RoadAbode ~ RV RoadTripping ~ Railroad Fan in the Family? Head to Pennsylvania!

Steamtown Roundhouse in Scranton, PA

Pennsylvania has a rich heritage in railroading. Railroads extended into virtually every corner of the state and the rails became part of a way of life during the Industrial Revolution. Tons of goods, both perishable and non-perishable, were - and still are - sent by freight train. Because a station or depot was in the heart of  local communities, the comings and goings at a train station of famous and common people alike ended up as important headlines in the local newspaper.  People traveled by train to visit family and friends. A train was a way to get to a job, or get to shop the latest fashions in the "big cities". Men went off to war, trains brought them back home to loved ones. Travel by train allowed quick trips, and a freedom that many would not had in those times by alternate forms of transportation.
Even as a boy in the late 1960s, I can still remember the excitement of taking an electric powered commuter train into Center City Philadelphia. Reading Terminal station, and it's farmers market were a crazy, whirlwind of sights, smells and sounds. Oh, mom could have made us taken the bus, but - the train! That was the cool way to go. Though perhaps the arrival and departure of rail cars does not incite as much excitement as those years long ago, railroads still play an important role in moving goods and people every day in Pennsylvania. Even though we now have interstates to swiftly move us from one destination to another, there is a nostalgia, or sense of serenity seated in a train watching the world go by.
For those that really love the "clickty-clack" of the rails, or that distinct scent of greasy steam, there is nothing more fun than a ride on a coach pulled by a big ol' steam engine. There are still places to enjoy the scenery as you pass the changing landscape pulled along by these behemoths. How interesting it is to inspect the mechanisms and workings of those old engines up close! Riding a scenic railway is a great way to see the landscape, relax and enjoy the company of family or friends. Below, the RoadAbode Crew highlights a few places for the RVing rail fan in your family or group of friends. Check out these places to learn about, play with, get up on, and close to the Iron Horses of Pennsylvania.

 #1123 (retired) from Strasburg Railroad in Lancaster, PA

Lancaster County Area

Strasburg Rail Road

The Strasburg is one of the few railroads in the U.S. that still utilizes steam locomotives to regularly haul revenue freight trains. Located in Lancaster County, this railroad has been operating since 1832 to present day. The change from strictly  a working freight and passenger line to offering Heritage Rails excursions started in 1958. The rail line is now quickly closing in on it's 60th anniversary as a mostly tourism driven railroad. The rail line includes the U.S.'s only operational wooden dining car which allows visitors to dine while riding through Lancaster County. In 2011, Strasburg Rail Road received a state historical marker. This honor, presented by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, recognized Strasburg Rail Road’s impact on the railroad industry and its innovations in heritage tourism. Each excursion travels through the picturesque farmland of Lancaster County. For younger railroaders, the line offers seasonal rides with Santa, the Easter Bunny, and special excursions featuring Thomas the Tank Engine and his friend Percy. For more information on the Strasburg Railroad check http://www.strasburgrailroad.com/

Railroad Museum of PA ~ Tahoe Steam Engine from 1875

Railroad Museum of PA

Right next door (and a combined ticket is available) to Strasburg Railroad is the Railroad Museum of PA. The museum has more than 100 historic pieces of rolling stock in their collection, including passenger, freight, and maintenance pieces, in addition to their locomotives. Some locomotives can be climbed into and onto, bringing alive America's railroading history. Interactive displays allows visitors to "take the throttle" on a simulated run in a real freight locomotive, climb aboard a caboose, inspect a 62-ton locomotive from underneath, and view restoration activities on the iron horses via closed-circuit television. The museum offers plenty of other exhibits, which include several model railroad layouts, an educational center, a library with archives, and a smaller exhibit gallery on the second floor. One weekend the RoadAbode Crew visited, there was an author giving a presentation about hobos and train hoppers of the 1920s and 30s, which was the topic of his book. It was really interesting to lean the codes and language of the people from the era.
Open since 1975, the museum has grown to 18 acres of land, including 100,000 square feet indoors.
More information is available at www.rrmuseumpa.org

