Recommendations, including New Liberty walking tour, more

I just got back from my first trip to Philly, two days spent mostly in Old Town and historical areas. Allow me to make a few brief recommendations.

1. We took an excellent walking tour done by a guy named Mike whose small company was called New Liberty Tours. http://www.newlibertytours.com/

We had planned on taking the basic guided Constitutional Walking Tour, which lasts 75 minutes and costs $17.50 per person, but we got to the Visitors Center and there were a couple other guides offering tours. Mike said his was 90 minutes and cost $14, so we said sure, why not?

I%26#39;ve been on a lot of historical tours, and Mike was one of the better guides. Smart, funny, full of great stories, and accurate as best I could tell, debunking some legends. The tour actually lasted an hour and 45. If that sounds long, dont do it, but if you like to walk and learn, look for Mike (short, beard) and New Liberty at the Visitors Center.

2. Lights of Liberty. Its both pretty cheesy and pretty fun. Expensive (19.50 I think) but I was glad I went. Make sure you book a time slot after dark.

3. Ghost Tour. Again, I%26#39;ve done a bunch. Didnt think this was one very good. Different guides probably give different tours, so your mileage may vary.

4. Fork. Fantastic restaurant on Market, next to Ben Franklin%26#39;s old place. Service, ambience, food, it all worked at Fork. Four stars.

5. But you might want to skip pricey Fork desert and walk a couple blocks in direction of Penn%26#39;s Landing to the Franklin Fountain, a ye olde fashioned ice cream shoppe. The line is out the door, but they move fast, and it%26#39;s just the thing on a hot summer night.

6. Omni Hotel at Independence Park. A little pricey but the best location, just step out the door to everything. No issues here.

7. Independence Hall. Dont forget to reserve your timed tickets in advance. Don%26#39;t show up the day of during tourist season and expect to get in. And when they tell you to show up half an hour early to clear security,10 to 15 minutes early is plenty.

8. Reading Terminal Market. Lots of awesome food. During lunch, some really long lines. Choose your lines carefully. I stood in one for 45 minutes for a mediocre cheese steak. But another day I had a Pastrami on Rye that had been prepared by God.

Thank you, Philly.

Recommendations, including New Liberty walking tour, more

Thank you for this great report. Someone else recently recommended New Liberty Tours. I%26#39;ll have to check it out.

Regarding Fork, the deserts may be pricey but they%26#39;re well worth it. IMO, Fork has one of the best desert menus in Philly. Sometimes we go to Fork just for desert!

Lynn

Recommendations, including New Liberty walking tour, more

Hi there. Did you take Mike%26#39;s North or South tour? What kind of cuisine does Fork serve? Thanks, jen

Fork serves New American. The website is www.forkrestaurant.com

Lynn

Hey Jen. We took the Norrth tour. The above poster calls Fork ';New American'; and I wont disagree, although Im not sure what that means exactly. It is not any particular regional or ethnic cuisine. Check the website, and enjoy

Phil

Thanks, pk. For the record, it%26#39;s not Old Town, it%26#39;s Olde City. For some reason, almost everyone from out of town makes that mistake. Must be us.

The mistake of referring to Old City as Old Town comes in part from Hotwire.com. It wouldn%26#39;t surprise me if other travel websites make the same mistake.

Lynn