Fun things to do in Philly?

[JandJ]

I'm going to be traveling to Philadelphia, PA with my niece in a couple of months and was wondering, what are the "must sees?" (she's a young adult, so no "kid stuff," please). We definitely want to see the tourist-y things, like the Liberty Bell, but what else should we not miss? We won't have a car so we're limited to things we can get to by subway/bus/taxi and we're definitely willing to walk a lot. We're staying not too far from the Convention Center if that helps.

Any restaurant recommendations would be greatly appreciated! I'm willing to pay a little more for a very good meal with great service.

TIA!!

 

[nsmith]

My teens love to hang on South St. we usually start around Front St. and South St. and wander around the stores to about 12th or so. Don't mis Isaiah
Zagers Magic Garden 12th and South
http://www.phillymagicgardens.org/isaiah/about

My favorite spot for a cheese steak is Jims at 4th and South.

Much of the art and music scene is along Avenue of the Arts (that's Broad Street south of City Hall), and the PA Academy of the Fine Arts is one and a half blocks north of City Hall. A healthy walk up Ben Franklin Parkway will bring you first to the Rodin Museum and then to the Philadelphia Museum of Art (run up the steps like Rocky).

Yu could travel (bus or subway) to Old City, loaded with contemporary art galleries and quite a range of good restaurants. On the first friday of each month the galleries keep their doors open into the evening. It's a great social scene.

The waterfront has some cool stuff also.

 

[shoney]

Yes! Luv South Street and luv, luv Jims....we've tried lots but this wins!

Also, the reading terminal market is a must for us.

 

[bookmama]

franklin institute, art museum, zoo, mural tour, bourse concourse, national liberty museum, mint, constitution center, reading terminal (super great food), you can see what is happening during the time you go at the Convention Center. Also septa has a bus that runs downtown that hits all the tourists spots. called LUCY. check out their webpage. it's septa.org

Also for a sorta out of philly day try peddler's village if you have a car.

 

[Fly4free]

Yes! Luv South Street and luv, luv Jims....we've tried lots but this wins!

Also, the reading terminal market is a must for us.

Reading Terminal Market has lots of good eats and will be near where you are staying. You will have a lot of great things in walking distance from there. I also enjoy China Town, good food, and I am always amazed at the unusual food in the food market. If you have a car (not sure how else to get there easily) the Italian market is awesome. Wonderful cheeses and spices.

Can you tell I love food?

South Street is very entertaining, used to spend a lot of time there, back in the day.

 

[robsmom]

Not sure how many days you have:

1. Spend a full day in the historic district. Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, Betsy Ross House, Christ Church, Ben Franklin house/plaza etc. There is a visitor center and you can get a walking map.

2. If you are an art person go to the Philadelphia Museum of Art. World Class Art.

3. Constitution Center. Thsi is by the Liberty Bell and could be done on day one if you squeeze it all in. This is only a few years old and is very well done.

4. Spend some time on South Street (very interesting place to walk/eat/shop at night).

5. As mentioned, near you hotel you can do a walkthrough of Reading Terminal to graze for food.

Things i would not do: Zoo (love it but there are better). Franklin Institute - great for kids but maybe not for adults.

 

[Cindy B]

Old City has some wonderful restaurants. Too bad you just missed restaurant week!

My Hubby loves Davio's on 17th.
http://davios.com/phil/

I've been to the Continental on 17th (not bad). I've also been to El Vez on the 15th (ish?) area. El Vez has some very decent Mexican food and their drinks are fantastic.

I've been to Fogo De Chao and Chima. They are both Brazilian steakhouses. If you sign up for email- Chima usually sends you a nice coupon. Fogo is on 13th/14th area and Chima is 20/21st.

If the young adult is of drinking age-- there is a fun place that they may like. Now, I've only been during the day (I used to work near there and could walk there during lunch hours) is Piazza at Schmidt's.

http://atthepiazza.com/

I've never been but there is the Sugar House casino near the Piazza. Some love it and some downright hate it.

Check Groupon and Living Social before you go. There are some interesting restaurants and sometimes musuem coupons.

If you go to the art musuem the first sunday of the month, it is pay what you wish. (it used to be free but it changed fairly recently)

The Constitution Center is going to have a new Bruce Springsteen exhibit. I'm going next week to check it out.

 

[PrincessMom98]

Most of my trips revolve around kids stuff these days. Old city, Reading Terminal, South Street are all great ideas. A great way to get around during the day is the Philly Phlash. It's public transportation in the form of a trolley. You can get on and off all day for $5, and it only goes to the touristy areas. The Lucy loop mentioned above is for the University City area. Here is a good overview map to get an idea where everything is.

 

[lobmcf]

Eastern State Penitentiary!

 

[lobmcf]

I've never been but there is the Sugar House casino near the Piazza. Some love it and some downright hate it.

I'd avoid this casino. Full of trashy people and thieves.

Also; a lot of people will say the Franklin Institute is for kids, but I spent 51 consecutive hours in that place one weekend when I was 22, and I wasn't ever bored. They usually have some special exhibits that are usually awesome!

The Mutter Museum (22nd and Chestnut) is awesome, but only if you have a strong stomach!

 

[lobmcf]

Reading Terminal Market has lots of good eats and will be near where you are staying.

BASSETT'S ICE CREAM AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Flying Monkey Bakery! Dutch Eating Place!

I used to work in Chinatown... the Reading Terminal Market is literally the only thing I miss about it.