National Toy Train museum

For something you can play with rather than ride, this museum near Strasburg holds a collection of toy trains which dates from the early 1800s to current train sets. Trains are collected according to gauge, age, manufacturer and rarity. Five operating, interactive train layouts in G, Standard, O, S and HO Gauges. Videos on all aspects of toy trains play throughout the museum. You can find Lionel, American Flyer, MTH, Weaver, LGB, Bachmann, Marklin, and more manufacturers of toy trains on display, or operating. Many of the layouts for the trainsets are arranged so all you have to do is push a button, and they run a predetermined track and path. Each large layout represents a different period of the 20th Century. The museum als houses a research library, which has a vast collection of information on the history and characteristics of toy trains in the United States and elsewhere. 

http://nttmuseum.org/

Choo Choo Barn

The Choo choo barn was formed by one family's love for model railroading. The massive interconnected layout features many local Lancaster County buildings and landmarks. Some of the pieces incorporated into the scenery date from the original platform the family built in 1940s. Back in the beginning, the train platform was for display only for family and friends, setup in the family basement. In the 1950s they shared the growing layout with school and church groups. By the 1960s the family wanted to earn extra money for college, so in 1961 they moved everything to an unused township building and created a 600 square foot layout with six running trains. Every year since they have added to the layout, and to the building or landscaping. Whether you enjoy model railroading or just like looking, there are unique animatronics and details through the Choo Choo barn to be found.

Visit www.choochoobarn.com/ to learn more about the Choo Choo Barn.

Some of the sights at the Choo Choo Barn

National Christmas Center & Museum

Also worth a trip is the National Christmas Center & Museum, While not specifically train-centric, the museum, it does have a large part of it's display dedicated to toy trains. Toyland Train Mountain stands three tiers high and thirty feet in diameter. Besides the train room, there are also a walk thru olde time Woolworth display, and village highlighting Christmas traditions from around the world.
The National Christmas Center & Museum website is www.nationalchristmascenter.com

Camping in Lancaster County

There are some great places the RoadAbode Crew have stayed in Lancaster County Click here for our  favorite campgrounds in this area.

Lackawanna County Area

Steamtown

Steamtown Overview

Housed is the site of the former Scranton yards of the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad (DL&W), Steamtown is in the downtown of Scranton, and encompasses over 62 acres of land. The museum is built around a working turntable and a roundhouse and is actially reconstructed from remnants of a 1932 structure that was originally on the property. The museum tell the story about the history and technology of steam railroads in the United States and life on the railroad. A steam locomotive with cutaway sections helps visitors understand steam power. Park rangers and volunteers offer a variety of demonstrations, tours, and excursions that demonstrate how railroads functioned in the age of steam. Several working locomotives take visitors on short excursions through the Scranton yard in the spring, summer, and fall.  Longer trips are a seperate cost from Steamtown admission and are scheduled to various nearby towns, including the Lackawanna River valley and Carbondale, Tobyhanna and Moscow, Pennsylvania. On rare occasions, excursions are run to the Delaware Water Gap, East Stroudsburg, and Cresco, Pennsylvania, or on the Canadian Pacific Railway to Binghamton, New York.
Steamtown is a National Historic Site. It's website is www.nps.gov/stea/index.htm

Campground to check out nearby : Cozy Creek Family Campground For a great state park, check this link to learn about a park the RoadAbode Crew really enjoyed.

Northumberland County Area

Knoebels Amusement Park

Probably not the first place to think of railroading, Knoebel's amusement park has two great steam engines that you can ride. Though miniature compared to true iron horses, the rides are fun for old and young alike. Old Smokey a coal burning coal-fueled steam locomotive takes you around and through the grove where children's rides, the lumber mill, and blacksmith reside. Pioneer Train, run on gasoline power takes a journey through the woods and close to the the Knoebels campground. Both engines are from 1960, with passenger cars dating from 1946. Many of the attractions of the park are beautifully maintained from the early 1900s. Kids of all ages enjoy coming year after year.

