Please help with last minute to Philly!! Update - we're back!

[rascalmom]

DH just decided to attend a conference in Philadelphia. He wants to spend all most all of Friday & Saturday at the conference & I'm trying to decide on flights.

We'll be leaving our 2 teens at home under the supervision of the grandparents, but I still hate being away from them right now. They both have a lot going on & I'm feeling a bit of guilt, but I'd like to be able to go with dh & see a few key sights while we are there.

If we flew out on a morning flight & arrived in Philly in the early afternoon on Thursday, would we have time to see any of the historical sights? Our hotel is in the Cherry Hill area - hope that is ok, availability is VERY limited. I would like to at least see the Liberty Bell. How are the lines & is that doable in a few afternoon hours or on Sunday morning? How are the lines/crowds?

Thanks for any help you can give me! I'm usually an obsessive planner, but there just isn't much time to work with here.

 

[Papa Deuce]

DH just decided to attend a conference in Philadelphia. He wants to spend all most all of Friday & Saturday at the conference & I'm trying to decide on flights.

We'll be leaving our 2 teens at home under the supervision of the grandparents, but I still hate being away from them right now. They both have a lot going on & I'm feeling a bit of guilt, but I'd like to be able to go with dh & see a few key sight while we are there.

If we flew out on a morning flight & arrived in Philly in the early afternoon on Thursday, would we have time to see any of the historical sights? Our hotel is in the Cherry Hill area - hope that is ok, availability is VERY limited. I would like to at least see the Liberty Bell. How are the lines & is that doable in a few afternoon hours or on Sunday morning? How are the lines/crowds?

Thanks for any help you can give me! I'm usually an obsessive planner, but there just isn't much time to work with here.

Most of the stuff is within 4 blocks of the Liberty Bell.

 

[Cindy B]

The drive to Cherry Hill to downtown Philly is about 10 minute drive (depending on which hotel in Cherry Hill) If you are at the Clarion, add about 5-7 more minutes to the original ten.

If driving, you will have to cross a bridge to PA and it will cost $3 for a two way fare, meaning $3 up front and the return trip is free.

Things are pretty close to the Liberty Bell. I remember walking to the Liberty Bell, then walking over to Betsy Ross house, and then seeing other stuff.

 

[tiggerwannabe]

There is a visitor's center across from the Liberty Bell

Go there first!!!
They have tour details, maps, information and tickets sales all in the one buidling.

Some sites close at dinnertime, you may want to call the info center before you arrive-
you may also save time and money by buying your passes before you arrive here.

~HTH~

 

[rascalmom]

We're staying at the Hilton-Cherry Hill. They are providing hourly shuttles to the Pennsylvania Convention Center. Would the Liberty Bell site be within walking distance from there? Would cabs be readily available from the Convention Center to the historical sites?

Can anyone tell me some good restaurants & things to do with our evenings?

 

[tiggerwannabe]

Yes,

and Yes.

Reading terminal market is right across the street-lots of counter service choices-
cheesesteaks, sushi, deli and italian, among others.

The liberty bell is a few blocks from the convention center-a nice walk, but not too far.

The Boarse building is across from the Liberty Bell-it has alot of food choices inside.

The City has MANY sit down offerings-ask the hotel of converntion center what
restaurants they would recommend. South Street is also nearby and has food and
shopping down the length of it.

Jon's on South Street (birthplace of Larry Fine) is my DDs favorite.
Best grilled ham & cheese in the state! For real! (My fam prefers counter service)

 

[rascalmom]

Thanks everyone!

Questions keep popping into my head - should we get a rental car or plan to shuttle/cab from the airport & around town?

 

[Cindy B]

Thanks everyone!

Questions keep popping into my head - should we get a rental car or plan to shuttle/cab from the airport & around town?

There really isn't much to see in Cherry Hill except a mall, and the highway. That Hilton is on the highway, so really isn't much to see.

There is a nice park behind the Hilton but you should exercise caution after dark.

