There’s nothing like a short summer getaway to recharge one’s batteries and to enjoy time with friends.  My wife and I recently did both, taking in a long weekend in Philadelphia, PA, where there’s more to the city than just the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, and the ‘Rocky’ statue.

We headed north on Friday from our home in MD, making the short three hour-plus trip up I-95, passing through northeastern Maryland and Delaware before arriving at our lodgings for the weekend, the Four Points by Sheraton in downtown.  Centrally located, we were steps away from lots of great destinations, and we took the opportunity to stroll into Philly’s Chinatown district, stopping in for lunch at Dim Sum Garden, where we sampled crispy scallion pancakes, delicious soup dumplings, Crab Rangoon, and pillow-soft pork buns.  After lunch, we walked off the calories by checking out the various Chinese market stalls and soaking in the ambience of the area, traversing under the Chinese arch at the entrance of the neighborhood before heading back to the hotel for a little downtime after all of the day’s car travel.

Refreshed and cooled off, we then took an Uber to Bourbon and Branch for cocktails and a sampling of a local favorite, tomato pie (think pizza without the cheese).  Then it was off to the historic and famous Fillmore Theater, where we caught a great comedy show by nationally-known comic Neal Brennan.  After that we headed next door to the Other Half Brewing Company, where we sampled some small plates, cocktails, and brews.  The ordering is all done over your cellphone here, and the waiters find you by the GPS in your mobile device to deliver both food and beverages.

Saturday morning brought a short walk from our hotel to the world famous Reading Terminal Market and breakfast at Pearl’s Oyster Bar, where we enjoyed heaping plates of eggs, home fries, bacon, and another local delicacy, scrapple (pork scraps mixed with corn and wheat flour, then fried).  We then mingled among the dozens of mouthwatering market stalls, picking up treats from Beller’s Doughnuts and Pickle Patch, cakes from Termini Brothers Bakery, and ogling at the landscape of various meats at Giunta Prime Shop and L. Halteman Family Country Foods.  Honestly, I could spend all day in the market, but there was so much more to see and do in our short trip, so it was back to the hotel to drop off our acquisitions and head off to explore more of the city. 

We next headed over to the Franklin Institute, where they had four floors filled with hands-on science displays, a planetarium, and their traveling exhibit, which covered the Walt Disney Company’s 100^th anniversary celebration.  It was a great way to beat the summer heat on a sweltering day.  We then stopped in for lunch at DiBruno Brothers Market, where we sampled and picked up various cheeses, cured meats, and other deli delights, which we noshed on at a table in the front window. Then it was another Uber back to the hotel for a much needed afternoon nap.  Ubers are definitely the way to travel around the city – cheap and reliable, plus you don’t have to worry about parking!

Following some cocktails in the hotel bar, it was off to dinner at Parc, a bustling French-style bistro where we sampled escargot, steak tartare, mussels with fries, scallops, sea bass, and duck.  We then grabbed a nightcap (and caught up on the sports scores) at Bar-Ly, a busy sports bar in the midst of the Chinatown district.

Sunday brought rain, so we opted for a drive through west Philadelphia on our way out of town and a breakfast stop at the Llanerch Diner, which sharp-eyed film fans would recognize from the movie ‘Silver Linings Playbook’.  Our waitress was a delight (and straight out of Central Casting), refilling our white mugs with “cawffee” and lovingly delivering plates of chip beef gravy over toast, omelets, and crispy bacon.  It was the perfect ending to a great weekend.

There are lots of memorable adventures just a short ride away from the four-state region.  Pick a date, make a plan, and get away!