Hey, it's Patco. If you are heading towards NJ, this is the second stop on the route, which means…read moreif you hop on in the after work crush, you are more likely than not to at least get a seat. But at least once or twice a month, maybe if there's been train delays or especially bad weather, you might find yourself having to stand. Sometimes there is a staff member near the ticket gates yelling out when the next train is coming, which is helpful. Sometimes it smells a bit pissy near the entrances. The downside is that if it rains, the 12th St. south entrance floods and unless you are wearing waterproof shoes, it's really not accessible. For up to 2 days! The staff really should do something about that. Otherwise you have to cross the street to access PATCO.

I'll never forget the first time I visited this station. I was 21, it was late summer, and I was…read morestill slightly terrified of the city after a sheltered life in the suburbs. I was taking PATCO alone for the second time ever and meeting a friend nearby. I was so nervous that I somehow bypassed the 13th Street exit and kept walking. Hardly anyone was around but eventually I emerged at 15th Street...and had to run back a few blocks to meet my friend. It never occurred to me to turn back around. Times have changed and over the years I've used PATCO quite a bit. No matter, I still often double-check my steps when I leave this specific platform, which is probably silly and paranoid at this point. This is the second to last stop westbound, and it's conveniently situated in Washington Square West. You can also link up to the BSL here. I recommend having a Freedom Card if you frequent the city at all. I tend to see long lines purchasing tickets at the kiosks...but especially at this station.

I travel this route from Trenton to NYC. It's about 1.5 hours. The newer trains are air conditioned…read moreand comfortable. You can purchase a ticket online, at the station or on the platform. There's a parking garage on Walnut St and some street parking down the street. I like how when you buy a roundtrip ticket you can come back . The roundtrip is about $40. Very cheap and convenient. If you don't like to drive to NYC, I recommend taking NJ Transit Oh, all trains with their 2 digit as a "9" out of NYC to Trenton is an express train. Sit back and enjoy.

This is the last stop for the SEPTA from Philly and a hub for NJ Transit and SEPTA and Amtrak…read moretrains. It's nice to see they all work together! From here it takes about 1.5 hours to New York Penn station. Seats are comfortable. No complaints. Efficient hub for getting to where you need. The train has 2 levels so you can have a nice high rise view.

So why would I want to review a SEPTA Station? It's simple; folks on the main line think that the…read moretrain to take into the city is the R5. They are correct in that it will get you there. But what about convenience? Almost all the R5 stations charge for parking. Ughh! Next you need to change trains at a big station like 30th Street or Suburban to get to restaurant row. Not necessarily a pleasant experience! Now let's talk about Ardmore Junction. It's on the Norristown High Speed Line. Let me say that again; it's fast! Parking is free which is a big plus. You change trains at 69th street in Upper Darby to the Market-Frankford line. It's a very easy change. Now you have access to all of the Market, Chestnut, and Walnut Street restaurants. If you are on the mainline, do yourself a favor and think about the Norristown High Speed Line the next time you consider going into the city.

PATCO has been a reliable staple in my life for years. When I was younger, I would ride it into…read moretown to go nightclubbing. Now I take it back and forth to work every day, as I have been for over 16 years. Unlike SEPTA in Philadelphia which is frequently problem-prone and at times a downright nasty commuting experience, PATCO is quick, pleasant, reliable and rarely are there problems or delays. Even with the current track rehabilitation project which is a huge, extensive ordeal, PATCO has managed to keep the trains running, albeit on an altered schedule, and kept riders well-informed of scheduling changes. Also, I love the upgrades they are currently doing to the cars - overhauling the interiors completely. I will say, though, that there's a part of me that is sad to see the ugly 1969 olive green and gold interiors go. PATCO staff are courteous and helpful and most of the riders are well-behaved. This has especially improved with the introduction of the "quiet car" a couple of years ago (the last car on the train during morning and evening rush hour), which provides a library-like ride for those passengers like me who prefer a peaceful, zen-like ride to 15 minutes of listening to people yell into their cell phones. Watch the cute video they released to remind passengers of manners. I love the girl with the rash. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2pTEIj7Rjw

Patco was once the gem of American public transit, I'm not sure what happened but between shutting…read moredown the tunnel connection with the Broad Street line and seemingly no cleaning at all anymore of 12th 13th, even as a city resident and huge advocate and user of public transit, I find it hard to recommend anymore.

This decent-sized rest area doesn't have a whole lot of car parking, but there's plenty of…read moretruck/bus/RV parking. The stop encompasses a few fast-food places, a requisite gift shop, and a gas station. There's not a lot of seating inside, but there's enough for rapid turnover -- it would be more a worry if a few buses disgorged their passengers at the same time -- plus there's outside seating as well. The bathrooms are pretty large and are very clean, which is always good to find.

This SEPTA Wilmington Line stop does the job. Clean. Probably usually deserted. There's shelter on…read moreboth sides of the tracks. If you need to go in the opposite direction, don't cross the tracks, there is a tunnel here. Don't what I did and leave the station and cross the bridge (a pleasant walk, but no cover from the sun). Glad the station is here if you need it.

It's the visitor center, museum, and hub of Valley Forge. This is where parts of the George C…read more Neumann and John F. Reed collections are displayed. Most of these are original artifacts from the winter encampment. Some are reproductions such as Washington's Pistol. They are all clearly identified and well-presented with great detail. There's an online "Digital Vault" of the whole collection if what you're looking for is not on display at the Visitor Center. The museum is small, but very informative. The park rangers are very helpful in answering questions and providing information if needed. The restroom facilities are modern and clean. There's a gift shop and theater. The theater shows a 19 minute documentary about the encampment. There's even a 90 minute trolley tour that can be booked for a fee. It was the first stop on our small group tour. It's a great introduction to everything you're going to see throughout the park. The admission to the park is free. One could easily drive through it at their own pace. Download the National Park Service App if you're doing it on your own. Honestly, I think the locals have the best advantage. I'd take a walk here every day if I lived nearby. Everyone was out and about on the day that we visited in September. The weather was definitely on our side. It was a beautiful day full of history, falling leaves, birds, and butterflies. Loved it!

Amazing visitor center that has a museum, gift shop, bathrooms, and a movie theatre. The staff is…read morevery nice and the place is clean and looks renovated

The visitor center was full of info, alot of things to wander thru to see. Its located in the heart…read moreof Independence park, across from the Liberty bell entrance. They had a few staff members that you could more info in needed, free maps available. Clean restrooms, gift shop and a place to sit and enjoy your snacks. I recommend to park in a parking deck and walk or take the bus around the city. Great place to just take a break from your day of touring, we enjoyed!

We just walked through the visitor center on our way to the Christ Church Burial Ground from the…read moreLiberty Bell Center. I think it's meant to be the start of any visit to Independence National Historical Park. We kind of did things in reverse that day. It's where you can stop for maps and attraction information. The park rangers are so very helpful in answering any questions that you may have. There are also interactive exhibits as well as films being shown about the city. The restroom facilities are spacious and clean. There are many photo ops including one with a life-size prop of the furry green Phillies mascot. The gift shop and café was also nice to see. It was a nice little break after visiting the Liberty Bell on a hot & sunny day. I guess you should try to make it your first stop for informational purposes. Although, we found it to be a quiet and restful retreat after a long morning of exploration.