1st time visit to Philly and wanted to get some advice about what to see, where to stay, where to club, etc...

This is my first time going to Philadelphia and I needed some help from the local people about the city. I know about independance hall and the liberty bell and I plan on seeing both. Also I plan on running up the ';Rocky'; steps too but...





A) Downtown Philly is so expensive to stay, is that the best place to stay? Will staying by the Airport give me access to public transportation? Where would you stay if you where a tourist?





B) How much are the trains to New York and is there an on-line schedule available?





C) Are there some good spot of a mid-twenties afro-american in Downtown? R%26amp;B lounges, Clubs, Hip-hop spots? let me know some good ones. (Or a place where I can get a stiff drink)





D) What are some of the ';Must Do's'; beside get a cheestake sandwich (Which I will definately do)





Philly, pump up your city, I really excited about going and I'm sure I gonna have a ball. Any help you could give would be appriciated.





Houston TX native.1st time visit to Philly and wanted to get some advice about what to see, where to stay, where to club, etc...
A) Definitely stay in downtown - it is worth the extra money. Try expedia.com or orbitz.com to get better deals or call the hotel directly to see if they have any specials. For the views and location I would defintely stay at the Hyatt on Penns' Landing - well worth the money.





B) You can take AMTRAK directly from PHL to NYC and schedules are online. You can also take SEPTA from PHL to Trenton and then NJ TRANSIT from Trenton to NYC (much cheaper but more transitions).





C) Go to Old City - walkable from the Hyatt, and you will find what you are looking for on Market and Chestnut Streets...





D) Make sure to go to Gino's for your cheesesteak. Defintely eat from a cart - yes, I know sounds gross but there are food carts everywhere and if you are in Philly, well then you have to eat at least once from a cart - stick with the fruit or the pretzels! Go to the Moshulu and sit on the deck for cocktails. Walk around Penn's Campus in University City the architecture is beautiful. Walk up and down South Street and enjoy the locals....





Have a great Time.1st time visit to Philly and wanted to get some advice about what to see, where to stay, where to club, etc...
Ah yes, Philly. I love that city. I go there ALL the time since I live like 20 minutes away. Yes, if ur visting to our state, especially Philly, u got to get one of our cheese steaks! there the best! A must do is going to see the show at the consitutions center. (lol, I memorized it) It's awesome! A good place to stay would be the Holiday Inn. I just LOVE that place in Philly! As for the clubs, there are so many in Philly I can't even count them all! They are so cool! If ur coming here to philly then u have to go to the Benjamin Franklin muesum. It is so very cool! I just love it there. And as u said u have to go see the liberty bell, it's UNBELIEVEABLE! I think u'll just love the city! It's so rich in history, every where you go I guarentee u'll see something from long ago. Like the original cobble stone roads!





Oh! I almost forgot! U have to go ride the Duck! The duck is a boat/sightseeing land ride. It rides in the river and rides on the streets! And u get these REALLY COOL quacking sounder thingys. Lol, I love the city!





I hope u'll love the city, infact I think u will!





-lyss
There are tons to do in Philly.


South Street is not as ecclectic as it once was. There are still some great shopping and food joints, make sure you hit up Jims Steaks or grab a frozen drink at Fat Tuesdays, Tattooed moms is always a fun place. Wednesdays is 25cent peroige night, always good with a Pabst Blue Ribbon. Tallboys are only 3 dollars or so. The upstairs has pool tables, great music, and of course old bumper cars and rollercoaster cars to chill in.


DEFINATELY check out the Magic Garden on south street (http://www.urban75.org/photos/philadelph鈥?/a> Get your picture taken in the front of the Love sculpture at Love Park. Fairmount park is beautiful on nice spring day With over 215 miles of recreation trails, 139 picnic sites, 34 miles of waterways, six golf courses, 368 athletic fields and outdoors courts, and one disc golf course (the nation's second oldest!) Fairmount Park makes it really easy to play sports, exercise, enjoy a picnic or simply relax.


There is a great skate park under 95 at FDR park... Bam used to make some appearances


Run up the art museum steps.. and then see some magnificent works of art... its free on sundays (just a donation).





I stayed at the travel lodge.. it was only about 90 bucks a night. Not a 4star resort by any mean but it was clean and had free breakfast, a block from the convention center and reading terminal market. http://www.travelodge.com/Travelodge/con鈥?/a>





Transit night club on spring garden is defiantely a great club to dance and get a drink at, with in walking distance to finnigans wake and tikibobs http://www.transitnightclub.com/ or you can check out any of the clubs in old city there is just about one or two for everyones taste.





You can take a train out of 30th street station to get to new york (amtrak.com) which can get a little pricey or a bus out of china town, round trip for 40 bux.





good luck, have fun.. i love this city!
Try Priceline for hotel rooms, you should be able to get a 3* hotel for $60-70. If you decide to stay near the airport you could take the train into center city, they run every half hour. It would be more convenient to stay in town if you can afford it.


If you like wine/beer, there is a cool bar called Tria that has a nice selection.


Have fun!