Yup, another one! What would I do without you? LOL!

My DH wants to go to Philadelphia soon to visit an elderly friend who is a World War II veteran. He speaks with him on the phone, but has never met him face to face. (They met through a book club. DH loves history; WWII in particular). He is planning on taking the train from Providence. I guess it is a direct trip right through to Philly. It takes about four and a half hours. He was going to drive down, but it is worth the money not to have to drive through NYC. The gentleman lives in South Philly; he says it is within walking distance of the Liberty Bell.

DH wondered what train station would take him nearest thatlocation, and what hotels are near there? It doesn't have to be fancy. A Holiday Inn or Super Eight, etc. will be fine because he plans on spending all of his time with his friend. What kind of an area is South Philly? Is it an "okay" area, as far as walking on the streets, etc? Also, is there a public transit system, like Boston has the "T"? Are cabs readily available?

His friend has offered to let him stay with him, but he doesn't want to impose. Any details you can give me would be greatly appreciated.

By Ginny~moderator on Saturday, April 5, 2008 - 08:48 pm:

There's "South Philly" and "South Philly", so I would need an intersection or an address to be able to tell you what kind of neighborhood it is. If DH's friend lives near the Liberty Bell, that's pretty much OK. I would think he'd be near South Street (which is a fairly "hip" stretch of street), or perhaps in the area of what's known as the "Italian Market" - a several block stretch with lots of food shops - produce, butchers, bakeries, etc., that is almost wall-to-wall shoppers on weekends and right before holidays involving lots of food. DH's train will come in at 30th Street Station. From 30th Street Station he can take a commuter train to 8th & Market, which is probably the closest, or take the Market Street bus east, and transfer to a bus going to his friend's neighborhood. Go to the SEPTA website - http://septa.org/ and use the Plan My Trip menu. As for hotels, there's a Comfort Inn and a Rodeway in or near the historic area, which is just East of Center City Philadelphia (the Liberty Bell is on the East edge of Center City, directly opposite the Federal Courthouse at 6th & Market/6th & Arch), and on Expedia they run between $125-$150 a night - not cheap. There are really no cheap and decent hotels in reasonably decent areas of Philadelphia (by cheap, I mean under $100 a night). I would say your DH should ask his friend about hotels, and do some internet searching. I don't know how much WWII history Philadelphia has, but if DH's friend is near the Liberty Bell, there is the Bell, Independence Hall, and the whole historic district just south of there, as well as the Betsy Ross House, and a whole bunch of other stuff. A day trip to Valley Forge would probably be very interesting also. And I think there is one or more WWII era ships at the waterfront somewhere that can be visited.

One of the things I love about Philadelphia is the way history is mixed in with modern day stuff (which is true of much of the Eastern part of the U.S.). I always smile when I go along a stretch of Germantown Avenue in Northwest Philadelphia - one goes past a few blocks of more or less modern, plate-glass front stores, and then you come to the Lutheran Seminary, and there's a huge stone with a marker saying that George Washington stood on that spot to direct the Battle of Germantown. There are a number of well-preserved historic houses in NW Philadelphia which are open to the public on specific days, and I think also in the historic "Olde City" area just south of the Liberty Bell area.

You can Google or Mapquest 6th & Market Streets, Philadelphia, to get a pretty good street map. There's lots of public transportation in that area, mostly buses.

I can understand your DH not wanting to impose, but some people take hospitality very seriously, and DH's friend might feel a bit offended if DH stays in a hotel. Is DH one of those people who doesn't want to be tied down to someone else's schedule or plans and that's why he wants to stay in a hotel? If not (and I am guessing not, since he is coming specifically to spend time with this friend), given the invite and the cost of hotels, he may find it best to stay with hsi friend. He can always take his friend out to dinner at Bookbinders (there are two, and he'll probably want the "old historic Bookbinders", which is in or near the historic district), or take that day trip to Valley Forge.

By Ginny~moderator on Saturday, April 5, 2008 - 08:53 pm:

Yes, cabs are readily available, and expensive, of course. But truly, if the friend lives near the historic district, walking around is just fine and there will be lots of buses. There is also a shuttle bus that runs pretty much in a loop in and around Center City, going from the Zoo and Art Museum area on the West to, I believe, Penns Landing on the East. Check the SEPTA web site for that. Once he's in Center City Philadelphia, DH can easily go to the SEPTA information office at the 8th & Market commuter train station (it's in the Gallery, a large shopping center running from about 11th to 7th on Market Street) and get pamphlets and maps and schedules.

By Hol on Sunday, April 6, 2008 - 08:33 pm:

Ginny, once again, thank you for your help and valuable information. It sounds relatively easy to get around. The other sights that you mentioned, also, would really round out the trip. Thanks again.