Vermillion, OH
Novali is the navigator, and a very good one who is great at following where we are, and picking places to stop. Well I had not planned stopping points for our drive to Philly. We planned to do it in one big shot so I figured some stretch breaks and food and nothing to see. Well Novali figured otherwise and wanted to stop and see Lake Erie. So I figured we were close, lets see it! She planned an exit where 80 was close to the water, we hoped off and took the road less traveled...
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Harrisburg, PA
Despite the longer than planned lunch stop, we were making good time and thought... lets get off the tol lroad for another break and see something else. So why not stop at the state capital! The capital wasn't open to tour as it was past dinner time, but we walked around their historical district, down their shops and found a little Mexican place to sit for dinner. It wasn't a full tour, but at least another capital we got to visit.
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I had planned a 10PM arrival, we rolled into Philly nearly on the dot! Tired, but excited to be there from a fun travel day! Novali jumped into playing with the two cats, and I caught up with Andres and Kelly. Before going to bed, we got a map out, and started plotting our attack on all the city sites! Man it was a long list of targets...
The Philly Rains
Then the rains came... and they came. Thursday morning we armed ourselves with umbrellas and we hit the road. Novali wasn't phased as we walked all over town, taking pictures, pointing out things, and planning poses that let us keep our umbrellas on. In one day we saw nearly all the historical sites! Independence Hall, the original Franklin Post Office, Franklin Press, the Mint, Reading Terminal Market, Franklin Fountain, Franklin's Tomb, and of course lots of gift shops. Ah.
It would pour rain as we walked to a new site, and when we arrived, of course the rain would stop. It down poured while we looked for Cheese Steaks... and once we ordered and sat inside at Sonny's Famous Steaks; it was dry and sunny outside. Each time we went by the Liberty Bell it was pouring rain and we skipped waiting in the long line to see it. By 5PM our socks couldn't take on more water, and we trekked home.
Dinner was at a fun local pizza place with Andres, Kelly and Baby Gael. Despite being more of a small town guy, I do like that cool local neighborhood feel of walking to a local dinner. The architecture in Philly is so unique and historical it is just a pleasure to walk around and soak it in.
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We never got to see Rocky, but we showed Novali clips from the movie because Friday we planned to climb the steps. We started the morning at the Franklin Institute, Novali got to make paper, do some physics experiments, we watched a cool fireworks demonstration and Novali even had the courage to ride their skybike!
Andres left work early and picked is up and we had a fun family afternoon. In West Philly we got more great Mexican food, and then took a tour of the Penn Campus. As you can tell Novali is a big Ben Franklin, she did a research project on him and has been interested in that history for a long time. So clearly here she was very excited to see all the ways he impacted the country and of course Philly.
Friday was chill, we got pizza, wings and stayed in for the night with the movie The Lorax. We did a lot of walking and needed some time to recharge and enjoy the company of family.
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Saturday morning the Centellas boys ventured over to Wilmington, DE for a project at Andres' condo. He had a broken cabinet and we all took the adventure together. Gael tagged along for some moral support, and we got the project done quickly. We venture home and after breakfast we went to the row of boathouses, walked by the water plant and then of course... ran up the museum steps! It was funny how many boot camp and cross fit groups were up there... nice built in place to work out, and with the Rocky statue as inspiration I am sure a great place to be motivated.
So then we left Philly... Novali was sad to leave, as we never got to brave the long line at the Liberty Bell... but there is always next time! Then it was off for dinner in Pittsburgh and then Cleveland.
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We had no real plans in Pittsburgh, just to stop, see the city and have dinner. We got lucky and few fun attractions jumped right out at us. In Philly Kelly had mentioned a trolly up a hill, well we got lost and ran right into the Duquesne Incline! It is an old trolly that goes almost straight up! Still functions, and just cost what a normal bus fare. Tip: be sure you have cash, I didn't and had to run to the truck and luckily had $7 in quarters which is what a round trip cost for us.
Also while lost in the city, we drove by an Inca Restaurant... so after the incline we went there! Well... it was closed, so of course my back up plan was, Google: Man vs Food Pittsburgh and less then two blocks away... Primanti Bros for sandwiches! Novali wasn't brave enough to try cole slaw on her sandwich, but she did try it fries on it. It was fun, fast, and then we walked Pittsburgh parks on the river to burn off some cals from sitting in the car... and off to Cleveland to our hotel.
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We stayed at the Historic Tudor Arms Hotel, now a Double Tree and enjoyed the cool unique building. We didn't have time for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but when we asked the hotel staff what else there is to do... they said, kinda nothing. Way to sell your town... they did mention botanical gardens, so we said lets do it! Well to our surprise it was a beautiful area with the art museum, botancial gardens, science museum and all by the cool college campuses. It was a great site!
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It was a great time that Novali and I got to spend one on one... it was a busy summer that fly by and I hope we can continue to plan and find time for great trips like this again soon. To Andres, Kelly and Gael, it was a great visit and hope to come out again soon! Ciao!
It was a fun trip! More photos can be found here: Facebook-Philly Trip