Erin's a high school history teacher, and a history graduate of the University of Arizona. Philadelphia was our destination for October Break of 2010 so we could soak up the history of our American patriots. Amidst cold and rainy weather, midnight fire alarms, lost earrings, great food, and loads of public transportation - we thoroughly enjoyed our visit.
We stayed downtown at the historic Courtyard by Marriott. Our room was comfortable with a view of the entire downtown area - so lucky. This graceful building was erected in 1926 directly across from the Philadelphia City Hall and within walking distance to just about every place we wanted to visit.
Coincidentally, it's around the corner from the fabulous Reading Terminal Market (www.readingterminalmarket.org.) Talk about great food!! The food stalls here service up tasty deli sandwiches, cool and creamy ice cream, rich chocolatey fudge, delectable Amish goodies (yes, we tried scrapple!) fresh fruit, veggies, fish, and much more. If you're visiting Philly you MUST stop into Reading Terminal Market.
It's a good thing we had a whole week in this beloved city - there is SO much to see and do.
Some of the highlights of Philadelphia include...
The National Constitution Center (www.constitutioncenter.org) and USS Constitution Museum (www.ussconstitutionmuseum.org) for starters.
Terrific architecture near Independence National Historic Park, home of Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, and Franklin Court (www.nps.gov/inde.)
An extremely creepy place (especially on a rainy day) was the Eastern State Penitentiary (www.easternstate.org) where notable inmates include Al Capone.
The Philadelphia Zoo (www.philadelphiazoo.org) is a very walkable zoo with exhibits that bring you up close and personal to your favorite animals.
The Philadelphia Museum of Art (www.philamuseum.org) is one of the largest art museums in the country filled with gorgeous pieces from around the world. It was truly a special treat if you're an art-lover. Catch my Erin grabbing a pose at the top of the steps outside, just like Rocky Balboa!!
You won't want to miss Elfreth's Alley, constructed in 1702 and one of the country's smallest streets. And there's the famous LOVE Park, The Betsy Ross House, and scores of late night haunted street tours. There are also loads of great eateries, pubs, parks, and sporting opportunities here in Philadelphia. You may want to check out McGillin's Olde Ale House, built in 1860 - Philly's longest continuously operating pub (www.mcgillins.com.)
Looking for good eats? Check out www.philly.com/philly/food or head over to www.yelp.com for creative ideas. We found a whole lot of yum at City Tavern (www.citytavern.com), an 18th century tavern that features crab cakes, fried oysters, West Indies pepperpot, corn chowder, braised rabbit, and homemade-style pot pies. John Adams and Paul Revere have dined here, shouldn't you??
You can catch live local theatre and touring Broadway productions as well. We saw "Jersey Boys" when we visited, and a smaller local production too (can NOT remember the name!) You can check out the theatre scene at www.philadelphia-theater.com or www.theatermania.com/philadelphia-theatre.
Planning a trip to the "City of Brotherly Love?" Check out www.visitphilly.com for help in planning your grand adventure.
Lastly, don't miss Christ Church Cemetery where Benjamin Franklin and four other signers of the Declaration of Independence are buried. Cool little place where people toss pennies at Ben Franklin's grave ... "a penny saved is a penny earned."
Cheers to another grand adventure!!
:) Deb
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