Sunday, October 8, 2006
After Sunday morning services at Chestnut Street Chapel in Gap, we packed up and left Lancaster County and drove west to Hershey. We made a stop at Chocolate World, rode the simulated tour ride, shopped the store, and then went into town. While walking next to the real Hershey factory, the smell of chocolate was so strong you could almost taste it while gulping air. We drove around the beautiful campus of Milton Hershey School and then traveled the short distance to our hotel near the Harrisburg airport. We enjoyed dinner the Outback Steakhouse then tried to get some sleep before our flight home at 6 AM Monday morning.
It’s been a great week with many terrific memories, but definitely marred by the one we’d prefer had never happened: the incomprehensible shooting of the innocent children at the Amish schoolhouse the previous Monday.
Monday, October 16, 2006
Saturday, October 7, 2006
This morning we drove into Lancaster and visited the Center Market right downtown - lots of fresh veggies and meats – then we visited the Lancaster Museum next door. Then we headed out of town to find the Landis Valley Farm, a living museum. It’s Harvest Celebration time in the area and we found many volunteers demonstrating how settlers lived and worked in this 18th century settlement. Light rain this afternoon, but not enough to prevent us from enjoying being outside.
We hit a big traffic jam on the way home – we later found out that the Columbus Day weekend is traditionally one of the peak tourist times. Dinner tonight was at Jakes Amish Bar-B-Que.
This morning we drove into Lancaster and visited the Center Market right downtown - lots of fresh veggies and meats – then we visited the Lancaster Museum next door. Then we headed out of town to find the Landis Valley Farm, a living museum. It’s Harvest Celebration time in the area and we found many volunteers demonstrating how settlers lived and worked in this 18th century settlement. Light rain this afternoon, but not enough to prevent us from enjoying being outside.
We hit a big traffic jam on the way home – we later found out that the Columbus Day weekend is traditionally one of the peak tourist times. Dinner tonight was at Jakes Amish Bar-B-Que.
Friday, October 6, 2006
Woke up to a light rain and temps in the low 50s - the rain ended by noon but it stayed quite cool throughout the day. The fall color is getting brighter and more prevalent each day we’re here. The colder weather is definitely an indication that fall has arrived. We headed north back to Bird in Hand and visited the Farmer’s Market, then to the Green Dragon Farmer’s Market in Ephrata. We enjoyed warm soup and a whoopee pie, and walked around checking out the fresh produce, meats, and wares. Then a brief stop at the Ephrata Cloister, an 18th century communal village of a celibate religious order (hmmmm... wonder why they’re not still there).
Next we journeyed to Lititz, home of a Moravian community which still exists in the area today. Here we visited the Wilbur Chocolate Company and Museum, the Sturgis Pretzel House, and walked the streets of this lovely town. On the way back we roamed through the countryside, drove through New Holland and Blue Ball and enjoyed a dinner meal at The Shady Maple restaurant complex. Then back to our cottage.
Woke up to a light rain and temps in the low 50s - the rain ended by noon but it stayed quite cool throughout the day. The fall color is getting brighter and more prevalent each day we’re here. The colder weather is definitely an indication that fall has arrived. We headed north back to Bird in Hand and visited the Farmer’s Market, then to the Green Dragon Farmer’s Market in Ephrata. We enjoyed warm soup and a whoopee pie, and walked around checking out the fresh produce, meats, and wares. Then a brief stop at the Ephrata Cloister, an 18th century communal village of a celibate religious order (hmmmm... wonder why they’re not still there).
Next we journeyed to Lititz, home of a Moravian community which still exists in the area today. Here we visited the Wilbur Chocolate Company and Museum, the Sturgis Pretzel House, and walked the streets of this lovely town. On the way back we roamed through the countryside, drove through New Holland and Blue Ball and enjoyed a dinner meal at The Shady Maple restaurant complex. Then back to our cottage.
Thursday, October 5, 2006
It was definitely cooler this morning but the skies cleared before noon and there was no rain. We traveled east to Valley Forge National Historic Park. The auto trail encampment tour took us around the various locations where a combined force of 12000 members of the Continental Army weathered the harsh winter of 1778. We enjoyed a picnic lunch at the Washington Memorial Chapel and then drove to the King of Prussia mall for a walk around this large, upscale shopping center. We saw an Eckerd store inside the mall and thought it may well be the last one we’ll ever see. Then back to our cottage where we walked some of the trails on the property and met the owners’ dogs. Back into Gap for dinner at the Gap Diner and finally home to the cottage to review our photos and prepare for bed.
