After Amish country, we found a Marriott near Philadelphia for the night. Yay for Marriott hotels and a sister who can get us good rates! These periodic stops at hotels have been such a blessing on this trip, especially close to the big cities. Mom & Dad’s van has been a big blessing, too. Often we leave the motorhome at the hotel or park it somewhere outside the city and then all drive in the van. That’s been working out great.
Our history brains are getting full! It feels like all the early events of our country are right at our fingertips and we’re trying to grasp them all while we’re close. Philadelphia is really the cradle of many important aspects of our country and we got to tour the building where enlightened thoughts and ideas were hashed out – Independence Hall. Here the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were signed. George Washington sat in the chair with the rising sun, presiding over the Constitutional Convention, and the room still looks the same. The Liberty bell no longer hangs from the steeple, but is in a building right next door. We had watched “National Treasure” with the kids a few weeks ago, and they’ve had fun finding the different areas where the movie was filmed as we go to all these historic places.
We saw City Tavern where General Washington and others would hang out and where Paul Revere rode in with the news that the British had closed Boston Harbor. This building had burned at one time, so it’s been rebuilt exactly from old plans. We were in the courtyard of Betsy Ross’ house and talked for an hour with a lady who was in costume as Ben Franklin’s daughter. She gave us wonderful information on Betsy, Ben, and others in the town. Saw Ben Franklin’s grave and walked by Christ Church where George Washington worshipped. We couldn’t go inside as a wedding was taking place.
For lunch we found the original Philly cheese steak joint (Pat’s King of Steaks) in south Philly and stood in the line that wrapped around the building. We discovered it was worth the wait if you order it the local way – with cheese whiz. The restaurant was in a part of town with skinny streets lined with row houses. Had to walk several blocks so got a little feel for that kind of downtown living. So little green, so much concrete…it seems like it would be hard to be a kid here.
After spending the day in Philadelphia we drove on up to NYC, passing right by Princeton University. That’s a beautiful area. We stopped at an ice cream parlor called Friendlys because there had been a milkshake bet as to which car would see an Amish buggy first. The motorhome lost.
Our history brains are getting full! It feels like all the early events of our country are right at our fingertips and we’re trying to grasp them all while we’re close. Philadelphia is really the cradle of many important aspects of our country and we got to tour the building where enlightened thoughts and ideas were hashed out – Independence Hall. Here the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were signed. George Washington sat in the chair with the rising sun, presiding over the Constitutional Convention, and the room still looks the same. The Liberty bell no longer hangs from the steeple, but is in a building right next door. We had watched “National Treasure” with the kids a few weeks ago, and they’ve had fun finding the different areas where the movie was filmed as we go to all these historic places.
We saw City Tavern where General Washington and others would hang out and where Paul Revere rode in with the news that the British had closed Boston Harbor. This building had burned at one time, so it’s been rebuilt exactly from old plans. We were in the courtyard of Betsy Ross’ house and talked for an hour with a lady who was in costume as Ben Franklin’s daughter. She gave us wonderful information on Betsy, Ben, and others in the town. Saw Ben Franklin’s grave and walked by Christ Church where George Washington worshipped. We couldn’t go inside as a wedding was taking place.
For lunch we found the original Philly cheese steak joint (Pat’s King of Steaks) in south Philly and stood in the line that wrapped around the building. We discovered it was worth the wait if you order it the local way – with cheese whiz. The restaurant was in a part of town with skinny streets lined with row houses. Had to walk several blocks so got a little feel for that kind of downtown living. So little green, so much concrete…it seems like it would be hard to be a kid here.
After spending the day in Philadelphia we drove on up to NYC, passing right by Princeton University. That’s a beautiful area. We stopped at an ice cream parlor called Friendlys because there had been a milkshake bet as to which car would see an Amish buggy first. The motorhome lost.
Independence Hall
Taking a break with Grandma & Grandpa/E. helping Luke with his Jr. Ranger project
Walking the streets of Philly to find Pat's Philly Steak sandwiches
Talking with Ben Franklin's "daughter" and the Franklins gravesite
Talking with Ben Franklin's "daughter" and the Franklins gravesite
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