Monthly Archive: October 2017

My Favorite Things In Philadelphia

I just returned from a quick trip to Philadelphia—two days to take in some of the sights, sounds, and flavors of a city that, despite living only two hours away, I’d never really spent much time exploring. And it was definitely worth experiencing!

Of course, after an entire summer of being stuck in one place (even if that place is a city I love), I was so anxious for a little getaway that almost any place would have been a balm to my wandering soul after having been cooped up for so long. But I really did enjoy Philadelphia—it’s not DC, of course, but it has a charm of its own, and is an especially rewarding destination for foodies, art lovers, and history buffs (all of which I am, to a greater or lesser extent). So it’s hardly a surprise that I connected quite well with Philadelphia, even on a brief visit.

I’ll be publishing some posts in the near future describing my trip in more detail, but I wanted to share some of the highlights with you now. So, without further ado, here’s a list:

My Favorite Things in Philadelphia

Reading Terminal Market: This was my first stop after checking into my hotel, and it was a good choice as my train got in just before lunchtime. By the time I arrived, the market was bumpin’, but despite the crowds I enjoyed myself and had a great time walking around looking at the different baked goods, ethnic foods, and sandwiches being offered at the dizzying variety of food stalls. I ended up choosing an egg and cheese sandwich (reasonably priced and good—also easy enough to eat given that I couldn’t find anywhere to sit down. Be advised the market doesn’t have much if any seating space for those not buying food from a sit-down restaurant). I also grabbed a to-go chocolate chip walnut cookie from one of the many bakeries, which was even better!

Rittenhouse Square: I deliberately chose a hotel near Rittenhouse Square, a central green leafy park area, so that I’d be in a nice neighborhood close to many of the attractions and restaurants I wanted to check out during my visit. The square itself made for a nice, relaxing walk on my first day, and I sat down for a bit to enjoy some live music as well. It’s always nice to find a pretty park to rest in for a while after you’ve been walking all over town—and I tend to walk quite a lot when I visit new cities.

The Museums: I visited the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Museum of the American Revolution. I did one each afternoon, spending a few hours in each, which felt like a good way to space things out and allow myself plenty of time to absorb their exhibits and displays. The Philadelphia Museum of Art had a great collection of Impressionists (my favorite) and lots of quality European art in general. Of course, as a DC resident I’m fortunate to get to visit the National Gallery, National Portrait Gallery, and many other Smithsonians for free whenever I want, so the $20 entrance fee gave me a bit of sticker shock—but hey, I like art and I was on vacation, so I’d definitely say it was well worth it. The next day I spent several hours in the Museum of the American Revolution, which I REALLY enjoyed. As a history buff, I tend to focus my attention more on the twentieth century than the eighteenth, so this was a great opportunity to brush up on some of my high-school history and learn lots of new things as well. It also helped me to put some of our nation’s current struggles in perspective, and did a good job of looking back at the eighteenth century from today with a clear eye and presenting lots of thought-provoking content on issues like the role of women and African-Americans in the revolution, and how the country was divided between those loyal to the British King and those seeking independence. I’ll be doing another post just on the museum soon (that’s how much I enjoyed it) but in the meantime I’ll just close by pointing out that you get to see the actual tent George Washington used during the war. I mean, do you need any further inducement than that to check this place out?!

The Food: Ah, yes, now we’re getting to it—the food! One of the main things I wanted to do in Philadelphia was eat (see above: I was on vacation!) and I did so quite well. My big dinner was at The Prime Rib steakhouse (hello, vacation splurge), and while it did feel like a rather steep price tag for a filet mignon, steak fries, and dessert, I can’t deny the food was excellent. I also had a wonderful chocolate croissant at the Miel Patisserie, as well as a nice lunch at the Bluestone Lane coffee shop in my hotel (I went for the chicken sandwich, which was tasty, though I kind of wish I’d tried the avocado smash as that seems to be their thing…) My breakfast at Federal Donuts was good too—I had an apple-peanut butter drizzle flavor combo—though I think I’m beginning to come to the conclusion that when it’s about donuts, I prefer to keep things a bit simpler (hello, chocolate glazed). I’m only sad I didn’t get to squeeze in Capogiro gelato—but I guess that gives me an excuse to return! Well, that and a few more restaurants I had to pass on as they were closed on Mondays…note to self for the future.

