Despite about 5 times to Virginia and about 8 to Pennsylvania there was still a lot of The Map to fill in!
3,827 mile
~75 hours of driving
24 restaurants
16 bakeries
10 ice cream shops
3 chocolate shops
Friday, June 28th, 2019
MKE to Reagan National Airport.
Saturday, June 29th, 2019
From the Crowne Plaza used the morning run to go pay respects at the Pentagon 9/11 Memorial.
Having been there so much, was going to skip DC, but it’s worth it again and again to see the nation’s capital. Took the Metro to across the Potomac, rented a bike and did a loop of the National Mall.
A tradition to always look at....
Can't go the the fence anymore.
World War II Memorial. Seen it before, during and after construction and is always touching.
Korean War Memorial.
Revisited Alexandria since...it is a fantastic town! The hub of this historic town is Market Square.
Gadsby's Tavern opened in 1785 and has served George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe, Marquis de La Fayette and me.
Just imagine!
Next door was a museum to explain tavern life in the 1700s.
This is the 2nd floor ballroom. Thomas Jefferson celebrated his inauguration here in 1801. Just imagine! Other guests included George Washington, John Adams, James Madison and James Monroe.
Inn guests would sleep in this loft, 2 to 3 strangers to a bed. Think of this formula- heat, chamber pot, bedbugs, sheets not washed.
Alexandria just oozes with the colonial atmosphere.
Carlyle House is not only a fine example of a 1753 Georgian Mansion.
It was also the headquarters for the French and Indian War.
That building at the foot of the wharf was a torpedo factory during WW II.
What a lovely town to stroll.
Long time fixture The Creamery for regional flavor Orange Chocolate Chocolate Chip.
Built in 1765, Christ Church had members including George Washington, and many President have worshiped there.
What a lovely town to stroll.
Been to Mount Vernon. But was still super excited to see this special place again. And want to return again. He was a legend in his own time.
The back porch over the Potomac.
Have read even more books featuring it since the first visit. Took the special In-Depth Tour that is offered twice a day.
The special tour included seeing the basement!
The slave quarters and adjoining upper garden.
Tomb of Washington.
Martha to the left, the first Commander-in-Chief to the right.
On the grounds is an excellent museum detailing the life of George Washington and how it intertwined with the new country.
Surveyor
General
Yep. His teeth.
President Washington set the precedent for future Presidents.
Fredericksburg is a step back in time.
Including Goolrick's Pharmacy, the country's oldest pharmacy since 1867.
Carl's Frozen Custard made it on the favorites list.
South to Richmond and Dots Back Inn, which was featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.
Sunday, June 30th, 2019
The last visit to Richmond was before the tradition of a picture in front of state capitols was started.
Delved more into Richmond's districts- Shockoe, Financial, Canal Walk.
The Village Cafe near the VCU campus.
Inside is quite eclectic.
Is this not top photography!? A small donut shop in small Mechanicsville.
The jut of land at the eastern edge of Virginia is called Northern Neck. In a remote area off of Pope's Creek is the birthplace of George Washington.
The original structures are long gone so these are labeled 'memorial'.
The grounds contain the farm, kitchen, pastures and blacksmith shop.
Northern Neck is mostly greenery pocketed with the occasional small town.
It took some navigating of gravel roads to admire Chesapeake Bay.
In small Wakefield is the large Virginia Diner (opened 1929) who brags about their home cookin'.
Everyone was dressed in their Sunday best and having the buffet. I was going to avoid it to get better food, but time constraints and the potential for variety had me get two plates. AND IT WAS EXCELLENT. Fried chicken, mac n cheese, cabbage, peach cobble; best meal of the trip.
Water everywhere.
Good night!
Monday, July 1st, 2019
Good morning from Rocky Mount, Virginia.
This is America. Glade Hill.
Today it is a serene field. In the early 1860s this land, and this country, was torn apart during the war of the states.
The first Republican President elected and fear from the South of slavery ending tore apart a country and families. On April 9th, 1865 those hostilities ended at Appomattox Court House.
The town looks much as it did then with a general store, tavern and homes.
It was at the McClean home that General Lee rode up, dismounted and walked into the front parlor...
...to meet General Grant and sign his surrender to the Union.
THE quills used to end the conflict, reunite the country and allow President Lincoln's Proclamation to be carried out.
Lynchburg
It's healthy. It does have raspberries. Duh.
Outside of Lynchburg is Thomas Jefferson's "occasional retreat" Poplar Forest.
It was a 3 day carriage ride from Monticello (80 miles on today's roads).
Always a tinkerer, always an intellectual, he was always honing the symmetrical design.
Stepping inside was so special to imagine the great Founding Father striding these same halls.
His bed would have been in the center alcove with studies in the front and back.
