In the last few years I have been bitten by the travel bug. It all started with a trip to Los Angeles that included my first earthquake. It was my first time away from my kids for more than a night, and my first time in the city of angels. I was alone for much of the trip, and it was simply magical to be able to be on my own and choose my own agenda.
Since then, I have done a lot more traveling, sometimes with the family, sometimes not. Recently I took my 14 year old son and my 10 year daughter into Philadelphia (a 45 minute ride for us in good traffic, 2+ hours in bad traffic). Our plan: spend the weekend attending a conference, and sneaking in some time to see the sites of the city we live so close to but rarely visit (see traffic issues above).
Where to Stay in downtown Philadelphia
When I asked the folks at VisitPhilly where we should stay they recommended the Omni Philadelphia. Set right in the heart of the downtown area, and literally across the street from history, this hotel offers both a great location and amazing rooms.
The pictures I took can’t capture this magnificent hotel in its’ full glory. It has an old world charm, but also all the modern day conveniences like 24 hour room service, a coffeepot in your room, and plenty of space. The word luxury comes to mind, especially when you enter your room.
The rooms are so big it feels like a suite, and while we had a good amount of stuff in tow it was all neatly hidden away in the closet and deep drawers.
Oh, and those beds. Don’t even get me started. They were the perfect combination of fluffy and firm. I loved that even though we had to share beds-they were roomy enough that I could stretch out without getting an arm or foot to the face. I miss them. <sigh>
Omni Kids
While the hotel felt very upscale and luxurious, Omni aims to please their littlest visitors too. At check-in the kids received a backpack filled with fun things to do, including a map of the city!
Another bonus? Call down anytime after dinner for a delivery of milk and cookies! I love that think of every little thing for your little people.
My kids loved looking out the window at the view-trying to figure out what everything was from so high up. Of course as soon as I got my ‘blog pictures’ above they jumped right on the beds. Isn’t that the best part of staying in a hotel after all?
We also loved all the kid-friendly TV programs that were available. Made going to sleep and waking up that much easier.
The kids already want to know when we can go back. Their siblings were terribly jealous, so next time we’re bringing the whole family!
Next week, I’ll be sharing tips and advice on getting the most out of your stay in Philadelphia.
Kelly
Disclosure: While my room was comped, all opinions are my own.
Ryan says
I’m a Temple alum, so I spent a fair amount of time in Philadelphia. One of my favorite things to do was to walk through Old City, stumbling upon the many old buildings, gardens and cemeteries. It’s one of the most underrated cities out there, but that’s part of what makes it nice to visit.
I love Philly….so glad other locals appreciate it!
Philly is one of my favorite cities of ALL TIME! I love that kids get a backpack at checkin. That’s smart marketing!
oh wow! This looks like an amazing stay!