Philadelphia Tourist Info?

My wife and I are thinking of having a long weekend in early October for our anniversary. We have always wanted to visit Philadelphia. What area would be best to stay in as far as dining, history, convenience etc. Also any hotel ideas would be cool. Thanks in advance.

 

My wife and I went a couple of years ago and stayed at the Doubletree Center City. It's right on Broad Street, about two blocks from City Hall, and we paid less than $100 for a Sunday night stay in early August. It was a good, solid three-star hotel. Nothing fancy, but far from a flea bag. For the price and the location, it's hard to beat.
That puts you within walking distance of most of the historical sites, too. About a mile from the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall. If you're looking to visit those things, you want to be in Center City.

As for touristy stuff, besides the historical sites, check out the Mütter Museum. It's a museum of medical oddities. Very cool. The shrunken head exhibit is great fun.
Home | Mütter Museum of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia

 

My go-to hotel in Philadelphia is the Sheraton Society Hill. You can walk to all the historic sites from there and you have the waterfront. Brunch at Cuba Libre on 2nd St. is pretty damn special, too.

 

Tir Na Nog is a really great spot for live music, great beer and better whisky. Food? No so much.

 

Have a Philly trip scheduled for sometime in the (hopefully) near future (more for genealogy purposes - ancestors of both me and Mrs. Fly are planted there, and mine were in the second wave of founding Germantown in the late 1600s) so keeping tabs on this thread. One must-do for me is DiNic's at Reading Market for the roast pork sandwich. Screw the cheesesteak!!!

Oh, and Tired Hands Brewing up in Ardmore.

 

I too am heading to Philly in early August...this may be time to start a SJ.Com scavenger for future goers ala national treasure. First clue may be Hi Sandy scrawled on the Liberty Bell.

 

Eastern State Penitentiary is also great. They've turned it into a museum, and you can get through there in a couple of hours.
Plus, if you're going in October and are into such things they have what I hear is an awesome haunted house at Halloween time. Last year they had an "enhanced" version where they separated you from the group, sent you down deserted passageways, and got a little hands-on. There's parts of that place that are creepy as hell in the middle of the day. I can't imagine wandering through there at night, when they're actively trying to mess with your head and scare the crap out of you.

If you want a more benign experience, go the art museum and run the steps like Rocky. Or the Franklin Institute, although that might be geared more toward kids than adults.

 

Philadelphia Marriott is across the street from Reading Terminal Market, and it's about a six- or seven-block walk to Independence Mall, which is where you'll find Independence Hall, the old Senate building, the Liberty Bell and the Constitution Center.
I don't recommend the Liberty Bell unless there is absolutely no line.

Eastern State was not open when I was a South Jersey resident; however, on a visit to see family during the fall we went for Halloween and it was awesome.

 

This place is also incredible: The Barnes Foundation - Home
You have to call ahead and reserve a spot, though. Trust me. Reserve you tour spot.

 

With gold, no doubt.




I keed, I keed.

 

Monk's has a tremendous beer selection.

Jim's is the best cheesesteak. Watch out for weirdos dousing it in ketchup.