I wish you were here

Philadelphia is famous for the historic events that led to the forming of the United States of America. This is where the founding fathers declared independence and later signed the constitution.  Many visitors come here to relive those momentous events and walk in the footsteps of giants.

But Philly is much more than a window on the past. Today’s Philadelphia offers a lot of food, culture and entertainment. A visit to this city is not complete without trying the variety of Philly Cheesesteak sandwiches, visiting a museum or catching a symphonic performance.

Read more about the city of Philadelphia here

The science museum is a great place to spend the day learning and having fun with the whole family. 

The museum has great fixed exhibits like Creative World and Ecosystems and special temporary exhibits like Journey to Space. Special exhibits usually require a ticket you can purchase at the ticket booth.

Along with the exhibits, the museum has a large format Imax theater that showcases films with scientific themes. Some are shown in amazing vivid 3D.

I went on many dolphin watch cruises in the past, but never so thrilling an experience. I have never been on a Jet Ski and was a little apprehensive about trying it, but the folks at Destiny Water Adventures made my first experience easy and pleasant.

We started with instructions on operating the jet ski and some safety rules. We donned our mandatory life jackets, and off we went. 

We started from Destiny's location in Fort Walton Beach on the Santa Rosa Sound – which separates Ft Walton from Okaloosa Island. We then headed into Choctawhatchee Bay towards Distin Harbor, then exited into the Gulf of Mexico.

In the clear waters of the gulf, we idled for a while, enjoying Dolphins swimming around us. The dolphins seemed curious about us, playfully jumping, and darting around, but eventually, they got bored and swam away. 

Visiting the zoo is always a delightful adventure for the entire family, and the San Diego Zoo offers an unparalleled open-air animal exhibit and interaction experience.

Located in the expansive Balboa Park, this world-renowned zoo spans about 100 acres and features 18 unique zones with a vast array of habitats. You'll find yourself returning multiple times to fully experience everything on offer.

Prepare for plenty of walking across various hills and valleys within the park.

Balboa Park itself is a massive complex comprising parks, museums, and sports venues. Learn more about Balboa Park here.

San Jose is the capital of Silicon Valley and the third largest city in Northern California. 

The city is home to many of the world's biggest tech firms and is considered one of the wealthiest major cities in the world, with the third-highest GDP per capita and the fifth-most expensive housing market. 

It is home to one of the world's largest overseas Vietnamese populations, a Hispanic community that makes up over 40% of the city's residents, and historic Japanese and Portuguese neighborhoods.

San Jose sits at the southern tip of San Francisco Bay in Santa Clara County and is considered a gateway to the city by the bay.

You can find a lot to do in San Jose, but it could be your base camp for more fun in San Francisco, Santa Cruz, and Monterey.

Here are some of my favorite attractions in the area: