Philadelphia
 

We will have 3 days in Philly, does see like a reasonable schedule?
Tuesday- Independence Hall, Dream Garden, Congress Hall, National Constitution Center, Liberty Bell and Elfreth's Alley

Wesdnesday- Eastern State Pen, Philadelphia Museum of Art (open till 8:45 on Wednesdays)

Thursday- City Hall and maybe the Masonic Temple

One of the days we hopefully can see the Reading Terminal Market, Rittenhouse Square, and Magic Gardens

We thought the Barnes Museum was wonderful.

Agree that the Barnes is a must (saw this at its former suburban location), and will add that both the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts and the Rodin Museum are excellent.

Definitely agree with a visit to the Masonic Temple and City Hall as well.

Here is my dilemma. If I add another day to do both the art museum and Barnes then I end up in Lancaster on a Sunday and that does not work. So, with that said would you choose the the Barnes over the Art Museum. We have visited the Rodin in I believe it was France.

I would do the Barnes before the Museum of Art.

I like your groupings for each day. The Constitution Center could account for several hours of your day; allow yourself time.

I have not done the tours at City Hall and the Masonic Temple but I would think you could fit in the Reading Terminal Market on that day. Lunch, perhaps?

For me, the Rodin museum would not be so time-consuming as the Barnes. I would suggest Rodin-Eastern State-Philadelphia Museum of Art for a very full day. (The dining room at the museum is currently closed for the building renovation project; cafeteria fare is available.)

Maybe Rittenhouse Square for dinner one evening? Parc, le Cheri, Vernick maybe. Plenty of other choices, too.

Sorry. I was writing and missed the exchange.

Oh boy, I am going to see if i can't squeeze in another day.

For background on the controversial move of the Barnes collection from Marion to the Parkway in Philadelphia, watch the movie The Art of the Steal. Or read the WIKI--

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_...eal_(2009_film)

Thank you for this information.

The Barnes is amazing, awesome, every superlative...but it is dense and time consuming, because the art is not individually labeled as in traditional museums. You have to grab the laminated guide in each room in order to figure out what's what, and each room contains at least 10 times the amount of art that a traditional museum room contains, everything from paintings to jewelry to pottery to furniture. We spent 5 hours and were still not done, but were too visually exhausted to keep going.

YMMV. Perhaps we were too slow, took it too seriously, etc.

I agree that it's a must, just wanted to set expectations!

We loved Eastern State Pen, that was a highlight of one trip. Also a must, IMO.

I was in Philadelphia for a wedding, but we managed to squeeze in the Barnes and Reading Terminal Market. I wouldn't skip either one! We never even made it to the second floor at the Barnes, the first floor was overwhelming enough!

Go to Reading Terminal on the same day you visit City Hall. It's a great place to get lunch but it will be crowded. If you can go before or after the lunch crowd, it will help. I love the Barnes but the PMA is also great. If you're a fan of Impressionism, iron work or PA Dutch furniture, it's a must but if you like art from a wide range of periods, you should choose the PMA.