Independence Park

All right, teachers. I know everyone wants to see the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall. And I kid you not, they are inspiring, even to someone like me who's seen them over and over again. But these are not the only gems of Independence Park! Far from! The best advice I can give you is to start at the wonderful Independence Visitor's Center at 6th and Market Streets, where friendly, knowledgeable park rangers are practically jumping out of their seats to give you a hand with planning your visit to this world heritage site.

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO REMEMBER: The Visitor's center is the ONLY place to get your FREE, TIMED tickets for Independence Hall. The Liberty Bell is free and you don't need a ticket, but you MUST HAVE A TICKET FOR INDEPENCE HALL! They make reservations for large groups, but if you're going on your own you will have to pick up your ticket in the morning, so the earlier you get there the more options you'll have for when you can go.

Also, you'll find a gift shop there, a cash machine (which is NOT free like the WAWA ones I mentioned previously), a cafe, some exhibits, and racks of brochures about other stuff to do. The guides at the desks have great big maps to help you get around the many attractions within a few blocks of the Visitor's center, including:

The National Constitution Center
Betsy Ross House
Ben Franklin's Grave
Ben Franklin House and Museum
The US Mint-- The Mint won't let cell phones into the building. There is no storage for your cell phone at the door. DON'T BRING YOUR CELL PHONE TO THE US MINT!

And more! Start here for your journey into the exciting birth of our nation...

The Lights of Liberty and Ben Franklin's Ghost

When I did the Lights of Liberty tour back in... 2001? I think... it was not my favorite thing. You put on a headset and walk around Independence Park at night, listening to really good audio, but looking at really crappy lighting and projected images. It made me feel like a sheep...that is, sort of ridiculous. And at almost $20 per person, I don't really think it's worth it.

HOWEVER, the lobby for the Lights of Liberty show is open at 10am everyday, and they have a little gift shop and a really fun thing called Ben Franklin's Ghost, and it's FREE! My husband Seth introduced me to this wonderful machine this weekend, and though it is a little hokey, it is exactly the kind of thing I can get a kick out of for five minutes.

SO, if you're seeing the sights around Independence Park and want to duck into some air conditioning, go see old Ben's ghost! You can ask him preset questions, or even make up your own using a list of words on the computer. It's not half bad! And we were lucky enough to run into the man himself while we were there (or rather, the best look-alike ever who has been the official Ben for something like 20 years). It's at the corner of 6th and Chestnut, opposite Independence Hall.

Sansom Street and the White Dog Cafe (3420 Sansom Street)

Oh, how I love the White Dog! For as many times as I have been there, though, I have never actually wanted to sit in the restaurant part of it... for me, it's all about the bar! And not because I drink. On the contrary, I feel that the tastiest things (and most reasonably priced, I may add) are found on the bar menu there. I encourage everyone to check it out, and maybe peek into the adorable shops that are on either side. It's a delightful place, and has the added bonus of being a grassroots activism supporter. The proprietor is the ex-wife of the guy behind the Urban Outfitters stores-- while he went big money, she preferred to keep it local, and keep it real. Who wouldn't want to support that?

When you walk in, you'll see a few tables and the bar. The tables have waiter/waitress service, but you can also eat at the bar. On many a slow afternoon I would go in with some work, sit at the bar, and just order coffee. But if you go in looking for dinner, you may find it lively and crowded... maybe sit outside? They often have tables on the sidewalk in nice weather. Or, if you think it looks good, try the restaurant-- but I'm not a big fan of the big entree style-- their dishes seem a little fussy and are definitely on the expensive side. But that's just me.

My FAVORITE thing at the White Dog is the Veggie Burger with guacamole. Whenever my birthday rolls around, this is always what I want! Add a local beer, like a Yards or Flying Fish, and it is a great meal. Try the creme brulee with a dog-shaped cookie for dessert.

If you want to go upscale, La Terasse is a few doors down, and also is a restaurant with a bar. The New Deck Tavern is where kids in my day would go to get fried foods cheap, but if you feel like something very informal, try them!

Also next to the White Dog is The Black Cat/Saturn Club-- where a gift shop is fused with a salon AND a cafe (I think??). I have always liked checking out the unusual stuff at the Black Cat, and for a while my mom was a big fan of their jewelry.

Avril 50 is a small, sort of overflowing international magazine/paperie type place where I used to go to buy dark chocolate bars-- you know, the serious 90% dark stuff. If you like a European feel for your chocolate and newspapers, it's WONDERFUL!

Though I haven't been in there for a while, Bucks County Coffee still has their flag hanging on Sansom Row. In my day, they had the best frozen coffee with sprinkles. It's also a local establishment-- Bucks County is north of the city-- and perhaps a nice alternative to the same old Starbucks.