Getting to Philly Without a Car: Or How SEPTA Drains Your Soul

When I worked in the city, but lived in Wilmington, I would take SEPTA Regional Rail from the Claymont station. 

My journey was filled with delays, broken trains, shortages of cars, and coughing, sneezing, sniffing carriers of sickness and infection, ie other passengers.  (I'm not a germaphobe - you are!)

And now the stars must align, traffic must be light, and I have to be guaranteed of parking in order for me to head into the city.  What can I say, I’m old. I find that driving in the city makes me hate humanity and taking SEPTA makes me near suicidal.

Let’s talk about SEPTA.  Poor, beleaguered SEPTA. There is a SEPTA station right in Wilmington. But if you want to park anywhere near safe and close by – it’s $13 for the day. And you still have to pay to take the train in. If you don’t want to pay for parking, you have to drive about 12 minutes (depending on traffic, of course) to the Claymont station.  But you better get there early because if you don’t – you will park far far away.

 

Your car - it's just over that hill...

And that’s not the worst – if you work normal business hours, leaving the lot takes 15 minutes unless you sprint off the train and manage to get into your car before the rest of the hoard descends.

Rabid hoards sprinting to their cars

Do

• Park in the Claymont overflow parking.  It might be creepy if the bridge’s light is out, but you beat the line of traffic to leave the other lot.
• Buy your tickets at 30^th or bring cash because there is no ticket machine at Claymont
• Download the SEPTA app to keep up to date on times and delays

Don’t

• Forget to bring an umbrella or dress weather appropriately, there is only a small shelter at the Claymont station
• Talk in the quiet car. It’s called manners, people!
• Take up more than your seat.  Your bag didn’t pay, lady

Note: The Claymont station is getting an upgrade and moving to a new location, estimated completion date of 2021.

Wilmington, Delaware: Or Nothing Like Philly

It's been almost a year since I posted.  I'm sure that you've all missed me! And now I must make my announcement!......  I've cured cancer!*


*(I didn't. But you can imagine what it would be like if I did)

Actually, I moved to Wilmington, Delaware.  That's right - I'm no longer a resident of Philadelphia but it is only a short 40 minute drive away! (Too bad that I hate to drive). But dry your tears! I will still post about Philly and now, as an added bonus, at no extra cost, Delaware!

Pros:

• Wilmington is  - as I already mentioned - close to Philadelphia! And Baltimore! And sort of - Washington, D.C.
• TAX FREE!!!! That's right mo-fos - no tax on food! Or drink! Or clothes! Or Amazon deliveries! And all sorts of other stuff!
• Parking doesn't cost a fortune! I can park in front of my residence - FOR FREE!
• Car State Inspection - FREE! Are you sensing a trend?
• It has the Riverfront.  It's very pretty and there are restaurants and a new IMAX theater.

This picture does not show said restaurants or IMAX

Cons:

• No Whole Foods (yeah, yeah, yeah, First World Problems)
• The city motto is kind of lame.  But I'll let you decide. 
  
  
• The Restaurants cannot compare to Philly - and we have really really tried to find great ones (We will settle for just good at this point)
• It's not Philly

Facts:

• I love Philly. I always will but it is nice to have a change.
• I like having a yard
• We also have a connection to William Penn! New Castle, Delaware was once part of Pennsylvania.

Statue of William Penn in historic New Castle

• There is a SEPTA train from Philly to Wilmington so you don't need to have a car to get here! (HINT HINT)

Memphis Taproom: or a special journey into Kensington

Facts:

• I cheated and did not take public transport. I got a ride. There is a simple reason for this. It's in KENSINGTON. I'm not saying that you can't take public transit to Kensington but I am saying if you can get a ride - then do so. 
• Good place to take vegetarians or vegans.
• I went here because I saw it on an episode of Diners, Drive-ins and Dives and I'm a sucker for marketing. 

How to get there (if you're not getting a ride):

• Take Market-Frankford subway to Spring Garden.
• Take SEPTA bus 25 to Cedar and Cumberland streets.
• Address: 2331 E. Cumberland Street at Memphis (which I guess explains why it's not a bbq place like I originally thought)

Do:

• Order the Beer-Battered Kosher Dils.
• Check out their new beer garden - open from April to October.

Don't:

• Walk around alone at night.  Does the Kensington Strangler ring any bells?