What places should I visit in Philadelphia?

Best places to visit in Philadelphia?

• So I'm going on a trip with my family to Philly this summer, and I'm hoping that you lovely people can make some suggestions as to where to go in the city. We're a small group of four, and the youngest is sixteen now, so I'm looking for some places to go that would be fun for everyone. Are there any cafes, or galleries, or shops we should check out? Favorite museum exhibits? I'm kind of into the indie scene, so if you know of anything that style, I'd be pumped. Thank you times one billion. Have a good one!

• Answer:

  Just returned from Philadelphia today (second trip there), and it is such a great city! We live in CT and spend quite a bit of time in NYC. I think of Philly as the less intimidating sister of NYC. Vibrant, yet not as rushed. Most people are actually smiling most of the time. First thing you should do: check out who's playing at the Mann Center - a great ampitheater in Fairmount Park (Philly's version of Central Park). Last night we saw Robert Plant and Alison Krauss' concert, and while these two would be great to see anywhere, this venue is really special. The seats in the first three sections are all under cover, so concerts go on rain or shine. http://www.manncenter.org I always think of Philly as having two main sections of interest for visitors - the historic city center area and the uber historic district near the Delaware River, left and right sections respectively on a map. You will not want to walk to either section from the other, so you should plan your activities accordingly. City Center area: The Art Museum (where Rocky ran up the steps) is pretty impressive if you like art museums (think the Met in NYC). You can check out what exhibits will be there during your stay at http://www.philamuseum.org The Franklin Institute is mostly based around the science and inventions of Benjamin Franklin, one amazing guy. This is about as Disney as Philadelphia gets - some of the attractions are really for younger children while others are more geared toward adults, plus an IMAX theater. If your family is the curious type (likes to know how things work), this might be fun. http://www.fi.edu Rittenhouse Square - this is just that, a (fairly small) square park in the middle of a city. It's beautiful, great people watching, great for a picnic, but other than that it is, well, a square park in the middle of a city. Historic District (Independence Park): Philadelphia probably has more American history packed into any given block than any city in the US. I thought I knew American history pretty well until I went to Philly. I thought all that history stuff would bore me to death, but it's actually fascinating (and a bit quirky!) Get a map of the park at http://www.nps.gov/inde and see what looks good to you. Independence Hall was our favorite - but you'd want to do this earlier or later in the day to avoid the crowds. You can just stroll around Independence Park and walk into anything of interest and just as easily walk out of what's not. It's also fun to have a meal at the City Tavern - where our forefathers hashed out both the revolution and Declaration of Independence. http://www.citytavern.com The Liberty Bell - well, it's just that. It's a building with long lines in which to wait so that you can see a large bell. Yes, it's historic. Fun? No. Shopping: unless you're the mall type, check out the more interesting shops on South Street between Front St and 7th. The best description of this area is at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Street_(Philadelphia) And now for something wacky - http://www.phillyducks.com - a crazy historic tour of Philadelphia on an amphibious bus that crashes into the Delaware River at the end of the tour. I know, sounds nuts, but it's fun! Tip: no bathroom stops on this 90 minute tour. Hope this helps - have fun!