I've been searching for a one day itinerary and haven't really found anything straightforward as far as parking, starting & end points, etc. It'll be me, my wife, and our 6 month old. Looking for a moderate to easy day. We're coming from the Central Jersey Shore.

Was wondering if you could share, or point me to something that tells me:

1. Where to park
2. Where to start
3. Where to eat lunch (reading terminal market seems to get good reviews)
4. Where to go from there.
5. Where to end.
6. Avg costs for the above.

Thanks SO SO much.

Thanks!

www.gophila.com is a great resource; here's some info to get you started:

1. Where to park depends a lot on where you want to go: you can park (and start) at Penn's Landing and do the historic bits from there to 5th and Market, or you can park at 8th and Arch and go down to the historic area, but be closer to Reading Terminal if you want to go there for lunch

2. The Visitors' Center at 5th and Market is a good starting point if you want to get tickets to Independence Hall; the earlier the better, but you can also reserve online. Again, so much depends on what you want to see/do, so:
2.A. Penn's Landing, Society Hill (historic homes), Elfreth's Alley (oldest continuously inhabited street in America), Christ's Church, Fire Museum, Franklin Court, Arch St. Quaker Meeting House, B.Ross house, Free Quaker Meeting House, ending up with Independence Hall and Liberty Bell=Old City, start at Penn's Landing, eat at one of the many great Old City restaurants (let us know what kind of food you like!)
2.B. Historic District/Reading Terminal Park at 8th St., do Visitors' Center, Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, Constitution Center, Franklin Square, Carpenters' Hall, First Bank, Todd House, Graff House (Declaration was written there) and on up to 12th Street for Reading Terminal Market

3. Lunch depends on where, what, and of course where you'd be at any given time; by the way, you can get a pretty decent lunch at a street vendor

4. Mix and match for where to go from there

5. You can pretty much make a circular route and end up back where you started; it's very walkable

6. Constitution Center will set you back $12 per. the parking (which seems to fluctuate, actually) maybe $20 or so, most everything else (except lunch, of course) is free

Are you sure you can't make it more than a day?

Oh, here's Philadelphia Parking Authority's website; they're quoting $18 a day parking for 5th and Market, Independence Hall, which of course would be optimal if it's not filled:
http://www.philapark.org/findparking..._location.aspx

Sorry for the triple posting here, but I got a chance to search this out and figured I'd add it on; it's a walking tour of the Old City section:
http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...iladelphia.cfm

City Tavern has authentic colonial food, and has received fairly positive reviews lately (unlike its earlier version.)

Here are some pictures:http://outdoors.webshots.com/album/5...doors&start=36

This is AWESOME!! Thank you so much. We just had our first little girl, life is pretty insane, so I don't have the normal time to plan this trip. Your info in PRICELESS!!!

I printed the Franklin tour, and we'll probably mix and match from there, or just follow the tour and stop along the way. Honestly, as for sights, we are just looking to hit the big historical ones and a cheesesteak of course.

Thank you so so much!

Here's how we spent our day in the historical district. Started at Visitor's Center with timed tickets (10 a.m.)for Independence Hall which you can obtain thru the NPS website. We were early so visited Liberty Bell while waiting with pratically no line, and then walked over and enjoyed the grounds at Independence Hall. After the tour, we walked to Carpenter's Hall, Franklin Court and Post Office. Had lunch at Campo's Deli which has very good cheesesteaks. Went to Betsy Ross House, Christ Church and burial ground, and ended up back at the Visitor's Center. It was warm so we took a short break in the Center, watching a couple of short, patriotic films. Finished off the day with the Duck Tour which leaves from the Center (ticket booth inside) and was terrific fun!

Like others have said, it's all within a few blocks and you can pick and choose. We wanted to see everything but with limited time were very happy with these choices. If nothing else, I would recommend the timed tickets--it's free except for minimal processing fee and you can plan around that time.

Have a good time - we loved Philly!!

Visitor Center is a good idea for a few reasons -- that's where you pick up tickets for Independence Hall and they will also give you a map of the immediate vicinity with the various sights of interest marked. I was just there for a few hours so I know.

Have a great time!

When we were in Philadelphia we took the Old Town Trolley tour and it is a great way to see the city. You can get on and off at the stops you want to see-this would be great with a child.

Eric, glad I could help; hope you all have a wonderful time, even your little one. Six months is such a precious age for babies, but they do indeed take up a lot of time and attention.

Enjoy!

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