Tuesday, 9/22, I will be in Philly with my father. He is going to the VA Hospital For some heart work, and isn't permitted to drive home. Meanwhile I will have several hours to my self in a new-to-me city. The Hospital is at South University and Woodland. It looks that 37th street station is a 10 minute walk, and Old City is 3 miles east. Historic sight seeing is my biggest interest, along with a cheese steak.
Any tips, hints, advice?
Also, Big Mets fan, will wearing a jersey and/or hat be an issue?
Mets garb shouldn't be a problem. Cowboys and Giants, and sometimes Yankees would draw trouble though.
The Liberty Bell isn't all it's cracked up to be, don't waste time on that. Independence Hall and the Constitution center are good to see. The city is filled with good museums of all types.
My wife used to be a carriage driver for the historic carriage tours. Some of those carriage drivers really know their stuff, others, not so much. Anyway, a carriage tour with a good driver can be very educational.
RE: cheese steaks. Its hard not to find a good cheese steak in Philly.
Get over to the historical or old city section and just walk. It's delightfully fascinating. For lunch, either a street vendor or the old train station market. Here's the web page for that market. http://www.readingterminalmarket.org/
Yeah, Reading Terminal Market is awesome, come hungry, and stay far away if you're on a diet.
If he's into cars too, you should go to theSimeon foundation museum
Wally
MegaDork
9/3/15 8:37 a.m.
neon4891 wrote:
Also, Big Mets fan, will wearing a jersey and/or hat be an issue?
Not at all. Be sure to yell "Phillies Suck" once in a while too.
Wally wrote:
neon4891 wrote:
Also, Big Mets fan, will wearing a jersey and/or hat be an issue?
Not at all. Be sure to yell "Phillies Suck" once in a while too.
TBH, unless you're in front of the ballpark doing that, you will likely hear someone yell back "YOU'RE RIGHT!".
The city has already changed over to football mode now.
If you're interested in historic sightseeing, Philly is full of that. Yes, you will be fairly close to 30th Street station, which is the regional rail. You could grab a train from there to Market East/Gallery stop. That will get you within walking distance of Old City. That's where the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, etc...are located. Ask someone to point you in the right direction...from Market East, you'll want to walk just a few blocks to the East. 5th and Chestnut is your target, that's where the historic stuff is centered. That whole area is the historic part of town, and where the rich folks live. Lots of very old houses, cobblestone streets are nearby. Safe area too.
If you want a cheesesteak, you'll be close enough to walk to Jims'. It's at 4th and South St, which is 6 blocks south of the Liberty Bell area. Best in town.
Other option would be the Art Museum area...not as historic, but very nice. You could do the whole Rocky re-enactment thing and run up the steps.
Just don't wander too far around the VA hospital area. A few blocks in the wrong direction and you're in the hood.
Klayfish wrote:
If you're interested in historic sightseeing, Philly is full of that. Yes, you will be fairly close to 30th Street station, which is the regional rail. You could grab a train from there to Market East/Gallery stop. That will get you within walking distance of Old City. That's where the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, etc...are located. Ask someone to point you in the right direction...from Market East, you'll want to walk just a few blocks to the East. 5th and Chestnut is your target, that's where the historic stuff is centered. That whole area is the historic part of town, and where the rich folks live. Lots of very old houses, cobblestone streets are nearby. Safe area too.
If you want a cheesesteak, you'll be close enough to walk to Jims'. It's at 4th and South St, which is 6 blocks south of the Liberty Bell area. Best in town.
Other option would be the Art Museum area...not as historic, but very nice. You could do the whole Rocky re-enactment thing and run up the steps.
Just don't wander too far around the VA hospital area. A few blocks in the wrong direction and you're in the hood.
My only addition is to hit up Reading Terminal Market (pretty much on top of Market East station) if you end up wanting something not a cheesesteak to eat.
Not sure of distance, but try and get to the Simeone Foundation Museum
http://www.simeonemuseum.org/
Fantastic collection of historic race cars.
HappyAndy wrote:
Wally wrote:
neon4891 wrote:
Also, Big Mets fan, will wearing a jersey and/or hat be an issue?
Not at all. Be sure to yell "Phillies Suck" once in a while too.
TBH, unless you're in front of the ballpark doing that, you will likely hear someone yell back "YOU'RE RIGHT!".
The city has already changed over to football mode now.
Didn't they start doing that April 7th?
foxtrapper wrote:
Get over to the historical or old city section and just walk. It's delightfully fascinating. For lunch, either a street vendor or the old train station market. Here's the web page for that market. http://www.readingterminalmarket.org/
Nailed it. I'm from philly.
If you wanted to take the train out to the 'burbs, you could come out to my shop and watch me walk around the shop for 20 minutes at a time looking for the screwdriver I just put down. 
Reading Terminal Market is where I would go. South Street could be interesting, but not as interesting as after dark.
Klayfish wrote:
Just don't wander too far around the VA hospital area. A few blocks in the wrong direction and you're in the hood.
yes, once you get out of "university city" things go downhill fast.
And now that University City is having a ton of money pumped into it by Penn, is less interesting than it used to be. That said, the Jose Garces restaurant down that way looks shockingly affordable for a restaurant run by an Iron Chef.
http://www.visitphilly.com/restaurants-dining/philadelphia/distrito/
As a Mets fan in Conshy (work) and Downingtown (home), I never had any issues including the 6" Mr. Met sticker on the car. Especially this year and now that we are in Eagles season as others have said... But they will be quick to remind you of the 2007 and 2008 seasons which shall never be mentioned of again...
The Dandilion on 124 S 18th St for rabbit stew and a good hand pumped ale.
It's almost on Rittenhouse Square so lots of nice stuff all around. Near enough to City Hall and those sights. When you get to Old City ... pop into Eulogy for some real Belgian beer and mussels.
We spent the day in Philly in July. We stayed in Chinatown, got up and walked to terminal market and then over to Independence Hall. We didn't bother doing anything that required tickets or money. We also walked the grounds of the Museum of Art. Saw the rocky steps and stuff.
Just remembered - the Art Museum isn't all paintings - there is also a hall of Arms and Armor that has a bunch of historical weapons and suits of armor in it, it's cool stuff!
I think I will stick to stuff that is free, and good for pictures.
