Conquering 3 States in a Weekend: History, Boardwalks, and Pleasant Surprises
Conquering 3 States in a Weekend: History, Boardwalks, and Pleasant Surprises
We recently took a long weekend to knock a couple of states off our travel list. With New Jersey and Delaware added, we officially bumped our son’s “50 by 18” tally to 35! Even more exciting? These two states officially check off all the East Coast states, meaning we have now checked off both the East and West coasts! He is actually on target to visit all 50 states before he starts high school instead of before he graduates, but we will see if we can really commit and knock the rest out.
These two states have, frankly, been a challenge because, well, what exactly is there to see in either? Thankfully, I put together an East Coast weekend road trip that brought those two states together while also including Philadelphia and all it has to offer.
Here is how our quick tri-state journey went down, and why you shouldn’t always listen to the rumors!
Our Tri-State Itinerary at a Glance
- Thursday: Arrive in Philadelphia, explore Penn’s Landing, visit the Hope Fence, and grab a hotel cheesesteak.
- Friday: Explore Philadelphia’s historic district, then drive to New Jersey to kick off a family-friendly Atlantic City weekend.
- Saturday: Enjoy the Atlantic City boardwalk and arcades, then head south to Old New Castle, Delaware, to soak in some colonial history.
- Sunday: Grab a quick local breakfast in Delaware, drive back to Philadelphia for a Geno’s airport cheesesteak, and fly home.
Philadelphia: Unexpectedly Awesome
First and foremost, let me say that I went into this trip a little concerned about Philadelphia. Nobody, and I mean NOBODY, had anything nice to say about the city. In general, I’m not a city person, but the reputation that preceded this trip honestly made me anxious. Were we going to be safe? At one point, we were talking about our trip when a complete stranger told us Philadelphia was dangerous. Like, who does that?
That said, Philadelphia was actually a really awesome city! It didn’t feel unsafe, and frankly, the tourist and historic areas were so well kept.
We arrived on Thursday and settled into our hotel, the Hilton at Penn’s Landing. We spent that first afternoon exploring Penn’s Landing and walking along the beautiful waterfront. We also visited the Hope Fence to see the locks that people have placed, which makes for some very cool pictures. To cap off our arrival, we grabbed our first Philadelphia cheesesteak at the hotel restaurant, though I am still debating whether that counts as an authentic experience!
On Friday, we planned to see the Liberty Bell, and we did. Everything else in the historic district was jam-packed, so we will have to try again another time. Even while driving around, trying to catch a glimpse of Rocky at the top of those infamous stairs, you could tell this city had so much to see.
I want to go back and make better use of our time exploring more historical sites and visiting the haunted Eastern State Penitentiary. Next time, I would definitely pay for a city tour and maybe even look into a food tour. I’m genuinely looking forward to revisiting. So, don’t let other people’s opinions deter you. Be cautiously optimistic, and you might be pleasantly surprised by the adventure.
Atlantic City: Not Your MTV’s Jersey Shore
From Philadelphia, we headed to Atlantic City, New Jersey. I can’t even tell you how many people brought up Jersey Shore, and I honestly feel bad for New Jersey. I kept telling them, “No, they were from the southern part!” But all people seem to have in their heads are those fist-pumping fellas yelling GTL.
Atlantic City is pretty random. One minute you’re driving among the trees (I forgot to mention we were about two to three weeks too early for the big fall color change), and the next thing you know, everything is flat, and you’re getting some serious Las Vegas vibes.
Visiting in October, Atlantic City is VERY dead. The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino does not disappoint, though. Right next door is a casino-turned-arcade called The Lucky Snake that our son absolutely loved. Honestly, it was a great fit for our family. Grandma had time to spend in the casino, and our son had time to play video games, eat candy, and do all the kid things. Everyone had something to enjoy, which is really what you want when traveling as a family.
The Boardwalk is really awesome, too. Since this was an October trip and we visited on a Friday, the pier wasn’t fully open, though it did open a bit at night so we could see a few things lit up. While you are wandering the boardwalk, definitely grab some classic treats from Fralinger’s.
Like Philadelphia, Atlantic City came with plenty of warnings from other people, but they really seemed unwarranted, especially considering how quiet and empty the place was during our visit. I would absolutely like to go back when the pier and everything else are fully open. It was SO much tamer than Las Vegas and, with the beach right there, it turned out to be a surprisingly family-friendly Atlantic City getaway. It may not have been the wild, action-packed destination I expected, but it was a pretty great fit for us.
Old New Castle, Delaware: All-American Charm
From Atlantic City, we headed to Old New Castle, Delaware, where we stayed at The Terry House, a boutique hotel on Main Street. I can’t even begin to describe this city’s all-American charm, and even if I tried, you wouldn’t truly appreciate it until you see it.
We took a tour of the New Castle Court House and got an extensive history lesson. I hope I’m not alone in not knowing the names of people who signed the Declaration of Independence, like William Penn, another guy from Delaware, and a guy named Caesar. Yes, Caesar (Rodney). But now I know! That’s the beauty of these trips. I learn so much.
For dinner, we ate at Jessop’s Tavern, which was fantastic and exactly the colonial experience you need to have on a trip like this. I absolutely recommend a day trip to Old New Castle to learn about the birth of the first state and its role in our independence.
Fun Geography Fact: I didn’t even realize that Delaware is round at the top, and that has to do with the King at the time. In fact, you might be surprised to learn that Delaware actually goes into New Jersey, but Delaware only retains water rights (or something like that). Talk about geography weirdness!
What I Would Do Differently Next Time
If I had a do-over for this trip, the first thing I would change is scheduling a Liberty Bell tour in advance. I hesitated to book anything beforehand because I didn’t know what our schedule or the overall experience would be like. By the time we got there, there was absolutely no availability left.
Also, we went to the historic district on a Friday, which turned out to be incredibly busy with school field trips. There were so many schools! A weekend visit might actually be a lot easier to navigate the crowds.
Finally, I would probably book the Renaissance Hotel in the historic district of Philadelphia instead. While our hotel was great, staying in the historic district would let us walk to all the main sites instead of relying on Ubers to get around the city.
Heading Home & The Final Verdict
Before hitting the road on Sunday, we stopped at a local bakery for an on-the-go breakfast at Dream Bake Shop, then traveled back to Philadelphia, where we caught our flight home. Once at the airport, we decided to try Geno’s Steaks, and let me tell you, it was an absolute chef’s kiss!
An Eagles game was on at the airport, so it was funny watching everyone glued to it. People getting off flights immediately checked the score. It’s definitely a die-hard sort of city!
If you’re looking for a short road trip with plenty of history and a little Atlantic City adult fun, this one checks the boxes for all ages. All of our accommodations were reasonable, including the Hilton at Penn’s Landing. Next time, I’d probably stay at the Renaissance Hotel in the historic district to walk to everything, but the Hilton is a fantastic choice if you want easy access to the beautiful waterfront.