Anything I should do in Philly or AC?

Business trip next week - heading for Atlantic City. Fly into Philly and take the train to AC.

Are there any must-do's? Places to eat, things to see? I get to Philly around 10:30 am and have to be in AC that night but I would have a few hours to spare. I have never been anywhere near this area, so I am just interested.

Simeone Foundation Museum.

Yea, Simeone Museum.

For non-car stuff, how about Independence Hall?

Be careful in A/C lest you get cooties (or worse).

Came to post Simeone.

Dont bother with Gino's or Pats for that matter, tourist traps, lousy steaks. If you want to go wandering Philly for a good steak lemme know I'll get you some addresses.

AC, stay close to the hotels at night. No lack of things to see or do in AC (or philly for that matter) whatever interests you you will be able to find something to see in either of these places :)

I am from a small city of about 50k people and a pretty safe one, but I know my limitations. I don't wander far from the main areas in large cities.

Thanks for the input so far - keep it coming.

JThw8 wrote: Came to post Simeone. Dont bother with Gino's or Pats for that matter, tourist traps, lousy steaks. If you want to go wandering Philly for a good steak lemme know I'll get you some addresses. AC, stay close to the hotels at night. No lack of things to see or do in AC (or philly for that matter) whatever interests you you will be able to find something to see in either of these places :)

I love a good steak! something close to the airport or train station perhaps?

Screw the cheese steak places... hit up Monks or Eulogy for some Belgian ale and mussels then wander around Old Town.

Or...

Pop over to the Franklin Institute. Wander around Boat House Row off West River if the weather is nice.

Or... go to AC, get hookers and blow... make your own history :)

So you've got a few hours at the Philly airport actually, right? So you need to play with the mass transit (SEPTA) probably.

Catch the one to Reading station market for lunch. It's fun and delightfully overwhelming. Make sure to go to the back and use the bathroom, it's delightfully antique, and there's a guy frequently playing the piano back there. Shop the place, there are some delightful confectioners and bakeries in there.

You'll be right by the historic district, so you can walk and gawk, seeing the Liberty bell and Independence Hall.

Philadelphia City Hall is a blast to wander around in if you're into old buildings, and within easy walking distance of the market. Wander with care and you can even figure out how to walk out onto the roof to those offices up there on the roof, with rooftop only access.

You've only got a few hours as I understand your schedule, so that's probably more than enough.

Oh, and buy a pretzel from a street vendor. Buy a cheesesteak as well. It's part of the Philly experience.

^this actually, if you are catching the train you probably need to be around Reading Terminal at some point anyway (not sure where the train to AC departs from) You could kill hours just wandering around Reading terminal market and get a nice meal. I think a few places in there offer steaks, I don't recall every having a bad one.

If you are on a mission for a good steak then you want to go to Jim's (no relation) 400 South St, Philadelphia, PA 19147 There are many many good steak places in Philly though, even Pat's and Gino's aren't bad but they aren't nearly as good as the smaller joints around town.

AC- not much.

My understanding is that you take SEPTA from the airport to the Amtrak station and NJ Transit train to AC.

the boardwalk is nice in AC.. even in the evenings. just keep your wits about you and will be fine.

Shame you are not coming in on a Thursday, that is the day they give the tour of Boardwalk hall. once the worlds largest freestanding indoor space.. and built in 1928 by the same people who designed and built the Eiffel tower. The Pipe Organ is -still- the largest in the world and is almost completely playable again. Most of the casinos are pretty trashy.. if you have to go only one, go to the Borgata. It is simply the best in AC.

Sad thing is.. there used to be a lot more to do in AC.. but in an effort to keep people in the casinos, it was allowed to rot, get destroyed, or was taken down. The effects of that short sightedness are now hurting the town. If you were sticking around for a couple of days, there is a lot to see in the area, but everything is a drive away from AC

Well I am there from Wed to Sat. No car. In meeting Thursday and Friday.

I will have to try to see that though - I am a Facilities guy (I manage Maintenance and Cleaning staff at a College), so I am very interested in buildings, especially ones with heritage.

