Hi everybody! pls help me come up with a great itinerary for these 2 cities where I can maximize my time and money and see a lot of the recommended sights. I will be staying in Philly from Jan 15-17 and in NY from Jan 18-20.

What are your interests?
If you are interested in historical sites in Phila......you will need a timed ticket to get into Independence Hall. You get them at the Visitors Center. Go there first and get you tickets. Visit the Constirution Center, Independence Hall, Liberty Bell, Franklin Court, etc. All the historic sites are within walking distance of each other. There are guided tours available. The Phila. Art Museum is wonderful also. The city has great restaurants also. Go to
www.gophila.com to see what events are going on while you're here. You can also get hotel and restaurant info there.

That should be Constitution Center.

New York has enough recommended sights for at least a week. without knowing you and your interests it's hard to be specific.

I would start with the desinations section above and also look at some of the recent posts to get some idea.

My basics:

The Met (visit the web site to pick 3/4 depeartments - the whole place will take days)

Ellis Island Immigration Museum (and ferry to it with photo op at Statue of Lierty)

Top of the Rock

Central Park (if weather cooperates) - zoo, Belvedere Castle, etc

At least one Broadway show (get discount codes on broadwaybox.com and take to the show's ticket seller's site - to avoid standing on line at TKTS when you get here)

MoMA - if you like modern art

Museum of Natrual History - if that or th planetarium are your interest

Tour at leasat one real neighborhood (upper west side, Greenwich Village, lower east side) one afternoon evening (many shops are open late - often til 11 or 12 and there are tons of great inexpensive restaurants, cafes and bars)

I'll state what others have only hinted at: we can't give you any really useful info UNLESS we know (1) what you hope to experience during your visits, (2) how much you are willing to spend, (3) your mode of transport, and (4) where you will be staying. We can tell you things WE would enjoy, but we can't tell you things YOU would enjoy.

The best approach is to make your own itinerary, then post it here while stating your hopes. Many people will give you feedback on how true to reality your initial ideas are.