The other side is undergoing restoration which allows a glimpse into how it was built. The dining room has a 16 foot skylight.
As a woodworker this door amazed me. Look at the mortise and tenon and panel detail work! With hand tools!
The L included the kitchen and smokehouse.
The National D-Day Memorial is in Bedford. Bedford had the highest losses per capita on D-Day.
Roanoke's City Market started in 1882.
After checking it outside went down Market Street for some bakery.
Look up. That it was I always say to do in old town.
Ninety minutes to the SW corner of Virginia to get a Skeeter-Dog in Wytheville.
In business since 1925 and at this location since the 1940s.
Made it on the favorites list.
Lavender Ice Tea Pop
Way further north to Staunton to Wright's Dairy-Rite. Carhops since the 50s!
Staunton quickly made it on my favorite towns list.
While I like a nice hotel, I don't get excited about them unless it is a glorious hotel of yesterday brought back to life and given a second chance. Public spaces restored and rooms updated with modern touches.
Tuesday July 2nd, 2019
View of this dynamic town from the room.
Could have kept running to take it all in.
You can just feel the ripples of time.
Not just the surrounding neighborhood, the house on the right is the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library.
Mrs. Rowe's has been doing pies since. That is Coconut Cream.
This is America.
Southern Kitchen. New Market. I loved this place!
Climbing the pyramids, ambling Machu Picchu, scaling the Great Wall, driving a Ferrari in Maranello...nothing compares to Cooter's The Dukes of Hazzard Museum.
Luray Caverns is a complex of museums and shops.
The Caverns were much like others visited . But lesser than Mammoth or my favorite Carlsbad.
Car & Carriage Caravan Museum.
North through Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland and up into Pennsylvania to revisit Harrisburg.
Was in here before, but the jaw still dropped.
Yep, wasn't doing the picture in front of the Capital tradition in 2003.
Allentown for Banana Pudding Ice Cream.
Jim Thorpe made it on the favorites town list.
A gently curing main street showcased stunning architecture.
Mauch Chunk was renamed after the Olympian and renowned athlete in 1953 as part of an odd agreement with his widow as she looked for somewhere to place his remains.
Wednesday, July 3rd, 2019
Morning run over the hills provided a view of Scranton.
First diner. Loved it.
Downtown Scranton, like most cities of the area, is...um....scruffy.
Second diner. Loved it.
Made my way north and then west into New York's Finger Lakes region.
Oh, a roadside farm stand? And they have dutch apple pie. Why, yes please.
This is America.
Finger Lakes in central NY is named from 11 long and narrow lakes. Many of those fingers are anchored by centuries old towns like Skaneateles.
Auburn and Geneva.
Connie's Dinner in Waterloo.
Meatloaf and mashed, of course!
Driving down a county highway had to do a U-turn. They bragged their ice cream was denser and creamier from using duck eggs. I'd say it was average-ish ice cream
Further west the countryside became more rolling.
Rural road, Monica's Pies.
This is America.
This is America.
Back in Pennsylvania.
Thursday, July 4th, 2019
Wellsboro. I love this town.
What America needs more of.
Wellsboro Diner. I love this place.
Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania.
Back on the open road heading south.
To Williamsport to see....
...Millionaires Row. These were the homes of the lumber barons of the early 1800s.
Flemington and Lock Haven.
Back on the...um...tree canopied open road.
This is America. And also elk country.
In New Castle I reflected on the hundreds of small towns I've rolled through. So much out there.
See the rainbow?
Friday, July 5th, 2019
The first heroes of 9/11. This black pathway marks the path of Flight 93.
A peaceful field is now a sacred resting place.
The sandstone boulder is the final crash site.
Discretely built into the memorial is a museum documenting that day and remembering those lives lost.
A circular drives to Memorial Plaza.
The wall to the left designates the sacred ground on the other side as the resting place.
The lower branches on hemlocks were burned off in the explosion and will never grow back.
Each solemn white marker bears the names.
The gate is only opened for family members.
Johnstown will forever be associated with the tragic flood on May 31st, 1889 when an earthen damn 14 miles up the valley gave way.
Today it is a typical town rooted in the past with a worn-down present.
1916.
The Johnstown Flood Museum details the horrific event.
Before and after. 2,209 died, 1600 homes, 280 business, 89 feet of water.
Heading north on an undulating highway saw an old picnic pavilion boasting of their BBQ.
Awww, another wonderful slice of America's past.
Jimmy Stewart was born and grew up in Indiana, PA.
The Jimmy Stewart Museum is on the 3rd floor above the library.
Besides a lot of movie posters it has a both from Hollywood's Chasen's and his office.
Took a walk around this energetic town loving seeing business thrive in a time everyone gravitates towards big box stores and strip mall.
Overlooking the main street, this is the home James Stewart grew up in.