Overall, Philadelphia was a great weekend getaway and I look forward to coming back in the future!

Have you been to Philadelphia? Any recommendations for my future trips?

Philadelphia, US travel

Oct

2017

A Note to People Who Don’t Travel

Melissa Kaplan0

As you may recall, 2017 was going to be a year of travel for me, and I started off my blogging year urging others to make it the same for them. All the reasons I gave back then about why I believe travel is so worthwhile still stand, so maybe writing another post on the topic now seems a bit repetitive.

Except that–as you will also know if you’ve read my recent posts–none of my long-anticipated travel plans for 2017 panned out, due to circumstances beyond my control. Instead, 2017 has been my year of staying still.

View of Lake Atitlan, Guatemala

This was definitely not the situation I’d planned or hoped to be in this year, but it has given me lots of time to think. As I’ve been forced into the role of non-traveler for a while, I’ve realized there are certain things to be said for it. Routine can be nice. You have additional time to spend in your own (awesome) city, and hang out with friends and family. You can also save money (I’m typing this atop a brand new desk I just bought myself which could easily have covered the cost of a domestic plane ticket.)

And yet….I miss travel. I miss the excitement of planning trips, the giddy anticipation of new adventures on the horizon. I miss the thrill of being in a new country where I don’t speak the language or know how most things work and having to figure it out (often assisted mightily by the kindness of strangers).

To anyone reading this who isn’t a traveler, or doesn’t feel the need to be, I’m sure you have your reasons. But speaking as one who’s had to walk (or stay put) in your shoes for the past six months or so, I can assure you that there is a lot to be gained by seeing the world.

Here are just a few of the things I’m missing from travel right now:

Plitvice waterfalls, Croatia

Beach in Phuket, Thailand

I miss sitting in a café in Paris, starting off the day with a flaky chocolate croissant or sipping a chocolate chaud, all the while marveling that great writers like Fitzgerald and Hemingway may have sat in the very seat I’m currently occupying nearly a century ago as they worked on their masterpieces.
I miss trying to speak a new language, making an effort to blend into a new country, even when I spectacularly fail.
I miss walking inside cathedrals, mosques, and other religious sites built over the centuries that dazzle the eye and lift the spirit, like Aya Sofia, St. Peter’s, and St. Paul’s. These buildings aren’t just spectacular visual treats or religious touchstones (though they are that); they’re also tributes to the brilliance of mankind and what people can accomplish when they work together and utilize their talents for the glory of something greater than themselves.
I miss wandering through museums that hold beautiful artwork and historical artifacts that teach us more about the world, and about each civilization’s past and ongoing story. The Louvre, the British Museum, the National Gallery, the Vatican Museum, and so many others I’ve been privileged to see over the years still speak to me and call me back for return visits, over and over again.
I miss the feeling of walking on the Serengeti at sunrise, looking around in hopes of spotting giraffes and zebras, while marveling at the peaceful serenity around me. I remember wondering what my grandmother—who was born in Ireland and never traveled beyond the British Isles throughout her long life—would have thought if she had been able to see her daughter’s daughter taking a morning walk on the Kenyan plains, spotting wildlife and reflecting on the majestic beauty of the world.
I miss the natural wonders that can be found around the globe—waterfalls in Croatia; geysers, hot springs, and more waterfalls in Iceland; stunning beaches in Thailand; gorgeous Lake Atitlan in Guatemala. There are so many corners of the world where nature has created beauty well worth traveling for.
I miss meeting people who were born and raised in cultures vastly different from mine, from Cambodia to Uganda to South Africa to the Czech Republic. I miss talking with them, hearing their stories, learning from them, and sharing my own life with them. Hopefully, at the end of the day, these exchanges between individuals from different countries adds bit by bit to a greater understanding of how much we have in common, and how it benefits all of us to seek out knowledge of worlds very different from our own.
I miss gelato and pizza in Italy. Enough said.

Gulfoss waterfall, Iceland

If you haven’t traveled overseas, it may be due to factors beyond your control—money, medical issues, responsibility for children or aging parents. I get it—believe me, after this year I really do get it. But the very fact of how much I’m missing travel right now reminds me of how important it is to me, and I wanted to share a few of the reasons why in hopes that it might give someone out there the inspiration they need to take the first step towards their own adventures exploring the world. There is so much to see, and as I’ve learned this year, no time to waste in seeing it all.

