OT: Planning to visit PA

My husband and I were planning on going to Saskatchewan for 2 weeks, but my mother is very sick and didn't want to be that far away for that long.  So we talked today and I've always wanted to see the Liberty Bell.  PA is about 1/2 day away from us in Ontario, so figured we could stay for a couple of days.  What else should we see while we're there?
Thanks for any and all ideas!
L. 

Here are some ideas:

National Constitution Center, Reading Terminal Market, Chinatown, South Street (many opportunities to shop, but parking is a bear)
Penn's Landing has a lot of fun activities over the summer.

The US Mint is interesting for adults not too much for kids. The Art Museum is nice.

If you have young kids, The Please Touch Museum is a good day activity and not expensive either. (about $15 a person). Or Sesame Place in Langhorne is also a good kid thing but MUCH more expensive.

If you like shopping, there is the Bourse Building and the Gallery at 8th and Market.

I am sure there are other sights to see, but I can't think of them right now...
Enjoy!!
Beth
P.S. Can you tell I grew up in Philly??? LOL!!!!

 Thanks Beth.  They sound like interesting places - I like the sound of the Please Touch museum and it's only going to be me and the hubby.  I think the Art Museum is a must - that's the place Rocky ran up the stairs isn't it? - well that and I love art - I'll be bringing my camera and MUST get a picture from the top and bottom of those stairs.  It's such a big place - great to have the internet to start to learn about the counties etc before deciding which cities we want to see.  How about the Pennsylvania Dutch?  My father was in PA about 45 years ago and brought me home a charm for my charm bracelet and I remember him saying something about "the Pennsylvania Dutch" - he never said any more than that though.
Thanks
Lorraine

You will want to drive about 90 minutes west of Philadelphia, to Lancaster County, which is Amish Country and the heart of the PA Dutch. Take the turnpike, to the Reading/Lancaster exit and head south on Route 222, and you'll be there!

There are many hotels in the area, but also a lot of B&B's with special "focus" to them. You can actually work on an Amish farm at one B&B. Others are more romantic getaways. (My personal favorite is the Lititz House in Lititz...more on that later.)

My favorite drive in Lancaster County is Route 772 from Lititz to Route 30 near Gap. (On the map you will find this road goes through the towns of Brownstown, Leola, Intercourse, Pequa, and ends at Rt. 30). This takes you through Intercourse, where you will find great shopping at Kitchen Kettle Village. You will also pass a number of home based businesses that feature Amish woodworking, quilts, and crafts. (Avoid any signs advertising dogs, though. Lancaster County is the heart of the puppy mill world - kind of the dark underbelly of it all.)

You will see many buggies on the roads of Lancaster County.  You can go on a buggy ride on some back roads at Abe's Buggy Rides in Bird In Hand, on Route 340 (Old Philadelphia Pike) just west of Intercourse. Very fun, and not a route you are likely to find on your own. Bird In Hand has its own special attractions - farmers market, quilt store, etc.

In downtown Lancaster, you will want to visit Central Market (open Friday and Saturday) and the Quilt Museum.

I'd recommend a short drive north of Lancaster to Lititz, where I live. This is a "distinctive destination" town, dating back to the 1750's. You can shop the many little shops on Main St., buy a gift at Wilbur Chocolate, tour Sturgis Pretzels, and visit Moravian Square. There's always somehting going on.

Other highlights - if you like antiques, head out to Adamstown, close to the PA Turnpike.
Another beautiful drive: Route 322 to Route 10 South, to US 30. Great panoramic vistas of Lancaster farms.

FYI - MANY, MANY businesses in Lancaster County are closed on Sunday! Save Sunday for outlet shopping if that floats your boat.

Feel free to PN me if you have questions or would like more info! The PA Dutch visitors center has a good website too!

 That sounds amazing!!  I think we will leave home on Friday night, spend the night in Syracuse and then from the looks of things if we get up early we'll be able to spend Saturday afternoon it Lancaster/Lititz.  This is exactly the kind of holiday we're looking for - something laid back, a little off the beaten track, a bit of history, etc.
I will get in touch as we get closer.  Thanks so much Lynn.
Lorraine

Where from in Ontario? I'm a Michigan native, so am very familar with the stretch from Windsor to Toronto and thereabouts, as well as Bayfield, Tobermory, and Manitoulin Island.

In Philly is also Betsy Ross' House, on the outskirts is the Franklin Mint, 20 miles North West of Philly is Valley Forge Park with the battle field and the bunkers still there.  There are tourist info stands in Center City to show you what is where.

When are you coming to Pa?  There is a Kutztown Folk Festival (PA  Dutch) over the 4th of july, it includes all kinds of demonstrations of the old crafts, candle making, tin smithing, quilting, and of course all kinds of crafts in general.  If you are not able to make that a visit to Lancaster could be in order.  Good places to eat, and again you can shop for items made by the Amish.  Buggy rides you name it.  In Philadelphia there are several other places to see near the Art museum.  The Franklin Institute, and the Museum of Natural Science too.  Hope this is some help.

 Ooo that sounds good (for me at least).  Love crafts.  Hubby might like the tin smithing.  We're coming around the end of July.  So Lancaster is definitely on the list.
Thanks
L.

My husband and 2 boys (18 and 16) like everything that people have mentioned, but the one thing we still love doing is going to The Franklin Institute.  Even took the older Scouts (fromm troop 399 ages 14 to 18) here over the Christmas Holiday.  You never saw teenagers have more fun than that day.  Great place to go with OR without the kids.

Wendy