The birthplace of American Independence, Philadelphia, does not normally find a place in the itinerary of international tourists. Philly, as Philadelphia is popularly called, was founded towards the end of 17^th century CE and has served as the temporary capital of the United States between 1790 and 1800 CE while Washington DC was being built. What makes it an important city is its close connection with the American Declaration of Independence and signing of the American constitution in the 18th century CE. Another reason is the almost 100 years old Philadelphia Museum of Art. Philadelphia has preserved many of the old structures that co-exist with modern developments. But there is not much to hold the interest of a casual international visitor, as I discovered on a day trip.

Philadelphia was rated well for a day trip out of New York City, and was under 2 hours drive from my hotel in Jersey City(~150kms).

Taking a bus was the cheapest option followed by car

I was initially keen to take the train but to my surprise, the one way train fares, about couple of days before the journey, were at $70 per person. Seats in a bus were available at $10 per person but I was not too keen. Since a car rental company was located in my hotel premises, renting a car seemed the most convenient option. The rental cost for a midsize car with damage waiver and roadside assistance was under $100 for the day.

The drive was fairly easy with GPS though I had to be very watchful when changing lanes or near exits. I still managed to take a wrong turn once as I was not where I should have been! With multiple lanes, heavy traffic and with most vehicles moving at speeds above 100kms per hour, the room was error was minimal.

My itinerary in Philadelphia

Historic/Waterfront district

My first stop was Independence Visitor Centre where I picked up the city map, followed by Liberty Bell Centre where I had to wait a bit in the queue due to security checks. Entry was free. The Liberty Bell is supposed to be a symbol of American Independence. Thereafter, I walked around, passing by few historic buildings including the Independence Hall where the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were signed and the Second Bank of the United States.

After lunch in the Old City, I walked to the Delaware riverfront that looked nice, with slightly obscured views of the Benjamin Franklin suspension bridge. There was a warship docked nearby that I learnt is now a museum.

Thereafter I headed to Elfreth’s Alley, the historical street that dates back to 1703. There are 32 houses here, built between 1703 and 1836. Very charming. Elfreth’s Alley is the oldest continuously inhabited street in the USA.

Other historical buildings in the Old City include the 123-year-old Corn Exchange that now houses a tech company and Betsey Ross house where the first American flag is believed to have been sewn.

City Hall

This 125-year-old building is magnificent and stated to be the largest municipal building in the USA. Guided tours are available but I just chose to walk around and click pictures from outside.

Parkway

Modelled after Avenue des Champs-Élysées in Paris, the boulevard is dotted with historical and cultural buildings. At one end is the famous Philadelphia Museum of Art. From the museum steps, one gets lovely views of downtown Philly. One can spend a lot of time on the Parkway but I was happy just clicking pictures from outside before heading to Schuylkill River Park. An enclosed portion of this park serves as a dog park, which is not surprising considering a third of the households in Philly own a dog! And this percentage is stated to be slightly higher than those with children!

How much time?

Overall, I was in Philly for about 8 hours before heading back to Jersey City around 6.30pm. I spent about 5 hours in the Old City, 15 minutes at City Hall and 90 minutes on the Parkway, including 45 minutes at Schuylkill Park. Another day will be required for guided tours or museum visits.

The skyline does look impressive at dusk, just when the lights are coming on.

Parking is not easy

Finding parking slots were not at all easy. The first time, I decided on a private parking lot near Independence Visitor Centre that cost $22 for 90 minutes. Minimum was $15 or $12 for 30 minutes. Paid by credit card at the automated gate. For the second halt in the Old City closer to the Delaware river, I just managed to find one slot a little away from the restaurant I had shortlisted for lunch. The only good part was that the Delaware riverfront area as also Elfreth’s Alley were walkable from here.

Street parking cost $10 for 3 hours. For one hour, it was $3.5. Payment had to be made upfront at the nearest parking meter.

Parking near residential area was even more difficult

Near City Hall and Parkway, I chose not to look for parking given the heavy traffic while I found one slot near Schuylkill River park after a fair bit of circling. The area is residential and that probably explains the difficulty. Good thing is that parking was free for the first 2 hours. I did not see any parking meters nearby and I am not sure how and who keeps track.

It was just as well as that my son was with me so I could get off to click pictures without worrying about parking. I later learnt there are certain apps that could facilitate parking though I do not know to what extent.

In hindsight, I should have done a bit more research on parking. Taking a Big Bus tour in Philly may not be a bad idea after all.

Lunch

I chose the simpler and convenient option of an Indian restaurant in the Old City. Vegetarian meal cost $75 for 3 of us.

I read that the Cheesesteak is vey famous in Philly but there are no vegetarian variants available!

When to visit Philadelphia

I visited in May and the weather was perfect. April, May, September, October are stated to be the best time to visit. But just for a day trip, it may not really matter much. But yes, peak seasons may need to be avoided if you are driving a rental car. Else, it is entirely possible you may not be able to get off the car in the absence of a parking slot!

Is one day adequate?

It is for a casual tourist. I lost a bit of time because of heavy traffic near City Hall else I would driven round couple of more areas such as Rittenhouse Square. But if you are interested in learning more about American Independence, get inside some of the historic buildings and perhaps visit one or two museums, 2 days would be better.

What did the day trip cost?

I spent about $250 on rental car, fuel, vegetarian lunch, beverages and parking. For museums and guided tours, there will be entry fee/additional charges.

Should Philadelphia be on one’s itinerary?

For a casual international visitor, I don’t think so, even though the city is nice. But if you are keen on learning more about American independence or visiting museums such as the Art Museum or the Franklin Institute, then certainly yes. Even then, Philly should rank relatively low on the list, given what the rest of US has to offer.