Philadelphia
 

A friend of mine is going to Philadelphia for a convention during the first week of November. She is looking to do some fun stuff, but is on a time limit given the meetings schedule. She will be flying into PA, so she will not have a car.

Please give me some ideas of things for her to do & see - thanks!

head to Indepence Hall, Liberty Bell, etc. It's all in walking distance of each other and those tours are free with a timed ticket. also in that area is the Betsy Ross House, Christ's Church, and other historic landmarks.

if she has time for a genuine Philly Cheesesteak, head down to Pat's Steaks (the best in town - don't settle for less).

There is a Trolley tour that will take her to all the historical Philly sites
If she is the bar type she can try South Street and Old City...If she likes comedy clubs the Laff House on South Street is great and they have late shows that she can attend after her conference events.
If she is there on a Sunday, the Philadelphia zoo is free every Sunday in November, December and January.

I was born in Philly. ;) Vine Street (I think that's the name!) is home to the Franklin Institute, the Academy of Natural Sciences, the Courthouse and the Main Library.

I LOVE the Franklin Institute-- it's an interactive children's science museum, but there is plenty for grown-ups to enjoy. There is a giant replica of a human heart you can walk through. When I was a kid, I was terrified, but I always made my father pick me up and carry me through it. Later, visiting Philly as an adult, I have no idea why I was so scared about a plaster tunnel with lights and a "bump bump" heart beat sound. LOL. You can climb all over it, too!

The Academy has a great dinosaur exhibit and used to have (might still have!) an animatronic dinosaur in the downstairs commissary.

Definitely check out the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, Penn's Landing (docks/yachts), Ben Franklin's grave, eat cheese steaks (with onions and ketchup!) and soft pretzels. And the Mummer Museum! The Mummers are an old Philly tradition-- they make incredible costumes and floats and parade through the city on New Year's Day. It's a great local tradition.

If there's time for a show, my family used to really enjoy the historic Walnut Street Theatre.

Lots of Irish pubs.

I think the mall down there is the Galleria. It's pretty large. Hope this helps!

Thanks for everything so far. Bars are definitely NOT in the scene for her. She is married with 2 young daughters but will be travelling solo for this trip. She is a deeply conservative Southern Baptist, so no bars/pubs/clubs/etc.

The Art Museum is NOT to be missed, nor is the Reading Terminal Market. She can even get a cheesesteak there- from a family member of Pat's. Walking around Society Hill, Old City and Rittenhouse is nice. Decent boutiques and shops around Rittenhouse Square and Walnut and Chestnut- especially on Sansom.

I can recommend a lot of restaurants too, if you can give me an idea what she might like.

I am a Philly girl through and through. There is so much to love about this city.

ETA: Avoid the Galleria. Not anything worth going to and actually really a blight.

Finally some good advice. Forget the Gallery. It is a dump and your friend will probably get her pockets picked. I would also ditch Pat's Steaks. It is a tourist trap and I think the food is disgusting.

What does your friend like? Let me know and I will point you in the right direction.

-City Hall (Broad and Market)
-Academy of Natural Sciences (19th and Parkway)
-Franklin Institute (20th and Parkway)
-Art Museum (about 25 and Parkway) A must see.
- Rodin Museum. On the Parkway somewhere in the 20s.
- Barnes Museum. It is just outside the city but close.
-Kimmel Center
-Theaters on Chestnut and Walnut.
-For kids the Please Touch Museum or the Zoo.
-If your friend is in a sorority then she might like to check out the Penn campus.
-I like the Naval Yard. There are dozens of decommissioned boats docked there.
-Boathouse Row
-Chinatown.
-Reading Terminal Market
-Old City if she is into history. Betsy Ross(two doors from the REalWorld house), Ben Franklin, Liberty Bell. I am not a fan but maybe she is.
-Constitution Center.

How could I forget the Constitution Center? Good call, Max. I agree on Pat's...but those tourists love it! Better off going to Jim's or the many other great places.

I live in Philly...

I recommend Old City: all of the historical sites, Independence Hall, Betsy Ross House, Christ Church plus art galleries and good eateries. I recommend Walnut Streetfrom Broad St. to Rittenhouse Square for shopping. There's Coach, Tiffany's, Lush, and a bunch of boutiques there. Stay away from the Gallery, it's become a hellhole now. It's for teens and anyone who wears stuff like Rocawear, Baby Phat, I doubt if you friend would wear anything like that. For cheesesteaks, I'd go to Jim's @ 4th and South before Pat's or Geno's. I echo the Zoo and the Museums.