Philadelphia and Longwood Gardens!

Lara and Glen and family moved just outside Philadelphia. I miss them living nearby but I'm glad they're still on the East Coast (at least for now). 

One Saturday in August I decided to visit them in their new town. I planned on only spending the day there but decided to just stay the weekend. 

I hung out at their house most of the day Saturday.

Adam and Ellie had a regional dance that evening in Philly at the chapel just across the street from the temple. Lara, Emma and I drove them there and then walked around Philly while waiting for them to be done at the dance.

The sky was gorgeous that night!

 Isn't it beautiful?!

Some sites we saw as we walked toward Independence Hall from the chapel (where we had parked the car).

Everything was closed since it was later in the evening but it was fun to walk around!

Independence Hall.

We're at the Liberty Bell! We look a little excited or maybe scared to be there. ;)

A Holocaust Memorial we ran across on our way back to the chapel.

I haven't spent much time in Philadelphia (even though I've only lived about 3 hours away for more than 8 years). I liked walking around Philly and now I need to go back and visit when the touristy things are open. :)

When we got back to the chapel, the dance wasn't quite over yet, so Lara, Emma, and I hung out in the temple visitor's center for awhile. Then we went to the chapel once the dance was close to be over.

I spent the night at Lara and Glen's house that night. I went to sacrament meeting with them in their new ward the next morning and then I started toward home with a pit stop at Longwood Gardens.

Lara had bought a season pass to Longwood Gardens and put my name on the pass too so I decided I needed to visit it while I was in the area.

I really loved the gardens!

I didn't even see half of the gardens in the amount of time I spent there.

The gardens were so big and so beautiful! These pictures don't really do it justice.

 The Italian Water Garden. I loved this part. I stayed here for awhile just soaking in the view!

 Topiaries! So cool!

Longwood Gardens was gorgeous! I need to go back and explore some more someday soon.

After the gardens, I found something to eat and then drove home. Since I had my GPS set on avoid toll roads, it took me on back roads half of the way home and it was beautiful!

Thanks Lara and Glen and family for letting me hang out with you that weekend!