Historic Philadelphia

Philadelphia, known as the city of Brotherly Love, is located in Southeastern Pennsylvania. The Delaware River divides Philadelphia from Camden, New Jersey. The biggest tourist attraction is Independence Historical Park. There are over twenty sites within the boundaries of the park to include Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. All sites within the park do not require admission; however, timed tickets are required for Independence Hall. Also located in the park is Old Christ Church where Benjamin Franklin is buried. Adjacent to the park is the National Constitution Center that offers interactive programs and exhibits to help learn about the Constitution and American government. Across the street is the US Mint where tours are offered and you can see money being made.

Some other historic sites include Elfreth’s Alley, the oldest continuously inhabited residential street in America dating back to the 1700s. Tours are offered at Betsy Ross’s house as well as Edgar Allan Poe’s. For an awesome walk into history, go to the Eastern State Penitentiary. A prison that once housed some of the country’s most notorious criminals, it shut it doors in 1971 and reopened in 1994 as a tourist attraction. The city center showcases City Hall, seen in many movies, and across the street is the Masonic Temple, which is meeting place for the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania masons.

Who can forget Rocky when talking about Philadelphia? A statue at the Athletic Complex honors Philadelphia’s famous movie icon. If you want to be like Rocky, try running up the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art where the famous scene from the movie was filmed.

For the sports enthusiasts, take your pick. Philadelphia is home to the Phillies of baseball, Eagles of football, 76ers of basketball, and the Flyers of hockey.

You are bound to get hungry after walking around Philadelphia and taking in the sights. Grab an original Cheese steak at Philly’s best known corner, Pat’s or Geno’s. If that is not to your liking, great Asian food can be found in Chinatown.

Quick Tips:

Beware of getting caught up in traffic and having to exit onto the bridge. All of the bridges will cross over into New Jersey. There is no toll to go across the bridge but to come back over there is a toll.

If you plan to do a lot of sightseeing, take public transportation and walk. The rates to park your vehicle is steep and is a lot cheaper just to walk.

If you are looking to fill up your gas tank, you might want to look across the river in New Jersey. The gas is about thirty cents cheaper because all gas stations in NJ are full-service. So even with toll and a full fill up, you could save a lot of money in gas.

Best Way To Get Around:

Philadelphia has a great public transportation system. SEPTA is the metro system in Philadelphia that consists of buses, subways, and Amtrak for traveling to further locations outside the city. As with most cities, downtown is congested and finding a parking spot can be difficult. Meters only allow you to park for one hour. Pay lots are expensive and it is best to leave your vehicle at the hotel and take public transportation or walk to your destinations.

If you are looking for a place to stay while visiting Independence National Historic Park, look no further than the Best Western Independence Park Hotel. The hotel is located on Chestnut Street a few blocks from the Independence Visitor Center making it a short walk to most of Philadelphia’s tourist attractions. This hotel is unlike any of the other hotels that you may be accustomed to from the Best Western chain. The hotel combines old style architecture with modern amenities, which led the hotel to be placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

There are 38 rooms that include one suite situated on five floors. The guest rooms are spacious with a 27-inch color television, phone, ironing board, coffee maker, hairdryer, desk with lamp, and high speed wireless Internet. Guest room amenities that can be had upon request include a DVD player, VCR, microwave, and refrigerator. A complimentary paper is delivered to your door every morning and room service is available every morning from 6am to 10am.

The inside of the hotel is decorated in the old colonial style just like the area that surrounds the property. The front desk is open 24 hours with a very friendly staff and there is also a concierge to assist with any dinner reservations or general questions. The hotel offers a deluxe continental breakfast every morning and in the afternoon, enjoy the complimentary tea and cookies. If you happen to be at the hotel on a Wednesday night, there is also a complimentary wine and cheese reception.

The hotel is conveniently located to many shopping districts such as Penn’s Landing and the downtown shopping districts. The New Jersey State Aquarium is one mile from the hotel which is accessible by the ferry near Penn’s Landing. The Philadelphia Zoo is also located a mile away from the hotel. The hotel is also located five miles away from the Philadelphia Athletic Complex where the major sports team play. The hotel is only eight miles from the Philadelphia International Airport.

The hotel is located near many different restaurants either within walking distance or short distance by cab or bus. However, right next to the hotel is two great places to eat, the City Tavern and great seafood at the Philadelphia Fish Company.

Like most hotels in large cities, there is a fee to park your vehicle. The only downside to this hotel is that they do not operate their own parking deck. You can park your vehicle a block away at a private parking facility for $15 a day. The parking charges can be added to your bill upon checkout.

Compared to other hotels in the area, the price is excellent for the location and the proximity to many of Philadelphia’s tourist attractions, shopping, and great restaurants.

After a long day exploring the sights of Philadelphia, it was now time to satisfy my hunger. I was craving a Philly Cheesesteak so I went off in search for the best in town. The locals directed me to two places, Pat’s King of Steaks and Geno’s.

Located in South Philly at the intersection of Passyunk and 9th street near the famous Italian Market, these two restaurants make up the Mecca of Cheesesteaks. Pat’s King of Steaks was formed in 1930 by Pat Olivieri and is still family run to this day. They claim to have invented the cheesesteak. As I got in line to place my order, I could smell the onions and peppers and hear the sizzling of thin slices of steak. While observing others order their sandwiches, I quickly learned to order mine like a native Philadelphian. Ordering a cheesesteak is as simple as saying a couple of words. First, decide on what cheese you want, American, Provolone, or a Philly favorite, Cheese Whiz. Once you decide on the cheese, specify whether you want onions by saying "wit" or "witout". By the time I got to the window, I was ordering like a pro with my "Whiz Wit."