There is construction on the highway right near the hotel (Rt. 70) so you may encounter types of traffic. You may be better off without it. You can walk on Rt 70 although it is pretty busy. There are restaurants near there. There is a bar nearby but on the other side of the highway called Top Dog, there is a nearby Holiday Inn with a pretty decent BBQ place in it called Red Hot and Blue. I've read that they deliver, so you may get lucky there. Right across from the Hilton is a business park. There is a King of Pizza which is nearby as well. Also, a little further up is Garden State Pavilion which has a grocery store, buffet place, home depot and such.

Now, if you decide to walk anywhere, stay in Cherry Hill area at night. Just to be wise, and since you don't know the area, its best. To the left is another town which gets fairly worse pretty quickly if you know what I mean.

There is a larger Hispanic population in that area, so be prepared to see bilingual signs and some that don't speak much English. I've been over that area and heard announcement over a store PA entirely in Spanish. I'm just letting you know ahead of time if that makes you uncomfortable.


Tons and tons of restaurants in Philly. Reading market is a great place to go. You actually aren't far from Chinatown either when you in the convention center area.

 

[Cindy B]

As for shuttle/car from airport, its your call. I don't fly so I can't tell you the price for a cab/shuttle from the airport to Cherry Hill. Its only about a 30 minute drive to the airport and that includes traffic on I95.

 

[justhat]

We just did a very spur of the moment weekend trip to Philly a few weeks ago. Based on the cost of parking (about $30+ at every lot we saw) I would stick with the shuttle/cab. Try to see Eastern State Penitentiary if you have time. It's not far from Center City and it was really interesting.

 

[Papa Deuce]

Thanks everyone!

Questions keep popping into my head - should we get a rental car or plan to shuttle/cab from the airport & around town?

There is Philly Phlash, a purple bus, that you can ride all day for one price. You get off and on as you wish. It hits the main historical areas, as well as areas. You are always guaranteed to end up back where you started as it is a big loop.

 

[rascalmom]

There is Philly Phlash, a purple bus, that you can ride all day for one price. You get off and on as you wish. It hits the main historical areas, as well as areas. You are always guaranteed to end up back where you started as it is a big loop.

Great! That's exactly what I wanted. Just to clarify, when I said "sites around town" - I meant Philly. I assume Cherry Hill is a suburb & wouldn't be too much to see.

As far as restaurants, I was looking for something special & unique to the area. Obviously, I know about cheesesteaks - any nice restaurants where we could have an evening out? (Not chain type places - we've got plenty of those here)

 

[Papa Deuce]

Great! That's exactly what I wanted. Just to clarify, when I said "sites around town" - I meant Philly. I assume Cherry Hill is a suburb & wouldn't be too much to see.

As far as restaurants, I was looking for something special & unique to the area. Obviously, I know about cheesesteaks - any nice restaurants where we could have an evening out? (Not chain type places - we've got plenty of those here)

I like a restaurant called "Fork" in the 300 Block of Market St.... just five doors away from where I work.

www.forkrestaurant.com

 

[rascalmom]

Thanks Papa Duece! Looks yummy - we'll be trying for reservations for one of our nights. Evidently this is a huge convention - I had a really tough time finding a hotel. Hope Cherry Hill is okay & not too far.

 

[Cindy B]

Thanks Papa Duece! Looks yummy - we'll be trying for reservations for one of our nights. Evidently this is a huge convention - I had a really tough time finding a hotel. Hope Cherry Hill is okay & not too far.

Cherry Hill is not far from Philly. Its about a 10 minute drive max especially the hotel which you have chose.

Basically its a straight shot from Rt 70 to the bridge and you are there. I didn't want to scare you about the area but about a few lights away from the hotel gets pretty urban quickly. Basically, don't go driving around towards Philly for a pretty drive. You could wind up in an urban area fairly quickly and be lost in a pretty different area. I've done it, missed an exit or a turn and would up in the urban section of Camden. I've done it in Chicago and Cleveland too!

