Hi all,
First time visitor to Philadelphia with a couple of completely unrelated questions:
1. What do you think of the Eastern State Penitentiary - it seems like a pretty interesting place to visit from their website - what are your views? Worth seeing?

2. What's the fastest (and easiest) way to get from Center City to Franklin Mills Mall and the King of Prussia Mall. I tried the SEPTA website and it seems the trip (on SEPTA bus) will take about 1 1/2 hours each way to Franklin Mills from Center City and about an hour to King of Prussia Mall - does that sound about right?

Never toured the pen, but people who have tell me it's interesting.

One hour to the K of P mall sounds about right. Not sure about Franklin Mills, but 90 minutes seems reasonable.

The easiest way to get there is of course by car, and it's about 30 minutes from Center City. I did that trip a few weeks ago, and Franklin Mills is one of my FAVORITE place to shop. GREAT deals there all the time.

When you get there, stop by the court area in the Aqua section and pick up a discount coupon book. That gives you even bigger discounts at most of the stores. I just bought a BEAUTIFUL seafoam green leather jacket there for $20.

YOu might check with a cab service in Philly on the cost to get there from center city, but the times you quoted on the bus are probably correct.

The website for Franklin Mall, is www.franklinmills.com.

Have a GREAT time.

Eastern State Penitentiary is a great, underrated attraction. At the time of its construction in the 1820s, it was the most expensive building in the U.S. The place provides a good lesson on the development of the penal system architecturally. It is in ruins, but that adds to the experience. You are free to roam in and out of cells within several cellblocks. The place is creepy - alot of brutality went on in there. You will not be disappointed.

I, too, believe you will find Eastern State fascinating.

I've never taken SEPTA to K of PA or FM, but those times sound about right.

90 minutes to FM sounds long. I live actually very near ESP and it's only a 25 minute drive (not during rush hour though!)

I'll only been to ESP during their haunted house, but I definitely am meaning to go back for the normal tour. I've heard only good things about it.