The Place of our Founding Fathers - Philly

Some friends and I decided to take a day trip to Philadelphia - home to the U.S. history. Our first stop was a lunch on a Mexican restaurant in Old City (NE Philly), which has rows of trendy restaurants and café. 

Grilled Chicken in Chipotle Sauce with fries

We stopped at Independence Hall for a quick view of the U.S. Constitution and the Declaration of Independence documents. We took advantage of the Phlash Pass. For $5, we not only have a discount of $8/day on parking garage fees, but also an all day hop on/off pass to a bus touring downtown Philly. Since it was a long line for the liberty bell, we decided to ride the bus towards the Philadelphia Art Museum and home to the famous "Rocky steps" from Silver Stallone's movie, Rocky. 

Inside the museum, sections are separated into European, American, Africa, Middle Eastern and Asian art. In looking for the Asian room, we stumbled into this Classical Latin room that could be found in a Roman courtyard.

The $20 admission fee includes the special exhibit on Wildlife and a free tour of the American Art section. I found this famous painting that is taught as the introduction to Anatomy classes in medical schools. 

In search for the Asian exhibition and Japanese Tea Ceremony rooms, we stumbled into these statues of Southeast Asia and into Chinese art.  

Finally, we enter the Japanese exhibition with its tea ceremonial houses, as well as some Japanese scrolls. 

After our visit to the Rocky steps, we took the bus back to Indepedence Hall to see the Liberty Bell and to Washington Square West for an interesting creation of ice cream. At Sweet Charlie's, the dairy (either ice cream or yogurt base) and it's flavor (I chose graham crackers cereal) are placed in a circular freezing plate. The ice cream then gets chopped and tossed to pieces. 

Finally, it is spread thin in a rectangular shape before being scraped into rolls. 

My order was rise & shine - graham crackers in yogurt ice cream topped with honey and chocolate chips. 

For the early evening stroll and looking for dinner, we head towards the water for summer festivals - the Spruce Street Harbor Park and Blue Cross River Summerfest. Food trucks, beach chairs, picnic tables, hammocks and games lines the streets and parks and these areas become the busy hangout place of the locals. For the River Summerfest, a roller skating rink is available as well as one boat roller coaster ride. It will surely take you off your seat (literally when the boat gets higher). 

Dinner was at a garden drinks & eatery with the river and bridge view. By the end of the night, I am too exhausted but a worthwhile trip with friends.