To learn about the campgrounds available right on site, check our information on Knoebels campgrounds here

Bucks County

New Hope and Ivyland Railroad

New Hope Station

The railroad was originally known as the New Hope Branch of the Reading Company, which leased the North Pennsylvania Railroad, of which it was a part. n 1914, a segment of the classic silent film The Perils of Pauline was filmed on the tracks now used by the New Hope and Ivyland Railroad. the railroad operates wine and cheese tasting trains dubbed the Grapevine Express. On select weekends, the railroad runs its Evening Star Dinner Train between New Hope and Buckingham Valley. Check https://www.newhoperailroad.com for more information.

Camping in Bucks County

A close Campground would be Beaver Valley

York County Area

Steam into History

Steam into History

Steam into History is located south of York PA Opened in 2013 This non-profit's locomotive and train set are a faithful replica of the 1860's train Abraham Lincoln rode to present the Gettysburg Address and two years later carried his body in a funeral car.
Each of the runs have a narrator who is well versed in the history of the area as well as Civil War History.  Most volunteers and staff are knowledgeable on the history of trains.  The train sometimes included rides with actors or reenactors, willing to share with you their stories on the Civil War.  The emphasis is on telling the story and recreating when President Abraham Lincoln traveled by train to Gettysburg to give the famous Gettysburg address, possibly even writing or re-writing parts of his speech while on the way.  The other story told occurred just a year and a half  later, when the funeral train for President Lincoln passed through New Freedom and Hanover Junction, stopping in the city of York to take on water for the train’s boiler. www.steamintohistory.com/

Camping in York County

Codorus State Park is only twenty minutes from Steam into History. 

Venango County Area

Oil Creek and Titusville Railroad

The Oil Creek and Titusville Railroad (OC&T) is a tourist ride through the valley where oil was first discovered and refined in the United States. The OC&T is notable in that it operates the only working Railway Post Office in the United States. For income, it may carry a few freight cars at the end of the passenger cars. Excursions operate over tracks that were originally built as the main line of the Buffalo, New York and Philadelphia Railroad in the 1880s. Oil City is known as the site of the world's first oil field. Unlike the previous railroad railroads mentioned, OC&T does not have any steam stock, and it's oldest engine is from 1947. The train does pull through  some beautiful countryside, featuring special fall foliage and murder mystery excursions.
For more information, check in at www.octrr.org/

Camping in Venango County

Camping nearby: Oil Creek Family Campground

Carbon County Area

Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway

Located in the the quaint town of Jim Thorpe, this train line follows the former Lehigh Valley main line, along state park rails-to-trails, and rounding curve after curve  along the Leigh River. Pulled by modern deisel locomotives, the passenger cars are either standard coach style, or open air car that has a roof over its top, a bench that runs down the middle, and the sides of the train car are completely open.  People can get up and walk around or stand in this coach to look at the passing scenery. Unique to the Lehigh Gorge railway is the opportunity to take the train one way and ride back by bike. You can either bring your own, or rent a bike  It takes most people 3 to 4 hours to bike the returning slightly downhill 25 mile trail.
For more information on the Lehigh Gorge Senic Railway check www.lgsry.com
For the "Bike Train" check www.poconobiking.com/specialty-trips/bike-train for more info

Carbon County Camping

Camping nearby: Jim Thorpe Campground

Philadelphia County Area

Garden Trains Morris Arboretum

If in the Philadelphia area, besides riding the commuter rails of SEPTA, check out the beautiful outdoor multi level layout offered at Morris Arboretum. The display and buildings are all made of natural materials and feature Philadelphia Landmarks. The railway is going into it's 17th year in 2015. 

