Philadelphia Travel Advice Needed

[Luv Bunnies]

We're planning a trip to Philadelphia this summer and could use some advice. We're going to start out in NYC to visit our son, then take the train over to Philly. We'll have about 2 1/2 days there. We're interested in the historical sights, as well as anything fun or unusual. DH and I are traveling with our adult son. Our other DS who lives in NYC and his GF may or may not be joining us (depends on their work schedules), so no kids in our party.

I'm also looking for a place to stay for three nights. What areas or hotels are best for access to the most of the important sights? We're not too picky about hotels, but just need somewhere safe and clean. Free breakfast would be a plus. We will not have a car and plan to use Uber or public transit to get around. I would appreciate any and all suggestions. Thanks!

 

[MillauFr]

Make sure you check out the Disney 100 at the Franklin Institute.

 

[tinkerbellandpeterpan]

I live in Philly so will be happy to help however I can. I actually really recommend the HOHO bus. It takes you all around and you can see where you would like to spend extra time another day. When my mom came to visit we took it and thought it was well worth it for information and just really to see a bit of everything. Franklin Fountain is super cute if you are planning any time in Old City. There are a couple of "ghost" tours at night that we did when we first moved here. I can look back and recommend if you are interested. Reading Terminal Market has a variety of food and a great place to grab lunch. The Italian market is another fun place to just walk around and enjoy. I can definitely give a couple of restaurant recs if you give me an idea of what you are looking for or you know where (neighborhood) you might like to eat.

 

[Genie+]

This is great timing! Thanks.

This morning we just booked

Homewood Suites by Hilton Philadelphia-Valley Forge​

681 Shannondell Blvd, Audubon, PA 19403

We’ll be staying Fri to Sunday June 23-25. In that area (Valley Forge) most hotels are booked up those dates. This one seemed the best for us, a 1BR just under $300/nt complete. Comes with breakfast, parking, pool. This isn’t in the heart of Philly but near TooManyGames convention that one of my kids is interested for meeting up with his New Grounds buddies over the 3 days. So we made a family weekend out of it.

So far we have a room and will be doing Disney100 at Franklin Institute. What’s some other things we might do? Kids also want to find the best cheesesteaks And I started looking at gocity for a multi-experience ticket but not really sure that’s the way to go yet.

 

[tinkerbellandpeterpan]

This is great timing! Thanks.

This morning we just booked

Homewood Suites by Hilton Philadelphia-Valley Forge​

681 Shannondell Blvd, Audubon, PA 19403

We’ll be staying Fri to Sunday June 23-25. In that area (Valley Forge) most hotels are booked up those dates. This one seemed the best for us, a 1BR just under $300/nt complete. Comes with breakfast, parking, pool. This isn’t in the heart of Philly but near TooManyGames convention that one of my kids is interested for meeting up with his New Grounds buddies over the 3 days. So we made a family weekend out of it.

So far we have a room and will be doing Disney100 at Franklin Institute. What’s some other things we might do? Kids also want to find the best cheesesteaks And I started looking at gocity for a multi-experience ticket but not really sure that’s the way to go yet.

Geno's and Pat's are the tourist places where everyone who is visiting goes for cheesesteaks, but they aren't the greatest. They aren't terrible but just kind of a touristy thing. Dalessandro's steaks (which isn't in center city) is excellent as is chubby's which is across the street. I can also give recommendations for south philly cheesteak places if that works better with your touring plan. One thing I will advise, that was new to me when I moved here 8 years ago, is that a lot of places are cash only so just keep that in mind.

 

[SteveMouse]

The Constitution Center is not to be missed. It generally requires a car rental, but Longwood Gardens is one of the premiere premiere gardens in the country. If archeology is your thing, the UPenn museum is a good thing. Anf, of course, the art museum and more.

 

[Genie+]

Dalessandro's steaks (which isn't in center city) is excellent as is chubby's which is across the street.

Ooh this one looks interesting. Thanks! It’s right on the way from where we’re staying and the Franklin Institute.

 

[tinkerbellandpeterpan]

Ooh this one looks interesting. Thanks! It’s right on the way from where we’re staying and the Franklin Institute.

