Hi all-

I'm currently working out an East coast trip for myself and my girlfriend. Been living in AU for 4+ years, met a girl, and now it's time to bring her home to see the parents.

After a few days at my parents' place we'll be heading up north. Plan is to fly into DC on the 28th, spend 1.5 day there and on the 30th take a train up to Philly, spend sometime going through Independence Hall and Liberty Bell and then it's off to dinner at Morimoto's as it's her bday (and we're fan of Iron Chef, blablabla). Then on 31st we take a train up to NYC and spend the remainder of the trip there.

So .. is it worth cutting DC short, or even skipping it, and stay longer in Philly? Is there anything else to see in Philly aside from those two attractions? I ask because I'm thinking of putting ourselves up in a nice hotel and if I do then a night stay seems pointless but is there anything to do/see in Philly for two days?

Thanks all.

Of course there is.

But really, you've got sort of a tough decision. You could easily spend some very quality time in the Art Museum, walk around the Univ of PA campus, do the typical cheese steak tour, maybe take in the US Mint, walk Penn's Landing. However, I think you get more bang-for-your-buck with the extra time in DC.

Oh, if you're doing the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall, you definitely want to do the National Constitution Center. (If you go to Betsy Ross' house, stop along the way to see Ben Franklin's grave. Turn around and you'll be staring at MTV's Real World Philadelphia house...ok...another thing that may only interest me.)

Wow. Guess there isn't much to do in Philly. ^_^;;

Oh well, I hope a night's enough.

DC, Philly and NY all have plenty to keep you busy - I would say its more a matter of how long you want to spend with the family (seemingly not much ), then cost of hotel in NY and time there versus a visit to Philly. NY and DC are votes above Phily if you can only have two, You shouldn't be bored in any of them.

Actually we'll be spending the same amount at home and in NYC. It's only DC and Philly that's fairly short. That said, at this point I've decided to spend more in DC with all the museums and nat'l. monuments and do just one night in Philly.

I spent 5 years growing-up in State College ... PA is not exactly where things are happening...

Some other attractions in Philly worth visiting:

1. Reading Terminal Market

2. Ben Franklin Science Museum - specifically the Tuttleman Omniverse Theater

3. Philadelphia Zoo - oldest in the country

4. Elfreth's Alley - oldest residential street in the country

5. Rodin Museum - close to the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Both NYC and Washington DC have really great museums so it is tough to compete with them. The Mutter Museum in Philly is interesting and unique. Ditto for the Wister Institute if the exhibits are still open to the general public.

MisterNice