Visit www.business-services.upenn.edu/arboretum/gardens_railway.shtml for more information

Other PA Railroading Museums and Historic Sites

There are plenty of other ways to experience Pennsylvania rail history. Check out some of the other attractions and historic areas - linked through Wikipedia:

Allegheny Portage Railroad
Howard Tunnel
Electric City Trolley Museum
Gallitzin Tunnel
Horseshoe Curve
Mars Station, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Trolley Museum
Rockhill Trolley Museum
Western Pennsylvania Model Railroad Museum

For great reads on the History of Railroading in Pennsylvania, check out the books by Pennsylvania transportation historian Dan Cupper below.
Pennsylvaina Rail (and other) History Books by Dan Cupper

The RoadAbode Crew would love to hear about your favorite places to enjoy the history of railroading in Pennsylvania.  Did we miss any great places to visit? Share your favorite places, and tips or secrets how to best enjoy the places we mentioned above. Please post in the comments below to let others know about the great ways to enjoy railroading in PA!

Seven Cool Games to Play with RVing Friends and Family

Playing Games at a Campsite

When the RoadAbode Crew goes for week-long  journeys, or even when we go for our long weekends, part of the fun is to disconnect from the world and reconnect to each other. With our daughters now in their "twenty-something" and teen years, our regular work weeks are filled with deadlines, meetings, and well... work. We try to eat at least a meal together during work weeks, but sometimes even those can be hurried affairs as we chow down - and then rush off to an evening appointment or continuing on some project.
Thankfully when we take time in RoadAbode, the meals are more casual, we can enjoy the outdoors, or perhaps just sit camp-side and enjoy the view. While relaxing and being a little active, one thing we like to do together is a good game. Maybe it's our competitive nature, the challenge of something that does't have a deadline, or just the laughs we get as we play. When we choose to play, here are our seven favorite games to share with friends and family.

Deck of Cards

First up is the simple yet awesome deck of cards. For the money you can't beat a deck of cards to have fun with. Either by yourself playing solitaire, two players playing war, or get everyone in with a game of spit.Our girls are always bringing new card games into the fold, and it's always part of the fun to learn new games from friends we bring along.

Bicycle Rider Back Poker Playing Cards - 2 Decks

UNO

According to Wikipedia, In 1971 barber Merle Robbins of Ohio invented UNO to resolve an argument with his son about rules in the card game Crazy Eights. They had so much fun, they started making the revised decks of cards for friends and family. The original decks were designed and made on the family dining room table. Then Merle and his family saved $8,000 and created the first UNO decks to sell. At first he sold them out of his barber shop. In 1981, he sold the rights to UNO to International Games for $50,000 plus royalties of 10 cents per copy. Today this popular game is produced by Mattel in over 80 countries and has sold over 151 million copies worldwide.
One of the great things about UNO is it's ability to be played by all ages, the rules are pretty straightforward, and it can teach little kids numbers and colors - without them knowing it. The ability to "reverse" play can keep everyone on their toes!

Uno Card Game

Ladder Golf

Card games are great for beautiful nights under our canopy, or rainy days inside RoadAbode, but for the RoadAbode Crew, nothing beats Ladder Golf for a sunny spring or summer afternoon. A tossing game, Ladder Golf, (Also called Ladder Toss) is played by throwing bolas (two balls connected by a string) onto a "ladder" made of PVC. Each ladder has three rungs, and each rung is a different point value. The point is to get a bola wrapped around a rung on the ladder. First team to get to 21 - wins. Ladder golf takes some skill, but is a game that can be played by all ages. We tend to bend the rules a bit when we have younger - or unskilled - players. It's more about the fun you have together sometimes than the win!

GoSports Premium Ladder Toss Game (includes carrying case)

Quiddler

Teach kids spelling and lean new words? Find combos of words for weird sentences? I'm in! Rules are simple - compete by spelling English words from cards in hands of increasing size, each card worth various points. The game could be considered a mixture of Scrabble and gin rummy. There are 8 rounds played per game, beginning with a three-card hand and ending with a ten-card hand. The rest of the cards form a draw pile. The top card is turned over to start a discard pile. A players turn starts when they pick a draw card and ends when they discard. a card. A round is done when a player puts down a word (or phrase) and has no cards left. Winner is whomever has the most points at the end of all the rounds. There are variations, but those are the basic rules. games can go quite quickly, and it's fun to see what words friends and family will come up with.

