Philadelphia anyone?
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, bu...
Forum Discussion
Stefonius wrote:
As a native, I can tell you that a lot of the folks panning Philadelphia are dead wrong. It's quite safe at night in the areas you would be interested in seeing from a tourist perspective.
The locals are very open and friendly. Any reputation Philly gets for being "rude" comes from the fact that we speak our minds without filter or reservation. We are not shy about giving you our honest opinion on any subject.
The Art Museum, Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell are all great spots to check out. I would also recommend the Franklin Institute Science Museum and the Reading Terminal Market.
For getting around the city, get a daily TransPass from SEPTA. That will let you hop onto any train, subway or bus without worrying about cost. Public transit in the city is quite good.
If you want a cheesesteak, stay away from Pat's and Geno's. Try Jim's at 4th and South Streets. Tony Luke's has an excellent Roast Pork, and there's some great food at the Reading Terminal Market. Cheez Whiz is for tourists. Get Provolone.
There are good tours in Old City and Center City, led by actors who portray historical figures.
Agree with all above. Also, the Constitution Center is great, and there are many smaller specialty museums, too. Take one of the regional Rail trains into the city and use the Phlash to get around. I've never felt unsafe in the tourist area. The unsafe areas are only of interest if you are looking to buy drugs or other trouble, and they are not near where you want to go
