Welcome Aboard, Explorers!

I'm sure everyone's been wondering "What happened to the outward-bound
spirit of adventure that used to lie deep in the Jacquays' souls?" IT'S STILL
THERE! Don't worry. We've been all over, because fall is truly the best time to
get out and get going. So I have lots of recommendations for the next time
you are in town...

The American Philosophical Society: Almost invisible in the shadow of its
neighbor, Independence Hall, it's hard to believe that the APS used to be the
epicenter of American thought and exploration. Scientists, philosophers,
politicians, artists, tradesman and explorers all clamored for recognition from
and membership in the APS because it was the only game in town-- the APS
started in 1743, predating the Smithsonian, our national library, and even the
University of Penn, which I always lovingly assumed was older than dust.

Right now they've got an exhibition on about explorers, a topic ever so near
and dear to our hearts. It's small, but beautiful, and in a building whose stairs
even inspire awe. The kids liked the polar bear skull! And at the price of
*FREE*, it is not to be missed!

The Wagner Free Institute of Science: This Saturday we're going back to the
Wagner so the experts there can give us the low-down on some rock and plant
specimens we've been collecting! We only spent a short time at the Wagner a
few weekends back, but we couldn't wait to return...

When they say this place is virtually unchanged from the day it opened its
doors, they mean it! Like the APS, the Wagner was hopping with the spirit of
science and discovery more than 100 years ago, and it still has that air of
excitement, allbeit covered in a kind of dark-wood veneer. Fine by me!
Plunked down in a bit of a dodgy neighborhood up Broad St (near Temple
Univ.), it's just the sort of thing an urban explorer dreams of stumbling upon.

Case after case of rocks, sea life, taxidermied birds and squirrels, butterflies,
and skeletons fill the upstairs exhibition hall. Alligators and elephant skulls
stare down at you from atop the taller cabinets, and hand-lettered labels, with
their faded calligraphy, make you wonder how long it's been since human
hands have entered these crypt-like collections. It falls comfortably short of
spooky-mad-scientist-land (to the relief of the kids) since the whole place is
filled with amazing sunlight from all the windows and the super high ceiling. A
less-famous cousin to the Mutter Museum, you might say, this place has got
antiquarian style. Don't forget to peek in to the lecture hall on the first floor,
too-- if you squint you can almost see Victorian ladies and gents settling their
hats and spats into the creaky wood and iron seats! The only disappointment:
no photos allowed?!? But there's always the website... check it out!

Wissahickon Valley Park: Seth's mind has
been turning toward hiking the great outdoors, so yesterday we made a trial
run on the trails of the lovely Wissahickon, just a ten minute drive from Center
City. We hiked hill and dale all the way to Historic Rittenhousetown (for those
who remember our glowing review of paper making there at Easter time)--
quite an accomplishment for our little band of weary travellers! With ample
parking at the start, we were able to begin on an easy, paved multi-purpose
trail, and then branch off into the woods, where Seth even crossed a stream by
walking across a fallen log! Tons of people were out on bikes or jogging, and it
was the perfect activity for such a beautiful day. Our next hike will be the
FORBIDDEN DRIVE, which ultimately winds up by one of my well-known favorite
lunch spots, the Valley Green Inn! I always wondered where that path went...

Photos from this and more are forthcoming! And PS-- If anyone is curious what
I want for Christmas, it's a Flickr membership (so I can keep all our photos up
instead of deleting the old to make way for the new)...

Posted by jvoris at November 5, 2007 09:03 AM