Hyde Park and Philly - thanks and report
 

I just returned from the middle Hudson Valley and Philadelphia and want to thank everyone for advice and report back. We stayed at Belvedere mansion - not worth it. Upretty grounds and pretty lobby, but the room was not comfortable. We ate at CIA, L'Escoffier, and this too disappointed us. It was pretty and service pleasant, but the food was just okay. We love French food, but this wasn't very interesting French food. The prices are also remarkable! On the other hand, we had an incredible meal at Calico in Rhinebeck. This is a small restaurant run by a CIA grad couple - he is chef, and she does pastries. I highly recommend it! The Mills mansion, Vanderbilt mansion and FDR sites were well worth the travel time. All were extremely interesting.
We stayed at the Sofitel in Philly, thanks to this site. We got a 1 bedroom suite for $179 per night, and it was beautiful - one of the nicest hotel rooms we have had. Very pleasant staff and excellent location. We had two good ethnic dinners. At Fez Morrocco, we had their prix fixe ($20) 8 course meal. That is all they serve on weekends. The food was excellent and the ambience fun. Also very good was Indonesia in Chinatown. We had a very good rijstaffel. Rangoon, a Burmese restaurant, was just adequate. For those who told me about Little Petes for breakfast, you were right. Convenient to our hotel, but not great.
Philadelphia is a great city to explore, and we will return. We lucked on the weekend when Eltha"s (?sp) alley was having a fete, and were able to go into many houses.
So thanks to you all, some who responded to my questions and some whose postings I read.

Hi epi-

Glad to hear that you had a good time in Philadelphia and you enjoyed Sofitel. Thanks for the report!

epi: Thanks very much for the CIA info- I will use that on an upcoming trip to see a relative in Hyde Park.

BTW- are you an epi? Just curious. I work w/epis.

Yes, assuming you mean epidemiologist - except I'm retired.

Retired sounds good right now! I work w/epi conultants on clinical studies and analysis. A very interesting profession, one I wish I would have gotten more involved in at a younger age.
I wonder if you came across the Morse Museum while you were in Hyde Park (I think it is closer to Pouchippse (sp, I know- I never can get that one without looking it up). It is the home of Samuel Morse as in Morse code. Another interesting place.
I agree w/you about Philly. We go there every year and have not ever come close to doing everything there is to do there. Love to go to the Italian market- best big sticks of pepperoni and pickles and cheeses to bring back home.

FYI - It's called Elfreth's Alley, supposedly the oldest continuous residential street in the country.