<p>Hello virtual friends! DH and I will be in the Haverford area for a few days, which I believe is only an hour or so from Philly. Any suggestions of things to do/places to eat, etc. in Philly or Haverford???</p>
<p>Tango in Bryn Mawr is a good restaurant…a bit pricey though. Dujour in Haverford is good for upscale sandwiches and salads (entrees too - most days you jsut go up to the counter to order).<br>
You can take the train into Philly from Haverford - about a half-hour ride. Driving in is a bit tricky - no real direct route (unless you want to drive through some dicey areas).<br>
If you like history, go to Independence Square and visit the Liberty Bell.
A visit to the Art Museum is always worth it.
The Franklin Institute is fun and they have great IMAX and Planeterium.
shows.
If it’s a nice day, you can walk on the riverfront or take a Duck tour. Chart House has good seafood. The Mooshuloo (sp?) is a restaurant on a ship.
Haven’t been there in a while but South St used to be fun. Some strange punky types walking around, unique shops, eclectic restaurants, comedy clubs. Teenagers usually love it…not sure about the parents.
Have fun!</p>
<p>are you a gardener? Head in the other direction and check out Chanticleer in Wayne – about 10 minutes from Haverford.</p>
<p>I really enjoyed the Constitution Center, which is across from a cemetery where Ben Franklin was buried. I enjoyed walking all over the city. It’s gorgeous, and I found the people to be friendly.</p>
<p>Pat’s Steaks (get Cheez Whiz on it, seriously). Eat it standing up outside. Unforgettable.</p>
<p>In addition to the Art Museum, there is the Franklin Institute (sciences and a great IMAX theatre) and the Museum of Natural Sciences (great dinosaur collection). Philly also has a phenomenal theatre, opera, ballet and orchestral music scene. Wilma Theatre, Suzanne Roberts Theatre, Meriam Theatre, Kimmel Center, Academy of Music, Prince Music Theatre, Walnut St Theatre and Forest Theatre are all in center city and within a 10 minute walk of each other. Look at their websites for what will be running when you are in.</p>
<p>There are also a gizzillion excellent restaurants in center city Philly. The neighborhood from Broad St over to 11th St and Spruce over to Pine has a ton of restaurants, most with outdoor seating, on every block that visitors normally are not directed to but that locals go to in droves. Mixto at 11th and Pine is excellent. In addition, on the other side of Broad St are Estia on Locust St between Broad and 15th. La Viola on 16th St between Locust and Spruce. With all due respect, the Moosholu is a tourist trap and the food is mediocre. The Charthouse is very good but very expensive and there are many restaurants equally good but more reasonably priced.</p>
<p>Taking the train into center city is fine for day trips but if you intend to take advantage of the nightlife is not great; the night time schedule thins out and can become very inconvenient. Driving in is not difficult and you do not have to drive through “bad” neighborhoods. There are a number of parking lots/garages on 15th St and Broad St between Sansom and Spruce, many of which are open 24 hours and all of which put you within 5 - 15 minutes walking to all of the above theatres.</p>
<p>I work in center city Phila and my daughter goes to school and lives there. If you want more specific info, feel free to PM me.</p>
<p>I would go the other way and go to Valley Forge for your history fix, especially if it is nice weather. There is a great Visitor’s Center with a short film and then you can tour the park by car or on foot. It’s awesome.<br>
For shopping- you are on the Main Line, which has a lot of upscale shops. You aren’t far from King of Prussia, which is a huge mall and one of the very first enclosed shopping malls (it has expanded considerable, needless to say).</p>
<p>I would also do the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall if you get a chance.</p>
<p>Wow! Post a message and come back to so much good advice! Upscale shopping is probably out MOWC, since I am definitely a “downscale person”, not to mention paying for 3 more years of college ;), but everything else sounds great. Looks like we need a lot longer than the 3 days we have. Since we don’t have train service where we live, we will definitely take the train into philly and walk around. 
