We took off around 3pm on a Friday and landed by 5pm. We took the train into downtown and started the walk to our hotel, stopping by Reading Terminal Market for a quick snack before they closed.
After settling into our room and getting our bearings, we decided it was time to explore. The goal was to walk down to Penn's Landing. On the way we stopped in Franklin Square (a cute park) and happened upon Elfreth's Alley, the most quaint street known as the oldest inhabited street in the USA. Finally, we made it to Penn's Landing. We sat for a bit, enjoying the music and the water, while we decided on dinner plans.
Dinner was a taste test. Pat's vs. Geno's. Pat's won for me, but Geno's was also good. Overall, know if you're in Philly, you need a cheesesteak and the root beer is delicious!
The next morning, it was time to step back into time. We started at the Independence Visitor Center to pick up our tickets for Independence Hall for the 9:15am tour. Our tour started in a room where a park ranger told us about the building. Then we walked over to see the Courtroom of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court and the Assembly Room where the Constitution was signed.
The Coat of Arms above the judge's bench in the Court room is from 1785. Awesome!
Next, we walked over to Congress Hall to tour that building.
Then it was time to see the Liberty Bell. Hey, it's more that it's cracked up to be. It still rings for you and me!
We walked behind Independence Hall to take some picture of the back and then continued on down Chestnut Street to the 2nd Bank of the United States, Carpenters' Hall and the First Bank of the United States. From there we walked through the spot where Ben Franklin's house stood (you can see some of the original foundation) and it was finally time for lunch.
Why not have another cheesesteak? We hit up Campo's for lunch. And got a cannoli for dessert.
After lunch, we toured Christ Church where George Washington, Ben Franklin and others attended church and made a stop by Old City Coffee so Kevin could get his espresso on!
Then it was around the block to the Betsy Ross House for a quick tour before we walked over to see Benjamin Franklin's grave. There are some North Carolinians buried there too (Buncombe).
The US Mint was right there and I've never been in a Mint before, so we took a tour of that. It was pretty neat to see how money is made and check out some coins going through the process.
At this point, we were tired, but I wanted to take Kevin to the Philadelphia Museum of Art, so off we went on the 2 mile walk. On the way, we stopped by City Hall to see the statues outside the Municipal Services Building. And we HAD to make a stop in JFK Plaza for the LOVE statue.
The museum had a festival going on out front and we were HOT and tired, so we took a break there. Then we ran up the steps like Rocky. The museum was closing, so we took a bathroom break before coming back down the steps.
Nesquik had a guy in a bunny costume and they were giving out free chocolate milk if we danced to Nelly's "Ride Wit Me" and singing "Must Be the Bunny" instead of "Must be the Money". We sang and danced as we took our picture with the Rocky Statue. Then it was time for the long walk back to the hotel.
After resting a bunch, we ventured out for dinner at Spice 28. It was DELICIOUS!
Sunday we took our time getting up and having breakfast before heading out to the baseball game. A heat wave had descended on Philly and it was 105 with the heat index. For the first hour or two at Citizens Bank Park, I just knew I was going to pass out. I tried to be as still as possible to not create more heat. The Phillies played the Marlins and it was a Phillies win!
After getting back to the hotel and resting, we had dinner at a hipster pizza joint, Bufad. Then it was time for bed!
Monday morning was an early-ish wake-up to get packed up and to the airport and home by noon to go into work.
Another fast one, but I'm so glad we got to explore together and see another city!
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