Hey everyone! So I’m back with Part 2 of our amazing trip up to Philadelphia, PA. We were up there for a full week about 2 weeks ago, and I have had the best time looking through all of our pictures, and recapping the full extent of our vacation and figured that it would be a fun series to share with you all as well.
Missed part 1? Click here!
Philadelphia is one of my favorite places on this planet, and being able to share this experience with my family was really special and important to me, especially since the Philly area is where I called home for over a decade. We had so so so much fun, saw a ton, learned a bit and ate REALLY well. So without any further ado, here’s part 2!
SATURDAY
The next day, we got up in time for hotel breakfast, headed back to the room and made a plan of attack for our day. We decided to go to The Franklin Institute, one of the most bomb-diggity museums I’ve ever seen.
I remember going to this museum on a class trip and actually spending the night. I remember having the most amazing time, and I just knew that our little one would too.
I mean, where else can you walk through a human heart? Or venture into space? Or make a machine? Or see animals inside-out? At the Franklin Institute, that’s where.
And guess what? He loved it. We all did. We had so much fun running around and playing with all the hands-on stuff they have to offer. If you are ever in Philly with children of any age, I highly, HIGHLY recommend you visit this place.
But here’s a fair warning: you will lose track of time. You will not realize that you’ve spent nearly 5 hours learning and playing and having fun, that is, until you start to feel hungry. Really… really hungry. Hangery even.
And that’s what happened to us. We got HANGRY. So we walked back towards Reading Terminal Market, and unfortunately, we got there at one of the busiest times we’ve seen it. There were SO MANY PEOPLE there, so we decided that instead of waiting in line somewhere, we decided to go to one of those sit-down diners they have. Specifically, we chose Down Home Diner, where we were seated right away, given a menu and after a while, we finally gave our order to our lackadaisical waitress, who in turn, somehow lost our order. We waited what seemed like FOREVER before we decided to get up, leave some cash for our drinks, and move on. We were EXTREMELY HANGRY by this point, and decided to just walk the few blocks over to Chinatown, through the gate and into the smells of heaven.
We walked straight into Penang, a small Malaysian place with a huge reputation for wildly delicious and hugely flavorful food. As soon as we stepped foot into this place, we knew we made an extremely excellent decision on coming here.
We were seated within seconds of walking in, and seconds after that we had a hot kettle of some of that delicious tea with mini mugs, some menus and we were left to look everything over.
We placed our order quickly and honestly, kind of tersely (it was he hanger) for some home made Roti Canai (Indian Pancake). Apparently it’s a Malaysian all time favorite, and I can see why. These crispy style pancakes with a curry chicken with potato dipping sauce were absolutely wonderful. I’m not sure if it was our starvation or if it was the fact that they really were sensational, but my goodness, the first bite of this was the clincher. We knew we stumbled into gold.
And our main courses were even more evidence of this. Now that the starvation/hanger had passed, I was able to more accurately assess what we were having. For our main dishes, the little one decided on a satay of chicken (skewered marinated/grilled chicken), while Michael ordered Green Curry Chicken in a Clay Pot, which is house special green curry cooked with lemon grass, spiced chili with chicken and mixed vegetables in a clay pot to keep it extra hot so to avoid chilling and pasting. I ordered the Thai Basil Noodle, wide, flat noodles with shrimp, chicken, onion, Chinese broccoli, chili, bean sprouts & basil leaves.
Oh my goodness gracious. The food was great. The kiddo’s chicken was so moist and tender and perfect, and guess what? He loved it. He was all, “I’m not hungry. I don’t want anything.” But then he ate all of the skewers of meat. Then asked for more. Yeah. That good.
My Thai Basil Noodle was great, and reminiscent of some of my favorites from around here in the Austin area. There wasn’t anything particularly special about it, but it was delicious.
Then there was Michael’s curry in a clay pot. I was rendered absolutely and completely speechless. There was just so much flavor, and that flavor was absolutely mind-blowing. It was strong in the best ways, and kept me coming back wanting more. I kept begging for more bites, offering to take the veggies he wasn’t fond of. Thank God for eggplant. And broccoli. It was exceptional, and dare I say, one of the best bites of food the whole trip? Yeah, I do dare say it. Man. Thinking about it now, I feel like no other curry will ever live up to this curry. Gee, thanks Panang for ruining us for green curry for the rest of our days.
