Overnight trips from Philadelphia. Maine? Rhode Island?) Any suggestions? Also stuff to see and do in Philadelphia.
 

Hi one and all. Yet another trip to plan this year, I will be in a conference in mid June in Philadelphia. My honey will be flying in Thursday night (the 22nd) and on Sat morning, we are planning on renting a car for an overnight road trip. I've always wanted to go to Maine, or rhode island, or something by there. We're already going to be in Boston a couple of weeks before and although we won't make it to cape cod, I'd like to see more of the northeast than just ht eBoston area. Any suggestions? I would really love to see Maine. Any ideas? How far is the drive and where's the best place to go specifically, where to stay, etc?

How about Philly? Anything specific we shouldn't miss? I'll be there a whole week with most of my days busy but I can probably swing out in later afternoons?

Many thanks in advance!

As a resident of the Philly area who last year drove to Maine, I can assure it is an all-day drive. NOT a place I would go to for an "overnight" unless the first thing you want to do after waking up in Maine is to start driving back to Philly.

If you could be more specific about what you want to experience on your overnight, I can give a fair amount of help on places within a few hour's drive of Philly. And also on what to see in this town.

The only "MUST-do's" are visiting Independence Hall, walking by Ben Franklin's Grave, and having a real Philly cheese-steak. There are dozens of highly recommended things to do depending on your interests.

Hi PaulRabe! Thanks for responding.

Well, for the overnight, I really want to see the coast. I have this idea in my head of Maine and a jagged coast line (???), lobsters, boats on docks, that sort of thing. Would like to overnight at a coastal community that's a bit artsy and has some adventure sport like kayaking or something like this.

As far as what I like for Philly itself, I love art - museums and galleries(I'm an artist on my spare time so this is research for me ;-) ). Not a casino person or anything like that (don't know if there's some in Philly)not big on "clubbing" either but would like to know of cool little pub (honey is british) and a cool place for a drink. Love shows, expecially opera. Love eating at great restaurants that are extremes (hip or hole in the walls) but with amazing food. My honey and I are both "cooks" (or at least we're students) so good food is top of the list. Another thing I like to do in big cities is go to have drinks at a top floor of some tall building (like Rockefeller's in NY, Hancock in Chicago, etc).

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated and many many thanks in advance.

Philly is quite close to NYC and D.C. (about 2 hrs from each)

Maine is not near Philadelphia. It would make a lot more sense to incorporate a side trip to Maine in your Boston trip.

The masonic temple in Philly is a pretty cool tour. You can see Valley Forge. Catch a Phillies baseball game. Run up the Rocky Stairs at the Philadelphia Musuem of Art. You could eat at the Jamaican Jerk Hut on South Street (there are lots of cool funky shops on that street).

If you want to see the coast, go to the New Jersey shores. It's nothing like Maine, but it's still the Atlantic.

Like others said, Maine or Rhode Island are way too far to do as an overnight trip.

While in Phila., definitely visit the Art Museum and the Rodin Museum. The Franklin Institute is also great. The Historic District is very walkable. You can start at the Visitors Center to get your ticket for Independence Hall (it's free, but gives you a specific time). Then you can go to the Constitution Center and the Liberty Bell. There are some great walking tours.
For lots of info, go to www.gophila.com

oh man. i'm so disappointed. i should know the map is decieving. so even RI? how far of a drive is that? i can't incorporate it to the boston trip since another couple is meeting us there.

don't really want to do atlantic city. oh man! ok, i guess NY it is then. can we get a train from philly to NY? if so, is it expensive?

Hmmm. Been looking at some posts here for day trip ideas from Philly. I'm getting Amish country. Not really the coast but as my honey said tonight, I have to roll with the punches. I've not been there before and am curious about Amish "way of life".

....but, how far of a drive is RI? Or Cape Cod? Been to NY too many times, would really nike to see the east coast to satisfy this want to see Maine. Guess what I'm saying is I am open to any feasable fun day trips from Philly for overnight.

Thanks.