Quiddler

Apples to Apples

The last of our card games, is another great activity because it holds the interest of those learning to read or older, and because it can help younger kids learn about words that go together. Players are dealt five to seven noun or noun phrase "red apple" cards. The Judge selected for the round selects an adjective "green apple" card. Players pull what noun card they have to best fit the adjective. Each player also can plead their case of why theirs is the best word. Finally, the judge selects - and  what the judge says - goes! The winner of the game is the first player to accumulate four green cards. The game is structured so that the rules can be changed or bent to particular ages or skill levels. There are even expansion and specialty word packs available.

Apples to Apples Party Box - The Game of Crazy Combinations (Family Edition)
Not in our top seven, - but needed a listing- A game strictly for adults with a similar theme that has become famous is Cards against Humanity. This game features irreverent, dark and politically incorrect word and phrase pairings, which in the right company could have hilarious consequences. It consists of Black "Question" cards and White "Answer" cards. I would not play this with your kids, or your parents. You've been warned.

Cards Against Humanity

Cornhole

Corn hole is sometimes called "hilly-billy horseshoes" I can't say that hilly-billies wouldn't play regular horseshoes and Cornhole, but Cornhole is definitely a homespun game. The mythology of  Cornhole states that a game of very similar nature was played by Native Americans in Midwest America, who filled pigs' bladders with dried beans and competitively tossed them for entertainment. I could not find information to back that up - but it's a cool story!
Players take turns throwing bags of corn at a raised platform with a hole in the far end. A bag in the hole scores 3 points, while one on the platform scores 1 point. Play continues until a team or player reaches the score of 21. Each round of play is called an "inning" A player tosses 4 bags one after the other per inning. Below is a special code from the Cornhole Store for 10% off a purchase!

Washer Toss

This game is also similar to horseshoes but with a twist. Washer toss, or Washer Pitch, uses ordinary  metal two inch diameter hardware washers to score points by tossing them into a four inch diameter PVC pipe centered in a"pitching box" that's 16x16 inches. There are other versions such as a three hole toss and a plain sand pitch. These can depend on what is favored locally. Plans to build the game and rules can be found at www.washergameplayers.com If you don't feel like building - check out the Washer Toss completed kit below.


GoSports Pine Wood Washer Toss Game Set

What's your game?

Those are our favorite games when spending time as a family. We'd love to hear and learn about other games. What do you play with family and friends when out RVing? Please comment below and let us hear about your favorite games, or how you play the ones mentioned above. Happy RVing - hope to see you down the road!

We want you to know - If you click on the images or links in this blog post and make a purchase, the RoadAbode Crew get a small commission, and you pay the same price as if you went straight to the online retailer. These are items we have or have played with friends while RoadTripping in RoadAbode. Read our disclaimer for more info. If you can enjoy any of our suggestions, we humbly thank you in advance for your support.

A RVing Christmas - Making it a Cool Yule for the RVers on Your Gift List

At the Thanksgiving dinner table, the RoadAbode Crew were discussing with friends what we've been thankful for throughout the year. Inevitably for us, the stories turn toward our favorite trips in RoadAbode. Either the beauty of natural surroundings we've encountered, yummy delights we've dined upon, or the great times had exploring with family and friends. We feel it's such a blessing that our girls have grown up taking trips in RoadAbode, and we are thankful for the memories that they will be able to share with their future families. When the conversations turned to planning for Christmas holidays, there were some Christmas wishes for under the tree, including items to make our RoadAbode adventures more interesting or fun. Even the youngest of the crew have some items to use in RoadAbode on their list! Hopefully our list below will help you find stuff for the RVers and campers on your gift giving list - from young to the young at heart!

