<p>I have come to this site for trip advice before, and I have gotten some great information. Someone recommended a pizza place in Burlington that is one of the best places I have ever been to. So, I am back!</p>
<p>A friend and I are going to Philadelphia just for a day (arriving at around 9:00 in the morning and leaving at around midnight). I am going to the annual flower show at around 4:00 in the afternoon (the website says that’s the best viewing time), but I will have some time before that. Does anyone have any suggestions on what to do, see, eat? I am on a pretty tight budget, so something that I can do cheaply or for free is a plus, but I I’ll take any suggestions.</p>
<p>If you haven’t already seen it, you should take a look at the Liberty Bell and/or Independence Hall. Both free, and don’t take too much time if the lines aren’t long.</p>
<p>Have lunch at the Reading Terminal Market (not free but cheap). Go to the Art Museum and run up the steps ala Rocky.</p>
<p>Here’s a website that lists events and discounts in Philadelphia. [PhillyFunGuide:</a> Philadelphia Cultural Events and Organizations - phillyfunguide.com](<a href=“http://phillyfunguide.com/]PhillyFunGuide:”>http://phillyfunguide.com/) you can plug in a particular day and see what’s going on. Have fun at the Flower show! I’ve heard that it’s best to arrive very early to beat the crowd.</p>
<p>I second going to the Reading Terminal.
Also try visiting the Italian Market.
You’re lucky its really warming up around here in perfect time for the flower show.</p>
<p>The Mutter Museum, a collection of medical oddities, specimen, antique medical tools, etc. They were used to teach medical students a long time ago. One of the most fascinating places I’ve ever been to. Nothing like it anywhere else.</p>
<p>The Philadelphia Museum of Art is a gem, best thing about the city as far as I’m concerned. They have a special exhibit called “Cezanne and Beyond” showing now, with works by Cezanne and a wide range of artists influenced by his work—favorably reviewed in Friday’s NY Times and a major art world event as it’s showing only in Philadelphia. Advanced purchase times tickets required for that exhibit. Their permanent collection is also extremely strong though only parts of it are open to viewing at any given time due to budget constraints. A little pricey at $20 for students (includes museum admission and special exhibit) but if you can scrape up that much well worth it.</p>
<p>I am not a fan of going to a museum if you only have one day in a city. If you really want to get the flavor of the city, take some of the other suggestions. See the Liberty Bell, go to the Art Museum steps, get a cheesesteak.</p>
<p>I’m not familiar with the East Coast so this questions might sound ignorant, but is it possible to take a day trip to NYC from Philadelphia? I hear Philly is 1.5 hours from NYC which doesn’t sound bad considering I’ve commuted about the same length of time getting from my suburb into the city on an every-other-day basis in the summer.</p>
<p>Yes it is, I’ve done it on many occasions. Take the train, a bus or even drive if you’re willing to put up with traffic in NYC and the cost of parking. Most of the driving is the NJ Turnpike until you approach NYC. Just plan to start early in the morning and end late at night and you can make a full day of it with a show, shopping and dinner or whatever you want to do. If you want to go by train, you can take Amtrak out of 30th St station in Phila straight in or you can take commuter rail from Phila to Trenton and switch over to NJ Transit into NYC.</p>
<p>I had a day in Philly last fall…one of myfavorite things that I did, which only took about 45 minutes, was tour the Portrait Gallery at the Second Bank of the United States. If you are at all familiar with any of the bigger names in US history, you will see beautiful portraits of EVERYONE from the 18th century. I was really pleased with how close up and intimate the settings are… and the paintings are perfection… here is a link to info on it…</p>