There are several really great breweries in the area if you are interested. Also an excellent ice cream place. This is my neighborhood so I have some good info .

Also I can not recommend the Philadelphia zoo enough. It's great. If you have a nice zoo in your local area I understand skipping it but it really is great!

 

[Genie+]

Longwood Gardens

Cool! I just started looking at John James Audubon Center and Jenkins Arbortoreum & Gardens since they’re so close to our hotel. Longwood Gardens looks good with much to explore.

 

[Genie+]

There are several really great breweries in the area if you are interested. Also an excellent ice cream place. This is my neighborhood so I have some good info .

Also I can not recommend the Philadelphia zoo enough. It's great. If you have a nice zoo in your local area I understand skipping it but it really is great!

I’d love a brewery recommendation! My one son is turning 21 in early June and that’s right up his alley.

I took a peek at the zoo earlier and it looks awesome. How to fit it all in I think we definitely need to visit the Constitution Center like you mentioned.

 

[bcla]

Never spent much time in Philly but did visit the suburbs to visit friends. Ended up staying pretty cheap in Malvern.

I can comment about the train as I've used both main ways to get to Phily. Amtrak is going to be the most convenient and most expensive way to get there. They have a speed limit of 120 MPH and have fewer stops. There are several routes including The Keystone and Northeast Regional. Fare can vary depending on demand.

Another way would be to take New Jersey Transit from Penn Station to Trenton, then transfer to the SEPTA (the Philly area bus/rail transit agency) in Trenton to the Trenton Line. Those are primarily commuter rail and don't take reservations.

I went to the Philly area on The Keystone and actually bought my tickets the morning we left via the Amtrak app. I can't help that much on getting SEPTA tickets. I bought them at a station and needed help at a staffed ticket window to figure it out all, but we had a transfer and they have a convoluted ticket system for transferring at the 30th Street Station. I did buy tickets for NJT at the 30th Street Station at their machine. NJT only serves that station with the Atlantic City line, but they sell any ticket. NJT tickets can be used any time in the future. I think I might have one from our 2014 trip that we didn't use (long story) and I think it's still valid.

It might get a little bit confusing if you want to purchase tickets with each transit agency's app. But it could be easier than I'm thinking. Also - the transfers might not be timed well. I remember waiting for an hour because we left a bit late and the schedules didn't align well. If we had taken a train 40ish minutes earlier we would have waited maybe 10 minutes.

I don't quite get the fare pricing. But this says the price depends on where it's purchased. I think it's $10 (NJ Zone fare to/from Philly city center) on the train purchased from a conductor.

https://www5.septa.org/travel/routes/rail-trenton/
https://www5.septa.org/travel/fares/fare-pricing/#regional-rail

On New Jersey Transit it's the NJT Northeast Corridor Line, which is $16.75 one way between NY Penn Station and Trenton.

https://content.njtransit.com/sites/default/files/printable schedules Nov 2022/NEC-WKDY-111322.pdf
https://content.njtransit.com/sites/default/files/printable schedules Nov 2022/NEC-WKND-111322.pdf
https://www.njtransit.com/train-to

 

[bcla]

Cool! I just started looking at John James Audubon Center and Jenkins Arbortoreum & Gardens since they’re so close to our hotel. Longwood Gardens looks good with much to explore.

Been to Longwood Gardens. It was really fun and our then 3 year old loved it. However, we were visiting friends living in Chester Springs and they provided the transportation after we got to one of the suburban train stations [correction] (Exton) on Amtrak. It might be tough unless you have a rental car or you're going on some sort of tour from Philly. It's at least 30 miles.

We also stayed at a hotel (kind of apartment style) in Malvern so I'm not sure about downtown Philly. Before we left I thought we might be staying in Philly and the place I was thinking of was the Sofitel which was maybe $100 night for the one night we would have been there. I doubt it's that cheap any more.

 

[Genie+]

A good site to get an overview of options is rome2rio.com Trains are quickest at 70-80 mins generally but expensive (though late night is cheap, like $10 and $20 in the wee hours midnight to 3am). Buses are a decent option around 2 hours and some under $20.