It's not a rocky beach, but there's always Cape May, a Victorian seaside town that's loaded with restaurants and shops and beautiful old bed and breakfasts:
http://www.capemay.com/

You can actually kayak in -- or very near -- the city:
http://schuylkillriver.org/default.aspx

And while you're here the Philadelphia Museum of Art will be mounting a very big Wyeth show:
http://www.philamuseum.org/

Philadelphia is also a great restaurant town. Continental. Buddakan. Amada. Vietnam. Cuba Libre. Reading Terminal Market. Ernesto's. Mercato. Morimoto. Ralph's.

North and east of Philadelphia there's Lambertville, New Hope and Frenchtown, which would all give you some of the flavor of East Coast life along the Delaware River.

If you like to shop, you can combine a day trip to Valley Forge Park and the King of Prussia Mall. They're right down the road from each other.

My first thought was to try for an overnight in Mystic CT with a visit to Abbott's lobster pound but the trip would be thru the worst traffic in the Northeast, esp for your return on Sunday. You might luck into a cheap flight from Philly to Manchester NH, rent a car and then you can be in Maine in a little over an hour But again, that's rushing it too much. I think the perfect place in Maine for you would be Camden with a trip to the Farnsworth Museum in Rockland (features Maine artists). We haven't been to Amish country in several years. We think the farms are beautiful but knowing they are leaving the area because it is getting too built up and too expensive is sad. Maybe a trip to the Brandywine area, visit Longwood Gardens and the museum with some works by Wyeth. (Sorry can't remember the name.)

There is more on the NJ coast than just Atlantic City.

Philly to RI is about a 5 hour drive. Distance isn't too far, but look at the map again - you need to cross NYC and traffic is bad basically all the way from Philly to New Haven, CT.

Is it possible? Yes, anything is possible. But would I recommend you to do it? NO!

To answer the orginal question, it is about a 6 hr drive to Boston from Philadelphia and of course you have to negotiate New York City (as in go around) to get there. Rhode Island would be a bit less (maybe 5).
Newport would fulfill your desires (rocky coast, artsy, lobsters, etc.)

> I love art - museums and galleries
> (I'm an artist on my spare time
> so this is research for me

Then the Philadelphia Art Museum is an ABSOLUTE must. Also the Rodin Museum and the Academy of Find Arts. Art galleries are plentiful in Center City, check out
http://tinyurl.com/qrvmq

> Love shows, expecially opera.
You won't find better opera anywhere in the world than at
www.operaphilly.com

> Would like to overnight at a coastal community
> that's a bit artsy and has some
> adventure sport like kayaking

All of the coast I am familar with is over-run with condos and/or amusements. Cape May MIGHT be what you're looking for but it has neither rocky coasts (for that you WILL have to get up to Maine) nor boats on the docks. To get to those you'll have to get to New England, which means going through New York -- which automatically disqualifies it for a day trip.

> can we get a train from philly to NY?
You can, info would be on
www.amtrak.com
Or you can take local transit for a lot less money but more time. Or you can take the bus, which is probably ideal for a day trip for one or two people.

Depending on your budget, you can fly from Philly to Providence on Southwest pretty cheap if you plan ahead, ($39 or $49) and then head to Newport for a weekend...rocky coastline, artsy, etc....

maria_so-

You can forget about seeing "jagged coast line (???), lobsters, boats on docks" nearby Philadelphia. The Jersey shore is completely different. And IMO, the drive up to RI or CT is just too far and not worth your time.

