I live right near the Westmont PATCO station and I'm looking to take some day trips in the next week or so. By daytrip I mean I would like to leave in the morning and return at night. I don't want to take amtrak as it is expensive. Any suggestions for where to go? Where would you go and why? Thanks.
NJ Options:
Westco to Broadway Patco, then jump on the River LINE north to Burlington (proper, not South). Nice town to visit. Lots of shops and restaurants. Keep going north to Trenton, where the most important battle of the Revolution took place. Lots of museums and historical sites. You can also sometimes get a tour of the Statehouse. Take a cab to Chambersburg section and grab dinner at Diamonds on Kent St. (good Italian) or, if you prefer a little less pricey place, DeLorenzo's Pizza on Hamilton Ave. Or, if you like a good steak, just across from the Trenton light rail stop is Lorenzo's. Get the sliced steak sandwich. Take the train from Trenton to Newark and get some good Portuguese food in the Ironbound. If Newark is not your gig, jump on the PATH to Jersey City, and the HBLR to Liberty State Park and see the form CNJ terminal on the Hudson near the Statue of Liberty. Ferries run to the Lady and Ellis Island hourly, I believe. You can substitute Septa from Philly to Trenton in lieu of the River LINE.
Or, take the ACL from 30st, after switching from PATCO to the Market St Subway at Patco 8th St. Go to AC for the day and check out Bellagio. It is worth it just to see the sites.