I'm going to the City of Brotherly Love with my wife and 7-month old in December for three nights. We're going to the Barnes Foundation outside the city and will hit a few other museums. We are staying at the Downtown Marriott and so will hit the Reading Market nearby as well.

What else should we do? My wife likes architecture. Other than the old city neighborhood, are there other places to walk or drive around? (we'll have our car with us)

The Barnes Collection is fantastic. Did you make your reservations for that? It's truly a pity they're moving it. Who knows, it may have already moved.

The Philadelphia Museum of Art is not to be missed. You're spending a lot of time in Philly; spend some quality time there.

Get a cheesesteak in South Philly. Pat's is the place. Now it could be cold in December so dress warmly for South Philly.

You're doing the whole Independence Hall/Liberty Bell tour? Good.

Drive down 95 to Winterthur--very short drive. http://www.winterthur.org/about/about.asp Perhaps add a side trip to Longwood Gardens on that same trip. They are spectacular all year round. I'm sure they'll be decked out for Christmas. http://www.longwoodgardens.org/Gener...ion_1_2_2.html

I agree with all of the above but Pat's for cheesesteak. Pat's is hideous and an embarassment to Philadelphia dining. Besides history and kitsch, it's hopelessly disgusting.

If you must have a cheesesteak, options include Tony Luke's (Front & Oregon, hard to get to without a car).

Another option is a concert at the Kimmel Center. The Philadelphia Orchestra sounds about as good as they have in ages. Plus it's a beautiful hall. There is a tree garden at the roof of the building with a wonderful view of the city.

The Barnes should be visited soon as there are plans to relocate the collection. Reservations are a MUST, including a reservation for parking.

Not even close. But you can bash Pats all you like. The cheesesteak wars live on even online. South Philly rules both for hoagies and cheesesteaks. Loosen up and stop being so stodgy. The lines around Pat's can go around the building especially during Phillies, Flyers, Eagles games. Around Geno's too.

There is no war, because these sandwiches are inedible.

Because the line is long makes for good quality?
Complete tourist trap and inedible sandwiches, period.
http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/ent...ng/3831957.htm

Plans are fairly firm to move the Barnes to Philly. The neighbors and Lincoln College have been trying to move it (or close it) for over 20 years so be prepared to again see things dont move fast in Philly. As for food, skip the greasy over-hyped hoagies and subs that make so many of the South Philly citizens so chubby and fat and chow down on the snapper soup and crab cakes or the real honest italian food with red gravy and freshly grated locatelli.

MisterNice

I will back the Tony Luke's recommendation--only forget about the whole cheesesteak thing and get the Italian sandwich (roast pork, broccoli rabe, and provolone). It is vastly better than a cheesesteak and could feed a family. One note, watch out for long lines if you happen to be going there for lunch on a day when the Eagles are playing.

The architecture of many neighborhoods of Philadelphia is worth seeing. The Art Museum neighborhood (roughly around 20th-24th, north of Spring Garden) is very cool, as are parts of University City (my favorite spot is Osage Avenue around 47th, but anything between 40th-48th and Baltimore to Spruce is neat). Germantown is also interesting. You may also want to take a ride out to Manayunk--cool shops and restaurants, although parking can be a bit of a nightmare.

There are a bunch of off-the-beaten path museums and places to visit outside the typical US History tour, such as Eastern State Penitentiary and the M�tter Museum.

Philly has a very good art scene: check out InLiquid for listings, as well as the Philly.com website for general entertainment.

Inedible? They're delicious! Oh so bad for you and oh so yummy!

No war? Just check out the city guide: http://search.cityguide.aol.com/phil...ks/v-108102630

http://www.phillypa.org/cheesesteak/

http://leatherdistrictgourmet.blogsp...nos-roils.html

http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?sec...ews&id=2205747

http://services.dailypennsylvanian.c...est&Est_ID=397

Despite being tourists visiting Philly, don't waste your time down on 9th and Passyunk (Pat's and/or Geno's). I've lived in Philly my entire life and only go down there if it's 3am and I'm leaving a bar. If you want an amazing cheesesteak at about half the price ($4 compared to the outrageous new price of $7.95 at Pat's - I was shocked when I was there on Saturday night!) go to Delessandro's in Roxborough. It'll take a little longer to get to, but it's worth it. Simply amazing food.

Agreed. Actually, you can get a pretty decent cheese-steak from many street-side food carts. As you walk by, just watch for the ones that have 4 or 5 people standing in line. Those are typically the best.

$7.95? We were just there a few weeks ago, and our "chee wit" was under $7. And it was heaven....