We are planning on hitting Philadelphia this coming season - probably early May. We're going mainly to see the Eastern State Penitentiary, but don't want to miss anything exciting. No kids with us, but we are curious folks who enjoy history and cool stuff. Even art museums. What's not to miss?Also we need a campground and easy access to the city. At this point we are thinking Timberlane Campground in Clarksboro, New Jersey and hoping to maybe take a train into the city... Sound acceptable? Anyone have suggestions on that or how to get around in the city?'Tis the season for planning... Hoping to get some good stuff from you guys!

Went to Philadelphia 'once'.The cab drivers wouldn't even drive me down at night to see the tall ships that had arrived there the city is so bad. I was 'very' disappointed at how they had allowed the city where all our country's heritage sits get so bad. :( Just saying, ask around 'before' you head out to make it an RV destination.

Good choice! Eastern State is incredibly interesting. I would start at the visitors center and take the Phlash. It's a shuttle bus you can get on and off for very little cost. Many historical sites to see. Unfortunately, I've never camped in the area, but we're thinking about it this coming season as we'll.

Try the KOA in West Chester, PA. Also must see is longwood Gardens.

The USS New Jersey is on one side of the river, and the USS Olympia is on the other. Makes a heck of a contrast, even tho' the two designs are only about 50 years apart. The old Oly is so run down and neglected it's a dam' national disgrace (so much for 'Remember the Maine!'). Not much of the Jersey was open ~5 years ago when I visited, but you could go into one of the 16" turrets and onto the bridge.Jim, "Democracy, your vote counts. Feudalism, your Count votes."

Philly's a very artsy town: Philadelphia Museum of Art, (where Sylvester Stallone famously ran up and down the stairs) in Rocky, Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, and The Rodin Museum, to name a few faves. The Mutter Museum is also in Philly, if you're into that sort of thing.And there's always the Philly Cheese Steak dilemma: Trying to figure out who makes better cheese steak sandwiches - Geno's or Pat's. It's a highly divisive issue in Philadelphia.Oh yeah, and you might want to drop by and see that Liberty Bell thingy while you're there.

Philadelphia anyone? | Good Sam Community

35 Replies

pasusan
Explorer
Jan 13, 2014
Came up with another cool thing to see in Philly.

Talking to my MIL about our trip she said we must go see Philadelphia's Magic Gardens. It's a place where an artist went crazy with mosaics - inside and outside.

Had to add that to our itinerary!
Pirate1
Explorer
Jan 11, 2014
sleepyT wrote:
Pasusan
Your schedule is outstanding. You are hitting every major point of interest in the city. As far as the campground,there are several in Chester County around the Coatesville & Downingtown area. There is also a train in those two towns you can take into downtown Phila.
Several (campgrounds)? Please list them.
sleepyT
Explorer
Jan 11, 2014
Pasusan
Your schedule is outstanding. You are hitting every major point of interest in the city. As far as the campground,there are several in Chester County around the Coatesville & Downingtown area. There is also a train in those two towns you can take into downtown Phila.
pasusan
Explorer
Jan 11, 2014
GMandJM wrote:
That sounds like a really fun schedule. I hope you have a great time!
Thanks very much - we're looking forward to it. :)
pasusan
Explorer
Jan 11, 2014
jfkmk wrote:
Actually, you talked us right into it! We booked the other day for the West Chester KOA for Memorial Day weekend. Haven't set an agenda yet, but my wife wants to hit Fort Mifflin, we'll go to Valley Forge, then some other things we haven't gone to in Philly.
I wanted to see Fort Mifflin too! If you're ever up by Niagara Falls you've got to see Old Fort Niagara - it is really cool - built by the French in the early 1700s. If you're going to do some pay for things in Philly the Philadelphia Pass is a great buy.

Have fun! We're counting the days...
GMandJM
Explorer
Jan 11, 2014
That sounds like a really fun schedule. I hope you have a great time!
Lantley
Nomad
Jan 10, 2014
tplife wrote:
I was raised about an hour away in the Pine Barrens. A nice place to visit if you know the areas to stay away from...Philly makes good pretzels, and cheese steaks, but what folks see in Cheese Whiz I'll never understand. More provolone for the rest of us I guess. :)

I love Philly, I think it's a great town with very genuine people.
However I'm missing on the cheese steak thing?!
I've have been to Geno's? and Pat's they were both disappointing.
I need to hide the Cheez wiz and import lettuce tomato and mayo.
Cheese Wiz Really!
tplife
Explorer
Jan 10, 2014
I was raised about an hour away in the Pine Barrens. A nice place to visit if you know the areas to stay away from...Philly makes good pretzels, and cheese steaks, but what folks see in Cheese Whiz I'll never understand. More provolone for the rest of us I guess. :)
jfkmk
Explorer
Jan 10, 2014
pasusan wrote:
Sad news....

I just went to the NPS site and found out that a few of the places we wanted to see are closed because of lack of funding since the sequester.

Places closed:
New Hall Military Museum - Henry Knox offices and exhibits about the founding of the Marine Corp
Dolley Todd House - First Lady Dolley Madison's home - late 18th century
Bishop White House - home of the rector of Christ Church - late 18th century
Declaration House - where Thomas Jefferson drafted the Declaration of Independence

(expletive)

These politicians forget THEY work for US and the National Parks belong to us. They have a lot of nerve keeping us from what belongs to us. Last year, we camped in NY state and couldn't go to a lot of places because of the government shutdown. Of course, they opened the National Mall for Pelosi. Oh we'll, sorry for venting.
jfkmk
Explorer
Jan 10, 2014
Actually, you talked us right into it! We booked the other day for the West Chester KOA for Memorial Day weekend. Haven't set an agenda yet, but my wife wants to hit Fort Mifflin, we'll go to Valley Forge, then some other things we haven't gone to in Philly.

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Philadelphia anyone?

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