Travel 101: What are some tips for driving in downtown Philadelphia?

Driving around the city is not for the weak. Bumper-to-bumper traffic, endless road work and limited (plus expensive) parking are all apart of the equation. But, there are several cost-cutting and stress-reducingmethods to try the next time you want to visit our beloved city center. Here is a mental list I compiled for any novices while navigating the bustling Philly streets myself earlierthis morning:

• Know the AreaThis might sound like a no-brainer, but it pays to have an idea of how the city is setup before venturing downtown. Like my father always says, Philadelphia was a planned city, starting with a square at City Hall- use it to your advantage! While not perfect, our city is made up of many parallel and same-name streets. For example, 21st Street is going to stay 21st Street (I'vetraveled to Dublin, Ireland more than once where the street names change aboutevery 20 paces andcan appreciate this especially), and itis separated by "South" and "North" on either side of Market Street. Other tidbits includea sequence ofstreets named after trees and knowing that Broad doubles as14th Street (if you'refollowing the numbered roads). Click here for a great PDF map of Center City, courtesy of GoPhila.com.
• Be Street Smart The roads surrounding our city centerare compiled of many tight "two-lane" and "one-way" streets. Keep youreyes peeledbefore haphazardly trying to turn onto a streetwith an arrowpointing the wrong way. If you miss a turn, don't fret. Refer to the first bullet point; because of the way Philadelphia is laid out, you should be fine going a couple of streets ahead, making the turn and meeting up with your street of choice.
• Shop for Parking If you have the time, look for any available meter and side street parking in safe-looking areas first. If that doesn't look promising, look at a few different pay-and-park lots.A fewthings to keep inmind:
  + Outdoor lots generally run cheaper than indoor faciilities
  + Some lots charge per hour and/orper day with varying rates; decide which option is best for your day's activities
  + Certain lots offer "early bird specials" if you park before 9:30 a.m.
  + Don't chance permit-only or "no parking" areas - you will be fined and/or towed
• Decide Your Best Route Consult Google Mapsbefore your trip downtown. The important to budget travel is to approach in front. When it happens to family trips, globetrotting, well-deserved vacations and/or going to see new locations we have never been before, the actuality of cost and budgeting is often in the back of our mind. Organizing and consuming our travel budget correctly is a main concern for most families. Lowering consuming and prices, while still experiencing your vacation to its fullest, is the key to guaranteed success and fiscal responsibility. Your pocketbook and family will thank you! The reasoning behind protecting money while vacationing is simple: Even if your personal budget is highly tight, you can still take a break and enjoy life! Simply put, life is just too short to never step out of the door or leaving the homestead! Also keeping in mind that while traveling, whether on a price range or not, even the smallest of things can all add op to a huge vacation or travel costs!. In addition to finding the route that suits you best, there is a "public transit" tab that tells you which SEPTA mode(s) of transportation will get you where you need to go.

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