Since you said you love art, apart from the Philadelphia Museum of Art and Rodin, you <b>definitely</b> have to check out the art galleries in Old City. They have open houses every first Friday of the month (First Fridays - very cool) but other times you can still visit them.
http://www.oldcityarts.org

Also, don't forget the Barnes Foundation in Merion (a suburb of Philadelphia). You have to reserve tickets WAY in advance.
http://www.barnesfoundation.org/

Unfortunately, the Opera season is over by June. If you like classical music, you can always check the schedule at Kimmel Center. Excellent acoustics there.
http://www.kimmelcenter.org/

For a great pub, my all-time favorite is The Black Sheep.
http://www.theblacksheeppub.com/

For hip restaurants, you can't go wrong with any of the Starr restaurants (including Buddakan, Morimoto, Continental).
http://starr-restaurant.com/

Lastly, for ideas of overnight trip, you can either visit the Amish country, or you can consider going to New Hope and nearby Lambertville. They have quite an artist community with lots of art galleries.
http://www.newhopepennsylvania.com/
http://www.newhopepa.com/

Hope this helps.

Your ragged coastline/lobster boats/ arts community-type scenery starts north of Boston at Cape Anne, and continues north, getting more rugged as you go. You can also see some ocean cliffs in Newport RI, or Block Island.

But I agree, all this stuff is too far for a day trip from Philly, unless you fly.

The south jersey and maryland shores give you sand dunes, boardwalks, and (some) beach towns with victorian b&amp;b's. Crab and crabcakes, and sailboats. A different vibe, but also very nice.

Ok, one and all. I've given up my rugged coast, lobster, and boat by the sea idea - for now. It's stuck though so I will have to do this trip next year (too many trips already this year!).

Ok, so here's the update.

We can do a day trip on Friday so I was thinking covered bridges and amish country tour (thanks yk) with a return to Philly in the evening then on sat, head to the sea. Ok, so here's what I can't figure out.

rkkwan (or others): where can we go that's coastal, nice seaside community that is not Atlantic City? Can you make a suggestion? yk suggested New Hope (which looks good) and Lambertville, anywhere else?

was also looking at bdenya's suggestions for the river. the link (http://schuylkillriver.org/default.aspx) shows several points of interest. I especially like that canal 60 place. is there a way for us to follow the river up then back down to Philly? how long of a trip is that? can we do this as an overnight?

paulrabe: thanks so much. those are all wonderful suggestions for philly. i'm sure i'll have a great time there.

and for everyone that replied, really appreciate your time and suggestions. many thanks!

One last thing -- opera is never out of season at the Victor Cafe. Ask for a table in the front room:
http://www.gophila.com/C/Things_to_D...Cafe/1202.html

Just go down to Cape May.

www.capemay.com

maria so -

I'm a little late in the discussion, but a couple of places you may want to consider for daytrips near the water:

Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. Just under a couple hours from Philly, but a very different kind of seashore - cleaner water, more wide open spaces. It is also not far from Chincoteague, where you can see the Chincoteague ponies and the wildlife preserve.

Another place to consider for a day trip along the Jersey shore would be the town of Spring Lake - it's north of Atlantic City, and is a lovely community of VERY large homes and mansions, a lovely main street with some nice restaurant choices, and a wide open, clean boardwalk. A very relaxing day, and only about an hour from Philly.

Of course, Amish country is beautiful. If you're into history, consider Gettysburg. I agree with the suggestion about Brandywine Valley and Longwood Gardens - would be a worthwhile visit.

If it's warm enough, you could drive up about 5 miles north of New Hope to a town called Point Pleasant, where they have canoe and inner tube rentals. They will drive you upriver (Delaware River) to certain drop-off points, and then you can spend a leisurely day floating back to Point Pleasant - it's one the most relaxing things you could do on a warm day - don't forget to pack a nice lunch.

Let us know how your visit worked out.

Here is another recommendation for the Barne's Foundation www.barnesfoundation.org. I spent three heavenly hours there. Since you like art, it is a &quot;must see.&quot;

Annapolis, Maryland may be another option for a day trip (it is about 3 hours from Philly). It is a beautiful, historic town. It is also the home of the Naval academy. It is an interesting place! Plus, part of the drive down is very nice. You could even make a stop in Baltimore or DC.

One of my favorite things to do in Phila. is go rollerblading or biking around the river drives. Starting at the Art Museum, there is an 8 mile loop paralleling the Schuylkill River on both sides. (Sorry, I would never get IN that river unless I was an accomplished boater!)

