We've had great luck on March Break road trips to the US Northeast, including Boston, NYC and DC. The area has proven to be a very accessible destination for us and it's been a favorite excursion for us as a family. We enjoy being "city guests", love the variety of attractions and entertainment, and thrive on the difference from home. We were anxious to try a new destination... so set our sights on Philly. It appealed to us through it's sense of history, pro-sporting events, and world class museums and attractions.

Up front, we took some time to research potential sites to visit, done exclusively through the internet. We usually work hard to keep things mixed for the group... some hands on science and art museums, maybe a hockey/basketball/baseball game, somewhere to get a bit of exercise (the kids can spend hours in a pool), a little shopping and always trying something different to eat. Even things that seem simple... like piling on a subway or navigating six lanes of traffic, have an inherent learning piece!!!

So we struck out via the "Toyoda" (after a thorough check up with Dr. Mike) as soon as school ended Friday and focused on hammering out the drive. We stuffed the car with all the necessities and Janie also arranged additional medical insurance for the family for peace of mind. Once in Philly, we set up our days by visiting attractions physically located near each other. The days weren't exactly "set in stone", with some flexibility around open timed tickets to adjust for weather. We used that wiggle room during this trip while planning for a rainy Tuesday.

The kids have become great travelers over the last few years, and settle in nicely for the many miles of car mixed with blasts of visit and attraction. We've learned (much to my pleasure) to pack light and move very quickly. No more than a bag each with perhaps a communal bag for shared items. Further, Janie's great to keep the cooler stocked with cold water, veggies and fruit, all at the ready in the car and hotel room. After last summer's road trip across the continent, we quickly picked up like a well oiled machine and looked like a pit crew moving in and out of our accommodations.

So... once again we've dropped online the pictures and stories of our travels to share with family and friends. If you wish, follow our journey which details things we saw, some of the folks we met, and the things we did. There are travel days at either end, with the bulk of the itinerary between Days Three to Seven. Janie and I both had cameras that we used for the pics you'll see in the Gallery, if you'd rather do the picture thing. Hope you enjoy!!!