[MplsTodd]

Way back in May, when optimism still prevailed over rising vaccination rates and decreasing COVID-19 cases, I had a six-day trip out to NYC, with time also spent in Philadelphia, and Montclair, NJ (a place I lived in 30 years ago).

First a few photos from the drive out east: Had lunch in downtown Harrisburg, plus a chance to stretch our legs walking around their historic downtown:

State Street, Harrisburg, PA by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Two Domes, Harrisburg, PA by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Keystone inlay at Pennsylvania State Capitol, Harrisburg by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Bicyclist memorial on State Capitol Steps, Harrisburg, PA by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Home along State Street, Harrisburg, PA by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

The next stop was Lancaster, PA --

Stans Records, N Prince Street, Lancaster, PA by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Southern Market (Under Renovation), Lancaster, PA by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Soldier & Sailors Monument and Griest Building, Lancaster, PA by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Former Watt & Shand Department Store, downtown Lancaster, PA by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Soldiers and Sailors Monument, , Penn Square, downtown Lancaster, PA by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Penn Square, downtown Lancaster, PA by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Queen Street, downtown Lancaster, PA by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Storefronts along N Prince Street, Lancaster, PA by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

While staying a few days with friends near Princeton, my older son & I headed into Philadelphia for a day. First stop was Doylestown:

The Doylestown Bookshop, Main Street, Doylestown, Bucks County, Pennsylvania by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Trash Culture, West Ashland Street, Doylestown, PA by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

State Street Businesses, Doylestown, PA by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Lenape Hall, 1 South Main Street, Doylestown, Bucks County, PA by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Intelligencer Building, 10 East Court Street, Doylestown, PA by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

And on into Philadelphia: First stop--the essential Philly cheesesteak. Usually, I'll stop at Jim's on South Street, but I'm trying to widen my culinary horizons a bit!

Philly Cheesesteaks: Chubby's and Delessandro's, Henry Avenue, Philadelphia by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

I had never before been to Manayunk and really enjoyed the character of this neighborhood. Unfortunately, the intense rain from Hurricane Ida led to significant flooding in this area this past week:

Manayunk Mural, Roxborough Avenue, Manayunk, Philadelphia by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Main Street, Manayunk, Philadelphia by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Main Street, Manayunk (Philadelphia) by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Main Street Businesses, Manayunk, Philadelphia by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Biking/Walking Path along the Schuylkill River, Philadelphia by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Philadelphia Skyline along the Schuylkill River by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Eastern State Penitentiary, Faitmount Avenue, Philadelphia by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

City Hall from North Broad Street, Philadelphia by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Packard Motor Car Company Building, 317-21 N Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Reading Terminal Market, Philadelphia by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Reading Terminal Market, Philadelphia by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

The Wanamaker Building, Philadelphia by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Former Market Street National Bank Building (now Residence Inn), 1-21 Juniper Street, Philadelphia, PA by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

City Hall, Philadelphia by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Outdoor Restaurant Booths along S 18th Street (due to COVID-19), Philadelphia by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia, PA by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Metropolitan Bakery, S 19th Street at Manning Street, Philadelphia by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Philadelphia Rowhomes, S 18th Street by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

1715 Rittenhouse Square Boutique Hotel, Philadelphia, PA by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

COVID-19-safe Outdoor Dining at Tequilas along Locust Street, Philadelphia by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Blume Storefront, Locust Street, Philadelphia, PA by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

The Bellevue. S Broad Street, Philadelphia by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Nuts To You, Walnut Street, Philadelphia by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Chestnut Street, Looking East, Center City Philadelphia, PA by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Philadelphia from PSFS (Loew's Hotel) by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Looking Northward from Loew's Hotel (Former PSFS Tower), Philadelphia by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Looking East Along Market Street from Loew's Hotel, Philadelphia by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Looking Southeasterly from Loew's Hotel Philadelphia by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

City Hall Philadelphia from Loew's Hotel (Former PSFS Tower) by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Philadelphia Skyline from Loew's Hotel by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Former Lit Brothers Department Store, Market Street, Philadelphia by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Lit Brothers Department Store Facade, Market Street, Philadelphia by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Independence Hall, Philadelphia, PA by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Philadelphia Bourse, Philadelphia, PA by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Interior of Philadelphia Bourse, Philadelphia, PA by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Second Street, Looking South toward Society Hill Towers from Market Street, Old City, Philadelphia, PA by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Second & Arch Street, Old City, Philadelphia, PA by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Colonial-era buildings, Arch Street, Old City, Philadelphia, PA by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Fashion District Philadelphia (Former Gallery at Market East), Center City Philadelphia, PA by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Rite Aid Pharmacy, Market Street at 10th Street, Center City Philadelphia by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Arts Bank, S Broad Street at South Street, Philadelphia, PA by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Bambi 1-Hour Cleaners, S Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Philadelphia Skyline by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Downtown Philadelphia from Citizens Bank Park by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Phillies vs Marlins at Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Washington Crossing State Park, New Jersey by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Washington Crossing Bridge, NJ/PA by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Looking Southward along the Delaware River from Washington Crossing Bridge, NJ/PA by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Lambertville, New Jersey by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Homes along Main Street, Lambertville, NJ by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Lambertville Trading Co, Lambertville, NJ by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Union Street, Lambertville, NJ by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Church Street Looking to First Presbyterian Church, Lambertville, NJ by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Train Station, New Hope, PA by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

The Free Library of New Hope, New Hope, Pennsylvania by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Bucks County Playhouse, New Hope, PA by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Main Street, New Hope, PA by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Mechanic Street, New Hope, PA by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

11-13 Mechanic Street, New Hope, PA by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

George Washington Statue at Washington Crossing Historic Park, Pennsylvania by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Delaware River at Washington Crossing Historic Park, PA by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

BONUS History Lesson!!

Diagram of Washington's Crossing and Battle of Trenton 1776 by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Bloomfield Avenue, downtown Montclair, New Jersey by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Park Street from Bloomfield Avenue, downtown Montclair, New Jersey by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Former US Post Office, Park Street, downtown Montclair, NJ by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Church Street, downtown Montclair, NJ by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Renovations Underway on Hampton House Building, Fullerton at Bloomfield Ave, downtown Montclair, NJ by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Bloomfield Avenue, Looking West from Fullerton: downtown Montclair, NJ by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Upper Montclair: Valley Road at Bellevue Avenue, Montclair, NJ by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Watchung Plaza, Montclair, New Jersey by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Looking South Along the Hudson River to Hudson Yards and Downtown Manhattan, with Jersey City at Right Background, from Weehawken Dueling Grounds Overlook, NJ by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

NEXT UP: New York City!