NYC and Philadelphia Travel Ideas?

**lmbaker520** · 02-28-2009, 07:12 PM

Hey Everyone,

I am going to NYC and Philadelphia for the first time in less than 3 weeks and am sooo excited. I have a conference in Philadelphia for work and I am adding a 3 day visit to NYC while I am already in that area. I have never been to either city and am looking for any ideas that you all have for must do's in those areas. It's very overwhelming since there is so much available to do.

Do you all have any thoughts on your experiences from traveling/living in these cities? I am looking for anything like, restaurants, entertainment, must sees, etc. They don't necessarily have to be super cheap places because I will have money from work and have saved up some extra so that I can enjoy myself. I have tickets to the Lion King on Broadway in NYC so that will be a fun thing for one night.

Thanks in advance for any advice that you all can give!!

**Debbie-cat** · 02-28-2009, 07:58 PM

No ideas as I haven't been to either but have a great time!!!

**thesightofoneself** · 02-28-2009, 08:01 PM

Nathans at Coney Island!

**lmbaker520** · 03-01-2009, 07:32 AM

Originally Posted by thesightofoneself

Nathans at Coney Island!

Thanks!! I have had others tell me that too! I will have to do.

**nancycg56** · 03-01-2009, 08:53 AM

Are you staying in NYC? If so, what area?

**TheRootedNomad** · 03-01-2009, 09:26 AM

I would hit the MET (metropolitan museum of modern art) and The American Museum of Natural History. You may also want to look into taking the ferry over to the Statue of Liberty. The ferry ride with the wind, and looking back at the city is a unque experience in itself. I don't rate this anywhere near as high as the museums but it is a more outside kind of thing.

I haven't been there (but I still have the urge to call it home) in several years but it use to be when the museums posted SUGGESTED prices some of them really meant it. I don't know if that's true or not anymore but I wouldn't be afraid of offering up less if it says suggested. I don't remeber ever throwing more than a buck or so at the MET and wandering for hours.

http://www.metmuseum.org/
(There's an enter here link in the picture that's hard to see)

http://www.amnh.org/
I love the dinosaur floor!

Saint Patricks cathedral is free as well as it's a church. It will only take you a bit to wander through it but the archetecture (ugh! sp) is awesome. I don't think you can see back into the alcove in the pictures in the links where there are some amazing pieces. Also you cannot capture the feeling the place gives you when you step inside.

http://www.saintpatrickscathedral.or...page/home.html

I'll have to think on this some more. I have all kinds of places pop into my head but I know some of them are gone and others are not where you can just pop off directions for. Please feel free to PM me as I can also tell you some of the things you may not want to waste your time on that you may be considering.

hmmmm ...3 days...how much can be crammed in....

**lmbaker520** · 03-01-2009, 09:37 AM

Originally Posted by nancycg56

Are you staying in NYC? If so, what area?

Yes, I am staying in NYC. It's a Hilton in midtown Manhattan. So I am in the middle of everything. I got what I consider a good deal on it. They were running a special for $150 a night. Everywhere else that I looked (that I would want to stay at) was close to $250+.

**AdamantEve** · 03-01-2009, 04:36 PM

In Philly-
Sam's Morning Glory Cafe for breakfast (11th and Fitzwater).
Reading Terminal Market for lunches (by Market East trainstation)
Panang for a dinner (in Chinatown).

If you send me a private message and let me know what you like to do and the area where you will be, I can make some suggestions. I lived in Philly for many years

**nancycg56** · 03-01-2009, 04:48 PM

Definitely the Met and Natural History Museum! The Museum of Modern Art if you like modern art, Chinatown is always fun, Greenwich Village has some fun shops and eateries, Ground Zero which isn't that far of a subway ride. If the weather is nice, Central Park has a cute zoo, Fifth Avenue is always fun to people watch and to look in Tiffany's windows. Coney Island would be a hike from where you are staying and probably take up most of a day to get there and back with NY traffic or on the subway.

I would get a guide book and try to plan to get the most out of your stay.

I've never been to Philly but I always wanted to go to the Mutter Museum which is a medical museum and not for the squeamish so I am told

**TheRootedNomad** · 03-01-2009, 06:16 PM

YOU MUST GET PIZZA FROM A NON-CHAIN PIZZA PLACE. (Actually I don't remeber there being any chain places but again it;s been a while)Any little dive you pass should be fine and they sell it by the slice. You can fold it in half and eat while you walk.

I second -- Greenwich Village was my favorite place as a teenager however I couldn't actually give directions to any specific places there. I use to just love to walk it and hang out in the park watching the chess games.

Do not play three card monty or even watch without your hand on your money and don't pay the first price your told from a street vendor.

**staciah** · 03-01-2009, 07:17 PM

In Philly, You can hit Gino's for a true Philly Beef Steak Sub or right across the street is the competition Pat's (Both have been on the food network). You can see the Liberty Bell and the Constitution Hall (Both Free) There is a nice walking tour online you can print off. Philly has alot of nice things to do and see. The Art Museum is where Rocky ran up the stairs. Have fun.

**Jerseygirl** · 03-02-2009, 04:10 PM

Do not go to Nathan's Coney Island this time of year, it is in a horrible neighborhood, takes forever to get to, and the hours aren't predictable this time of year, yes they are good hotdogs, but they are just hotdogs.. As others have said, the Village is fun, Times square has cleaned up nicely and has all sorts of fun shops, Uptown shopping, Macy's Saks Bloomies, Tiffany's, Dylan's Candy Shoppe, Chinatown is a must see, I especially liked going for dim sum at lunch at a place called the Palace on canal street right at the foot of the bridge, you have to eat upstairs though so they come around with all the carts and you get the real experience I think they only do that at lunch, Hell's Kitchen is super trendy right now with all of the off off broadway shows and there is a great cuban resteraunt, Guantanemera (sp) we went there last year, super cool great band etc. If you end up down by ground zero stop into the Southstreet seaport, check out the ships and go for drinks.
Museum of modern art is always a winner.
Whatever you do, stay around people, if you see an empty place, there is a reason it is empty. Have fun.

**lmbaker520** · 03-02-2009, 04:54 PM

Thank you so much for all of your advice! You all have given me a lot of great ideas. I will let you all know how it went when I get back!

**Gardengal18** · 03-02-2009, 05:00 PM

Originally Posted by Jerseygirl

Do not go to Nathan's Coney Island this time of year, it is in a horrible neighborhood, takes forever to get to, and the hours aren't predictable this time of year, yes they are good hotdogs, but they are just hotdogs.. As others have said, the Village is fun, Times square has cleaned up nicely and has all sorts of fun shops, Uptown shopping, Macy's Saks Bloomies, Tiffany's, Dylan's Candy Shoppe, Chinatown is a must see, I especially liked going for dim sum at lunch at a place called the Palace on canal street right at the foot of the bridge, you have to eat upstairs though so they come around with all the carts and you get the real experience I think they only do that at lunch, Hell's Kitchen is super trendy right now with all of the off off broadway shows and there is a great cuban resteraunt, Guantanemera (sp) we went there last year, super cool great band etc. If you end up down by ground zero stop into the Southstreet seaport, check out the ships and go for drinks.
Museum of modern art is always a winner.
Whatever you do, stay around people, if you see an empty place, there is a reason it is empty. Have fun.

DITTO on the Coney Island idea. Neighborhood is pretty crappy.

If your staying in Manhattan also look to take one of the Red Double Decker tours. Tickets agents on most corners in Times Square. Try to get down to Little Italy. Other than what others already told you bring plenty of $$$ New York City can get EXPENSIVE