 

[tinkerbellandpeterpan]

Been to Longwood Gardens. It was really fun and our then 3 year old loved it. However, we were visiting friends living in Chester Springs and they provided the transportation after we got to one of the suburban train stations (Eton) on Amtrak. It might be tough unless you have a rental car or you're going on some sort of tour from Philly. It's at least 30 miles.

We also stayed at a hotel (kind of apartment style) in Malvern so I'm not sure about downtown Philly. Before we left I thought we might be staying in Philly and the place I was thinking of was the Sofitel which was maybe $100 night for the one night we would have been there. I doubt it's that cheap any more.

Absolutely agree that Longwood is tough without your own transportation. But it is beautiful!

 

[Genie+]

Been to Longwood Gardens. It was really fun and our then 3 year old loved it. However, we were visiting friends living in Chester Springs and they provided the transportation after we got to one of the suburban train stations [correction] (Exton) on Amtrak. It might be tough unless you have a rental car or you're going on some sort of tour from Philly. It's at least 30 miles.

We also stayed at a hotel (kind of apartment style) in Malvern so I'm not sure about downtown Philly. Before we left I thought we might be staying in Philly and the place I was thinking of was the Sofitel which was maybe $100 night for the one night we would have been there. I doubt it's that cheap any more.

We’re driving to Philly, it’s almost 3 hrs from home. Longwood is about 30 minutes from our hotel but I’m open for that. Great to hear the little one loved it. How long did you spend there?

It’s about 30 minutes for us to get into the heart of Philly as well, like to where Franklin Institute and Constitution Center are. Those aren’t far apart so we’ll probably make one day of those 2.

 

[bcla]

We’re driving to Philly, it’s almost 3 hrs from home. Longwood is about 30 minutes from our hotel but I’m open for that. Great to hear the little one loved it. How long did you spend there?

It’s about 30 minutes for us to get into the heart of Philly as well, like to where Franklin Institute and Constitution Center are. Those aren’t far apart so we’ll probably make one day of those 2.

Might have been about 2 hours. 3 olds love places with lots of grass and places to explore, although there's also a lot of stuff that can break.

I did get a little bit confused over who was talking about what. I remembered the OP mentioned taking the train, and Longwood Gardens is most definitely not convenient to get by train or public transportation from Philadelphia.

 

[Genie+]

I did get a little bit confused over who was talking about what. I remembered the OP mentioned taking the train, and Longwood Gardens is most definitely not convenient to get by train or public transportation from Philadelphia.

Oops yeah - i hope OP doesn’t mind my hi-jacking the board.

Sorry @Luv Bunnies
It’s a great time of year to visit Philly! Hope you have a great trip visiting the cities.

 

[SteveMouse]

Lest you think a Garden is solely about plants, Longwood has a few other surprises, including a really cool organ and a light show of its own- dancing fountains. It is fair to say it uses water as effectively ad any of the Florida Disney parks

Ghere is sometimes a Groupon for the Constitution Center. There is not gor Longwood. Depending on your crowd, a membership may be advantageous.

look on Longwood’s website for a detailed calendar of offerings.

 

[amcnj]

Some of the sights I can recall at the moment are:

Historical: Constitution center/Independence Hall/Liberty Bell, Betsy Ross house, Ben Franklin Post office, American Revolution Museum (haven’t been there myself yet, but heard from others that it is was worthwhile), Christ Church

Art: Art Museum, Barnes Foundation, Rodin Museum

Some more unusual/uncommon ones: Mutter Museum, Magic Garden (glass/mosaics), US Mint, Reading Terminal Market, Eastern state Penitentiary, Rocky Steps (Art Museum), Franklin Institute

 

[mjkacmom]

We spent thanksgiving weekend in Philadelphia for 12 years for dance, the hotels I am familiar with are the downtown Marriott, the courtyard next door, and Loews across the street. The Marriott connects to the reading terminal building, and is walkable to some sites. I’ve never been to the eastern state penitentiary, but really wanted to go and have only heard great things.