Since you like art, along the path are areas with scuplture gardens and is dispersed with statues (Remington's Man on a Horse, etc.) A tour of the Laurel Hill Cemetary is fascinating.

Also, I think the Eastern State Penitentiary Tour is also very interesting.

If you like gardens at all, definitely go see Longwood Gardens, and possibly combine with nearby Winterthur (although that would make a marathon day). Longwood's about a 1 hour drive from Phila.

My favorite beach area is a short drive from Phila - Island Beach State Park. No rocky coastline, but lined with the ocean on one side and small dunes on the other - no boardwalk, high-rises, just nature as it should be (in my biased opinion!)

The Wyeth exhibit runs at the Philadelphia Museum of Art from March 29 until July 16, 2006.

Don't know where you live maria, but if it's nowhere near the east coast and this is a one off type of trip, get on a Southwest airlines plane and fly to Providence, RI as mentioned above. I don't think the drive to Newport would take more than an hour from there.

The Reading Terminal Market is definitley worth a stop for lunch!

&lt;&lt;The Reading Terminal Market is definitley worth a stop for lunch!&gt;&gt; Or breakfast! I love the Dutch Eating Place there. Such delicious breakfasts and fresh squeezed orange juice. :D

One thing to consider is that the Philadelphia Museum of Art is open late on Wednesday evenings. There is usually some live entertainment, and I understand that the Museum restaurant itself is very good and requires reservations.

Other excellent museum choices are:
The Rodin Museum-largest collection of Rodin sculpture in the world outside of Paris:
The Barnes Foundation-incredible collection of Impressionist Paintings. In my opinion, this collection rivals the Impressionist wing of the MET in NYC. Reservations required.
The Archeological Museum at the University of Pennsylvania--one of the better Egyptology collections on the East Coast.

For overnight trips, have you considered Cape May, NJ. It is really pretty there. There are tons impeccably maintained Victorian gingerbread houses there, and I always like to walk to the lighthouse there. The drive from Philly is 1.5 hours. If you go there, I always recommend a detour to Margate to see Lucy the Elephant. Lucy was a former three story hotel in the shape of an elephant.

If you are willing to invest in a whole weekend, Newport, RI is an excellent choice. I think it is about 6 hrs from Philly. It is worth touring the elaborate homes there, each of which are museums themselves. I especially liked Marblehead, which is where the Great Gadsby was filmed.

Pennsylvania Dutch country is also a popular weekend destination. The top things to do here are: 1) visit PA Dutch towns, 2) visit Gettysburg, 3) ride the Stroudsburg Rail Line, and 4) visit Hersheypark.

Of course, if you have not been to NYC or DC, they are excellent day trips from Philly. There is Amtrak service to both cities.

As for quirky, excellent restaurants, you might like the independent BYO's.
Django-American-Reserve in advance
Chloe-American in Olde City
La Locanda Del Ghiottone-Italian-Old City
Overtures-American/French-South Street (not Byo)
Joseph Poon--Chinatown
For more formal eating, I like Founders which is in Park Hyatt at the Bellevue,
Fountain Room at the Four Seasons,
Grill Room at the Westin,
Susanna Foo,
Tequila's
Le Bec Fin (if you really want to splurge on French Food).

Also, being a good cook, you might want to stop by the Italian Market. Most of Philly's chefs shop there. Favorite spots there are DiBruno's, Claudio's and Fantes.

Hope this has been helpful.

Hi everyone. Ok, after much conversation, we have decided to do a day trip to Lancaster and Amish country (are the covered bridges in the area too?). Then on Saturday morning, we are heading down to Cape May via Atlantic City then head back the next Day from Cape May via what looks like a shorter route up 55.

Ok, any ideas how long that drive is? Philly to Atlantic City, then Atlantic City to Cape May? Then Cape May to Philly via the shorter route on 55?

The Philly suggestions look amazing. I'm looking forward to being there and seeing/doing all the suggestions. Many thanks!

p.s. Not a big Atlantic City fan but after I got over my &quot;Maine&quot; obsession, I thought why not see the Las Vegas of the east coast? Just stop over though, to Cape May. I want to see the famous boardwalk that Better Midler sings about....

