After spending a few days in New York, we stopped off in Philadelphia for a few days as we worked our way back home (in truth Dakota generally can’t do more than a couple hours in the car without getting upset so it made the drive home easier).

We stayed at the Warwick Hotel Rittenhouse Square and were determined to hit up typical touristy spots like the U.S. Mint, Liberty Bell and Rocky Steps. In between excursions we grabbed bites at Jose Garces’ Distrito in Spruce Street Harbor Park, Marathon, and Reading Terminal Market. Although we really wanted to try Pizzeria Beddia we couldn’t justify waiting in the summer heat with Dakota very long so we wandered around Fishtown instead and marked it down as something to try the next time we visit. Our last morning in the city we discovered The Bakeshop on 20th which has THE BEST scones and made us wish we had made dropping by the cafe part of our daily morning routine.

Of course no trip is complete without checking out a brewery or two so Alex can stock up on his glassware collection at home, so Yards Brewing Co, Philadelphia Brewing Company and Roy Pitz Barrel House made for gratifying ways to escape the heat when needed.

One thing we realized this trip is Dakota has developed quite the excitement for animals. She’d screech out at the dogs that passed by as we’d play in the grass in Rittenhouse Square, and she absolutely loved the Wild: Michael Nichols exhibit at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, squawking loudly at each new photograph of a lion, cheetah or monkey. This girl is one serious animal lover!