What to do in Philadelphia: 2011 Edition
January 19, 2011 11:58 AM Subscribe
Travelfilter: I will be visiting Philadelphia with my wife this coming February for a few days. Please help me find things to do.
Although I am traveling with my wife, she will be attending a conference for two of the three days we will be visiting. I have read the post What to do in Philadelphia from 2005 and will check out some of the suggestions there with my wife. However, what I am looking for is daytime activities for the two days my wife will be busy.
What are your recommendations for pub's, lunch restaurants, and coffee shops? What are some interesting outdoor activities; are there trails to walk/hike/bike? What are the things I simply can't miss out on?
Bonus: What is a great Valentines Day restaurant for under $200?
Although I am traveling with my wife, she will be attending a conference for two of the three days we will be visiting. I have read the post What to do in Philadelphia from 2005 and will check out some of the suggestions there with my wife. However, what I am looking for is daytime activities for the two days my wife will be busy.
What are your recommendations for pub's, lunch restaurants, and coffee shops? What are some interesting outdoor activities; are there trails to walk/hike/bike? What are the things I simply can't miss out on?
Bonus: What is a great Valentines Day restaurant for under $200?
Best answer: More recently:
http://ask.metafilter.com/168307/What-should-I-see-do-eat-and-drink-while-Im-in-Philly
http://ask.metafilter.com/175571/Philly-for-the-holiday-weekend
http://ask.metafilter.com/171997/help-me-enjoy-my-weekend
posted by supercres at 12:14 PM on January 19, 2011 [1 favorite]
http://ask.metafilter.com/168307/What-should-I-see-do-eat-and-drink-while-Im-in-Philly
http://ask.metafilter.com/175571/Philly-for-the-holiday-weekend
http://ask.metafilter.com/171997/help-me-enjoy-my-weekend
posted by supercres at 12:14 PM on January 19, 2011 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: I'm not sure how I missed those, these answers are great. Thank you.
posted by axismundi at 12:39 PM on January 19, 2011
posted by axismundi at 12:39 PM on January 19, 2011
For eating and drinking I got some great answers here--can personally recommend 'Tinto', and through my mum, tea and cake at the Mary Cassatt Tearoom at the Rittenhouse Hotel.
posted by lapsangsouchong at 1:25 PM on January 19, 2011
posted by lapsangsouchong at 1:25 PM on January 19, 2011
Seconding Mutter Museum - unless you're squeamish.
posted by media_itoku at 2:26 PM on January 19, 2011
posted by media_itoku at 2:26 PM on January 19, 2011
Eating/drinking:
- Xochitl (get the guacamole and tequila flights)
- Chick's (everything is good)
- Dmitri's (get the grilled octopus; cash only BYOB)
posted by jshort at 6:47 AM on January 20, 2011
- Xochitl (get the guacamole and tequila flights)
- Chick's (everything is good)
- Dmitri's (get the grilled octopus; cash only BYOB)
posted by jshort at 6:47 AM on January 20, 2011
My favorite coffee shop is Chapterhouse at 9th and Bainbridge (one block below South St), if you end up over there. Get brunch somewhere, Philly is good at brunch. Morning Glory, right near Chapterhouse, is fantastic but there are lots of good places. There's a coffee shop at 15th and Sansom St that's good for people-watching if you want something in center city.
Go to Reading Terminal, if you go nowhere else. Ideally on a Wed-Saturday, more of the Amish are there.
Outdoor stuff: There's a long series of walking/biking trails along the Schuylkill river that are really lovely. They start at I think Lombard St and go up to the Art Museum, then along Kelly Drive in Fairmount Park. There's a way to connect from there to Forbidden Drive, a trail along the Wissahickon Creek. Or you can continue on to Manayunk, a steep old mill town now part of the city with a cute downtown. From both Manayunk and many spots along the Wissahickon you can take a short-ish walk to a regional rail station and get a train back into center city (but look up the stations on a map first).
Oh there's also an ice rink at Penn's Landing on the Delaware and the Recreation Department has several free rinks (just don't tell them you are from out of town). Unfortunately I don't think any of the various boat/kayak things on the rivers will be running in February.
Beau Monde at 6th and Bainbridge is one of my preferred date restaurants.
posted by sepviva at 8:13 PM on January 20, 2011
Go to Reading Terminal, if you go nowhere else. Ideally on a Wed-Saturday, more of the Amish are there.
Outdoor stuff: There's a long series of walking/biking trails along the Schuylkill river that are really lovely. They start at I think Lombard St and go up to the Art Museum, then along Kelly Drive in Fairmount Park. There's a way to connect from there to Forbidden Drive, a trail along the Wissahickon Creek. Or you can continue on to Manayunk, a steep old mill town now part of the city with a cute downtown. From both Manayunk and many spots along the Wissahickon you can take a short-ish walk to a regional rail station and get a train back into center city (but look up the stations on a map first).
Oh there's also an ice rink at Penn's Landing on the Delaware and the Recreation Department has several free rinks (just don't tell them you are from out of town). Unfortunately I don't think any of the various boat/kayak things on the rivers will be running in February.
Beau Monde at 6th and Bainbridge is one of my preferred date restaurants.
posted by sepviva at 8:13 PM on January 20, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by mhz at 12:13 PM on January 19, 2011