I am planning a road trip to Philadelphia in around late January. I know it is a bit early to be all excited up and ask questions like this but I just wanted to plan ahead so I can have a great time when I get there (and start saving up some extra cash!!!).

I will be visiting Phily at about 5 or 6pm of the day and spend a night there and wonder around the town from 8am to about 3pm next day. Where would you go? Even though this is the first time I will be visiting phily, I've heard about its museum and historic places, but I am sure that is not all. Do you know any good restaurants, attractions, markets, scenery places, theaters etc...?

Also, if you know a decent & cheap hotel/motel near Upenn or center city, share your comments... Thank you all!

there are just way too many good things to see and do... 1 day will not be enough by a long shot. having said that, i would not spend/waste time waiting in line to get in/see any attractions specially the ones in the historic distrcit...you would much rather spend time and enjoy taking in so many other things the city has to offer. You can go see the Liberty Bell some other time.

I suggest you take a look at this web site and prioritize what you want to see first:

http://www.gophila.com/

that web site also has some good deals on overnight hotel stays in the city.

good luck and have fun!!

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Is it ghey that I love this song so much?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gl_Wc6Nm8lc

I guess you could say I'm not as jaded about "stuff" such as enduring love yet...

for just 1 day, i would definitely walk around Center City and take in the city feel...go to Rittenhouse Square, Reading Terminal Market, walk along Walnut St., check out Independence Hall (from the outside, at least), Washington Sqaure, go up the City Hall tower (if they're still allowing that), check out Love Park, and take that phlash bus to the Art Museum and climb those steps and do that Rocky Pose atop those steps and take in lovely skyline views in the evening on one side and see the Schyulkill River on the other (Boathouse Row is lit up and visible from some angles on the back of the museum). The night you arrive, go check out the night street scene on Sout St and/or Olde City party goers.

you will definitely have to take advantage of buses and such because otherwise that will be a lot of walking... i've done it all because i enjoy walking those city blocks, but i know not everyone likes that (my sister, for one hates it).

i've done the philly city tour on a 1.5 day, long weekend, to a few days/week long trip basis. you just have to pick what you want to do and see in the short time period you have. all the sites i mentioned above are in and around Center City itself... that doesn't even include places like UPenn campus, Fairmount Park and Belmont Plateau, Maint St Manayunk, etc etc...

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Is it ghey that I love this song so much?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gl_Wc6Nm8lc

I guess you could say I'm not as jaded about "stuff" such as enduring love yet...

For such a short stay, I'd definitely suggest that you take advantage of Philly Trolley works and their double-decker bus tours. They depart from the Convention Center (next to the fantastic Reading Terminal Market) at 12th and Filber Sts.

As for restaurants, there are way too many to mention. Any particular cuisine? check out philadelphiaweekly.com or even opentable.com to choose what suits your liking.

The Reading Terminal for lunch is a must. For something scenic go to the Wissahickon:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wissahickon_Creek