Day trip to Philly
 

I will have a friend visiting from abroad next week. We'll be staying in NY most of the time, but I also wanted to show him Philadelphia. We're likely to drive there next Saturday. Question: once we get to Philly, is it better to park the car and use public transportation/walk? How is the parking situation? Also, if you had 7-8 hours in the city, what are the must-sees? Thanks in advance.

Hi! Next week will be the Philadelphia Flower Show, so your best bet is probably to try to park down in the lower numbered streets of Center City and walk from there or even just come into the city and use public transport from there. Of course, if you'd like to visit the Flower Show, that could take a large part of the day!

But the "must-sees" for one day could be so many things: I'd say that the Liberty Bell/Independence Hall area would certainly be among them; go to the Visitor's Center on Market Street to find out about times of tours and security proceedings. The new Constitution Center is super and in that area as well. There are quite a few other historic buildings and exhibits in the area, such as Franklin Court and the Liberty Museum.

I usually suggest the Reading Terminal Market for lunch, but it's gonna be mobbed! That's about 7-8 blocks up and right across from the Convention Center.

In lieu of that, there are a number of food court places in the Bourse Building, and some great restaurants in the area; I'm not sure which would be open Saturdays for lunch, though.

The Art Museum (to which you could drive or take public trans) is having a Dali expo; there are other interesting museums along the Parkway: Franklin Institute, Academy of Natural Sciences.

My favorite museum is the U of PA Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, but that's not necessarily a "must" on a one day visit.

Of course, a lot depends on your and your friend's interests; there's a lot to see and do! The downtown area really is super for walking, if you're a walker at all; the Visitor Center will be able to give you walking tours.

Have a great time!

Parking is tough to find in Philly especially on a weekend night. I agree with Amy, you should take public transportation if you can.
Like Amy said, you should try to catch the flower show and there is also a Salvador Dali exhibit at the Art Museum, which I heard was great. The Franklin Institue is always fun too.
If you want to go some place for dinner that is hip and not too expensive try Roy's, they have a hawaiian fusion cuisine.
Hope you have a great trip!

I really think that if you are arriving in Philly in the morning, you won't have any trouble parking. I'd park at the Bourse at 4th and Chestnut..it's in a great spot for sightseeing plus, you can go to Cosi across the street from the lot and get a coffee and a goodie before you see the city. I'd see the Liberty Bell, Visitors Center and Independence Hall and walk around in Old City. The Visitors Center will help you decide on things that may be really interesting to you in the city and they are very helpful. There are a lot of good restaurants in that area (Continental, Buddakan, Fork, Tangerine).

I work as a volunteer every year at the Flower Show and though it is spectacular, it is extremely crowded and overwhelming and it's not about Philadelphia, it's about gardening. So if you're interested in flowers and gardening, then stop by, if not go see the city.

The Art Museum is wonderful and the Rittenhouse Square area is nice for some shopping and more good restaurants (Monks, Brasserie Perrier, Alma de Cuba, Pasion, Susanna Foo, Striped Bass).

Check out gophilly.com and have fun!!!

Try www.gophila.com

You have received some good advice on outstanding attractions in Philadelphia. While it may not be on the typical itinerary of a one-day Philadelphia visit, I'd like to put in a word for Dream Garden, the Maxfield Parrish/Tiffany mosaic mural in the lobby of the Curtis Building. It's quite a spectacular expperience of light and color. Free admission, no lines. If you are exploring Independence Park, it's just across Sixth Street, near Walnut.

http://www.gophila.com/culturefiles/...rden/index.htm

Enjoy Philadelphia!

Good restaurant picks mei! Alma de Cuba is excellent. I've also heard that EL Vez and Morimoto is good, although Morimoto's is quite expensive.

These restaurant and cultural suggestions are great, but don't forget about looking for little restaurants and less expensive events that are designed for those of us who aren't made of money!

The Dali exhibit at the Art Museum is nothing short of spectacular even if you only have minimal interest in his art. But one MAJOR disclaimer. The exhibit is so popular that it often sells out on Saturdays. When I went there last weekend, the people entering behind us were bewildered to find it was completely sold out. If you're going to be there on a Saturday and your heart is set on seeing Dali, best to buy tickets ahead of time. And be prepared for crowds.

Do some of the historic stuff, but then take the friend to Pat's AND Geno's for cheesesteaks, and walk across to the Italian market to get pepperoni and cheese to take home. Or the Mummer's museum- now that will blow his mind.

Thanks everybody for your responses; they're extremely helpful. I'm looking forward to visiting your city.

Is the Bourse at 4th and Chestnut a parking garage or a street to try and find parking on? I may try to head to Philly on a Sat. sometime soon over the next few weeks and have found this info. helpful. I'm a foodie, so I know I'd like to go to Reading Terminal and also go to Capogiro for gelato- are these walkable from the Bourse (whatever that is????)

Thanks!

The Bourse is just a mixed use building that has offices and retail space. Capogiro and Reading Terminal Market are 10 blocks from The Bourse. Are you driving to Philly or taking public transportation you

We would be driving from Northern NJ. When we go to Manhattan I always know to look in the far West Village for parking on the street, and I usually find something. Are there any areas in Philly not too far out of the area that I want to be in, where on an early Sat. am I may find something?

If you go to the Italian Market (9th & Washington) you will find on street parking and also lots that are probably $2. The Italian Market is 20+ blocks from Reading Terminal Market. There, you may find on street parking at a meter but it is strictly hit or miss. I would probably check out the Italian Market first. It runs along 9th street and is a collection of open air stalls and shops including butchers, fish mongers, cheese shops, produce, etc.. The Reading Terminal Market is an enclosed "mall" for lack of a better term where there are stall with various vendors of food stuffs, sandwich shops, etc..

I went to Philly a couple weeks ago for a day (Saturday). We parked the car three times in one day because we wanted to check out different areas. It wasn't terrible...it never took more than 5 minutes to find a spot once we started looking. Bring tons of quarters...you'll have to feed the meters!

Where did we park? Once on Chestnut, once a few blocks north of South Street, once a few blocks off Broad St. All were in near the historic stuff (Old City?). You really have to mind the time on the meters - we arrived back at the car 5 minutes too late with a ticket on the window. Luckily it was cheap - $30 - VERY cheap compared to the $125 tickets you get in NYC.