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TRAVEL: Weekend in Atlantic City, Philadelphia and New York City

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If you fly into Philadelphia, PA or Newark, NJ and stay nearby, you can save a bundle off the cost of midtown Manhattan hotels AND with some transportation magic, you too can sample the delights of three major destination cities over a long, adventurous weekend.

The plan was to leave Oklahoma City early Friday evening after work.  When our family met up in the OKC airport, our flight had been rerouted, retooled and rearranged.  This meant we arrived in Philadelphia almost 30 minutes early!  Wahoo.  We knew we were off to a great start as we hopped into the rental car and drove over the Delaware River to our motel in Deptford, NJ.

Saturday found us on the road to Atlantic City, NJ, which turned out to be a little grubby in the bright morning sunshine.  We walked down the beach and over the often concrete boardwalk until we reached Trump Taj Mahal.   But having learned years ago that gambling is not good to our wallets – and with two teens who weren't legal besides – we roamed the halls, admired The Donald's rococo taste in decor and only peeked inside the glittering casino.

After a mandatory T shirt purchase, we went back to the car and drove to downtown Philadelphia to pay our respects to the Liberty Bell.

 Franklin Silver Half Dollar Liberty Bell Collection

We circled Philadelphia's historic district several times in our quest for a parking space, but settled on a nearby parking garage.   Once we got oriented, it was a short walk to Liberty Bell Center (6^th Street between Market and Chestnut Streets). 

Get there as early as possible as the lines can be long and the hours are 9 to 5 for most of the year.

There are lots of exhibits as well as a film, but the Liberty Bell itself is the draw.  It may not toll any longer, but it has a certain presence.  And like all special objects, seeing it with family enhances the experience.

Liberty Bell's View of Independence Hall

Our next stop was Independence Hall in Independence Square at Chestnut - it's just across the street.  By the time we arrived, the day's tickets were gone and we could only admire it from the outside. 

Contact the National Park Service Reservation Center at 800-967-2283 for details.  For more information, Independence Visitor Center at 6^th and Market Streets has food, services and expensive parking.

We wandered through colonial buildings and parks, and grabbed a quick snack.  All too soon it was time to remember who we really were: parents of teenage girls who live to shop.  This meant no visits to nearby Valley Forge or glorious Longwood Gardens or even a more than superficial look at the wonders of Philadelphia.  These delights were left on the altar of King of Prussia Mall.

While this supreme sacrifice meant we could not continue to play tourist, we did have the pleasure of spending too much money, holding shopping bags and eating as a family at the Cheesecake Factory.  Who could ask for more?

Our evening ended when the World's Greatest Driver, aka Cary, our Director of Fireworks, took a wrong turn and headed away from our New Jersey home away from home.  But finally and without stopping to ask for directions – even at the numerous manned toll booths we passed through, we were on the correct road and headed in the right direction.  New Jersey never looked so good.

With the dawning of a new day, our family once again piled in the rental car.  Our goals, Newark Airport and then a train to Penn Station in New York City's midtown Manhattan. 

New Jersey Transit provides uniformed attendants to aid clueless travelers.  Our helper literally pushed the buttons for me at the ticket machine, but for $92.80, we had eight tickets in hand.  Of course, we didn't realize they were all one way from Newark to Penn Station until an attendant at Penn Station predicted we would have to buy new tickets.  But our return trip conductor didn't mind so all ended well.

From Penn Station, we set off on foot toward lower Manhattan and the site of the World Trade Center via Fifth Ave (mostly), the Flatiron Building and Washington Square.  There was much shopping (big surprise) along the way.  Did you know there is a store called Yellow Rat Bastard and it sells (you guessed it) T shirts beloved to the hearts of college students?

Flatiron Building

The site of the World Trade Center is hemmed in by buildings.  It seemed smaller than it should have and lacked the visitors' focal point we expected based on our familiarity with the Oklahoma City National Memorial in all its stages from ghastly horror to completed tribute.  But none of that mattered because we knew we were looking at hallowed ground.  Someday, the World Trade Center will be reconstructed as both memorial and multiple working edifices, and that will be good.  Right now, the site is what it is.  Sacred.

After a disastrous late lunch (they put ice in my milkshake!) at a nearby TGI Friday's, we decided a cab was in order.  We caught unmarked black car whose driver was friendly, informative and said he was licensed.  Since we'd agreed on a price to the Empire State Building, we sat back and enjoyed sights like the United Nations Headquarters.

The wait to ride the elevators in the Empire State Building was reasonable – under an hour – but either the halls weren't air conditioned or they shut off heating/cooling on weekends. 

When planning your visit, go early on a weekend or mid morning on a weekday after all the people who actually work in the offices have arrived at their jobs.

interior lobby of Empire State Building

The views from the top are spectacular.  We glimpsed the Statue of Liberty, saw the Chrysler Building, and could have picked out numerous other landmarks if we'd taken the trouble to fight the crowds and read the signs.  Sometimes, it's ok to just enjoy.

Back on the streets of Manhattan, we headed for Times Square on foot.  I hadn't been there for years and the change is remarkable.  Today, Times Square is vibrant and exciting.  Theater tickets would have been welcome, but so was dinner.

We trudged to Penn Station, found our train to Newark Airport, picked up our car and drove directly to Deptford, NJ and the focal point of our evening, an excellent dinner at the Adelphia Restaurant and Lounge.

Morning found us on a plane for home – foot sore and eager for another weekend's adventure.  

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