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Three days in Philadelphia as a complete tourist

Three days in Philadelphia as a complete tourist

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Old Jan 6th, 2015 | 08:51 AM
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Three days in Philadelphia as a complete tourist

Hello,I am planning to spend three days in Philladelphia as a :tourist, I have been there ages ago.
Can you recomend me an itinerary, preferably I would like to visit the obvios Independece Hall, the Museum of Fine Arts and what else...?
A night at the theater would be great. I plan to be there by the end of January , but I am flexible.
Also some nice place to have lunch, because I do not have dinner. Also a hotel downtown
will be of help.
I plan to fly , is a taxi the best option, or is there some good deal like an airport van?
Butget? within reasonable. I hate to overspend but if I am going there for pleausure of course I would like nice places and enjoy this city that has so much history. Thank you.
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Old Jan 6th, 2015 | 08:55 AM
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As art is on your list:
http://www.barnesfoundation.org
You might be OK in January, but it is not always possible to just walk up.

~Liz
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Old Jan 6th, 2015 | 09:25 AM
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For recos on hotels it would help if you provide a specific nightly budget.
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Old Jan 6th, 2015 | 09:58 AM
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> I plan to fly , is a taxi the best option,
> or is there some good deal like an airport van?

If you're going from PHL to downtown, the fastest, cheapest, easiest, and least stressful way to do so is to ride the direct train.

http://www.septa.org/schedules/rail/w/AIR_1.html

"Suburban Station" is at 16th and Market; "Jefferson" is at 11th and Market.


> Also some nice place to have lunch

Just walk into Reading Terminal Market and follow your nose.


> and what else...?

Before I can answer that, I'll have to know your interests. History? Cultural & ethnic diversity? Shopping? Art? Music?


> A night at the theater would be great

http://www.visitphilly.com/music-art/theater/view-all/
http://youtu.be/lpF3Wz5R6G8?t=20s
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Old Jan 6th, 2015 | 10:57 AM
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With three days, you might want to divide it into "Old City" and the historic area (not forgetting the Dream Garden Mosaic at the Curtis Building); Center City with the Reading Terminal Market, City Hall, Academy of Fine Arts, etc.; the Art Museum (including the Rodin and Barnes) area. Of course, there are a lot more places as well, but this would give you a nice mix of history, architecture, art, and, of course, wonderful food in all directions.

Here are a few Philadelphia ideas for you: http://missalg.tumblr.com/ Just scroll past the most recent holiday post for some views of the city!
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Old Jan 6th, 2015 | 11:02 AM
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My absolute favorite discovery when I was just a tourist in Philly-
http://www.philamuseum.org/collectio...nt/102792.html

Great museum. (Don't forget your "Rocky" moment.)
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Old Jan 6th, 2015 | 01:12 PM
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I second the suggestion of going to the Barnes Foundation, particularly if you like impressionist art. It's one of the most amazing art museums I've ever visited. You might want to book tickets in advance, they can be hard to get.

If you like music (or are interested in history), you might enjoy attending one of the free daily 45 minute concerts of the huge and impressive Wanamaker organ in Macy's, which is a national historic landmark (the organ, not the store). Simply go into the central court of the store and find a good spot to listen - or go up to one of the mezzanines on an upper floor overlooking the court. They will even give you a tour of the organ console area (on floor two) after the concert if you ask the organist. Concerts are Mon. - Sat. at 12 PM, Mon., Tues., Thurs., & Sat. at 5:30 PM, and Wed. & Fri. at 7:00 PM. You can find out more information here: http://www.wanamakerorgan.com/index.php

As mentioned, the Reading Terminal Market is a great place to grab a casual lunch, and is fun to walk around in - but you'll have trouble deciding which stall to order food from, there are so many great choices.
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Old Jan 6th, 2015 | 01:46 PM
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Hey, Sarge56!

My wife and I almost cheered when we found out that someone else has that painting as a personal favorite.

A print of it is in my wife's office, simply because she finds it completely mesmerizing. In the twenty or so times we've been to the Art Museum, we've gone to that painting pretty much every time.
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Old Jan 6th, 2015 | 02:18 PM
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Just an FYI...the Rodin Museum will be closing until Feb. 2.
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Old Jan 6th, 2015 | 06:18 PM
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PaulRabe- I also have a print of it, hanging over my living room fireplace! I bought my first poster of it back in 2000 and (unfortunately) it fell off the wall about a year ago. The frame hit the fireplace brick stepup, which caused the glass to rip through the poster when it shattered.

I was devastated. I loved that poster/painting. (And yes- "mesmerized" is the perfect word for how I felt when I saw that painting in the museum!)

Imagine my extreme delight to find I could still buy it from them online. The titling at the bottom is a bit different than the original, but it is the painting that counts, I guess.

Can't wait to get back and see it again. Mesmerizing.
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Old Jan 11th, 2015 | 06:55 AM
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In addition to the suggestions above, see if you can build time into your schedule to tour the Rosenbach Library: one of my favorite places to visit in Phila and tends to be off the usual tourist radar. Excellent Oscar Wilde exhibition during your time frame.
http://rosenbach.org/

If the weather allows, take a long walk starting at 2nd and Delancey, go up Delancey until about 6th, then Pine Street until 9th, cut over to Clinon Street, then Clinton, back to Pine or Spruce. Around 16th, cut over to Locust, walk up to Rittenhouse Square, stop for coffee at La Colombe just off the Square on 19th Street, then over 20th to Delancey (that's the block where Bruce Willis' character lived in The Sixth Sense) until 22nd Street.

The University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology is also worth a visit.
http://www.penn.museum/

This is the Phila Art Museum painting that used to hang in our living room, now hangs in my husband's den.
http://www.philamuseum.org/collectio...R=2043470651|4
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