A walk down memory lane … in Philadelphia, PA

This time last year, we did a road trip to Boston, stopping overnight in Gettysburg to break up the 17-hr drive. While in Boston, we made many side trips, one of which was our girl's getaway trip to Philadelphia and New York City. My sweet college friend and I took the Amtrak train from Boston, a comfortable and relaxing ride that gave us six hours of quality time to catch up on our lives.

We already felt the buzz of big city life when we passed through New York City, and the vibe continued when we got off at 30th Street Station. Our first stop was downtown Philly. We ambled around city hall and into Reading Terminal Market to see what's new. It's been a looong time since I last visited. 

Philadelphia City Hall

Reading Terminal Market

Then we grabbed a take-out (cheesesteak, of course) from a neighborhood joint to picnic at my favorite place in the city - the gazebo and promenade in the Museum area between Schuylkill River and Kelly Drive. 

Museum of Art

After we ate, we walked up the steps to the iconic Philadelphia Museum of Art. You may recognize the museum area from the legendary movie Rocky. The view of the Philadelphia skyline was obstructed by scaffold and ongoing construction, much to our chagrin. 

Fountain of the Sea Horses

The south has Civil War history. The north has colonial history, and Valley Forge National Park is the perfect place to learn some. General Washington and his army camped here during the long cold winter of 1777-78. There is a visitor center and many historical monuments scattered throughout the park. We used to live about half hour away and had spent many a weekend here. The 3,500-acre park has lots to offer, from history to trails (jogging, hiking, biking, horse-back riding) and wildlife viewing.

soldiers slept in these log huts

Washington's Headquarters

We were in the vicinity, so we stopped at another favorite place, Wissahickon Valley Park, and even swung over to see our old house.

Our first house from years ago.

I've always loved the suburbs of Philadelphia. The city not so much, but every time I visit, I grow fonder for it. This trip was short but sweet. I really enjoyed it, and I think my friend did too. 

Have you been to Philadelphia? 

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On the Road Again: Gettysburg, PA

This is our second road trip from Chattanooga to Boston. We wanted to steer clear of traffic as much as we can, so avoiding I-95 was key. (To our dear friends in Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia, sorry for not visiting!) We took a more relaxing route that offered views of rolling hills and bucolic farmland. Passing near historic Gettysburg, how can we not stop to get a dose of American civil war history? 

That was how we found ourselves at the Gettysburg National Military Park on a Saturday morning. It was 10:30 am. The place was packed, and we had just missed the one and only tour of the day. Apparently only the entrance to the visitor center is free, everything else has a fee attached. We got a map and set out to explore on our own. We'll read about the history later. It was a good thing as we got to tour the grounds at our own pace, and don't have to cram into a bus full of people on a hot summer day.

The setting of Lincoln's Gettysburg Address

President Lincoln

At the back of the visitor center, there is a trail that led us to Meades' headquarters and Cemetery Hill.

Meade's Headquarters on left

Soldiers' National Cemetery

We drove around to see other sights - the haunted Sachs Covered Bridge, crossed by both Union and Confederate armies; Devil's Den, where heavy fighting occurred; and observation towers at Culps Hill and near Peach Orchard.

Culp's Hill

Climbing up the observation tower to see

Eisenhower's farm in the distance

Gettysburg Titbits

The battle of Gettysburg was fought on July 1-3, 1863, with casualties of 51,000 (23,000 Union, 28,000 Confederate). On November 19, four and a half months after the Union armies won the battle of Gettysburg, President Lincoln delivered his most famous speech at the dedication of the Soldier’s National Cemetery.

Did you know Dwight Eisenhower, the 34th president, had a farm adjacent to the battlefield? The farm served as a weekend retreat and as a meeting place for world leaders during his presidency. Now part of the National Park Service, the Eisenhower Farm offers free tour, but there is a fee to take the shuttle from the visitor center. 

Back home away from home, we learned more about Gettysburg on YouTube.

Sources: History Channel

We managed to bypass I-95 altogether. Crossing the new Tappan Zee Bridge (built in 2017 and renamed Mario Cuomo Bridge) from Pennsylvania to New York was a breeze. No stop and go like the olden days to pay toll as no toll booth could be found. Ditto on the Massachusetts Turnpike. There is no doubt we have to pay. The bill is probably in the mail.

Happy Friday!

This post is shared on Image-in-ing, My Corner of the World and Skywatch Friday.

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Tubing on the Delaware River in Bucks County, Pa

Updated: 7/5/24

Nothing says summer like floating down a river. 

We used to live in Philadelphia, and one of our most favorite things on a hot summer day was tubing on the Delaware River. When we had a family reunion in Philadelphia some years ago, we did a tubing trip. It was the first time for some siblings, and was such a memorable experience we still talk about it. Below are some of the pictures we took of our tubing adventure in Point Pleasant in Bucks County, a 70 minutes drive from Philadelphia center city.

Let's go tubing!

Taking a break to enjoy the scenery

A lovely cloudless August day on the Delaware River

You can stop to have lunch along the way and even look for fish and other river critters, like our nephew and niece did.

Look what I found!

Showing off her find

Bucks County River Country is always crowded in the summertime, so be sure to check their website to see if you need to reserve the tubes in advance.

Get outside and enjoy the outdoors, but be safe, wear sunscreen, hat and bring lots of water.

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A Slice of Paris in Philadelphia

Did you know that the Benjamin Franklin Parkway was designed by a French architect, and he modeled it after the Avenue des Champs-Élysées in Paris?

The Benjamin Franklin Parkway, as seen from the museum

The Philadelphia Museum of Art

Unlike the famed Parisian avenue, there aren't any chic luxury shops on the Parkway, but you'll find plenty of arts and culture, some of which include the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Franklin Institute, the Rodin Museum, the Swann Fountain, and the Cathedral Basilica of Sts Peter and Paul. On May 19, a new museum created by the Barnes Foundation will join these Philadelphia icons on the Parkway. For those of you living in Philly, don't miss the 10-day grand opening. The weekend of May 26 is packed with events and activities. Check their website for information on tickets and schedule.

Philadelphia City Hall; you might recognized this scene from the comedy Trading Places

Writing my recently published article, Weekend Getaway: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, brought back many many wonderful memories. I've enjoyed the Mummer's Parade on a freezing January, watched in awe the amazing exhibits at the Franklin Institute, and mimicked Rocky running up the 72 steps to the Museum of Art. I've gotten naturalized at Old City Hall (home of the First Supreme Court), the building on the left of Independence Hall, and tied the knot at Valley Forge (near the Historical National Park where General George Washington of the Continental Army camped out during that brutal winter of 1777-78). We used to hike the Wissahickon Valley in the fall, and escape the summer heat tubing down the Delaware River in nearby Bucks County. Ahh, the good old days...

Forever etched in my memory is the experience of eating the most delicious hoagie for the first time. And the Philadelphia cheesesteak. My mouth is watering as I ponder the juicy, scrumptious Philadelphia sandwich. Simply unforgettable!

You won't go hungry in Philly. This local joint, Geno's, is open 24/7

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