My Philly Style

After a great night’s sleep, I woke up early ready to conquer my old stomping grounds.  First plan: run the Schuylkill.  The Schuylkill River Trail was where I ran most months of the year when we lived in Philadelphia, and when I get to go back and literally relive my steps, it makes me so happy.

I bundled myself up (yes, I am a bit of a baby in the cold now), and headed out into the brisk 35° weather for an early morning run.

The sun was still rising, the Fall leaves were turning, the air was brisk.  What could be more idyllic?  I ran down my absolute favorite street, Delancey, and followed my old footsteps along the Schuylkill River.

the early morning view from my room at the Hilton Penns Landing

delancey street

On my way back from my run, I picked up a Dunkin Donuts coffee (a favorite tradition)  and then headed back to the Hilton to get myself ready for the day.

Since I was switching hotels for the next 2 nights, I packed myself up, and headed just a bit down the road to the Penns View Hotel, a beautiful historic building turned hotel.  Since I was still early for arrivals, I dropped my luggage and then was off hitting the pavement.

The next two days became a wonderful mix of wandering the beautifully historic streets of Philadelphia, enjoying long meals (at my favorites: La Viola, Radicchio and Parc) with family and friends, shopping along Walnut street, and then walking some more.  The whole city was in full Fall bloom, and it made for the perfect backdrop for my stay.

Each turn was a street more decorated with colors, lined with more adorable homes, with light pouring in…it was so much fun for me.  And also funny, because in all of the years that we lived in Philadelphia, I don’t ever remember enjoying Fall so much.

And at the end of my days, when I finally made my way back to the Penns View Hotel, I had a wonderfully fluffy bed awaiting my tired feet.   In fact, I believe that it was the most comfortable bed that I have ever slept in outside of our apartment.  With a lot of days on the road ahead of me, a great nights sleep in a comfortable bed was just what the doctor ordered.

Like all great things in life, my time in Philadelphia slipped by far too quickly.  But as Thanksgiving was approaching, I was filled with gratitude.  Getting the opportunity to spend time with loved ones that I wish we could see far more often was the greatest treat I could ask for.