Stuck in Philly.

[Brandi]

So we brought our sand sculpting expertise to Philly to be shut down by the dept of transportation. Turns out we put the sculpture over a rotting part of an underground train station. Whoops! We asked what was under us before we ever came out here. It is one of the first questions we ask before anything. But the main guy we talked to to get the ok failed to bring this matter up.
I feel bad for the people who hired us. But in turn they feel bad for bringing us all the way out here. They are still paying us in full which is wonderful and makes getting stuck here a forced vacation.
So we have been going to historical pubs and museums. My feet have not seen this much walking in a long time. But it's good concidering how much food we have been eating. Every where you look here there is yummy this yummy that!
We have been here since Sat and to be honest I would like to go home now. But boy it cost a fortune to change a ticket anymore. So we are making the most of it. At least we got stuck in a city with plenty to do. ;)

[malkin]

There are certainly worse places you could be stuck!
Have fun in Philly!

[ny biker]

Oooh cheesesteaks.

Check out the Franklin Institute if you haven't already been. The giant heart is still there!! Also if you're interested in archeology and anthropology, there's the Penn Museum. And the Penn campus is a nice place for a stroll on a sunny day.

http://www.penn.museum/long-term-exhibits.html

[WindingRoad]

Sounds like the weather is going to cooperate this weekend for riding ;) There are LBS that rent bikes. I would highly recommend that. Also there's always Reading Market downtown which is fun and yummy :-) The SEPTA day pass will get you just about anywhere you want to go for $11. I will be stuck in my apartment studying for final exams. Wissahickon Park is a great place to go walking, running or mountain biking (pretty intense though if you go on actual MB trails). You can always grab your bike and Cyclocross it up the museum steps and pretend your in Rocky! If you are downtown there are TONS of rides leaving out of the art museum area over the weekend. Go to Bicycle Club of Philadelphia or Suburban Cyclists United to find rides all over the area. :D

[malkin]

You can go to Penn's Landing and see if the sign is still defaced in a way that makes teenaged girls giddy with embarrassed laughter.

[Brandi]

Everything you all suggested (except for bike renting) we have done. We even went to the Mutter's museum (ugh). Reading terminal is one of my fav places to eat lunch. We have been to all kinds of good pubs. Found a Athleta store right around the corner from our hotel (oh darn). Got myself the skort I have been looking at for some time now. Today is our last day so I think we are going to go to the terminal have lunch get a few things from the Amish vendors to take home for friends. Then just walk and enjoy the day. It has been an indulgent trip. A first of it's kind for us. A paid vacation go figure.:)
I had a dear friend pass away suddenly last week. 2 days before we left on this trip. I think he somehow made this happen. He was always telling me to go with the flow and enjoy the little things. He would be proud that I didn't freak out about this mishap. ANd he would have enjoyed all the yummy food and drinks we have had. I owe this trip to my dear friend Richard.

[Brandi]

You can go to Penn's Landing and see if the sign is still defaced in a way that makes teenaged girls giddy with embarrassed laughter. That is funny!

[Brandi]

Sounds like the weather is going to cooperate this weekend for riding ;) There are LBS that rent bikes. I would highly recommend that. Also there's always Reading Market downtown which is fun and yummy :-) The SEPTA day pass will get you just about anywhere you want to go for $11. I will be stuck in my apartment studying for final exams. Wissahickon Park is a great place to go walking, running or mountain biking (pretty intense though if you go on actual MB trails). You can always grab your bike and Cyclocross it up the museum steps and pretend your in Rocky! If you are downtown there are TONS of rides leaving out of the art museum area over the weekend. Go to Bicycle Club of Philadelphia or Suburban Cyclists United to find rides all over the area. :D
I don't think I would be good at riding a bike here. I come from a quite town not a lot of cars. I might get killed here. I saw a guy riding and just miss a car door being opened right in front of him. He had good reflex and stop in time but shesh! My reflexes are not big city worthy any more.

[Brandi]

Oooh cheesesteaks.

Check out the Franklin Institute if you haven't already been. The giant heart is still there!! Also if you're interested in archeology and anthropology, there's the Penn Museum. And the Penn campus is a nice place for a stroll on a sunny day.

http://www.penn.museum/long-term-exhibits.html Did almost all the museums. My feet were screaming after 3 days of them.

[malkin]

You could ride out toward Haverford College. It's lovely.

[ny biker]

You could also probably find the Livestrong Challenge cue sheets on their website and ride them, northeast of the city. Beautiful country, as long as you're prepared for hills.

[PamNY]

Glad you are getting paid regardless. There are worse places to be stuck than Philly. I've always heard the restaurants there are great, though I don't have specifics!

There's a hawk nest at the Franklin Institute, with a webcam too. The male was recently hit by a car, and the female is getting supplemental feeding for babies.

Blog about nest
http://sunnydixie.blogspot.com/

Webcam
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/the-franklin-institute-haw-cam

Have fun!