Did you think Punxsutawney is charming? It's not.
Barclay Square and the surrounding neighborhood.
Outside of town is where the action is once a year. Will Punxsutawney Phil see his shadow?
More miles.
On the campus of Penn State University is the popular Berkey Creamery. That is Arboretum Breeze- mint ice cream with raspberry swirls and chocolate chips.
Boalsburg is one of those captivating towns from its intermingling of commercial and residential structures, most from the early 1800s and in Georgian or Victorian style.
Boalsburg is also were the tradition of decorating soldier's graves started.
Saturday, July 6th, 2019
On the road from going SW to...
...Harrisburg (again) to see the 18th century Broad Street Market. It's on Broad Street. There is the Stone Building.
And the Brick Building.
Of course there was food. Had to get an Amish pretzel from a kid (child labor laws?) and some decadent candy.
Good bye once again Harrisburg.
Following the Susquehanna River south, the twisting takes you through shabby steel towns.
This route brought me to seeing Three Mile Island. It was in 1979 that reactor #2 had a partial meltdown.
NE to the historic town of Lancaster. First up was breakfast at Neptune Diner. I loved this place.
Had to get something that included Pennsylvania Dutch staple scrapple- leftover pig parts mixed with cornmeal and seasoning. Biscuits were fantastic.
Lancaster was awesome.
And the main site here was Central Market. The oldest market in the country. 1730!
Most of these vendors have been here for generations.
Even it being stifling hot didn't dampen the size of the eager crowds.
From the Amish I got a pretzel donut and an actual pretzel.
Quick jaunt north to experience the swanky town of Lititz with its chocolate factory,
and Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery- the first one in the New World.
Bird-in-Hand Farmers Market. Loved it. Got some Amish Bakery from some kids (child labor laws?).
Common site.
Driving NE near a rural area outside of Reading for Daniel Boone's Homestead.
That is the original cellar.
Been to a lot of car museums. Boyertown Museum of Historic Cars wasn't the largest, but very well put together.
There was the main floor and a smaller second floor with carriages and a working blacksmith shop.
Notice any different? No ropes. You can wander among the cars.
The 1938 Reading Diner was moved and restored here in 2009.
Boyertown was charming.
Barto. Longacre Modern Dairy Bar. Apple Pie Ala Mode. Yum.
Couldn't be anywhere near Valley Forge and not visit this special place again.
Such a pivotal winter for the Revolutionary War and our struggle to freedom.
The difference between an officer's quarters and soldiers. Imagine 12 men, the fire, the lack of running water (IE bathing).
Besides myself with excitement to see General Washington's Headquarters again. Just imagine!
The aides' office and the General's office. Alexander Hamilton would have been there!
The General's chambers and the officer's.
Been to Pat's. Been to Geno's. So had to make a quick foray to South Philly to Tony Luke's.
So good.
Almost to Delaware, the Booth Corner Farmers Market dates to 1930s.
What a wonderful place. And so busy even an hour before closing.
Chamberlain's Roast Beef is an institution. It sucked.
At least there was good bakery.
This is the way it should be. And was for America and still is for the rest of the world. Not a supermarket, big box store or strip mall.
Bruster's Real Ice Cream. A regional chain I adore. That Southern Banana Puddin' made it on the favorites list.
Sunday, July 7th, 2019
Vicky's Diner. Outside of York. I love this place.
HAD to revisit Gettysburg.
Site of the Gettysburg Address, which I memorized in my early teens for fun. And years later knew what a monumental tactic President Lincoln used.
Downtown Gettysburg. In the 1860s it also had t-shirt shops, fudge and Civil War collectible shops.
Chambersburg.
3 hours west to tour Fallingwater.
Visiting this Frank Lloyd Wright creation deep in the forests in southwest PA has been high on the list for years.
Not a fan of FLW's character. But this was remarkable.
It was built in 1930 for the Kaufmanns, who had a department store in Pittsburgh, as a weekend home.
It uses a lot of the techniques FLW used on his projects, including the more famous prairie style.
Nature is pulled inside everywhere.
A walkway curves up to a guest house.
That guest house and pool overlooks the main house.
It was still exciting to see despite the flaws of it and its creator.
Ohiopyle is a huge hub of outdoor activity.
Hour and a half NW to revisit. Pittsburgh; a tourist friendly city worthy of a weekend.
Made a beeline to the Strip. This is the wholesale area north of downtown.
It still retains that grit and luckily hasn't gotten too touristy. Yet.
Had to revisit Primanti.
For the atmosphere.
And a pastrami sandwich. You see, this was a stop for truck drivers of this wholesale area who had little time so the sandwiches have meat, cheese, coleslaw, tomato and french fries between those slabs of white bread. A meal they could eat on the go.
Tell next time Pittsburgh.
