Pennsylvania October Trip to Philly

C

Calzone

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Earlier this year we made two trips to visit Philly. We took the Megabus for $31.00 round trip using reserved seating, and in a little more than two hours we are in Philly. The only thing that is painful is getting up mucho early because the bus leaves New York at 6:15 AM.

Make sure you pay the extra dollar for "Reserved" seating instead of "General" or you risk the potential of not getting on the bus, or worse getting stranded in Philly.

Anyways the ride is pleasant. The first trip was just three of us, but the second trip involved seven of us from New York and meeting three of our friends from Philly for a group total of ten. On the second trip we made it a point to shoot Eastern State Penitentuary which presented this diffused light that made for a great day of shooting. We broke off for lunch and then ventured into University city and further north and west before getting the bus home for a full day of fun.

On that exploration north and west I met a man called John, who had a knickname "Popcorn." Popcorn inquired what all of us were doing and when I told him that we purposely came to photograph ESP, (a prision that operated for 142 years and was abandoned in 1971) Popcorn told me that his father spent some time at ESP for hitting a man with a two by four.

WOW. The world is not that big. LOL.

The bus departs in New York very close to the Javit's Center, and the drop off on the return trip is very near FIT.

So here is our third trip this year to Philly.

Cal
 
I used to take the megabus or the Fung Wah from Boston to NYC all of the time. Oh what memories. It's definitely a cost effective way to travel.
 
Boston to NYC was usually a little over 4 hours during non-rush hour departures. If you felt like taking your life into your own hands you could take the Fung Wah. Those guys would switch lanes and swerve like they were driving Miatas. Those were sub-4 hour trips. Are you considering a trip to beantown?
 
I lived in Delaware, so I tool SEPTA to downtown Philly or Manayunk. Park at the station for free, the trip cost less than parking in Philly.
 
Talus said:
Boston to NYC was usually a little over 4 hours during non-rush hour departures. If you felt like taking your life into your own hands you could take the Fung Wah. Those guys would switch lanes and swerve like they were driving Miatas. Those were sub-4 hour trips. Are you considering a trip to beantown?
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T,

Years ago my gal and I took Amtrack, and our hotel was very conveniently nearby. We walked Boston and did not use any mass transit. Most recently we did the same in Toronto. Sometimes we walk 12 miles or more in a day.

Anyways on the ground walking is how we like to see and experience cities.

I would like to visit again.

I am Chinese so I know that the stereotype is kinda true. In the mid 70's I once was a NYC cab driver, and I am known to drive like a fighter pilot. I built a 1984 Jeep Scrambler with a Ford 9 inch rear, Lincoln Continental disc brakes, and installed a 350 HP Corvette engine. Basically I built a HumVee before they were invented, and I was the first to build an urban assault vehicle. My friends considered my Jeep a suicide machine because I took an inherantly unstable vehicle and made it even more unstable. Of course it was jacked up and had big tires.

I know better than ride a Chinese bus. LOL.

Another cool ride I owned was a 1980 Checker Limo that featured a black vinyl top and an opera window. What a garish car that perhaps only 200 were ever made. Kinda loved that it had 9 passenger seating and it was so cavernous inside that I could fit my 10 foot one piece surf fishing rod inside diagonally. Another aggressive vehicle. LOL. Anyways I think being a crazy aggressive driver in my case is innate.

Also know that our NYC group is wanting/willing to do overnighters for shooting. Philly might be a little too close for an overnighter, but Boston is a cool city for an overnighter. We have a great group.

Cal
 
Cal, I'm game for an overnighter in Boston. We should do this before it gets too cold and you turn blue.

BTW, hotels are pretty pricey in Boston unless we stay the the burbs.
 
JMQ said:
Cal, I'm game for an overnighter in Boston. We should do this before it gets too cold and you turn blue.

BTW, hotels are pretty pricey in Boston unless we stay the the burbs.
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JMQ,

Maggie and I found a really great hotel not far from the Amtrack Station. The price was not bad at all. I think the area was called "Old Town" and its central location was ideal.

I would not want to waste my time on the burbs. Not worth it to me.

Cal
 
Cal,
If you do an extended stay of a couple of days, take the SEPTA train to Doylestown and check out the Mercer Museum and the old Bucks County Prison which is now the James Mitchner Art Museum. The Mercer Mile includes the museum, the tile works and Mercers home, Fonthill. Plus the foliage is starting to turn making for some great colors.
 
Many thanks for the above posts.

Right now is Fashion Week in NYC. It is a crazy time and a very busy time.

Cal
 
Im always down to go anywhere. Things have calmed down a bit, finally, so I can get back to the swing of things. Philly, Boston. Miami..... Lets go.
 
finguanzo said:
Im always down to go anywhere. Things have calmed down a bit, finally, so I can get back to the swing of things. Philly, Boston. Miami..... Lets go.
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Fidel,

Definitely a return to Philly in October.

Not sure I want to overbook for a trip to Boston yet. Perhaps make Boston more than an overnighter and perhaps two nights and three days.

I walked Boston once. Maggie and I spent no time on mass transit.

Cal
 
I'm game for Philly or DC. End of October early November works for me. For Boston I would like to hold off because I would want to do an overnighter, perhaps in the spring.

Let's firm something up.

Cal
 
jsrockit said:
I'm going to be in Chile from November 4th through the 13th.
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John,

Let's make this real. Kinda last moment but I looked up the Megabus fares to the three cities for October 30th which is a Sunday.

Philly $11.00 and $15.00 for the return. Add $1.00 each way for reserved seating that is still available.

D.C. $31.00 and $29.00 for the return trip. Add $1.00 each way for reserved seating. 5:00 AM depart and arrives 9:35 for 4 hour 35 minute trip. The 6:30 PM return bus is 4 hours 20 minutes.

Boston $25.00 and $37.00 for the return trip. Add $1.00 for each way for reserved seating. The ride there is 4 hours 10 minutes and the return 4 hours 45 minutes.

The D.C. and Boston trips are about the same costs and both trips require long travel times. I say these destinations require more advanced planning and the added cost of a hotel to make the trip worthwhile.

Cal
 
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