Community Forums

2Labs · 09-02-2011, 11:23 PM

Hi All,

The DW and I are heading out on Wednesday of next week for a 3 week journey. First stop Richmond, VA for the NASCAR race weekend Sep 8-11. We'll be boondocking it at Lot J on the RIR grounds - we travel with our 2Labs so we wanted to be close enough to go back and forth to the track during the day. On Sunday we're heading just down the road to spend a couple of days at the Pocahantas State Park. It looks like a nice place to spend a couple of days and the website says that they're open for business after the hurricane. We have plans to visit the Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens on Monday and then maybe do a little hiking with the dogs later that day and Tuesday. Then it's off to see some friends in Leesburg VA for a couple of days and from there onto Philly for the weekend.

It seems like there are a lot of things to do in and around Philly and I'm wondering if anyone has any suggestions on sights to see for a quick couple of days. We're staying pretty close - just across the river at the Timberlane Campgrounds. This campground looked good to us since we're travelling with our Labs and don't like to leave them alone for more than 6 or 7 hours at a time. It looks like we'll have Thurs night, all day Friday and Saturday, and maybe part of Sunday if there's a place for us to park the RV and toad at a Philly destination area. Our travel plans have us leaving Philly late afternoon/early evening so that we can head back to homebase in CT - rest up for the night, and then head out early Monday pointed towards Loudon, NH for another NASCAR race - yeah we are fans and we love the races!

We'd like to be able to spend a few hours at places with enough time to enjoy them, rather than run through a bunch of locations just so that we can "see it all". The Longwood Gardens might be on our list, as we do like to visit the Botanical centers, but maps show that it's outside the city center away from the rest of the Philly sites. So going there in itself might eat up the better part of a day just in travel time alone. Although if we could get a good visit there in about 2 hours - that would leave us time to check on the Labs after, then head back over into Philly.

So many choices .. so many destinations ... and it looks like most close late afternoon/early evening.

If you've been to Philly and visited the sites, I'd love to hear about your experiences, and do's and don'ts

thanks!

Route 66 · 09-03-2011, 04:36 AM

Longwood Gardens is certainly worth a visit, but it's in Kennett Square, a couple of hours from Philly.

In center city Philly is the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall and more.

www.visitphilly.com/

MickBrennan · 09-03-2011, 06:58 AM

You will be way more than 15 (45) minutes from Center City. Be careful about scheduling around rush hours. It is $5 toll one way across the Walt Whitman Bridge.

Having said that, Independence National Park is the birthplace of our nations government and will easily take up an entire day. The Liberty Bell, Betsy Ross House, The Mint, Ben Franklin's residence and other historical sites are right there.

Some "Other" places you might want to visit (in no particular order) are: The USS United States (drive by), Geno's and Pat's Steaks, Mutter Museum, Philadelphia Museum of Art (run like Rocky), South Street, Masonic Hall, Eastern State Penitentiary.

If you have a nice day, driving by The Philadelphia Zoo, Boathouse Row and Fairmount Park can be very nice.

User1011 · 09-03-2011, 07:08 AM

While in Center City you can hop on the "Philly Phlash" - purple shuttle bus that loops and runs all around the city and stops near tourist sites. Get a full day pass and you can jump on and off all you want. Great way to see everything. You'd need several days in Center City to see the sights. Longwood Gardens is lovely but as previously stated it is located in Kennett Square (Mushroom Capital of the World)- and that is a trip from Center City. The USS New Jersey is docked in Camden. It is open for tours. There is also "The Aquarium" right near the USS New Jersey.

hondo122 · 09-03-2011, 08:25 AM

You might be able to scalp some tickets to a Phillies game and see the best team in baseball IMHO, skip Genos' and Pats' and get off the Walt Whitman at Oregon Ave and go to Tony Lukes try the pork Italian with broccoli rabe and extra sharp provolone. Center city can easily take 2 days. The Sugarhouse casino, on the river if so inclined. Great restaurants. Go to the Reading terminal market, a farmers mart in center city. PM me with any questions be glad to help.

hondo122 · 09-03-2011, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Route 66

Longwood Gardens is certainly worth a visit, but it's in Kennett Square, a couple of hours from Philly.

In center city Philly is the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall and more.

www.visitphilly.com/

Dirk does it relly take you a couple of hours to get from Philly to Kennett Square? Man you're getting OLD

Route 66 · 09-03-2011, 08:31 AM

In rush hour.

Quote:

Originally Posted by hondo122

Dirk does it relly take you a couple of hours to get from Philly to Kennett Square? Man you're getting OLD

frankdamp · 09-03-2011, 09:09 AM

I lived solo in that area for a few months whil working at Boeing's helicopter division. I didn't bother too much with downtown. The places I liked were the Amish coountry, the Pennsylvania Railroad Museum, Strasburg Steam Railway and the Gettysburg battlefield complex.

MaverickBBD · 09-05-2011, 01:18 PM

I would x2 Reading Terminal. South Street Ave. markets. Belmont Plateau for the dogs. Art Museum for the Rocky Steps.

User1011 · 09-05-2011, 03:11 PM

I don't know but you should really see the Liberty Bell and Constitution Center -
x 3 for the Reading Market !

Lancaster County and Amish stuff is a drive from Center City