Hello! My name is Stacey and I actually used to come on this site and chat at times about a year ago. Then my life got a bit crazy and I didn't have much computer time. But, now I'm back and look forward to speaking with other mom's like myself. I have one DS who is 4 and I have a step-son who is 11. I'm recently divorced, but now back with my ex-husband!!! I look foward to chatting with you all! Oh and I live in outside of Philadelphia.

By Dawnk777 on Thursday, July 5, 2007 - 09:36 pm:

I'm Dawn, wife to Gary for almost 20 years, mom to Sarah, 17, and Emily 15, and an Australian cattle dog named Jasmine, who is 4.

By Ginab on Thursday, July 5, 2007 - 10:24 pm:

HELLO STACEY,
My name is Gina I am also new and it is nice to meet you. I would like to ask you a few questions if you don't mind? I see you live outside of Philadelphia and I would like to take my daughter to see the King Tut exhibit at the Field Museum but I have never been there. We would like to go to the exhibit and also see the Liberty bell. I would like to know if you know of a hotel that is close to each of these attractions that is nice but not expensive? Any information you could give me would be great. I have looked up hotels online but advice from someone who lives there would be better. Thanks.

By Stacey on Friday, July 6, 2007 - 10:15 am:

Hi Gina! I am sorry, but I am going to be of no help to you at all!! Unfortunatly, I don't know of any hotels near those attractions that I could recommend. I have never been to the King Tut exhibit and the Liberty bell I think I saw on a class trip once! Years ago! For the most part I try and stay out of Philadelphia. I enjoy going to Kelly Drive and walking around there. But, that's about it. Im sorry I can't help you! But, have a great time when you do go!

By Sunny on Friday, July 6, 2007 - 11:28 am:

Gina, I would suggest visiting AAA.com and Tripadvisor.com to get suggestions for hotels. Are you flying in or driving? There are many hotels in the airport area, Center City and near Penn's Landing. Since you seem to be interested in the historic sites, the keyword you should be looking for when reading about the hotels is how close they are to Independence Hall/historic district (Center City area).

The last time I toured the historic sites was a few years ago on a school trip. I haven't been to see the King Tut exhibit (yet), but my son went back in March on a field trip and couldn't stop talking about it. I would also suggest purchasing tickets ahead of time at The Franklin Institute website.

Have fun!

By Ginny~moderator on Saturday, July 7, 2007 - 03:33 am:

I live just outside Philadelphia and worked in Center City for a long time. Center City hotels can be very, very expensive. You might be better off staying at a suburban hotel and taking a bus or train into Center City, or renting a car. Center City hotels - decent ones - run from $175 to $250 for a night or sometimes for a special weekend package. Some of them (like the Westin) have special packages that include the King Tut exhibit, so you might want to look into that. Generally you want to be in the Art Museum area (Zip 19101), but you may find better rates in the University of Pennsylvania area (19104). The Independence Mall area is at the opposite end of Center City from the Art Museum area, but it's not a great distance, and the public transit system runs small buses on a regular schedule - I think you can buy day passes for those buses.

It can be tricky, because Philadelphia neighborhoods can change from very nice to not very nice in less than two blocks. Generally, in the U of PA area, stay on Market Street or south of Market Street. Buses run on Market Street to the river, taking you near the Art Museum area and directly to the Independence Mall area. For the Center City area, closer to the Art Museum/Mall area is much nicer, but much pricier. You want to be careful East of Broad Street (1300 to 900), because north of Market Street for a few blocks is the Convention Center area and should be fine, but south of Market Street can be very iffy in some blocks. I have a friend who lives in Center City and I'll ask her to recommend decent and not to pricey hotels and let you know. Yes, AAA would be a good site to check out.

By Ginny~moderator on Saturday, July 7, 2007 - 03:37 am:

Or, as Sunny suggests, stay at a hotel in the airport area. SEPTA runs trains every half hour from the airport to Center City, and I would think most of the hotels run vans to and from the airport and maybe to and from Center City.

By Ginab on Saturday, July 7, 2007 - 07:52 pm:

Hey thanks so much for all the great information I really appreciate it. Gina

By Sandysmom on Monday, July 9, 2007 - 08:09 am:

Hi Stacey! Welcome Back!

By Ginny~moderator on Monday, July 9, 2007 - 06:24 pm:

Gina - here is what my friend says:
The Embassy Suites at 18th and the Parkway would be a great location for seeing the King Tut exhibit. It's walking distance to the Art Museum and the Franklin Institute (our guests for our wedding stayed there). It is rather affordable and the rooms are big and nice.

If they want to stay closer to the Liberty Bell, Penns Landing, etc. I have booked rooms before at the Marriott - Convention Center. It is right across from the Convention Center/Reading Terminal Market and walking distance to the Bell. Cabs or the Tut trolley would be needed to get to the Art Museum area.

Anywhere closer (i.e. center city or on Penn's landing) is dreadfully expensive. I can't speak either way about these places as I've never needed to stay at any of them. I'm sure they would be fine, just expensive...if they have a good pair of sneakers and don't mind walking a few blocks...I would go with the two I mentioned above.

By Ginab on Monday, July 9, 2007 - 11:08 pm:

Hey thanks for the info! I appreciate it! Gina