It’s no secret to anyone who knows me even just a little bit that going to Philadelphia and getting ‘historic’ has been on my bucket list almost forever! When Kathy and I finally decided that 2018 was going to be the year for that trip, we started looking up what we wanted to do and making an agenda. We had no clue, however, as to where to stay or how to plan! Aunt Joan suggested that we contact her son Perry and his wife Anita, who live in Newark DE, mere ‘miles’ from Philly. We called them one evening to get suggestions and information, and before we were even 5 minutes into the conversation, Anita (and Perry, of course!) offered us their spare rooms. Safest place in miles, she assured us! And not only that, but since they are both retired, they could drive us into the city and we could all be tourists together! The next thing we knew, Anita had put together a spread sheet (sample)
| Carpenter’s Hall | Free Walking Tour | x | |||
| Old City Hall | Free Walking Tour | x | |||
| Betsy Ross House* | Free Walking Tour | x | |||
| Return to Independence Hall, Liberty Bell, Betsy Ross House | afternoon | x | Walking tour does not go inside | ||
| US Mint | afternoon | x | Within walking distance of historical area | ||
| Franklin Square | afternoon | x | Within walking distance of historical area | ||
| Spruce Street Harbor Park | x | Within walking distance of historical area | |||
| Valley Forge | x | ||||
| Longwood Gardens | x | ||||
| Art Museum | x | Rocky statue | |||
| Edgar Allen Poe Nat’l Historic Site | x | Historical area | |||
| Once Upon a Nation Storytelling | x | Historical |
in the neighbor’s yard. What a beautiful way to start the day! Estimated Departure Time was 3:30pm, and we pulled out about 10 minutes early. We snacked in the car on the way down the turnpike, and when we exited to Route 30 and pulled into a gas station in Lancaster, we were greeted by an Amish horse and buggy. And although there were plenty of ‘real’ Amish driving and parked all along our route, this one was just for display. 
Pretty sure horses do not need Speedway gasoline! Anyway, we took 896 South, got lost in Newark, found our way again, and pulled into their driveway a little before 9:30pm, tired and hungry but very happy! Anita made a fresh salad, garlic toast, delicious lasagna, and strawberry shortcake. A great way to end the day, and we went to bed excited about the adventures ahead of us in the morning!
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