So, let’s all vow to make 2018 our year of travel. I know I certainly am.

Africa, Central America, Croatia, Guatemala, Iceland, Kenya, Thailand, Travel Musings

Oct

2017

Where I’m Going This Fall

Melissa Kaplan0

I’ll be honest; I’ve never really been a fall person. Sure, I acknowledge that the season has its charms: pumpkin bread (I can’t stand the lattes, though, sorry); autumn foliage (though my current home in the mid-Atlantic can’t compete with my New England upbringing for that); and yes, it’s nice to be able to break out my sweater collection again. But ultimately, fall has always signaled to me that summer, my favorite season, was coming to an end. I just couldn’t get too excited about shorter days and colder nights. Add to that the fact that most of my travels often happen in spring and summer, and fall never really felt that exciting to me.

This year, however, things feel different. As I alluded to in my last post, I’ve spend the past few months (ie all of my beloved spring and summer seasons) dealing with health issues that have consumed a lot of my time and attention and kept me grounded at home with no travel to distract me. That’s why this year, I’m doubly excited to welcome October: it means I’m almost done with the main part of my medical treatments (I can see the end on the horizon!), and I’m finally ready to do some traveling again (and just in time to head north for peak-ish foliage!)

My trips this month won’t be all that exotic, but that’s okay. At this point, I’ll embrace pretty much any opportunity to hit the road, and I’m looking forward to several mini-adventures this month:

Melissa’s October Travels

The first stop, next weekend, is Philadelphia! After reading about several bloggers’ fun experiences in the city, I’ve decided it’s high time to explore its restaurant, café, and museum scenes. And as it’s only two hours from DC by train, it’s a perfect escape for the Columbus Day weekend break.

I’ve been to Philadelphia before, but that was over a decade ago and I’m sure a lot has changed since then, not the least of which is me. I’m a very different traveler now than I was in 2005, having lived overseas and traveled to five continents since then! I know more about what I like and want to focus on in a city, and for me, that means soaking up Philadelphia’s rich history as a pivotal part of the country’s founding days (already got my tickets for the Museum of the American Revolution!), checking out some cool cafes, gelaterias, and donut shops (Federal Donuts, I’m coming for you!), and of course, trying some fantastic new restaurants. I have a dinner reservation at Talula’s Garden, a reputedly amazing foodie mecca, for my one night in town, and I can’t wait to check it out and see how it lives up to expectations. Stay tuned for more on my Philadelphia adventures in the next few weeks!

Next up is my annual work conference in New York City. Normally, I don’t think of this as a vacation because a) it’s a work trip, obviously, and b) I don’t like NYC very much (sorry not sorry). But, I will admit the city has grown on me over the past few years of traveling there for my job—by which I basically mean I appreciate the indisputably excellent restaurant scene, which hasn’t let me down yet. Plus, I look forward to getting to visit friends and family in the city whom I don’t often get to see. Oh, and I’ve already started recruiting coworkers to visit Black Tap with me to enjoy burgers and, more importantly, these milkshakes. For this decadent candy-covered experience, I’ll happily ride a train three hours north (and hopefully see some decent foliage as part of the bargain!)

Black Tap milkshakes are worth a trip to NYC!

I’ll be in DC the rest of the month, but looking forward to a few fun local adventures too. These include visiting the Kennedy Center in a few weeks to see the Mariinsky ballet, and attending a book signing by legendary newscaster Dan Rather to celebrate the release of his new book (as one who’s been following his eloquent Facebook posts for the past year, I’m really anxious to see how his musings on politics, America, and national unity that have captivated so many on social media will translate into book form).

Time for a culture fix at the Kennedy Center!

So, it will be a busy month of small but delightful adventures and escapes. Just the prospect of a change, a break from the routine of the last few months of my tethered life, is exciting to me; I want to get back out into the world and re-engage the part of me that thrives on travel and exploration. Hopefully this time in a few months I’ll have lots more adventures planned and in the pipeline, but for now, I think I’m off to a pretty solid start as I re-emerge onto the travel scene.

For once I’ll join the chorus: bring on fall!

Have you been to Philadelphia or NYC recently? Any recommendations for my visits? What do your fall travel plans look like so far?

DC, US travel, Washington

Oct

2017