Philadelphia - Advice needed please

Plannning a US trip in November. Have done the usual subjects and fancy a change and Philadelphia came onto the lists.

So any suggestions for things to do other than the 'constitution' exhibits and the 'rocky' steps?

Is it worth a visit in its own right or wold I be better a fre days in philly and a few in DC or NYC?

We spent 3 days in Philadelphia earlier this year. We prefer a couple of days in several places rather stopping in one city for the full break.
Eastern State Penitentiary is worth a visit.
Reading street market with the numerous food stalls is a good place to eat during the day.
For the best breakfast in town go to Honey's Sit n' Eat at 800 N.4th St.
The SS United States is alongside at Pier 88 and can be seen from the road. A shame that such a grand lady is not open for all to enjoy.

Not my favourite city.
Very blue collar and as such in this recession rundown and grubby round the edges - not dangerous as such but unpleasant. Stayed there 18 months ago for a weeks conference at The Marriott so was centrally located.
Musuems and Gallaries not my bag so didnt do those. Not sure what The Rocky steps are.
Cocktail bars and fine dining are my thing. Rittenhouse Hotel had the best on offer - good but not exceptional by any means. A few nice coctail bars around Rittenhouse Square but dont sit outside unless you like frequent and very up close + personal panhandler experiences that we wiill never forget !!
Liberty Bell a 2 minute experience but a must.
Gay bars central and very friendly to us Brits !!
Wanamakers pipe organ at Lord and Taylors is certainly worth a visit and to hear it play (if they are still open following the dip)
I would not pay to go back - DC and NYC are close and more to my liking.
Can tell you more (all ?!) over a beer or 3 soon . . . .

Thanks Ian!

Am in two minds at the moment. DC is coming back into preference as is BOS as is NYC.

What is a Bear to do ???

Will be in touch re (several)drinkies !

Not sure what The Rocky steps are.

In the film it's where Rocky runs up the steps of (?)the art gallery in his sweat gear practicing punching as he goes, gets to the top and does a victory dance.

Apparently its quite a popular thing for tourists to replicate but I'm more likely to saunter up than anything more physical!

If you do want to see Philly then two days is enough, but I too would skip it. DC on the other hand is a place which I would have skipped in the past, but there is sooooo much to do there and I'm beginning to really enjoy it (apart from the summer heat and humidity!). The obvious galleries and museums (the Smithsonian is amazing!), but great neighbourhoods and bars and restaurants.

Don't forget that the best way to do a multi centre stop between Boston and DC is the Amtrak, really good service BOS-NYC-PHIL-DC and some stops in between.

Ian will have loads, but do PM me if you want any DC recommendations.

All the above sum it up especially the grubby part from Ian but well worth a day or two in philly, however why not travel around 2.5 hrs by car to Baltimore its a cool Harbour city, stay at the Hilton, its 18 months old and very nice its modern and overlooks the Baltimore Orioles stadium which again is worth the experience to go once, and unlike philly its very clean there.
There is loads to do on the Harbour area loads of street performers, restaurants, shopping and the national aqauramium is there on the front too, right beside the cheesecake factory. I enjoyed there so much that when i go to Washington next i will revisit and take my wife.

cheers

alex

Also agree, Philly was interesting, but wouldn't put it high on a list if you're looking to hit one place only. If you did Amtrak as Slinky suggests, might be cool to stop for a couple of days. I'd say it's pretty much NYC, then BOS, then DC, then Philly in my book.

The mood is indeed gritty, this permeates everything from the food (lots of old school italian, for example, and actually good soul food selections) to the drink - more bourbon on the rocks than Red Hook. The couple of times I've been was for a conference, packed events and all, then again visiting friends who are at Penn, didn't have a chance to do much more than what is mentioned already, but wasn't made to feel like I was missing anything. We definitely wouldn't go just the two of us. I have to say, I actually preferred Pittsburgh ...

Thanks guys.

Looking more likely that I will head to DC (still have a few of the Smithsonian Institutions to visit for starters) and then look mat amtracking to Philly or Baltimore for day trips or maybe an overnighter.