By Car
If you plan to spend time outside Center City -- if, for example, you'd like to spend a day in Lancaster County, touring historic Valley Forge, visiting the chocolate factory and amusements of Hershey Park or the countryside and quaint villages of Bucks County, or exploring kiddie-friendly boardwalks and beaches of the Jersey shore -- you'll likely need wheels. If you plan to stay in the city, however, you're better off skipping the car (and the pricey garage fees and odd parking laws) and cabbing it instead.
The speed limit in Pennsylvania maxes out at 65 mph, though you'll rarely have an opportunity to go that fast if you drive in town. While in Center City, drivers would do well to pay close attention to the many one-way streets -- and should also be mindful of pedestrian crosswalks and "don't block the box" signs. In town, foot traffic rules: Pull out in front of a pedestrian, and expect to receive a well-chosen verbal missive slung your way.
If you're visiting from abroad and plan to rent a car in the United States, you probably won't need the services of an additional automobile organization. If, however, you're planning to buy or borrow a car, automobile-association membership is recommended. AAA, the American Automobile Association (tel. 800/222-4357; http://travel.aaa.com), is the country's largest auto club and supplies its members with maps, insurance, and, most important, emergency road service. Note: Foreign driver's licenses are usually recognized in the U.S., but you should get an international one if your home license is not in English.
By Train
International visitors can buy a USA Rail Pass, good for 15 or 30 days of unlimited travel on Amtrak (tel. 800/USA-RAIL; www.amtrak.com). The pass is available through many overseas travel agents. See Amtrak's website for the cost of travel within the western, eastern, or northwestern United States. With a foreign passport, you can also buy passes direct from some Amtrak locations, including San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, Miami, Boston, and Washington, D.C. Reservations are generally required and should be made as early as possible. Regional rail passes are also available.
Those who'd like to explore the outskirts of Philadelphia by train -- popular neighborhoods such as Manayunk, with trendy shops and restaurants, and Chestnut Hill, with quaint boutiques and tearooms, are both easily accessed by a short train ride -- can purchase a one-way ticket ($3-$7, twice that for round-trip) or a TransPass (valid for train, bus, and subway travel everywhere in the city limits) for $19 per week, $70 per month. Just be sure to purchase your ticket before you board the train. Otherwise, you'll pay a surcharge.
