.fodors.com/world/north-am.../philadelphia/
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Old Aug 20th, 2014, 09:12 AM
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There are others with a better feel for what to do in Phila. in 24 hours, but to get started: any interest in American history? Food? Art?

~Liz
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Old Aug 20th, 2014, 10:20 AM
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Must visit: Independence Hall.
After that, it depends on your interests. As elberko notes, to answer your question we would have to know what experience YOU enjoy having. Something WE might enjoy, YOU might find utterly boring -- and vice-versa. So, until we get more information from you, the only thing we can tell you is what WE like.

BTW, the cream cheese with the brand name "Philadelphia" has nothing to do with the city, and never has.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cream_cheese#United_States
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Old Aug 21st, 2014, 06:16 AM
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That Fodors guide is a bit off. Betsy Ross house ahead of the Barnes Foundation? I don't think so.

Phila has something for everyone. It's got world class museums, world class music and world class food.
My top picks:
Barnes Foundation. One of a kind. http://www.barnesfoundation.org/
Rosenbach Library. http://rosenbach.org/
Rittenhouse Square
Coffee at La Colombe on 19th Street just off Rittenhouse Square, esp if you've been fed the ignorant nonsense that you can't get good coffee in the U.S.
Pastries at Miel on 17th, next to the Radisson Blu, between Walnut and Locust
Drinks at Dirty Frank's. http://www.dirtyfranksbar.com/
Walk Delancey Street from 2nd Street to 6th, then Pine from 6th to 9th, then Clinton from 9th to 11th, back to Pine (Dirty Franks is at 13th and Pine) or Spruce, cross Broad Street, Locust Street to Rittenhouse Square or go back to Delancey Street. Much of The Sixth Sense was shot on Delancey between 20th and 21st (that's where Bruce Willis's character "lived").

Watch the Philadelphia episode of Anthony Bordain's The Layover. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TcbbXlfu744 for some more ideas.
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Old Aug 21st, 2014, 08:16 AM
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All excellent suggestions here, it really depends on your interests and mood on the day, but I think anyone could happily pass a stimulating 24 hours in Philly. The Barnes Foundation is unique in the world and well worth a visit, but I think you still need to make reservations in advance as they strictly control how many people can be there at once.
http://www.barnesfoundation.org/

I also like the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The Rocky statue is no longer at the top of the iconic stairs, but it's there, off to one side. And Thomas Eakins' wonderful painting, The Gross Clinic, is there. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Gross_Clinic
http://www.philamuseum.org

Reading Terminal Market is fun, for me. It's cavernous, gives you a good feel for the way various ethnicities have influenced Philly food, and there are crafts, too. I like to see the men and women in Amish dress manning various bakery counters. http://www.readingterminalmarket.org

And of course, you can take a walk to see Independence Hall, the Betsy Ross House and the Liberty Bell at least from the outside, if your interest in American history is not intense. (The bell is housed in a glass-enclosed atrium, so you can see it from the outside.)

Once, we took the HOHO bus around Philly and enjoyed it thoroughly. It's a very walkable city, but the bus gave us a quick overview (as traffic is not usually that awful in off hours). It's a really attractive city, with loads of good walking along the river or through cobblestoned neighborhoods.
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Old Aug 21st, 2014, 09:49 AM
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Concur there is a lot to do in Philadelphia--more than enough to fill 24 hours. Lots of good suggestions above. We took the HOHO bus in Philadelphia and enjoyed it, something we have not done elsewhere.
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Old Aug 21st, 2014, 09:51 AM
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I agree that with one day total, the HOHO bus is a great idea to get a really good "feel" for the city, the main attractions, and the overall layout. I'd do that first thing, then either get off when you feel inspired, or do the whole route and then go back to a place of two that stands out.
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