hi all,

i'm moving to northern liberties in a few short weeks! very excited. i'll be living near randolph & girard. my family & friends will all be visiting from the DC area within the next month, and many haven't seen a whole lot (if any) of philadelphia. some will come up from i-95, others will come in the back way from i-76. i'm willing to send them out of their way a few miles in order to have them get the best possible first impression of phila. definitely don't want to take them the i-95 north -> girard/lehigh exit -> left on girard; they'll get lost & they'll fret for my safety.

so, what do you think? what's the most scenic way into northern liberties?

Definitely 76 to 676 getting off the 8th Street exit right before you hit 95.

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Resident of Fishtown, Moderator of Fish/No. Libs/Kenzo forum, Real Estate Agent-Prudential Fox & Roach

The DC folks can come up 95 to Columbus, left on Dock, right at Sheraton, left on Walnut, north on 3rd (through Old City) all the way to NoLibs.

For a while, Penn's official directions on the website for visitors/parents coming to campus took them north up 95 to 676, west on 676 & then exiting at 30th St. - that is, way out of the way, just to avoid the less-than-picturesque approach over the Platt Bridge and up to 76 (tank farm, projects). So I guess that approach is viewed by most as less than attractive (it doesn't bother me that much, but perhaps I'm used to it).

NL being on the east side of town anyway, though, it seems like coming up 95 is the obvious choice. I'd second 3rd & Brown's suggestion.

Back in the day the Grays Ferry Estates used to be the ghetto fab Tasker Homes, that was a really depressing drive from the airport. I can't say I blame Penn for the detour. It's much better with the new development but there is still alot of room for improvement.

Sunoco with their recent windfall in revenue really could do something to improve the aesthetics of their industrial abyss going on in sw philly. At the very least spruce or pine trees could offset the eyesore a bit, and painting those rusted smokestacks wouldn't hurt.

The city needs to paint that rusted train tressle as you make the left up 26th Street towards 76 along Sunoco and PGW's properties. Next area for PHA to tackle is the bombed out area just below Grays Ferry estates, around 24th 25th + jackson.

There is also a couple older mid rise looking project type towers that should be imploded as you head towards the tunnel on 26th street heading N towards center city via 76.




I third 3rd + Browns directions. Dock Street is a great entrance. I also bring visitors into the city by getting off at Penns Landing, onto Columbus Blvd.,
making the left on Christian and then the right onto 3rd through Queen Village then Soceity Hill.

the best way to get to philadelphia from DC is via amtrak. not only is it faster (1h45m on a regional), it's prettier. Make sure they are aware of the tolls which are $10 or $12 for the northbound trip. Also, sunoco is pretty cool looking...at night.

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oooh, don't think i've even done this one yet myself!

thanks both for your suggestions.