Historic "Old City" Philadelphia

For travelers interested in the history of the founding of our nation and major events of our War for Independence then a visit to Philadelphia and the neighboring countryside is a must see. In the old “historic” city of sightseeing stops include Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell; all part of Independence National Historical Park operated by the National Park Service.

Admission to these sights is free but there is a limited amount of timed admissions to Independence Hall. Free tickets are distributed daily at 830am however they go quickly so be there early or you may miss out. If you want to guarantee admission you can reserve your admission time on line and pay a nominal $1.75 service fee per ticket. More information on the park and Independence Hall tickets can be found online at http://www.nps.gov/inde.

This is a compact area, easy to walk with street vendors and quaint dining choices. I'd plan on spending a good 1/2 day even all day especially if you participate in the narrated walking tours. Like any major city parking can be difficult but there's a large underground garage at the National Constitution Center that has been available when I was there.

Surrounding historical attractions include Valley Forge, Washington crossing the Delaware River sites and the battles of Trenton, Princeton, Monmouth and Brandywine. We’ll look at these venues a little later.