NGTD wrote: Well I am there from Wed to Sat. No car. In meeting Thursday and Friday. I will have to try to see that though - I am a Facilities guy (I manage Maintenance and Cleaning staff at a College), so I am very interested in buildings, especially ones with heritage.

Dang, then it really sucks that you don't have transportation because you won't be very far from Lucy the Elephant. (yes, an elephant shaped building) I'm heading out of town in the opposite direction on Friday or I'd drive down and take you around Friday night or Saturday morning.

FYI, there is a possibility of a public transit strike (SEPTA) in Philly. That may not be a bad thing if you choose to rent a car, but taxis will be hard to find.

Jim and Foxy are right about what to see, and where to eat though. I love Reading terminal market, come hungry! The constitution center is also full of cool history related stuff, and is across the street from the broken bell, which isn't all that its cracked up to be, don't waste your time on that.

JThw8 wrote:

NGTD wrote: Well I am there from Wed to Sat. No car. In meeting Thursday and Friday. I will have to try to see that though - I am a Facilities guy (I manage Maintenance and Cleaning staff at a College), so I am very interested in buildings, especially ones with heritage.

Dang, then it really sucks that you don't have transportation because you won't be very far from Lucy the Elephant. (yes, an elephant shaped building) I'm heading out of town in the opposite direction on Friday or I'd drive down and take you around Friday night or Saturday morning.

Very gracious of you to consider that. I am actually leaving Sat. morning around 10 am so it would be limited opportunity.

I may be back in Sept. for a follow-up to this trip, so I might be able to go see that building then.

The Simeone Automotive Museum as mentioned is fantastic!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/daveseven/sets/72157633272334632/with/8659694082/

Even just wandering around Philly is interesting - I took a few photos when I was out there

http://www.flickr.com/photos/daveseven/sets/72157633226728941/

McGillin's Old Ale House was a great little pub. Pretty cheap too. The oldest, still operating pub in town.

HappyAndy wrote: FYI, there is a possibility of a public transit strike (SEPTA) in Philly. That may not be a bad thing if you choose to rent a car, but taxis will be hard to find.

Thanks for the heads up on that - I have let some of the other people that are attending know about this too!

NGTD wrote: My understanding is that you take SEPTA from the airport to the Amtrak station and NJ Transit train to AC.

That is correct. There is only one SEPTA train line leaving the airport, and it will take you into Center City. The Amtrack station is 30th Street Station, but that's not where the points of interest you'll want to see are. The things you'd want are a few miles to the east. My suggestion would be to take the airport train to Market East station, which is 9th and Market (21 blocks from 30th St Station). That's now walking distance of Indepedence Hall, Liberty Bell, or City Hall. If you like old buildings, walk from there towards the lower number streets (2nd, 3rd, etc...). That's Olde City and where the old historic townhomes are. Very safe area, very pretty.

For grub, some good suggestions already made. I'd 100% back the suggestion of Jims' Cheesesteaks at 4th and South (again walking distance from Market East Station). I'm partial because I lived just a few blocks from it while in college, but they're better than Pats or Ginos IMHO. South Street itself is a site to see, lots of pubs, bars and unique shops. Or if you'd prefer a nice deli sandwich, Famous' Deli at 4th and Bainbridge (one block south of South Street) has the best fresh deli sandwich you can get anywhere...and their cookies are killer too. Sandwhiches are so big you can't put your mouth around them, and it's all fresh cut meat. When you're done, grab a cab to 30th Street (or you could go back to Market East and hop back on a train).

As far as A/C goes...stay where the hotels and boardwalk are. Leave at your own risk, seriously.

Thanks to everyone - you folks are great for sharing information and providing links.

Klayfish wrote: As far as A/C goes...stay where the hotels and boardwalk are. Leave at your own risk, seriously.

Working in AC.. as long as you stay away from "the inlet". basically anything north of Showboat except for Revel Casino and Gardner's Basin you are pretty safe. Gardner's Basin is a nice little stop.. has a decent little aquarium and a small amount of antique boats on land you can look at. It even has the diving bell they used to lower into the water from one of the piers. At one time anybody could pay to get lowered down into the ocean on it.

If you are into shopping.. between the train station and atlantic Avenue is AC's outlet shops. Very safe, Trendy, and semi sorta cheap