P.S.S. Any suggestions on where to stay and place to have a nice dinner with water views in Cape May?

oh and FlyingMaltese, thanks for the tip about the wednesday late times for the museum and all the other suggestions.

To everyone too. I love the Fodors community. Everyone is so helpful!

p.s. anyone know where the Frank Lloyd Wright &quot;Falling Waters/Waterfall&quot; house (sorry, I can't remember the name. I've seen the one in Scottsdale and I love his work. If it's close by the area, wouldn't mind seeing it.

Also, It sounds like I MUST stop by the REading Market, thanks!

dbenya, will make sure to book a reservation at Victor Cafe, thanks!

maria_so -

From Philly to Atlantic City is about an hour. Then another hour or so to Cape May. Your return shortcut from Cape May to Philly may not be as short as you think, because you will encounter traffic lights, which can slow you up. If you take the Garden State Parkway from Cape May to the AC Expressway, it will be fast driving all the way (except for tolls). Also, if you leave Cape May after dinner, be prepared to encounter a LOT of traffic - all the Philadelphians coming home from the shore for the weekend. There will be no shortcut then.

Falling Water is in Western PA. It's about 264 miles from Philly, or about 5 hours drive, each way.

Oh well. Guess I won't be seeing that then.....was a thought. Thanks for the info!

teaberry, thanks for the driving times tips. I'll make sure to leave early enough on Sunday then (our flight i sat 5:26!!!) So you think after lunch around 12:30 is enough time from Cape May?

yep - should be fine. You'll love Cape May.

Dear Maria,
Just be careful in AC. It is really not that nice. There is plenty to do in Cape May.

Also, crowding Pennsylvania Dutch Country and Cape May into one weekend is a bit much. I would choose one or the other.

Cape May will be a little less crowded when you will be there, but the water will be cold.

Notwithstanding the cool water, there really is plenty to do in Cape May. There are walking tours of the gingerbread houses. There are tons of stores that sell neat Victorian things. They have a really pretty lighthouse. There is even a ferry that will take you to Lewes, Delaware, for good outlet shopping (I might be wrong, but also close Rehobeth Beach). There is gourmet dining there and excellent shopping.

Pennsylvania Dutch Country gets more traffic in June, but there is still plenty to do here. I live in Pennsylvania Dutch Country now (Hershey, PA), but I do not know of any covered bridges. You are close to Gettysburg, where you can tour the battlefield. My husband is a history buff, and he collects metal toy soldiers in Gettysburg. He just loves to talk about history with the store-owners there.

There is a steam rail line also at Stroudsburg. A lot of people like to visit that town. It is good place to purchase trains.

Of course, there are plenty of places to purchase Amish quilts and crafts. I personally like the Amish products in Intercourse, PA.

There are other things to do in Hershey besides go to HersheyPark. The Hershey Museum is neat because it details the life of Milton Hershey. Milton Hershey was one of the first industrialiss to pay his workers decent wages. He also set up a school for fatherless boys, which today is still funded by Hersheyfoods and is one of the premier college prepatory schools in the country. Also, the air usually smells like chocolate.

If you do go to PA Dutch Country, take I-76 west as far as King of Prussia. Exit and take Route 202 South until you see the Exit for Route 30E. I usually take this route when I drive to Philly. I prefer this route to the highway because is goes through the rolling countryside and you usually see the Amish in their horse and buggys.

I know this is a lot of information. But, I figured that I could give a lot of details since I live in PA Dutch Country, and vacationed many times in Cape May.

Thankls FlyingMaltese. Unfortunately, we have to be in Philly Friday night so I thought I could just make a day of it in Amish Country and then head to AC/Cape May. You know, I was never really thrilled of AC (just not my bag, same with Las Vegas) so I think we may ust hop out the car, see the boardwalk and then on to Cape May unless you think it wil detour us out of the way too much?