Anyway, now that we were properly nourished and exceptionally warm and happy, it was time to head back out into the cold afternoon. Next stop: Franklin Square for their Holiday Festival and light show.
Plus, we had it on good authority that Santa might be there, so we just HAD to go.
So after the semi-long walk to Franklin Square, we arrived just in time for the beautiful light show to begin. So much fun. And yes, the little man met Santa, and while riding high on joy and Christmas Cheer, the three of us hopped up onto the Merry-Go-Round, where we rode and rode to our heart’s content.
The night came to an end with the three of us on old metal horses, with smiles plastered on our faces and rosy-red cheeks.
But we were starving. Not ready for bed just yet. Guess where we ended up? The Melting Pot, of all places. I’ve never been to one of these joints before, but it was a LOT of fun. The food was great, but the experience was awesome, and it made for a delicious end to an amazing day.
We made our way back to the hotel, stuffed, tired and ready for sleep. We grabbed some of the complimentary hot chocolate, shuffled into the elevator, sleepily landed in our room and passed out, ready for the next day of fun and adventure.
SUNDAY
Whoa. Sunday came fast, and promised to be one of the best days of my life. Ever. But let’s just stick to the script and not get ahead of ourselves, shall we? We woke up late, walked over to Reading Terminal Market and scooped up some breakfast from Spataro’s Cheesesteaks.
I got a bacon, egg and cheese bagel, and the kid got a bagel with cream cheese. Michael decided on a cheesesteak, because well, when in Rome…
The food was excellent, the atmosphere, as always, was fun. I mean, if you are at all into people watching, then this market is for you. The best part? Everyone, us included, was decked out in Eagles green for the big Eagles v. Cowboys game later that evening, that we were attending!
Before we left, we had to stop over at The Famous 4th Street Cookie for some of their… well, famous cookies. They’re fabulous, and delicious, and buttery, and perfect. Ohhhh they were good.
So after our super late breakfast/lunch, we decided the best course of action to prepare for our 8:30 p.m. game (past the kiddo’s and my bedtime) would be to rest the majority of the day. So rest we did. The hotel was cozy and comfy and wonderful. So TV was watched, books were read, and games were played, and about 2 hours before kickoff, we headed out the door in our Eagles Green for dinner at BurgerFi.
This place is a chain that doesn’t feel like a chain. I think there’s actually one of these down on Slaughter Ln. in front of the new Alamo Drafthouse theater. The food was super, and just what we needed for fuel for our HUGE night out.
Now, if you know me at all, then you know that I am a huge Philadelphia Eagles fan. I bleed green, and always have and always will, no matter where I live.
I just love this team, through thick, and thin, and yeah, I know that right now, they’re not so hot, but guess what? I’m no fair-weather fan. I just love them and my loyalty often gets the best of me with these birds, but whatever. I just can’t quit you, Eagles!
After dinner, we followed a sea of green to the subway, then onto the subway, then out of the subway and toward Lincoln Financial where the Eagles call home.
The energy was palpable and we just couldn’t help but all stop, smile, laugh and look around. We were here. We were really here. It was amazing, and unlike anything I’d ever seen or experienced.
After taking pictures with a couple cheerleaders (EEEEEE!!!) we walked up the big stairs, and then took our seats. Our 9th row seats.
Oh my gosh. It was like a dream come true, and I nearly cried. Blame it on the pregnancy. Please. Just… yeah. It was emotional for me.
And then I heard the kiddo yell, “Katie!!! YOU’RE ON THE SCREEN!!! YOU’RE ON THE SCREEN!!!” So I looked up, unsure of what he was talking about, and lo and behold, there I was on the Lincoln Financial Field jumbo-tron. HOLY $&#%!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So fired up…
Nothing could have prepared me for the awesomeness that was this experience. Yeah, the Eagles lost, and yeah they lost to the Cowboys…
…but honestly, it was one of the coolest and most exciting things we’ve ever done, and I wouldn’t trade it for the world. Nope. Not for the world.
To experience something like this with my family is something that I know I’ll remember for years and years to come. Forever, probably.
The subway ride back to the hotel was glum, with loss, but still buzzing with energy, and by the time we got back to the hotel, we all were beyond exhausted. The adrenaline was near-gone out of our bodies, and the beds looked more inviting than usual. Sleep called and we answered, and suddenly, it was Monday.
Stay tuned for Part 3 coming up soon!!!
