Cool bridge that I hardly travel…read more Today brought us to Neshaminy Falls for a blues show - one of my Sir's friends from the business.

What is the delay for opportunity to enjoy this wonderful bridge…read more I'm very grateful for all the employees who made everything so wonderful allowed safe passage. It was delightful across this fine bride and enjoy the view.

The Washington Crossing Bridge is a charming and historical structure which spans the Delaware…read moreRiver between Pennsylvania and New Jersey. While certainly outdated by modern standards, it is a pretty cool reminder of days gone by in Bucks County. As a driver who crossed the bridge many times, I have to say it is truly a harrowing experience to cross, especially with a full size SUV. The lanes are literally so close that I had to retract my side mirrors as I was worried about clipping cars coming the other way. The bridge is located near the site where George Washington famously crossed the river during the Revolutionary War and Washington Crossing Historic Park which commemorates the event. The park is pretty nice to walk around and you can get some great photos of the bridge, river and scenery from there.

I'm not sure how a bridge actually earns the coveted fifth star. Off the top of my head I would say…read morethat the Golden Gate Bridge, and the Chesapeake bay bridge are certainly worthy of that ranking. But I am a fan of this humble bridge. It is possibly the bridge I frequent the most, or at least see the most. It bridges the gap between 2 very good parks. The NJ Washington's crossing and the Pa Washington's crossing. Both of which have their own unique qualities. As Gerald correctly pointed out, the width is scarily narrow. Some of my passengers have cringed at my choice of using it, and are thrilled when I opt for its southern or northern neighbor. It is ample enough for my small car, but when Bubba's pickup truck or Mr nature lover's Hummer approach from the other side you just have to hope for the best. There is a pedestrian walkway too, and I enjoy using that when time allows.

On the other side of the river bank from New Hope, it's difficult to tell which one is more…read morecharming, though this one is not to be missed.

Lambertville is of course not in Princeton, but a town of its own on the Delaware River on the…read moreborder with Pennsylvania and even more beautiful New Hope is across the river. Lambertville is only a few miles from the famous place where Washington and his army crossed the Delaware in the middle of the winter. It is a charming touristy town with lots of antique shops and galleries. Even the drive here is more than worth it: start from Kingston up Laurel Avenue, and turn left in Rocky Hill. From here it is a straight but winding road past Blawenburg, Hopewell in smiling rolling country. Take any small countrylane on your left or right and drive around: the land is full of surprises and souvenirs of America's past.

Visiting Philadelphia is being in a vibrant city where you can also step back in time…read more My first visits were in the late 70's when I worked for,a Media Group in Atlanta who had properties in and near the area. I was given the typical drive around the city when I visited from corporate. Their highlight was always lunch at a famous Philly Cheesesteak spot. My strongest remembrances from that time periods was that the flights from Philly to Atlanta were always delayed. In recent years I've seen the real Philly. My son then had in laws who lived in the city. It was a mid point between New York and Coastal Virginia. So many times we would visit Philly for Thanksgiving or Christmas. Having a vehicle made exploring the city so much more meaningful, it allowed me to visit the iconic historic locations that go back to the founding of our country. Standing next to the Liberty Bell and walking Constitution Hall were breathtaking experiences for this lover of American History. It's gorgeous at night, staying at a hotel in Centre City with a balcony looking out onto the entrance to the Philadelphia Museum of Art. One can envision the movie in which Rocky ran up those same steps. That hotel often caused one to share an elevator with Philadelphia Eagles fans, dressed in team garb, on the way to a game. It's hard to remain silent if you're a fan of a rival team. :) One of my most memorable Philadelphia experiences came on a Christmas Day when we were opening presents in our hotel suite. My phone rang. It was my brother in Mississippi telling me I need to check the weather. My Uncle and I quickly packed and left. By the time we crossed into Delaware it had started to snow. I drove back to Virginia Beach in the famous East Coast Christmas Day Blizzard. It is my recommendation that people visit the beautiful city of Philadelphia, the site of the founding of our Democratic Republic.

