Now that the December holidays are approaching [holiday decor everywhere is a great reminder] I was thinking about what to do with my family this year, and then I began thinking of what we did last year. We visited Philadelphia, a not-so-bad two hour drive from home, and had some nice, quiet downtime enjoying the holiday atmosphere in the city. Because December is the priciest time to do any kind of vacationing, planning a nice, affordable staycation is a great way to unwind and get some quality time with the family.
Where we stayed
I chose this hotel because of its proximity to the city attractions, but also because on a time like the holidays, I paid less than $150/nightly for a double queen suite. There is additional fees for parking, but the price of the room and free hot breakfast made up for it. It’s a great place to stay with the family, very comfortable and great location.
Some of the activities we enjoyed…
The Reading Terminal Market was right across the street from our hotel, which was very convenient. It’s basically a maze of a market filled with local treats, eateries, meat, coffee shops and a charming miniature train exhibit at the very back.
This Macy’s is located in the heart of the city, and beautifully decorated for the holidays. There’s a beautiful light show played routinely throughout the day, a must-see. And on the third floor, they recreate Dicken’s Village with lots of figurines. Macy’s is closed on Christmas Day.
This charming park was a great night for us, because it had a carousel for my daughter to ride, a musical light show and a cozy tent coffee shop serving up fresh donuts and hot cocoa. The tent also offered a gingerbread house decorating kit activity for young ones.
On Christmas day, not a lot of businesses were open, so we decided to visit Dilworth Park before heading to a relative’s house for the evening. They had a skating rink open for families, but we didn’t use it because our daughters were too young. We walked around the garden, which was so ethereal and enchanting.
We had dinner at an Afghani restaurant called Kabul. It was a busy night, all the tables were full and we were sort of a large party, so we were seated at the far back where they have sectioned off an area where you can sit on the floor. Yes, we had a nice, traditional experience, but after the long wait for service, our knees and back were aching! Nonetheless, the food was delicious!
We had a wonderful time in Philadelphia, and now looking back at everything, I would love to go again for the holidays.
What’s your favorite staycation or holiday trip? Comment below 🙂
What a lovely idea to go away over Christmas- Dilworth park looks great on Christmas day! #thesatsesh
Yes it was! Thank you!!
Wow! Looks like a lovely break had by all! You don’t always have to go miles away to have a great time do you? Thank you for joining in with the #HoneybeeLinky lovely! Hope to see you for the next one! xxx
Yes, it was such a wonderful holiday! And bonus that’s its so close to home. Thank you for reading!
#thesatsesh Barbados is always winner for me. I met the Mr there, we got engaged and J had his first holiday there. It has my heart. I love the idea of visiting cities and think I may do this more now that J enjoys learning about history… food for thought – plus i love making plans 🙂
Oh sweet dreamer, making my city look so nice! Thank you! I do hope you come back! #thesatsesh xoxo
Lol Lisa I didn’t have to try too hard! Love Philly 😍
What a wonderful idea to go on a short trip for Christmas! Your photos look wonderful. Happy New Year from Ireland!
#ExplorerKids
Thank you!! Wow always wanted to visit Ireland! How cool 🤗
Wow so festive and lovely. I love visiting family in Cornwall, UK. Sarah #ExplorerKids
Thank you for reading!
Oh Wow! Fancy you staying at the Hilton! How marvellous! 🙂 The room looks really comfortable and a good size. I love the location where it is near to everything. Great choice! Location is everything! x
Thank you very much for linking up with us on #ExplorerKids
Thank you, we really enjoyed it!