 

[disneymarie]

Eastern State Penitentiary!

This is along the double decker bus route. You can get a pass for 24 hrs and get on and off as much as you like.
Eastern Penn is super cool and if you watch Ghost Hunters they did a site there and sell the season video with the show on it.

Remember most of the things close at 5 PM. All the touristy stuff. Well except the night walk at the cemetary where Ben Franklin is buried. The double decker will pick you up with a comp ride to their historic Liberty Bell site. I think you can purchase online tickets too and it may include some attractions too.

If you want to get into Constitution Hall order tickets online. THey sell out immediatly the day of if you wait.

There is a nice park near Constitution Hall that dh and I picnic at, take a sandwhich from the Deli's nearby.

 

[lovemygoofy]

My husband and I did a 3 day tour of Philly last year. I loved it and would love to go back!

I found the tourist things to be walkable and grouped together. The city has great signs on every corner pointing out the things going down that street.

If you are going to see the Liberty Bell get in line early! The line starts early and gets long. If you want to see the Old State House, get timed tickets across the street at the Visitors Center.

We loved the Constution Museum. I think it is easily one of the best hands on educational mueums I've ever been into. It explains the process of the government very well and I didn't find it boring for us adults at all.

There is a little place across from the Liberty Bell that has a 360 movie screen that lasts maybe 15 minutes I think. It's a nice break if you need in out of the heat or rain or just to take a breather. However it really is just a Go America type of movie but they had some cute stuff if you need souvenirs.

My husband and I try to tour alot of cities. I of course try to have a touring plan but things never happen the way I plan. We always buy a visitor pass for a city.

For Philly we used: http://www.philadelphiapass.com

It worked great and we could use it for several things. We did a duck tour, trolley tour, used it to get into all the traditional touristy things and because we needed a break from the weather used it for some things that wasn't on our touring plan.

One of my favorite things not on the traditional tourist list is a tile mosiac inside an old building that I want to say is Harper's Magazine. I hope someone else can give further description. I want to say it was called the hidden garden or something similar. We found it after talking to a libriarian.

 

[Cindy B]

My husband and I did a 3 day tour of Philly last year. I loved it and would love to go back!

One of my favorite things not on the traditional tourist list is a tile mosiac inside an old building that I want to say is Harper's Magazine. I hope someone else can give further description. I want to say it was called the hidden garden or something similar. We found it after talking to a libriarian.

You mean this? I love this Tiffany Mosaic. One of my former coworkers told me about it. It is a hidden gem.

http://www.ushistory.org/tour/dream-garden.htm

 

[Cindy B]

This is along the double decker bus route. You can get a pass for 24 hrs and get on and off as much as you like.


If you want to get into Constitution Hall order tickets online. THey sell out immediatly the day of if you wait.

There is a nice park near Constitution Hall that dh and I picnic at, take a sandwhich from the Deli's nearby.

I was just at Constitution Hall a few days ago. You do not need tickets for entry in January or February.

The Liberty Bell does not require tickets. You can just walk up. A few days ago there was no line-except at the security desk.

If you can get a mild winter it was a wonderful time to go. No lines, limited tourists and you can do what you need to do quickly.

 

[JustineMarie]

I agree about the Liberty Bell. My DD10 went last year to the constitution center last year as her class trip specifically to see the liberty bell and the line was so long that they weren't able to see it. If you are planning on going there in March-August, get there as early as possible.

 

[Cindy B]

I agree about the Liberty Bell. My DD10 went last year to the constitution center last year as her class trip specifically to see the liberty bell and the line was so long that they weren't able to see it. If you are planning on going there in March-August, get there as early as possible.

The line may be long but it moves fast. I took my 7th &8th graders last year while the line was long we got in quickly. (This was in Late May).

I just went myself a few days ago- and the only stop was the security desk. There was a slight problem with some non English speaking tourists- one had a backpack and the guards wouldn't let them through- and there was a language barrier. I think the people figured out that one would stay outside with it, look at the Bell and return back to swap out.

I would assume if there was quite of bit of that, there would be lines.

 

[pooh17]

All good suggestions so far!

FYI - The mint tour is closed until spring or summer 2012 - double check on this if its something you're interested in doing. The gift shop is only open M-F.

We ate at Pietro's pizza on walnut. Its not just a pizza joint - full italian menu, etc. Very reasonable prices and good food.

I 2nd Jim's steaks! So good!!

 

[ntink]

we always try to hit these 3 places when we go to Philly:

Duross & Langel http://www.durossandlangel.com/retail/ fabulous handmade soaps, lotions, cleansers

El Vez http://www.elvezrestaurant.com/ pricey but the guacamole is outrageous

Capogiro http://capogirogelato.com/ the best Gelato ever

these are all near 13th and Sansom (a couple blocks off Broad)

another restaurant recommendation if you love chocolate is Max Brenner's - good food but a whole menu of chocolate desserts http://shop.maxbrenner.com/storelocation/index/edit/id/2/ 15th & Walnut

 

[MaleficentRN]

Philadelphia is full of good restaurants. Anything you like? Don't like? Just up the street from the Convention Center are several good restaurants.
El Vez, Stephen Starr's funky Mexican restaurant.
Lolita, BYOB Mexican
Sampan, asian fusion.
Barbuzzo, mediterranean
Zavino, wine bar pizzaria.
Vetri, upscale Northern Italian.
And that's just one square block, five minutes from the Convention Center.