Across the street is Geno’s, Pat’s rival which continues to cause debates as to have the best cheesesteak. Geno’s is easily located by the bright neon lights lighting up the building as if resembling something off of the Las Vegas strip. While Pat’s King of Steaks claim to have invented the famous sandwich, Geno’s claims to have revolutionize it by adding cheese to it. When Geno’s was founded in 1966, they claim there were steak sandwiches but no cheesesteak. So they threw some cheese on it and whoolah the cheesesteak was born.

Whether you like Pat’s or Geno’s, they both make one great cheesesteak. There is no indoor seating at either place so keep that in mind on hot days. Cravings can be satisfied morning, noon, or night as both places are open 24 hours a day. A sandwich and drink will run about $8, making it a great cheap meal.

After eating at both restaurants, I can say with certainty that the best one is… It is not going to be that easy. You decide?

www.patskingofsteaks.com

www.genosteaks.com

Independence National Historic Park is 45 acres of numerous historical sites situated in downtown Philadelphia. The sites preserve the history when this country’s forefathers created the Constitution and signed the Declaration of Independence. Independence Park is operated by the National Park Service and in 1979 was designated a World Heritage Site.

A visit to the park will begin at the Independence Visitor Center where you can begin your orientation to the many different sites. There are films to educate anyone about the beginnings of the nation and the Revolutionary War. Maps are available as well as park rangers to provide one on one advice on what to do and where to go. There is no admission to the park; however, you will need a timed ticket to tour Independence Hall.

While there are many historical sites to explore, there are two which will be a disappointment if you fail to see them. The first site is the Liberty Bell which is located at the Visitor Center in the secured section. The Liberty Bell which was once housed in the tower of Independence Hall is known for its large crack and its most famous ringing when it alerted the citizens of Philadelphia to the reading of the Declaration of Independence. All visitors will have to submit to a security checkpoint, similar to those at an airport. Long lines can develop so the best times to go are usually before 11am and after 3pm.

The second important site is Independence Hall, where the Continental Congress met, and where the Constitution was created and the Declaration of Independence was signed. This is the only site in the park which requires a timed ticket. Tours are offered every twenty minutes from 9am to 4:30pm. Tickets can be obtained on the day of your visit or can be ordered online in advance for a nominal fee from www.recreation.gov. The guided tour allows you to see the rooms where the Declaration was signed and where many of our great leaders met to form the basis of this great nation.

Another interesting site is Christ Church located across the street from the Visitor Center. The church was founded in 1695 and was visited by such people as George Washington and Benjamin Franklin. Franklin and his wife are buried at Christ Church and visitors throw pennies on his grave as a sign of luck. There are nineteen other sites within the park that is open to the public

There are four sites located outside the park’s area but under control of the NPS. Edgar Allan Poe’s house, which is the only surviving house lived in by Poe, is free to the public to tour. Thaddeus Kosciusko National Memorial commemorates the life of this Polish patriot and hero of the American Revolution. The Gloria Dei Church is preserved as the second oldest Swedish Church founded in 1677. The last site is a statue of Benjamin Franklin located in the rotunda of the Franklin Institute.

If Alcatraz is synonymous with San Francisco then the same can be said about Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia. Eastern State opened in 1829 and is considered to be the world’s first penitentiary. Their system of incarceration included solitary confinement which many believed to have contributed to the prisoner’s mental illness. The prison was closed in 1971 and the city of Philadelphia eventually purchased the property. In 1988, redevelopment was halted and in 1994, the prison opened its doors to the public for tours.

Tours are offered April through November from 10am to 5pm. Ticket prices are $9 for adults and $4 for children seven to twelve. Children under seven cannot be admitted to the site. After paying the admission, you must sign a liability waiver as you will see why on the self-guided tour. The prison has been kept in "preserved ruin", which means that no attempt for renovations has been made. Therefore, minor safety concerns exist.

The self-guided tour allows you to go anywhere in the prison. The prison creates a gloomy and bleak atmosphere as you walk into one of the many jail cells. You will notice the peeling paint on the walls, crumbling bricks, and even the remnants of the toilet which may or may not be attached to the wall. The gloomy atmosphere is even intensified by the dim lighting throughout the prison. Step into the officers shoes and walk the plank on death row where prisoners waited for their final date with destiny.

There is a prison museum and gift shop at the prison. Inside the museum is a recreation of the jail cell that housed one of its most famous prisoners, Al Capone. He was transferred to Eastern State in 1929 and his cell was as nice as any prisoner could ask for. Known as his "Park Avenue" cell, it was decorated with oriental rugs, a desk lamp on a polished lamp, paintings on the walls, and even a radio. The cell is a popular stop on the tour.

The Eastern State Penitentiary has been the setting for different TV shows such as Sci-Fi’s Ghost Hunters and MTV’s Fear. It has also been featured in movies such as Twelve Monkeys and recently on the Travel Channel on Most Haunted Live which conducted the first paranormal investigation in the US in hopes of trying to come into contact with supernatural beings.

If you feel that you are brave enough, attend Terror Behind the Walls, which is hailed as a haunted house inside a real prison. Held every year near Halloween, it is a major tourist attraction for the ones looking for the ultimate haunted thrill. It is definitely on my to do list.