Today we drove into Philadelphia, driving through some of the roughest and run down neighboorhoods we've seen throughout the country. Fortunately the tourist areas were pretty nice. We got lucky and found a parking space right near our destination. We've seen that show "Parking Wars" about the Philadelphia parking authority and were prepared. Our space on the street had a 2 hour parking limit, but within minutes of parking and while I was at the kiosk getting a parking slip parking enforcement scoped out the MH and verified that it belonged to me...we would have gotten a ticket within 5 minutes of parking. We picked up our tickets to tour Independance Hall and visited the liberty bell on our way there.
After our tour we had to walk back to the MH to pay for another 2 hours of parking, and within 5 minutes there was another parking enforcement officer scoping out the MH...but alas...foiled again. We then took a carriage ride and learned some interesting facts about the city. We may not have opted to take a carriage ride but decided to take the advice of those that have gone before us...it was worth it.
After the carriage ride we found some lunch nearby and then proceeded to the cemetary to see Ben Franklin's gravesite. We walked around for awhile but it was getting really warm outside, so we moved on to our next destination....
Eastern State Penitentiary closed in 1971 and has been the location for some of the creapy, ghost hunting shows that Kylie enjoys. She wanted to see it but was a little disappointed at first that the nighttime tours and haunted tours were not available during our visit...but we took the tour anyway and the place is really cool...it certainly doesn't fit the surroundings. Kylie really liked it and she wants to return for a haunted tour when they start in the fall.
SEE ADDITIONAL PICS OF OUR TRIP TO PHILADELPHIA IN THE PHOTO ALBUM SECTION!!!