What to do in Philly (Im from SF)
 

9a-3p, alone! <BR>Was thinking of a philly cheese steak sandwich but otherwise what can I do? <BR>Any fun shopping??

At the risk of being flamed and derided, I suggest you will find all you want with a search for Philadelphia.<BR><BR>Also, it would help to provide more info as to where you will be and how you will get around, etc.

There is the entire "historic area"(Independance Hall, Betsy Ross's House, Liberty Bell,etc.). The Reading Terminal Market is a treat. See a show--there are some good ones in town. There are wonderful restaurants throughout the city. South street is a fun experience. Go outside the city to Valley Forge Park and visit the King of Prussia Mall while you're out there--second largest mall in the USA. Visit the Art Museum, Franklin Institute Museum. Walk along the River Drives and visit Boathouse row. <BR>Philly is a great city with a lot of things to see and do.

Things worth seeing (and skipping):<BR><BR>Lots of fun shopping along Market Street. Check out both Strawbridges and Lord & Taylor.<BR><BR>Visit Independence Hall; from which came The Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights.<BR><BR>Visit Franklin Court, and get a letter hand stamped by a replica of Ben Franklin's stamp while he was the first Postmaster of the US.<BR><BR>Although far over-shadowed by the art museums of New York, those in Philly are some of the best in the country.<BR><BR>Go to the Mummers Museum, and find out about a parade that is every bit as good as others but gets (strangely) overlooked by the national media.<BR><BR>Do eat a REAL Philly steak sandwich, a grinder, and (if you're daring) some scrapple for breakfast.<BR><BR>There is no contemporary record of the Liberty Bell being rung on July 4, 1776; that's why the city wanted to sell it for scrap in the 1840's. Its transformation to an icon took over a century.<BR><BR>The story that Betsy Ross (which was not her name in 1778) made the first US flag is an obvious hoax created by social climbing descendants a century later. She never lived at the house called the Betsy Ross House.

Thanks Gail & Paul - exactly what I was hoping for!!<BR><BR>Dave - Why do you bother?? <BR>I was just looking for some ideas, Gail & Paul seemed to understand this simple request! <BR><BR>Thanks again you guys.=)

The Reading Terminal Market is the best place for lunch and some unique shopping, too.<BR>City Hall nearby has a great tour and you can see the city from the tower.<BR>The Shops at Liberty Place are nice for slightly upper-end shopping, as well as Lord and Taylor and Strawbridges as mentioned before.<BR>South Street has some unique shops, and Head House Square/Society Hill area is nice for wandering.<BR>Another one of my favorite spots in the city is the University of PA Museum of Archaelogy and Anthropology, but it's not in center city; it's an el train ride out to 33rd and Spruce. If you're here for a longer stay, though, it's definitely worthwhile.<BR>Have a wonderful time!

Get some Philly pretzels, go to Pat's Steaks at 4 A.M., get some cheese fries too, go to a phillies game, visit University City, and take a ride to Atlantic City if you are so inclined.

ttt

My personal favorite things to do in and around Philadelphia are: <BR><BR>Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square PA (www.longwoodgardens.com), The Barnes Foundation in Marion PA (www.barnesfoundation.org), and Brandywine River Museum in Chadds Ford PA (www.brandywinemuseum.org). In Philadelphia don't miss The Philadelphia Museum of Art (www.philamuseum.org) and Reading Terminal Market (www.readingterminalmarket.org.)<BR><BR>Also, consider going to a baseball game (depending on when you visit). Check out the Red Sox schedule at http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/bos/schedule/bos_schedule_springcalendar.jsp<BR>

There's a little gem called the Liberty Museum. It's on Chestnut St., right near the historic district. It's devoted to describing the contributions of immigrants to the US, and has exhibits of rare glass sculptures and White House china dating back to Lincoln and Washington. It's worth a visit.

In the city, check out the tiny Rodin Museum (near the larger Philadelphia Museum of Art).<BR><BR>If you're in the South Street area, stop by Beau Monde, a lovely and inexpensive Breton creperie at 6th and Bainbridge.<BR><BR>Head out of town to see some of the sights in the countryside, like the Brandywine Valley area, which is in Chester County bordering Delaware. Winterthur, a former du Pont family estate, is especially worth a visit.