Philadelphia - From Someone that Knows

Picnic in LOVE Park, see a show on Broad Street, or try a self-created ice cream at Scoops De Ville.

Quick Tips:

Be careful on South Street. There are many nicer places to visit in the city.

Best Way To Get Around:

The train and buses can get you anywhere you need to go; however, they are often filled with locals, including some who may be scary. The Big Bus tour is a good way to get around with other visitors to the city.

McGillans is the oldest pub in the city of Philadelphia. They have good drink prices and entertainment that spans from karaoke to Irish bands. The crowd is varied, although many patrons are from a college, as the city is packed with them.

Overall, it is a great place to grab a beer and take in some entertainment after a long day of sightseeing. The food is okay for bar food. The service is dependent on how busy the bar is. If you get there after 10pm, on most nights, you will have to order most of your drinks at the bar, even if you get a table.

Scoops DeVille is a great place to get ice cream and candy in center city. Here you will find a very unique ice cream experience. Have you ever wondered what mint-chocolate-chip-banana-walnut-caramel ice cream would taste like? Well, then this is definitely the place for you.

You start by choosing from many ice cream bases and then choose any number of toppings to add to it. The list of toppings includes fruits, candies, nuts, and traditional toppings. The list is very extensive. Then you choose your size. Everything you want is placed in a cup and run through a machine that makes your very own specialized ice cream flavor. This is your chance to be Ben or Jerry for the day.

If you are not that creative, then choose from one of many popular combinations on display. I recommend nutty bananas foster or apple pie ala mode. If you have the chance to make it this little scoop of heaven while you are in Philly, you will be very pleased. If you don't think that it is worth walking a little out of the way, you are very wrong. For an amazing treat not far from City Hall, Love Park, and on the way to Rittenhouse, please take my recommendation; you will not regret it. You may even decide to move to Philly just for the ice cream.

Pay very close attention when trying to find this place; it is small and easy to pass, although they often have a sandwich board sign in front on the side walk.

The Mutter Museum is amazing if you are interested in medicine or fascinated with strange things. Believe me, Ripley's has nothing on this place. If you have some extra time in town or just want to do something different, I think that you will enjoy this place. If you have a weak stomach, I would consider the art museum.

First, you must run up the stairs and jump up and down with your hands in the air just like you were Rocky. Everyone does it. Keep in mind that there are more stairs than there appear to be when you start. The art museum has a sizeable collection of many different types of art. If you are a fan of art, it is a nice place to visit. Also check out what exhibits they have. I have found that often, the exhibits are very impressive and not what you would expect to see in Philadelphia.

If you choose to take in a specific exhibit, I highly recomend getting tickets in advance. Often, the popular exhibits are sold out for same-day passes, so go by get your tickets for the next day and take in a movie at the IMAX or visit the Rodin Museum.

A nice collection if you are a fan of Rodin. Also nice reproductions of famous pieces. If I had to choose only one art museum in Philadelphia, I would go to the Philadelphia Museum of Art, as it has a greater variety of artwork, but if you are a fan of Rodin or sculpture in general, the Rodin Museum is a better bet for you.

If you want to see the Liberty Bell you must pay to go inside, take the little tour and see it. Although the building it is housed in faces the street and you can kindof see it from the street, you really do need to see it up close and the tour is very informative.

I think that Independence Hall is much prettier at night. You can take a horse-drawn carriage tour of this area at night for about $25. It is very romantic, and the carriage drivers are very knowledgable. Keep in mind that this is really great if you can handle the occaisional smell of the horses doing their business.

There are many restaurants in the area, or pack a picnic. There is a refreshing fountain that sprays mist during a hot summer’s day, and then there’s the famous LOVE sign. You are also right across the street from City Hall and several neat sculptures of game pieces at the district attorney's offices. You are also near the Freemason Building (on the other side of City Hall).