Love the suggestions!</p>
<p>If you will be in the area long enough to take in the historical sights in Philly that have already been mentioned and you have a car, check out Longwood Gardens. I imagine it’s about a 45 minutes from Haverford. [Longwood</a> Gardens - Home Page](<a href=“http://www.longwoodgardens.org/]Longwood”>http://www.longwoodgardens.org/)</p>
<p>If you are the outdoors type and have a day to kill, you can actually take in the historical sites in center city Phila and out in Valley Forge by bicycle. There is a bike rental shop next to the Art Museum and bike lanes from there down to Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. There is also a paved bike trail from the Art Museum out to Valley Forge Park. The ride from the Art Museum to Independence Hall is about 15 minutes and from the Art Museum to Valley Forge about an hour to 1 1/2 hrs depending on how fast you are comfortable riding.</p>
<p>I love historic restaurants and inns. Here are some of my favorites:</p>
<p>Frenchtown Inn</p>
<p>[The</a> Frenchtown Inn](<a href=“http://frenchtowninn.com/]The”>http://frenchtowninn.com/)</p>
<p>The Stockton Inn
<a href=“http://www.stocktoninn.com/[/url]”>http://www.stocktoninn.com/</a></p>
<p>The Inn at Phillips Mill</p>
<p>[The</a> Inn at Phillips Mill - Romantic New Hope, PA Restaurant](<a href=“http://www.theinnatphillipsmill.com/]The”>http://www.theinnatphillipsmill.com/)</p>
<p>I would check out Princeton (Witherspoon Street has some good places to eat - also the Palmer Inn, or Theresa’a across the street for just a fun place), New Hope and Lambertville (not far from Philly or Haverford) - adorable towns. However, there was some flooding in New Hope this year so some places like the Black Bass Hotel are closed. Call first.</p>
<p>I would drive around the Main Line and look at spectacular houses in the nicest towns. I’d visit historic places, especially if you are not from the northeast. I can’t remember specific ones, but there are places where Washington lived, or slept, or whatever, and that stuff is cool to see (Google should have some good suggestions).</p>
<p>If seeing the ocean would have special appeal, it isn’t very far. People from the main line and Philly drive to the Jersey shore for a day trip. This is where all the college kids head when exams are over. Just leave EARLY if you go on a weekend (traffic). Here are some cute towns to spend a day at the beach: I’d go to Spring Lake as a first choice (so charming, plus great places to eat and stay). Cape May is cool, but it’s far. Other nice towns are Bay Head, Mantaloking, Ocean City (popular for college kids), and Stone Harbor. Long Beach Island is also nice but it is harder to get to. Bring your bathing suit and sunscreen. Consider going to an amusement park on a pier (like Seaside Heights) for an authentic New Jersey “down the shore” experience. Eat salt water taffey while there.</p>
<p>Atlantic City is also not far - another option but as good not for those who are not yet legal.</p>
<p>One last thing…Unlike Texas, the NY/Philly area is pretty small. You can take a day trip to NYC by train if you’ve bever been there as well.</p>
<p>One last thing…Do not leave this part of the country without enjoying a cheesesteak, really good pizza, and real bagels.</p>
<p>I second longwood gardens especially after all the stresses of travel and school searches, we have also enjoyed the 1st zoo, of course all the regular history stuff. But for a relaxing, heavenly day, longwood can’t be beat. It should be a bit less than 45 minutes to get there and Simon Pierce has a neat place on the river nearby.</p>
<p>anxiousmom–Haverford College campus is beautiful in Spring and there’s a lovely nature walk around the school grounds.</p>
<p>Right down the road is the Barnes Foundation (beautiful museum).
[The</a> Barnes Foundation - Reservations](<a href=“http://www.barnesfoundation.org/r_main.html]The”>http://www.barnesfoundation.org/r_main.html)</p>
<p>When we take out-of-towners to Philadelphia, this is the itinerary:</p>
<p>Definite ‘must sees’
Independence Hall
Liberty Bell
Betsy Ross house or some other restored home that gives an idea of life back then. There are guided tours of specific homes that give an idea of the life of an ordinary person vs. a wealthy person, etc.</p>
<p>I’m not crazy about the Natl Constitution Center but there is one room with statues of signers of the Declaration of Independence that’s interesting to see.