I see you're from Ohio. Its sort of like Shaker Heights/Cleveland. Yes, Shaker is very nice great reputation. I lived in Shaker and loved it. However, at the intersection of Chagrin and Lee it became the city of Cleveland extremely quicklyand the nice area STOPS IMMEDIATELY. Same with the Shaker Square area.. lots of nice shops/movies/fun things to do, but one light away from the Square is pretty SCARY! --this hotel is not the one light away example, but the Hilton is closer to the city than say residential areas or developments. I wouldn't even call the area where the hotel is a fringe to a bad area but some do, if that makes any sense. That would be people that just think if you are that close to Philly (and it is very very close) you are in the urban hood.

That area is fine.. I even had my senior prom at that hotel. It does back up to a nice park, and the Cooper River. There is also a mini golf place right next to the hotel. (I've seen people walk it!) The park is pretty but like anywhere, but be cautious, since you aren't from around there. I take my dogs to the park and just like an open space at night, be wise. (Just like if I want to the Warrensville Park mall in Warrensville Heights Ohio by myself at night.. I didn't do it! I just didn't want to invite trouble just in case!)

 

[rascalmom]

Actually, I'm not from Ohio - I'm from Oklahoma.

I get what you are saying about a fringe area - we'll probably stick with the shuttles & cabs to get around. I tried for something closer to the Convention Center, but everything is booked. The only other rooms I found were by King of Prussia mall - that seemed to be further out, but not being familiar with the area I'm not sure. I'm going to keep checking for cancellations - but right now everything closer looks full.

 

[Papa Deuce]

Actually, I'm not from Ohio - I'm from Oklahoma.

I get what you are saying about a fringe area - we'll probably stick with the shuttles & cabs to get around. I tried for something closer to the Convention Center, but everything is booked. The only other rooms I found were by King of Prussia mall - that seemed to be further out, but not being familiar with the area I'm not sure. I'm going to keep checking for cancellations - but right now everything closer looks full.

King of Prussia is 35 minutes to CC with no traffic, an hour with traffic.I live right next to KOP.

 

[Cindy B]

King of Prussia is definetely further than Cherry Hill. I used to work in K of P and it would take over 30- if not 40 minutes sometimes even close to an hour to get to Center City. The expressway is murder! (in fact it is nicknamed the Sure-Kill expressway) I would sometimes plan at least an hour to get to Philly from my suburb next to K of P.

See, I thought OU would be Ohio, not Oklahoma... then I read the sooner part.. Ooops!

Cherry Hill is fine, but don't wander around in the neighborhood near the Philly-NJ bridge. The park is fine, just be wise of your surroundings after dark (thats really anywhere though).

 

[rascalmom]

Update - we just got back. Boy are my feet tired! I think I walked as much around the Convention Center & Philadelphia as we do at WDW.

Yesterday we got to do our sightseeing. Saw the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall & Congress Hall. Also took a horsedrawn carriage ride around the historic area. Lots of things to see - we were wishing we had more time & had taken our teens with us. The tour & history talk given at Independence Hall was given by a NP Ranger who is an AP history teacher during the week. My oldest is taking AP US History this year - I told him how great he was & she wanted to know if I got his phone #! (she's not too impressed with her teacher - it's his first year).

We DID get lost getting from the airport to Cherry Hill when we arrived. Lovely tour of Camden near the bridge. The rest of the time we did fine. By the way Papa Duece - we did end up having dinner at Fork one evening - very yummy! Thanks everyone for the great tips!

 

[Cindy B]

We DID get lost getting from the airport to Cherry Hill when we arrived. Lovely tour of Camden near the bridge. The rest of the time we did fine. By the way Papa Duece - we did end up having dinner at Fork one evening - very yummy! Thanks everyone for the great tips!

LOL about the lovely tour of Camden! Yes, I 've done that as wel.. so I can laugh about it!

Sounds like you had a great time