I’m taking my daughter to see Dora the Explorer LIVE! in Camden, NJ on Friday, April 11. I plan to stay at the Hyatt in Philly (Penn’s Landing). We’ll be driving up to the hotel, checking in, having dinner and then going to the show (starts at 7 at the Tweeter Center runs for about an hour).
I was planning on taking the new Freedom Ferry from the hotel to the Tweeter Center, but unfortunately it stops running at 5:40 that night (We’ll be arriving at around 4 if everything goes well.).
I need help finding an alternative to driving my car that isn’t too expensive - I’d imagine taking a taxi would be fairly expensive. I don’t want to drive in the city after we arrive because I’m horrible with directions and I don’t want to take a chance on getting lost or a ticket or something.
The reason I want to stay in Philly is because the day after the show I want to take her to see the liberty bell and a few other historical sites. (I’d love to be able to take a tour of the US MInt but unfortunately they’ve stopped them for now.)
Anyway, this’ll be my first time visiting this area so if anyone could offer advice about public transportation or anything else I would definitely appreciate it.
You might be better off getting a rental car. Seriously, outside of the Aquarium and civic areas, Camden gets a little rough after dark. This is particularly true after concerts–although I can’t imagine drunken mobs running around after seeing Dora the Explorer.
Still, to be on the safe side, I’d recommend getting in and out of Camden as quickly as possible.
I’m from the area but Iv’e only been to the tweeter center once and I drove. And thats probably your best bet too. Parking was around ten bucks and the bridge toll is three dollars. The parking lots are pretty close to the Tweeter and the directions aren’t that hard.
There is a train that goes across the ben Franklin bridge but I’m not sure how close it gets you to the tweeter center.
All that being said, it’s only a ten minute drive from center city to camden (if that) so a taxi might work (and be cheap) but I’d check into how hard it is to find one in camden at night. Thats not the kind of place to be hanging around for too long.
I’ve always wanted to take the ferry too. I can’t understand why they close it so early. Anyway, I hope you enjoy your time here!
The trains into Jersey from Philly are called the Patco line. They let you off at Camden’s City Hall or the Broadway transportation center. Neither is very close to the Tweeter Center so far as I know but you can probably cab it from stations. Good luck.
I would say best bet would be taking PATCO as stated above. You should be able to get a cab/bus to at least Broadway and then pick up one of the SEPTA lines from 8th & Market (first stop in Philly). Like Verrain said though, you wouldn’t exactly be in walking distance. City Hall is closer than Broadway and MIGHT be w/in walking distance. I live in the town just south of Camden and could check it out if you like.
I would say best bet would be taking PATCO as stated above. You should be able to get a cab/bus to at least Broadway and then pick up one of the SEPTA lines from 8th & Market (first stop in Philly). Like Verrain said though, you wouldn’t exactly be in walking distance. City Hall is closer than Broadway and MIGHT be w/in walking distance. I live in the town just south of Camden and could check it out if you like.
Reeves, I’m from the metro DC area. Living so close all my life, you’d think I’d have been up there by now. My travels have tended to take me south and west though, warmth is such a difficult thing to resist.
The appeal of the ferry was that it would take us directly from the hotel to the tweeter center. I was hoping there were other public transports that would do the same or within about a block.
Meros, I appreciate the offer but I’m not really into doing too much walking during the evening, especially in a strange and apparently not very friendly neighborhood.
So it looks like I’m down to either taxi or rental. I guess I’ll make a final decision on that when we get there.
Thanks alot everyone for the info. The little one has been pestering me for ages to see this show and this is the closest it’s coming to DC. Fortunately, the next show we see, DragonTales LIVE!, will be in Baltimore. [Homer]mmmmm…Bertha’s Mussels[/Homer]