Gift of Tech 

Even when out in the wilds, we still end up using some technology. One item the family enjoys is the OontZ Curve Bluetooth Speaker. Small enough to pack, but large sound to enjoy whatever is on your playlist. the OontZ wirelessly connects to your Bluetooth device: iPhones, iPads,iPod ,Android Tablets,Cell Phones, and Computers - anything that can output to Bluetooth. You get up to 5 hours of play time from the built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery. It also works as a wireless hands free Bluetooth  speaker-phone for your Android or iPhone. Ours is not as loud as a boombox, but we don't even want that while camping! I have used it when we stream movies from my Samsung Note 3, wired to our Vizio LCD TV, and output wirelessly the sound to the OontZ. Perfect for inside RoadAbode! If you want  to double your playtime, check out the OontZ Angle.


The OontZ Curve Super Portable Wireless Bluetooth Speaker - The perfect speaker to take RVing

To keep your RVer on the right roads, consider the Rand McNally RVND 7720 7-Inch RV GPS with RV-specific routing, customized for their vehicle - choose from 11 different RV types.The RVND accounts for propane restrictions and even right- or left-hand turn preferences. Or switch to car mode for everyday use. This new design features easy-grip hardware, brighter screen that adjusts for low and strong light, and upgraded speaker. As a plus, it can be connected to a wireless hotspot or mobile access point on their smartphone to receive live weather data while travelling down the road.  This GPS also comes with free lifetime maps subscription

Rand McNally RVND 7720 7-Inch RV GPS with Free Lifetime Maps

Gift of Memories

For Mom or Dad at the office, show off some adventures to their office-mates with a RV Picture Frame We love how we can look back and remember some of the fun we've had in RoadAbode, and how the picture frame helps sparks conversations. The frames are available as popups, trailers, 5th wheels and Class A styles too!

Class C Motorhome RV Theme Photo Frame

Gift of Lighting

To save on battery and because they look cool, we love using our LED Lanterns. Whether for a starry night hike, or to illuminate our game of cards at the campsite, led lanterns last longer, burn cooler, and offer a brighter light than our old incandescent bulbs.

Coleman 8D Family Size LED Lantern


We also like to keep on-board RoadAbode LED Motion Sensor Lights. These square little lights are great to keep one to automatically light up near the step, or if anyone (or anyTHING) approaches RoadAbode in the middle of the night. Sometimes I just place one on the running board facing out to our campsite. You can also flip the switch to be constantly on or off. They are just as handy to pickup (they fit in the palm of your hand) and use as a flashlight to take Molly our pup on her nightly romp. We've had these lights about five years now, and  we have not had to change the three AA batteries in each yet. Perfect little lights!

Wireless LED Motion Sensor Light, 3-Pack

Gift of Play

One of our favorite games to play when at our campsite is a grassroots campground game.  Taking the best ideas of corn hole and horseshoes, Ladder Golf is played by throwing a bola of two golf balls connected with a rope at a ladder type structure. It's origins are traced back to a campground in Pennsylvania back the 1990s, and was patented by one of the players in 2001. The game is easy to learn, and all ages can play together with just a change of distance or point spread. Kids love it!
Double Ladderball Game

Gift of Reading

Books are always a favorite on the RoadAbode Crew's gift list. There's something about sitting in a camp chair and nesting in with a good book. Or if it's a rainy trip, laying in the bunk or on the couch in RoadAbode and drifting to wherever the story takes you. We've found some great inspiration in the writings of Least-Heat Moon's Blue Highways: A Journey into America and Steinbeck's classic Travels with Charley; in Search of America
For the younger set (and even we older RoadAbode Crew enjoy them) check out John Green's teen road trip stories like  Looking for Alaska, An Abundance of Katherines, Paper Towns, and Fault in Our Stars - which was made into the hit motion picture. If your tween or teen RVers haven't read these, they should! John Green Box Set
If learning is more important than fiction, then reading about RV Travel and Repair may be more to the liking of your RVer. Travel guides to the US, or tomes on repairs and how RV systems work will help keep their travels and RV in great shape!