I've got a feeling I'm developing agoraphobia as I age (complicated by cataracts) because I never…read moreused to hesitate about taking long, long "road trips" to places I had never been before, or was unfamiliar with if I had been, and now...I'm very much hesitant. Philadelphia is just 1 example of that. My oldest friend has been living there for several years (his main residence is in Florida) and he keeps inviting me down. i did go down there to visit him once (I wrote a review of the Liberty Bell as a result of that visit) but I was nervous all the time I was there and couldn't wait to leave before dark. It hasn't helped that "Parking Wars" became a thing on TV at the time agoraphobia began developing in me. I had never worried about parking in Philly in the past, but I was (am) now! As a kid, the cities I was familiar with were NYC, Paterson, Newark, Hackensack. Philly was unknown to me; it might as well have been in another country. The 1st time I went was with a friend who needed to get his passport there in order to travel to Italy (not really sure what that was all about, but I was willing to take a train ride with him down). I found the Reading Terminal Market colorful, we went to a bookstore or 2, and we ate dinner at a Northern Italian restaurant (different from the Southern Italian restaurants I was used to). Nothing so astoundingly attractive that I felt an irresistable urge to return any time soon. A few years later, 2 friends wanted to ride down there, and... once again...I tagged along. Some vibrant nightlife (and a "porno area" that seemed smaller and less sordid than what Times Square in NYC was offering at the time), but...again...the appeal of the city was basically lost on me. A few years later, I wanted to search out 2 cemeteries that were in that general vicinity. One...Holy Cross in Yeadon...I wrote a review about. Another...Union Hill Cemetery in Kennett Square, about a half hour south of Philly...had the grave of actress Linda Darnell and introduced me to the Baldwin Book Barn, which I also wrote about on Yelp. That area around Kennett Square had a lasting appeal for me but Philly still had no concomitant allure. Still...gradually...incrementally...I ventured more and more into the city on my own, even though I never became very familiar or comfortable with it. I'd park near City Hall and walk down to the Bellevue Hotel, which had a Rizzoli bookstore in it. I also visited some other used book stores (the names escape me now). Sometimes I'd stop for a quick visit to the city while on my way to Kennett Square. A few times, I went with friends. At 1 point, I dated a young woman in a West Philly suburb, but we spent most of our time in the Brandywine Valley, not Philly. Some scattered impressions remain with me. I remember seeing 1 of the "Hellraiser" movies at an old theater in Philly. This series of films, while somewhat original and appealingly Lovecraftian, was very violent and bloody. I remember seeing a couple at the movie with their 5 year old child, and thinking to myself, "Who would bring a kid to see a movie like this? No wonder there are psychos in the world." Another time, a (late) friend and I were drinking in the city. We passed an alleyway, and at the end of it were 2 rats, an animal I'm terrified of. We stared at the rats from our end, and they stared back at us. Suddenly, they started bolting towards us. We turned and ran hard. Either the rats lost interest or were out of shape, because they didn't catch us. I heard a story from a paternal biological relative about a cousin who lived in Lyndhurst, NJ. This cousin was a severe alcoholic and made an heroic recovery before cancer felled him (we were able to establish a relationship before he died and I was at his funeral). This relative said the cousin called him once after a binge and had no idea where he had awakened or how he had gotten there (he didn't drive or have a car). It was some city street, foreign to him. The relative asked him to read off a few street signs and was able to finally determine that the cousin had somehow gotten from north NJ to Philly while in a drunken blackout. just a few days ago, I was talking to my oldest friend, who moved out of Philly and is living in South Jersey with his girlfriend until he can move everything down to Florida. He ventured back into Philly to take care of some business and was accosted by a homeless woman, who began yelling semi-coherent abuse at him. My friend has a kind heart, and normally would fork over money, but he didn't this time. I haven't been to a major city in years, and I expressed surprise. He said, "Are you kidding? There's homeless people all over Philly.' It's historic, obviously, and...in its own unique way.... beautiful. Supposedly, it always had a "2nd best" syndrome in comparison to NYC and I certainly get that. But, speaking subjectively, I never really warmed to it, and can take it or leave it alone. Faint praise indeed, but it's how I feel.

I came here through a 52 Philly Firsts event and honestly learned so much. This is the oldest…read moreBlack-owned church in the United States, founded in 1794 by Richard Allen, who was formerly enslaved and went on to become a minister, abolitionist, and the founder of the AME Church (literally me taking notes at the beginning of the event to put here lol). The history really sticks with you and does not feel distant or abstract at all. Mother Bethel played a major role in the abolitionist movement and the Underground Railroad, and it has clearly stayed an anchor for the community for centuries (Did I mention this was also part of the lecture, from a different speaker). You can feel that continuity when you are there. It is not just a historic site, it is very much alive. What stood out the most was the atmosphere. There was singing during the event and it was joyful, powerful, and full of soul. People were clapping, swaying, and singing with their whole hearts. It did not feel like a performance at all. It felt real and communal. You could tell how much love and pride everyone has for this church. Downstairs there is a small museum space that is absolutely worth seeing. You can view original pews, historical artifacts, and the tomb of Richard Allen himself. It really puts everything into perspective and ties the spiritual side of the church to its historical impact. The staff and parishioners were incredibly kind and welcoming. They were happy to answer questions and clearly care a lot about sharing the church's history and meaning with visitors. I am not Christian, but I still felt the warmth and sincerity here immediately. This was one of the most meaningful experiences I have had in Philly. Highly recommend visiting if you get the chance.

AMAZING experience visiting Mother Bethel for a tour recently. Even if you are not a member of the…read moreAME church, I would highly recommend stopping by to learn more about Richard Allen and the lives of black people in 18th century America.

Beautiful park in Philly. Good seating areas for eating food. Good for people watching as well.read more

A beautiful little park in the middle of central Philadelphia…read more The Saturday Farmers Market brought in tons of families, well dressed couples, and of course dogs! We had so much fun checking out all the stalls, soaking in the sunshine, and running around the inner sections with our kiddos. They had a little jazz trio playing in the middle of the square and they brought so much joy to our day. Even my two year old was dancing her socks off. I love little spots like this that bring the community out. Highly recommend for a stop if you're in Philly!

One of four cement eagle sculptures on the Schuylkill River guarding the Market Street Bridge…read more Each eagle weighs 5500 pounds and designed by the architect Adolph A. Weinman. When the Penn Station was destroyed in 1963 the four eagles were saved and placed along the river.

William Penn Statue - The statue of William Penn is very nicely crafted and feels dignified, which…read moresuits such an important figure. It is located in a good spot and fits into the historical context of the city. I liked that the surroundings are well maintained, allowing visitors to stop for a moment and take in the history. It's a rather subtle but valuable landmark that is definitely worth seeing.