It is a fairly long walk from city hall to the ARt Museum, but it is a nice walk. Since you're from NYC, you're probably used to walking quite a bit. You can also stop at the Rodin Museum for a break. Alternatively, you can ride the Philly Phlash.
http://www.gophila.com/C/Tours_and_transportation/401/U/Phlash/1303.html

If you leave in the evening, it's better to take a taxi or a bus.

Around Independence Park, yes, you can spend a whole day there. It's actually a fairly short walk from City Hall, and it's a nice walk (along Walnut Street). Make sure you stop at the Visitors Center first thing in the morning to get your free timed ticket to visit the Independence Hall. The National Constitution Center has lots of displays, enough to occupy you for a few hours. Also don't forget to stop by the Reading Terminal Market.

If you like art, you can also check out the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts.
http://www.pafa.org/

Depends on how much you love Impressionist Art, you should consider a 1/2 day trip out to the Barnes Foundation. It is one of a kind, and given the fact that it will eventually be moved, it is even more essential to visit it at its original location before the move. Advance tickets is an absolute must.
http://www.barnesfoundation.org/

I was just in Philly this weekend and walked from near City Hall to the Museum of Art. It took about 15 minutes. It's a beautiful walk. There's also plenty to look at near Independence Park. If you like architecture, be sure to check out Old City. I think the best museum in town is the Constitution Museum.

great thread gail! I too was wondering how much time to devote to Independence Park. Currently I have reservations at 10:00 am to Independance Hall. I also have 3:00 pm tea for dd and I at the Four Seasons... I hope that 4 hours is enough in Independence Hall...

I was just in Philly about a month ago for a conference and stayed at a hotel near city hall. I would highly recommend using the city trolley signtseeing bus since you can get on and off anywhere. You can catch it either by Market St. or somewhere on 17th - your hotel can tell you what stop is closer. It goes everywhere you would want to see - up Ben Franklin to the Rodin Museum (which I highly recommend) and also the Art Museum, through Old Town and Independence Hall/Liberty Bell area (which I also highly recommend), the waterfront (another nice area), and also right past the Reading Market (definitely a "to do").

I would also recommend Chris Jazz Club which is on Samson St. (right near Union League building) -- Very cool, friendly and intimate place that has jazz bands every night.

I didn't get a chance, but I believe there are also daily tours of City Hall (? ~12:30pm), which would probably be interesting.

I was there last year at this time.

While my wufe was shopping for an hour or so I followed the path of the Mural art project.

If you Google it there have a map of the mural locations. Very interesting.

Once again the Fodor-ites rock! Thanks everybody for the help and suggestions. I am very excited to do everything.

From City Hall on down to the Independence Mall area is actually a nice walk, too, especially for those who are interested in architecture. One of my favorite buildings is the Lit Brothers Building on the north side of Market St.; there's a Ross on the main floor, but I love the restored building above. www.gophila.com has some great walking tours of the city; in the Independence Mall area alone there's the Constitution Center, Carpenter's Hall, the Second Bank Portrait Gallery, the Liberty Museum, Franklin Court...

It's a very walkable city, and I do hope you enjoy it! (Here's hoping the heat will be down a bit from what it's been...)

Here are a few links you might enjoy:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threadselect.jsp?fid=1&tid=35125012

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threadselect.jsp?fid=1&tid=35102414 (This one includes a link to the "Franklin Walk" that's one of my favorites for history.)

Have fun!

Hi gail. The walk to the Art Museum is very nice. On your way, I think you'd like stopping by the Rodin Museum for a bit. The entrance is the Gates of Hell.

Around Independence Hall, you can walk to several interesting historic sites. If you go up 2nd St., you can visit Elfreths (Sp?) Alley and Christ Church. Across the street from Christ Church is my favorite used book store, The Book Trader.

If you are staying near City Hall, there's no reason to get on the subway if you're fine with walking. City Hall is at Broad and Market and Broad is really 14th Street.

The Independence Hall area is around 5th and 6th Sts - it'll be closer than your walk to the Art Museum. I believe it would probably take you as long to walk down and wait for a subway car than to walk (but it has been years since I've been on the Phila. subway).

Since you'll be near City Hall, consider a tour of City Hall itself. It's the world's tallest masonry building. There are some beautiful rooms inside worth seeing and the view from the top is nice, too.

I haven't been to Philly for years, but finally planning a trip back to the city where I grew up. As a kid, I used to love to take the rickety old elevator to the top of City Hall and stand under William Penn (it was Wm Penn, wasn't it? My memory is vague. Excuse me!) Can you still get that elevator to the top? It was so much fun seeing the view.

Thanks, everyone for all the suggestions here. Bookmarking.

It is indeed William Penn, ironically of course, as he wouldn't have approved of the statue at all. As far as I know, you can still visit the tower, and there are very interesting tours of the building on offer at times. (I'll have to check out for sure next time I'm down there, as I haven't been on the tour for a few years. At one point I met up with Mayor "Eddie" down there; there's nobody like him for this Philadelphian!)

Thank you, Amy. I guess my memory is not that bad after all. I am looking forward to seeing Philly again. Odd to think, that Phila. has officially named the historic section, the "old city." I predate the use of that term.

Well, to most of us it's still all "Cenner Siddy" (Center City); the "Old City" designation does help identify the original bit, I suppose!

Yeah, it's Center City to me, too!

annetti - we last did the City Hall tour about 2 years ago and the the rickety old elevator was still working then.

Thanks, BarryK. I hope my trip doesn't fall through. I am really looking forward to visiting Phila, It will be fun to revisit old places, take the elevator to the top of City Hall and take the tour. I never knew there was one, so I'll add that to my list. I shall be asking more questions and scanning this board as my trip gets closer. Thanks again, everyone.

Amy, What is the Lits Bldg being used for now? Ditto for Wanamaker's? Does the Eagle still exist?

The Lits bldg is now offices on the top and a group of stores at street level, including what I heard one lady call the "Mothership", the main Ross store.

Wanamakers has gone through several changes, and is now a Macy's--the "Iggle" is still right there, as is the Christmas fountain show. They don't use most of the floors for the store, though. (For those not familiar with Wanamakers, this is the store used in "Mannequin" and other movies. Quite worth a visit!)

Unfortunately Strawbridge's is closed; that was always my favorite in previous days, although they hadn't transitioned well after the family sold it, IMHO.