Gift of Peace of Mind

One thing we've only used a few times, but are thankful we have is our Good Sam Road Service Membership. It keeps not just RoadAbode but also our family vehicles protected in the case of roadside breakdowns. Good Sam Roadside Assistance has been around since 1984, and has handled nearly two million roadside breakdowns. Designed with RVers in mind, Good Sam Roadside Assistance gets you the right tow truck for the size of the RV. Benefits include help should you have a tire blowout, need towing, run out of fuel, lock your keys in your vehicle, or experience any other issue that disables a RV. Help for your RVer can be a call away!
Protection RVers Need!

Gift of Entertainment

Amazon Prime Gift Membership Offers your RVer FREE Two-Day Shipping on millions of items available at Amazon, plus the added bonus of  instantly streaming thousands of movies and TV shows wherever they are. Amazon Prime also offers unlimited, ad-free access to over a million songs and hundreds of playlists to help them keep rocking while their rolling down the road.

Give the Gift of Amazon Prime

Other Gift Giving Ideas 

Other Ideas Include Prepaid Credit Card for filling up the RV or pay other expenses while on the road,  or a meal out by giving Restaurant Gift Cards. How about a Coleman Folding Camp Wagon to cart kids or supplies? New Heavy Duty Folding Chairs and a few extras are great for new friends you make at the campground. There are plenty of ways to enhance your RVers next trip out!

We want you to know - If you click on the images or links in this blog post and purchase, the RoadAbode Crew get a small commission and you pay the same price as if you went straight to Amazon. These are items we have or have used while RoadTripping in RoadAbode. Read our disclaimer for more info. If you can use any suggestions from our gift list, enjoy, and we humbly thank you in advance for your support..

Hickory Run Family Trip

Been a while since we've been to Hickory Run. This trip was a bit rainy, but we still enjoyed time together, relaxing, and sleeping late. Got a nice hike in to Shades of Death Trail, and created a cairn at the small plateu. (Why would someone knock over those already here?). We stayed at the waterside for quite some time, and enjoyed the coolness under the hemlock and  mountain laurel greenery.
Dinner? A&W.

Girls by the stream alongside Shades of Death Trail

Now available at the Goods Store @ Shady Maple

The looper aka "hampster wheel"

The looper aka "hampster wheel"

Taking in Lancaster

In Lancaster at one of our favorites, Country Acres in Gordonville. This time we have along Brenda, Amy's cousin from Kentucky. We decided to try the tour offered by the campground. The Tour leaves from the Bird-in-Hand Restaurant and Inn, and takes about two hours.

When Amy first reserved, we tried to get the 11am Tour, but the 25 passenger tour bus was already full. We opted to go to the earlier 8:45am tour. We were all glad we decided to go!

Chris Lapp, our tour guide was a young man who is a Mennonite. He brought along his young daughter who was an angel, and very well behaved ( a good singer too!). When not giving tours of the Lancaster area, he is a teacher at a Mennonite school. He taught us a lot about the area, and history of the Amish, along with a lot of antidotes from his own family background growing up in the area. Chris showed and explained some of the differences of the Amish lifestyle, and how to tell an Amish farm from an "English" farm. Things we learned we did not know before included that the farm wagons cannot have rubber tires (must be steel) that diesel or air driven machinery can be used, and that the Amish can have cell phones for business use. These rules are set by the particular bishops for their area. On the back roads and routes that Chris chose, we were able to see many examples of the beautiful and simple lives of these faithful people. We also stopped at a few farm and family run stores, including the Quilt shop owned by Chris' mother. He explained the intricate details of these works of art. One one or two quilts are created by a woman in a year.

Dolls on the shelves at the Quilt Shop

We also stopped at a candle shop and petting zoo, and a farm bakery, where we had fresh-made pretzels and homemade root beer! Was a great treat! We had fun talking with Chris, the other passengers, and seeing the beautiful Lancaster Countryside!

After our tour, we had lunch at Bird-in-Hand, a great buffet including some local specialties. Then we walked around the Farmers Market - which was very crowded, and checked out their wares. Then a quick trip to the Quilt Museum by the Kitchen Kettle complex. Finally around 1pm we headed back toward home base.

Right now resting up to go eat later at Stoltzfus Farm Restaurant for dinner. A busy but great day!

On a Amish tour today