some people enjoy riding the “Duck” which is a loud/raucous tour of the historic area in a vehicle that also goes into the water. Alternatively you can take a carriage ride through the historic district.</p>
<p>Reading Terminal market (at around 11th and Market? can’t remember exact address, just know where it is) is a great place to have lunch. It’s a big market with food stalls, fresh produce, meats, etc that represent virtually all of the ethnic groups and well-known foods of Philadelphia. There is a parking garage next door and you can get your ticket punched for $$ credit.</p>
<p>The market is on the border of Philadelphia’s Chinatown. We like to go there to visit markets, buy food/snacks that isn’t readily available in the suburbs. We like Sang Kee restaurant, nothing fancy, authentic. There are plenty of good (and bad) restaurants there. </p>
<p>The rest depends on your interests.
The Barnes Foundation is a fascinating, highly personal collection of masterpieces and some not so great (IMO) art in an old mansion not far from Haverford. I would recommend a guided tour with a docent if possible. YOu need to get tickets in advance.</p>
<p>If you are interested in ships, there is a historic submarine and some other historic ships that you can tour down by the waterfront, not far from the historic district.</p>
<p>There are many other historic buildings, graveyards etc in the historic area that you can visit if interested. Also some unique and strange museums. You can find info on line.</p>
<p>As another poster mentioned, Valley Forge park is not far from Haverford. There is a self-guided driving tour and also lots of walking paths. You’ll see Washington’s Headquarters, reproductions of the log cabins that soldiers lived in, etc. This is worth a visit if you have time and are interested in history.</p>
<p>If you have limited time, I wouldn’t recommend Longwood Gardens. It is beautiful (we have a membership there), with extensive indoor and outdoor plantings but it will take you an hour or so from Haverford and IMO it is not uniquely Philadelphian. If you do go, you could also stop at the Brandywine River museum in Chadds Ford which is pretty much devoted to art by Andrew Wyeth and other Wyeths.</p>
<p>Hope this is helpful!</p>
<p>When we have hosted college or high school kids, they always love to go to South Street. It’s kind of seedy, but it’s fun. There are unique stores, some restaurants, tattoo/piercing shops, etc. People watching is good here. </p>
<p>You have to have an authentic cheesesteak. Mine prefer Pat’s, but there’s a bunch of places that have their loyal patrons. </p>
<p>The Art Musuem is very nice and you can run up the front steps like Rocky ( a popular thing to do LOL ) </p>
<p>If you are interested in history there are a ton of places to see as mentioned above. </p>
<p>Philadelphia has so many great restaurants it’s hard to choose! They range from counters to grab a souvlaki to 5 star restaurants. Anything your heart desires. One of my favorites is Amada for tapas. Near the end of South Street there are some pubs that are fun to go to - you can get a yard of ale which is an experience in itself!</p>
<p>There’s a Chinatown, a jeweler’s row, a fabric row, an Italian Market, etc…so many diverse offerings it’s hard to see it all. </p>
<p>Be careful if you drive downtown, sometimes your lane just disappears due to parked cars or a bus or taxi will decide they want your lane and will take it. They are rather aggressive ( I think) so you need to drive defensively. </p>
<p>Have fun!</p>
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<p>These are both immediately adjacent to the Market Street train station.</p>
<p>Don’t forget the water ice and soft pretzels!</p>
<p>There’s a wonderful walk from the back of the Art Museum along the river (Boathouse Row, many outdoor sculptures, scullers) Lots of people biking and jogging.
Old City Tavern is fun to eat at downtown- colonial cuisine.
The Academy of the Fine Arts not far from City Hall is worth a trip, as well as a tour of the Masonic Temple</p>
<p>There has to be better cheese steaks in Philly than Pat’s or the other joint across the street. Both are nasty bad. Being from NJ I feel I know a good cheese steak.</p>
<p>I grew up in Haverford a million years ago… I would recommend, if it’s a nice day, taking a picnic to the climbing tree on the Haverford campus and walking the campus; it’s an arboretum as well as a campus (lots of labelled trees). Longwood Gardens is amazing.</p>