Sometimes it’s nice to escape my own backyard for a few days. Just after Christmas my oldest son, my parents, and I decided to take a Philadelphia adventure with the impetus of visiting family. More than that, we were able to have an excellent whirlwind trip to the City of Brotherly Love with stops at the Philadelphia Zoo’s Luminature, Wissahickon Brewing Company, the Franklin Institute, Victory’s Philly brewery, and exploring the Manayunk neighborhood.
A Weekend in Philadelphia
In 2021, my family and I visited Philadelphia to make the most of the city and to see family as well. We stayed in Center City which was very convenient to major attractions. This time we stayed in the suburban Bala Cynwyd in a very cool Residence Inn. Located right on the banks of the Schuylkill River, this was the site of an old ironworks. Tangible evidence of its industrial past remains as the hotel is built into the foundry’s ruins.
Even the drive there skirts through Laurel Hill West Cemetery and empties out in this seemingly post-industrial menagerie. There’s also a really cool iron bridge connecting Bala Cynwyd with Manayunk across the river. Lots of intricacies and cool features to explore. The hotel also has the Landing coffee shop and the Lark restaurant on site. Outside there are igloos to sit in, corn hole, and blazing fire pits. The riverfront path could take you all the way to downtown Philly if you wish to walk.
The Philadelphia Zoo’s Luminature
As cool as the hotel was, we did spend most of our time taking in the sites of the city. Our first stop was a special winter event held at the Philadelphia Zoo, Luminature. This is not just some Christmas lights decorating the zoo; instead, it is an immersive light experience. More than just for the holiday, this features displays bathed in a world of twinkling lights.
Some of the standouts were the flamingo Christmas tree and the giant penguin light show. Projected on the chest of the huge penguin is a light display timed with a song by such artists as Elton John and Hall & Oates. Another otherworldly experience was a lit globe in the midst of a fountain-like shrine. These zoo lights should be on everyone’s holiday bucket list for 2023.
Wissahickon Brewing Company
Later that evening, I stopped for a beer at Wissahickon in East Falls. Both my cousin and her husband work here part-time, but illness sidetracked a visit with them. Wissahickon was a cool spot when I visited in the daytime but at night the place simply comes alive. The service was friendly and the beers were excellent. I settled on a small pour IPA and a small pour altbier. The lager was crisp and the IPA juicy, both exactly as they should be.
The Franklin Institute
Ever see the gigantic statue of a sitting Ben Franklin? Well, here it is, greeting visitors to Philly’s science museum. Housed in a classical revival building that looks like a temple to science, the museum is stunning from the outside. Inside, my son had a blast. His favorite exhibits were on the third floor, all having to do with science in sports. This included him racing a televised runner, jumping high, and exploring other hands-on exhibits.
The planetarium is opposite from the yawn fests of yore. This was more like an IMAX experience with space as the topic. But it was not for the motion sick! Other exhibit areas included a giant heart that you can actually climb through and an area dedicated to machines. The train room was neat as well. This museum and the zoo were my son’s favorite parts of the trip.
Victory Brewing Company – Philadelphia
Just a block or two away from the museum is the new shiny location of Downingtown, Pennsylvania’s Victory Brewing Company’s Philadelphia Location. The room is bright, airy, and welcoming. The beer menu is stocked with many tasty choices. There were old favorites such as Golden Monkey and others that are brewery-only releases. We split a few pretzels and ordered the burger special since it was a Thursday. All were excellent! This location opened in late 2021 and also features beers from their sister brands including Six Point and Southern Tier. The breweries merged under one banner a few years back but kept the distinctive features of each.
Manayunk
For dinner on the last night of our Philadelphia adventure, we ventured to Manayunk. I remember this being a hip neighborhood of bars and restaurants. That it is, and during the Christmas season, bathed in greens and reds with storefronts and private homes trying to outdo each other for the excessive use of Christmas decor. For dinner, we decided on SOMO, which we all thought was very enjoyable.
Our Philadelphia Adventure comes to a close
Before leaving, we made a quick pit stop at Reading Terminal Market, a smorgasbord of cuisine from around the world. My two noteworthy stops were the Amish-made Beyler’s Donuts and Miller’s Twist soft pretzels. We chose a dozen donuts and half a dozen pretzels which were both hard not to completely decimate in one sitting.
My Philadelphia Adventure further cemented the City of Brotherly Love into a special place in my heart.
