Damkier's Travels: Philadelphia

Independence Hall in Downtown Philadelphia

Let me being by saying that January is a tough time to visit Philadelphia. Growing up in California and Arizona, we had "winter" when there was more rain and slightly cooler days. It has been a long time since I spent cold winters outside in Flagstaff during my college years, but an opportunity for a nearly free trip to New York City allowed me the opportunity for a day trip to Philadelphia. The weather was cold, but fortunately dry with much less wind.

Crossing the Frozen Delaware River like George Washington

Philadelphia is often overlooked on most East Coast trips. Situated halfway between Washington and New York City, this city is one of the largest in the United States with a rich history. Fortunately, most of the attractions are in downtown near the train station. My relatively fast train whisked me through the frozen countryside over 100 MPH and delivered me to downtown Philadelphia in about 90 minutes. The train was comfortable and spacious with a nice view of the landscape. I even got to cross a frozen Delaware River near Trenton like Washington - except warm in a comfortable seat!

Museum Entrance

My first stop on the whirlwind tour was the Museum of the American Revolution. This new museum details the events of the American Revolution in a multimedia environment with lots of information and artifacts in a beautiful building reminiscent of fine houses in the period. The museum includes a lot of different backgrounds including the Native and Slave experiences for a more balanced view of history, but the theme is still strong and a great lesson for all Americans. The museum is near all the historic buildings and the old town.

Liberty Bell Memorial

I previously visited Philadelphia in 2008 as part of another East Coast trip, so I had already seen most of the major sights including Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. This allowed me to skip the rather long lines while still being able to see the major sights. Philadelphia has a weird transit system with limited subways, but they are decent at moving people through the major areas.

Roast Pork Sandwich

Philadelphia is also a great food town. World renown for their cheesesteak, many people equally enjoy their roast pork sandwiches loaded with aged cheese and broccoli sautéed in garlic and spice. The Reading Terminal Market is one of the best food destinations in the area with many different vendors selling food, drink, and many special treats from the Pennsylvania Dutch Country. Thousands visit daily to escape the cold and fill their stomachs and shopping bags with lots of great treats.

Eastern State Penitentiary Museum

It was time to go to prison. The Eastern State Penitentiary was the first of its kind in the world, created to attempt to reform and help criminals repent for their crimes and become better people. Before this, most experienced brutal punishments or death rather than being separated from society. Over the years, the facility degraded from star to near destruction. It is now a rather unique museum showcasing the weird beauty of the building, its storied history, and the overall state of prisons and crime in todays society. Unfortunately, it was not well heated so I did get rather cold here with temperatures below freezing. It was definitely worth visiting though.

Ben Franklin is Everywhere

Another jewel is the Philadelphia Museum of Art. This large and impressive museum is prominently featured in the area surrounded by a large park and sitting on a bluff overlooking the city and river. It was also famous for the scene in Rocky where Rocky is running up and down the stairs for training. Yes, there is a statue. Inside the museum, the atmosphere is much different. I arrived late in the day almost frostbitten, but I was still able to complete a fast run through most exhibits. They have a massive collection spanning nearly every art form and period with an impressive Impressionist exhibit and a sturdy classic furniture section. It is worth far more time than I had, but it was impossible to miss!

Cheesesteak from Cleaver's

It really is about the cheesesteak. Philadelphia really knows how to do it. The history has its favorites with Pat's, Geno's, and others packing in the tourists, but I was able to find a great place downtown in an upscale diner with quality ingredients. I grew up near a neighborhood restaurant in Arizona from Philadelphia that introduced me to the concept. It is deceptively simple - grilled sliced rib eye steak with chopped onions and cheese on a roll - but the overall effect is much more. Cheese Whiz is one of the classic toppings which is also my favorite. The Whiz melts into the sandwich creating a mild cheese flavor that works well with the perfectly grilled steak. The steak was massive, and sadly I had to through some of it out. However, it was the perfect way to conclude my day in Philadelphia.

Old Town Philadelphia

It was a cold day in January, but I was fortunate to spare a day to take the train to Philadelphia for a quick refresher course on one of America's historic cities. There are more than enough things to do in and around Philadelphia to justify many more days here, especially since there are more than enough places for a great cheesesteak! Please enjoy the rest of my pictures below.