It was definitely cooler this morning but the skies cleared before noon and there was no rain. We traveled east to Valley Forge National Historic Park. The auto trail encampment tour took us around the various locations where a combined force of 12000 members of the Continental Army weathered the harsh winter of 1778. We enjoyed a picnic lunch at the Washington Memorial Chapel and then drove to the King of Prussia mall for a walk around this large, upscale shopping center. We saw an Eckerd store inside the mall and thought it may well be the last one we’ll ever see. Then back to our cottage where we walked some of the trails on the property and met the owners’ dogs. Back into Gap for dinner at the Gap Diner and finally home to the cottage to review our photos and prepare for bed.
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
This morning we left the Lancaster area and drove an hour and half to Gettysburg. We found the National Cemetery and joined a ranger for an excellent tour of the grounds. He really brought the events and various elements of the period to life for us. After a picnic lunch we visited the National Military Park and walked along a portion of the Highwater Mark trail where the Confederate army made their biggest push toward Gettysburg. Then we drove parts of the park’s auto trail to see several of the battle’s well-known skirmish points. Over 50,000 casualties resulted in the heavy fighting over the three-day battle for Gettysburg.
After the battleground visits we drove south to Boyd’s Bear Country, a beautiful refuge for thousands of the collectable Boyd’s Bears and Friends. After a quick snack of ice cream we headed to the nearby outlets stores, where Jackie shopped and I surfed (the Internet). Then we took the longest possible way back to our cottage and nearly got lost just a few miles away. But we made it, enjoyed a good dinner at Friendly’s in Gap, and arrived back at the cottage around 8:30. Today’s weather was quite warm although the skies were moderately overcast most of the day. Tomorrow is supposed to begin a cooling trend with highs only in the 60s.
This morning we left the Lancaster area and drove an hour and half to Gettysburg. We found the National Cemetery and joined a ranger for an excellent tour of the grounds. He really brought the events and various elements of the period to life for us. After a picnic lunch we visited the National Military Park and walked along a portion of the Highwater Mark trail where the Confederate army made their biggest push toward Gettysburg. Then we drove parts of the park’s auto trail to see several of the battle’s well-known skirmish points. Over 50,000 casualties resulted in the heavy fighting over the three-day battle for Gettysburg.
After the battleground visits we drove south to Boyd’s Bear Country, a beautiful refuge for thousands of the collectable Boyd’s Bears and Friends. After a quick snack of ice cream we headed to the nearby outlets stores, where Jackie shopped and I surfed (the Internet). Then we took the longest possible way back to our cottage and nearly got lost just a few miles away. But we made it, enjoyed a good dinner at Friendly’s in Gap, and arrived back at the cottage around 8:30. Today’s weather was quite warm although the skies were moderately overcast most of the day. Tomorrow is supposed to begin a cooling trend with highs only in the 60s.
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Tuesday, October 3, 2006
Today we woke up before 7 am to make the 8:30 train into Philadelphia. After arriving at the 30th Street Station we hopped a subway to the Independence National Historical Park. We were able to tour Independence Hall and the first home of both houses of Congress. We also saw the Liberty Bell up close, and then enjoyed a traditional Philly Cheese Steak sandwich at Jim’s Steaks on South Street. After lunch we walked back uptown to the Federal Reserve Bank, Betsy Ross’s home, Benjamin Franklin's grave, and Christ Church. Then back on the subway to the train station and our hour long trip back to Parkesburg. It was neat to see all the historical sites here in our nation's first capital.
After a quick rest we drove though Atglen and then into Strasburg where we enjoyed dinner at the Red Caboose Restaurant. We were almost the only ones in the restaurant and our server talked at length about the impact yesterday’s events on the local community, which occurred just 5-6 miles from where we’re staying.
Today we woke up before 7 am to make the 8:30 train into Philadelphia. After arriving at the 30th Street Station we hopped a subway to the Independence National Historical Park. We were able to tour Independence Hall and the first home of both houses of Congress. We also saw the Liberty Bell up close, and then enjoyed a traditional Philly Cheese Steak sandwich at Jim’s Steaks on South Street. After lunch we walked back uptown to the Federal Reserve Bank, Betsy Ross’s home, Benjamin Franklin's grave, and Christ Church. Then back on the subway to the train station and our hour long trip back to Parkesburg. It was neat to see all the historical sites here in our nation's first capital.
After a quick rest we drove though Atglen and then into Strasburg where we enjoyed dinner at the Red Caboose Restaurant. We were almost the only ones in the restaurant and our server talked at length about the impact yesterday’s events on the local community, which occurred just 5-6 miles from where we’re staying.
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