Philadelphia - Day Tripper Guide
# 077-Philly Riverside, Day Tripper Self-Guided Tour
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Just a short (.03 mile) trip down Walnut Street from City Tavern, across the pedestrian walkway, you’ll find Penn’s Landing. The Market Street Wharf, as it was called in Ben's day, is now a stretch of parks and walkways along the Delaware River that offers museums, ships, marinas, beer gardens, restaurants, dinner cruises, and even a casino.
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Independence Seaport Museum - Sitting by the river, this nautical museum shows Philadelphia’s connection to the sea. William Penn landed near here in 1682 to found Penn’s woods or forest land (Penn – Sylvania Latin). Ben Franklin sailed into these docks as a young man fleeing his indenture in Boston. One of the first ships in the newly formed U.S. Navy was built here. There are many permanent and part-time exhibits, a workshop, and a full-scale deck of the 1797 warship Diligence. The last time I was there, they had a room dedicated to the famous tattoo artist, “Sailor Eddie, AKA Crazy Eddie,” an icon of tattooing in Philadelphia. I got a lot of tattoos there. |
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If you’re lucky, sometimes there are visiting active Navy ships from America and other countries that visit Philadelphia that dock there and are open for touring. Always check your event calendars for this and tall ship festivals.
If you are interested in another famous ship, the River Link Ferry leaves right outside the museum and takes you to the Camden Waterfront, where the US Battleship New Jersey is on display. However, you might want to save that trip for another day.
There are some historical ships just a 4-minute stroll south of the museum. Follow the river, past the Hilton (good bars and restaurants), and you’ll come upon the Spruce Street Harbor Park.
If you are interested in our county’s modern ship history and have a car or don’t mind Ubering, there’s a treat just 2 miles down the Boulevard. The ocean liner, SS United States, “A Lady in Waiting” is docked at Pier 82 across from Ikea. She looks sad in her present condition, but the Conservancy is always working hard to keep her afloat and find a new home and purpose to keep a great vessel like this alive. https://www.ssusc.org/
If you are interested in another famous ship, the River Link Ferry leaves right outside the museum and takes you to the Camden Waterfront, where the US Battleship New Jersey is on display. However, you might want to save that trip for another day.
There are some historical ships just a 4-minute stroll south of the museum. Follow the river, past the Hilton (good bars and restaurants), and you’ll come upon the Spruce Street Harbor Park.
If you are interested in our county’s modern ship history and have a car or don’t mind Ubering, there’s a treat just 2 miles down the Boulevard. The ocean liner, SS United States, “A Lady in Waiting” is docked at Pier 82 across from Ikea. She looks sad in her present condition, but the Conservancy is always working hard to keep her afloat and find a new home and purpose to keep a great vessel like this alive. https://www.ssusc.org/
Spruce Street Harbor Park (SSHP) - A great, shady, seasonal park with food vendors, games(boccie-chess- shuffleboard), hammocks, and picnic tables await you. If you crave beer or spirits, SSHP Oasis opens at 5 PM. This is a great spot, made up of recycled barges with ship cargo containers serving drinks and food, surrounding a floating garden.
Spruce Street Harbor Park (SSHP) - A great, shady, seasonal park with food vendors, games(boccie-chess- shuffleboard), hammocks, and picnic tables await you. If you crave beer or spirits, SSHP Oasis opens at 5 PM. This is a great spot, made up of recycled barges with ship cargo containers serving drinks and food, surrounding a floating garden.
USS Becuna, Submarine Becuna (SS-319)—This World War II submarine was launched on January 30, 1944, and sent immediately to the Pacific Campaign. They offer a fantastic tour of its interior, where the crew slept, ate, worked, and manned the torpedoes. You can combine this tour with the Olympia for one price.
US Olympia—Launched in 1892, Cruiser Olympia (C-6) is the oldest steel warship afloat in the world and one of only two ships left from World War I. Touring this early warship, which is very different from the tight and sparse quarters of the sub, is worth the effort. This vessel sailed with Teddy Roosevelt’s Great White Fleet worldwide from 1907 to 1909 in a show of force to escalate the United States into an international global power.
USS Becuna, Submarine Becuna (SS-319)—This World War II submarine was launched on January 30, 1944, and sent immediately to the Pacific Campaign. They offer a fantastic tour of its interior, where the crew slept, ate, worked, and manned the torpedoes. You can combine this tour with the Olympia for one price.
US Olympia—Launched in 1892, Cruiser Olympia (C-6) is the oldest steel warship afloat in the world and one of only two ships left from World War I. Touring this early warship, which is very different from the tight and sparse quarters of the sub, is worth the effort. This vessel sailed with Teddy Roosevelt’s Great White Fleet worldwide from 1907 to 1909 in a show of force to escalate the United States into an international global power.
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Moshulu - She is a four-masted steel barque sailing vessel built in Glasgow, Scotland in 1904. It was named to honor the Seneca tribe of Native Americans. It is believed to be the largest remaining original wind jammer and was featured in Godfather II when the character of young Vito Corleone arrived in America. It is currently a floating restaurant and does not have tours. However, The Deck Bar on the Mushulu is a pleasant upscale experience. |
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Spirit of Philadelphia sits just a few feet away if a lunch or dinner cruise with dancing is on your bucket list. They offer a two-and-a-half-hour or three-hour cruise on the Delaware River. Spectacular views of the Philadelphia skyline with landmarks including the Naval Shipyard, Ben Franklin Bridge, Battleship New Jersey, Olympia Warship, SS United States, and more.
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Philadelphia has broken ground on a new green park and public space to cover the unsightly Interstate 95 and connect the city to its Delaware River waterfront from Chestnut Street to Walnut Street. Scheduled to be completed by 2026, it will have gardens, play areas, an amphitheater, a cafe, and a skating rink.
Hotels near the Philly Riverside:
- Hilton Philadelphia at Penn’s Landing, 201 South Christopher Columbus Blvd.
- Philadelphia Marriott Old City, One Dock St
- Thomas Bond House 129 South 2nd St
- Penns View Hotel 14 North Front St
- Holiday Inn Express 100 N Christopher Columbus Blvd
Restaurants in the Philly Riverside area:
- Chart House - Great seafood on the Delaware River
- Hilton - Has three nice places on the marina
- Mushulu - Dining on the ship
- Morgan’s Pier - Outdoor deck dining on the river, just north of the Ben Franklin Bridge
- The Olde Bar at Old Bookbinders Historic Building - Nice, upscale, near the Marriott
COVID-19 restrictions, some of these places may not be open or have limited capacity. Food and Beverage establishments may have, curbside pickup, take-out and outdoor dining only.