will be traveling to Philadelphia in the later part of April. will only have two 1/2 full days to explore the historic area, independence park, bella vista, etc. We will not have a car and we were thinking of taking the narrated bus tour/trolly to get our bearings first before foot exploration. However, the Big Bus Tour company wants $25 pp and we will be 4 adults traveling together. This pass is good for 24 hrs. Seems like a lot of money. we're staying at the Radisson in Rittenhouse Square area (anyone familiar with this hotel)?. I read about the Philly Phlash but couldn't find a number to contact them on gophila.com. It seems like in 2009, they didn't start operating until May 1. Does anyone know the schedule for 2010? Is there any narration on this or strictly just on/off? Thanks for any suggestions you might offer. Lastly, any good sites to find a great walking tours that would cover all the must see's? Is it possible to walk from Rittenhouse Square area to Philadelphia"s Museum of Art and how long does it take from Rittenhouse to Independence Park?

The Phlash does not have narration. Just on and off.
This site has a lot of info about Phila. Travel
http://www.philadelphiausa.travel/

You are right. It looks like the Phlash doesn't start until May 1.
http://www.visitphilly.com/tours/philadelphia/phlash/

to walk from Rittenhouse Sq to the Art Mus is a 20-30 minute nice walk (in spring weather). To walk from Rittenhouse to Independence Mall is 20st street to 5th street -- 15 or so city blocks, also do-able depending on your walking and weather. Phila has lots of cabs, easily obtained... and in town, not too expensive. Both of those routes, would cost you $6-10 in cab fare.Also, to go from Rittenhouse to Independence Mall, you could catch a city bus (called SEPTA-- $2 I think) straight down Chestnut street. (from 20 to 5th)

PS
two and a half days is plenty of time -if you just stay Center City and historic and don't spend a half day in the Franklin Institute or other museum. Make sure to visit the new Constitution Center (5th and Market streets). What do you want to see in Bella Vista? That's just a neighborhood, slightly south-east of downtown --restaurants, rowhouses and nice to walk, but not really tourist attractions...

You can cut your transport costs to about $6 per person per day with the Septa convenience pass

www.septa.org/fares/pass/convenience.html

You'll have to "get your bearings" by reading about Philly beforehand, and by walking about Rittenhouse Square when you get there, but that would be worth it to me.

To get from City Hall to Independence Hall, just take the Market Frankford Line (aka "Blue Line") Subway. You can buy tokens (cash ONLY) for $1.45 apiece, same price for use on the subway or the bus -- and the former is faster.

Philadelphia is pretty easy to find your way around as center city was laid out in a grid (William Penn had very definite ideas.) Either the Septa day pass or tokens would be my suggestion for your transportation; you can get trip planning (and maps, too!) from www.septa.org.

gophila.com has great walking tours; there are also a ton of suggestions here, of course: here's a few to get you started:

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...iladelphia.cfm

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...iladelphia.cfm

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...iladelphia.cfm

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...iladelphia.cfm

Thanks Schmerl, elmom, PaulRabe, and Amy for your quick responses. I have a lot more reading to do which is ok since we're not going until april. PaulRabe: I have been doing a bunch of reading, especially this site. I love reading the forums and have planned out many trips because of all the great trip reports and helpful advise from everyone. Elmom: I read about the Bella Vista neighborhood and thought the Italian Market was located there. It sounded like a fun place to visit, especially if hungry. Would we be wasting our time? Hope the weather is good for us. I love to walk and wonder around and can even give up going to the gym on those days. I guess we can save the Septa to use if weather isn't good for walking. Amy: will check out all your suggested websites.

If you're going to be in Philly on a Saturday AND the weather is tolerable, a visit to the Italian Market will be worth a trip. You don't have to buy anything, just enjoy the atmosphere. It's located about 10th and Christian. I don't know if that's included in the "Bella Vista" Neighborhood (I'm not familar with that term, but I've only lived here ten years -- and that's NOT sarcasm). Other than the Italian Market, the area has nothing worth a special trip UNLESS you REALLY like ethnic neighborhoods. There a LOT of things I'd recommend doing before wandering around South Philly. That's something I've done and enjoyed, but only after doing a lot of other things first.

the Italian Mkt, runs along 9th street (from Washington to Christian) it's fun and interesting; stalls of produce/fish/veggies, a few great cheese stores; a few amazing bakeries (Isgro's on Christian near 11th) but a more fun/closer to Center City experience like that is Reading Terminal Market --a historic farmer's market located inside an old train shed (at 12th and Arch)Lots of food stalls, veggies, coffee, Amish baked goods etc. I'm sure there's info on RTM on the phila tourist site. Don't miss it --eat lunch there.

elom: thanks; already have my sights on the reading market for lunch as soon as we check into the hotel. I thought we might find good Italian restaurants for dinner on or near the Italian Market? Are any of the stalls at the market open on Sundays? Any suggestions for good Thai or Indian restaurants for dinner? PaulRabe: We do love wondering around neighborhoods but I'll take your comments seriously. We'll leave that area for last and visit only if we have the time. As I mentioned in this post, I thought it would be a good dinner area.

Elmom is correct and I was incorrect in my memory: the Italian Market is on 9th Street, not 10th. It's different from the RTM, but I'm not sure how to describe the difference. More "authentic," perhaps? I'm not sure.

If you like wandering neighborhoods, you can always start at the Italian Market and head east on Catharine Street towards Queen Village. Like it? Just continue east and then return by another east-west street (like we did). Not as much fun as you thought? Just head north (on foot or by bus) until you're back in the historic district.

right in the Italian Mkt --on 9th --is Villa di Roma an old-school authentic "south philly" restaurant. Other good ones you can look up that come to mind are Mama Maria, L'Angelo --and we go to a place, the South Philly Taproom (? i think that's the name,) Villa diRoma is always a good choice. the Italian Mkt is not open on Sunday
we just ate at Thai Chef (2028 Chestnut) it was a Thai/curry spot with a large menu --something for everyone. pretty good and reasonable. you'll have to look up the hours

Many booths in RTM are also closed on Sunday.