Instead of checking out the ruins of Rome, think about checking out our own history instead. Philadelphia isn’t that far from Boston and there is plenty to see there. The Philadelphia Downtown Marriott is selling weekends on a special deal until September and the savings will pay for your gas.

Independence Hall, Betsy Ross, the Zoo and more
You owe it to yourself and the family to see the city where the USA was born. Independence Hall is inspiring and how about going the new Liberty Bell Center to see that relic. You can get more information on the historic city at the new Independence Visitors Center. There are Guided Tours (75 minutes and 1.25 miles), independent self-guided tours (3 miles, 30 sites at your own pace) and MP3 tours of historic sites associated with the Revolution and the drafting of the Constitution available at the Visitors Center. The historic center of the city lies primarily between Front and Seventh Streets and Spruce and Race Streets, a nice concise area for exploration. And then of course, there is the Betsy Ross House and the Philadelphia Zoo.  

Philadelphia Museum of Art 
Philly also has one of the world’s great museum, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, which boasts a broad collection of art in many media from over the centuries. This summer, until October 25, they will be hosting a special exhibit “Henry Matisse and Modern Art on the French Riviera” that includes 42 items from the museum’s collection and local private collections, including works by Bonnard, Maillard, Soutine, Vuillard and others.   The National Constitution Center is currently holding a special exhibit  entitled Napoleon through September 7. More than 300 items, including paintings, prints, documents and personal effects from the collection of expert and author Pierre-Jean Chalençon are included.  

Cruiser Olympia, Admiral Dewey's flagship
One of the city’s hidden treasures is the Independence Seaport Museum, of the city’s waterfront. This is the home of the world’s oldest floating steel ship, the USS Olympia, a cruiser launched in San Francisco in 1892. This ship served as the flagship of Admiral Dewey in the battle of Manila Bay on May 1, 1898. This is the last of Teddy Roosevelt’s “Great White Fleet” style ships that put the US on the map as a world naval power. The museum also has the submarine Becuna which served on five wartime patrols in the Pacific Theatre of World War II.  The conditions under which those guys lived are hard to comprehend.

Some lodging deals
The Downtown Marriott deal is this: Check in on a Friday night at the regular rate of $149 and the rate for Saturday night will be based on the temperature (in fahrenheit), for example, in the temperature at 4pm on Saturday if 75°, the room rate will be $75. Assuming that the temps in Philly will not get to 149°, you are bound to save. Check the weatherman before you reserve, given the weather this year it could dip into the 60°s. Lowes Hotels has a special linked to the Napoleon exhibit and other specials, such as Date Night, could bring rates from $149, some including a dining credit of $50.