Ian, if you ever want to take a vacation somewhere really interesting and steeped in history you got to visit Philly. I lived there many years and there, you could eat at what is called, The Tavern on the Square where it is said they put alot of work into the constitution and after, they partied on the roof. They serve only period food and drinking ale from pewter mugs. They dress in period clothing and talk like they did back then. It is a really neat place to visit but, got to warn you that the food is horrible. At least I thought so. But, it does take you back into time.
Philly is a great place with loads of stuff to see. I actually was asked to leave the Liberty bell area when although you are allowed to touch the bell, they didn't appreciate me saying when I pretended to have gotten my finger stuck in the crack, " oops, my finger is stuck, looks like I got to take it with me." It was pretty funny.
There is the mint where they make the money. You can watch it going on, the designers, etc, the money coming down conveying belts, and one man whom I think has got the greatest job in the world, he sweeps up all the shiny new pennies bouncing off the belt onto the floor. I bet he sweeps up in pennies more than any of us makes in a lifetime.
Just don't take your camera as I learned. They do not have a patent therefore, no pictures, no cameras. And, don't play around the escalator as my husband did with the boys, he was asked to leave if he didn't stop.
I loved it...
Then their is Betsy Ross's house. There a windy stairwell takes you down to her kitchen where the fires are going and the huge pots are boiling, and hangs the first flag she made.
Not far from there, everywhere, it becomes Ben's town. There you can see the house he didn't finish building, his first printing press and where he wrote Poor Richard's Almanack. For a small fee you can take a carriage ride, and see his musuem filled with electrical things. Further down on Arch street is where he is buried and on his grave people pitch pennies and those pennies they make into a bust located nearby.
Don't forget to check out Valley Forge, and George Washington's house where on the side window where he sat at his desk a candle is constantly lit.
Philly is a remarkable place and yes, the people are friendly. A must see if you love history, I marvel at it all.