Philadelphia

This bed-and-breakfast is the oldest in Philadelphia. The building needs a little upkeep, but the manager told us that the new owners were in the process of renovations. Decorations are pleasant and soothing: pale-blue walls, large windows with sheers and striped valances, coordinating bedcovers, tablecloths, and shower curtains. This hotel, above everything, offers charm and character.

The building sits at the corner of Chestnut and 3rd streets, across the street from a large park. At times, the traffic is noisy, but the location cannot be beat – 2 blocks from the Liberty Bell, 4 blocks to the Independence Visitor’s Center, 1/2 a block to Franklin Court, 4 blocks to Penn's Landing at the Delaware River, and only 8 blocks to Jim's Steaks. It is within easy and short walking distance to shops and numerous restaurants of varied cuisines and price ranges.

Parking is one issue not discussed on their website at the moment. Options for parking include two parking garages a couple of blocks away - no discounts are offered and there did not appear to be any price breaks for longer or overnight stays. For the 2 nights and 2.5 days roughly that we were parked, it costs $38. We left at one point to drive across to New Jersey, so our cost was a little higher - if we had left the car rather than taking it out, it might not have cost as much.

The 12 rooms of the hotel are located above a restaurant/bar that offers a varied and moderately priced menu for lunch and dinner.

The hotel offers guests a continental-style breakfast delivered to your room each morning - the ingredients are fresh, and selections include croissants, coffee cake or muffin, fresh fruit or grapefruit half, juice, coffee, milk, and tea.

The beds are extremely comfortable, and a cozy afghan is stored in the closet. The Betsy Ross room, where we stayed, is considered a "small" room, but it is larger than most European hotels in the same price range. Our bath (small also) included a shower, but no tub. A blow dryer, shampoo, soaps, and lotion are provided. Window air-conditioners and baseboard heaters are provided - no central heat and air.

The hotel is pet-friendly, and no additional fees are required. With the park across the street, it was perfect for our dog to have a great vacation, too!

The manager, Steve, was visible and approachable during our stay and even asked upon check-out our suggestions for improvement. He was friendly and had a sense of humor.

We hope to return to Philadelphia again, and this will be our first hotel choice.

Standing in line at Jim's was an experience in itself. The line started outside and took approximately 45 minutes (at 4:30pm!). As we were standing in line, we viewed the hundreds of celebrity photos and comments on Jim's walls, and we watched the employees make hundreds of sandwiches in an efficient and fun manner!

The food was fresh, hot, and fast once we placed the order. Heading upstairs to the seating, we were able to view hundreds more of the celebrity photos and overlook the corner traffic.

After trying all three "major" steak places (Jim's, Geno's, and Pat's), Jim's is my first choice for atmosphere/experience and second place for the sandwich.

Geno's is one of the top-three Philly cheesesteak places. The ordering was quick and easy, as there was not much of a line, even just before noon.

After trying the three top - Geno's, Jim's, and Pat's - Geno's is my third choice for the sandwich (their meat had a unique flavor compared to the others - is it onion powder?) and first choice for the colorful outside decor!

I recommend it for the experience.

After trying the three top locations for Philly cheesesteaks (Pat's, Geno's, and Jim's), our favorite is Pat's! The sandwich was tender, flavorful, and we wanted to take a truckload home with us!

Pat's was actually the third place we tried, and we expected we'd be tired of cheesesteaks by that time, but the flavor was definitely the best, especially with the Cheez Whiz!

The ordering process was fun and easy - no line, even around noon.

We will definitely go back (I only wish it could be sooner, rather than later!).

Independence National Park is an educational place to visit. It is easy to see all areas by walking.

Visitors should make their first stop at the visitor center, where they can pick up free timed tickets to view Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. Since the terrorist attack on September 11th, the security around the park is ever-present, but does not detract from the experience. To view the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall, visitors are now required to go through security, including a metal detector and emptying/x-raying of pockets, bags, etc.

The rangers are knowledgeable and excited about the park and its history. They are open for questions and can answer almost any one posed.

If you are a Benjamin Franklin fan, do not miss Franklin Court, the Underground Museum, the B.Free Post Office & Museum, or the Franklin Printing press. Each venue offers a personal glimpse into his life and allows visitors a view of his genius, creativity, and eccentricity.

There are no fees involved in admission to the national park.