Summer Travel Countdown and Review

Despite the fact that it is going to be in the 90’s on Wednesday, the summer is pretty much over so I thought I would take the time to go over some of the favorite trips that my wife and I took during the warmer months. This will not be a complete list as I am going to stick with my top 10 (with a favorite photo from each trip). They are ranked based on a variety of factors with some ranking higher because of the meaning of the trip rather than the place itself or because of some discovery that was made during our time there. Of course, many of them are simply places that we enjoyed and look forward to returning to in the near future. So, without further delay, here is countdown.

Honorable Mentions – Williamsport and Fort Washington

Williamsport was the furthest we traveled this summer and while it was an interesting trip I am not sure it was one that I would make again. It is a nice little town but one that leaves you wanting more. Fort Washington (Harvest Books in particular) is somewhere we will always visit. Maybe it will move up the list if we explore a bit more but for now it is just one of those common places that is part of our regular routine.

10 – Harrisburg

By no means is this one of the more pleasant or attractive places to visit and, during our time there, we weren’t able to get as much done as we hoped with regard to our genealogical research but it was a good trip. I put it at number ten because of the discovery I was able to make in a local book store (more about that in a later post) and for the glimpses of the past that the city still possesses (albeit deep under a layer of urban decay in some areas). It was a laid back trip for us and our first real exploration into the research process in an archive. For those reasons it made the cut but just barely.

9 – New Hope

I know a number of people who would easily put this in the top spot on their list but, for me, it was an okay trip. The town itself is very clean and easy to get around but the atmosphere is not something that I would like to spend a lot of time immersed in. The high tourist prices are also something that makes me hesitate to return. However, it was a great place to walk around and somewhere that my wife could browse around in multiple shops for Wizard of Oz merchandise. The smile it brought to her face bumped up this small town to number 9.

8 – Milford and The Delaware Water Gap

The drive along Route 209 through the Delaware Water Gap is one of the most beautiful day trips you can take on this side of the commonwealth. Milford was a nice little town and I would like to go back at some point when there isn’t a music festival clogging up the streets. This trip does win for best meal during our summer travels with the pastrami salmon sandwich at Bar Louis (I would return just for that). But the trip back is really what earns the spot on this list as we were able to explore Raymondskill Falls (similar in size to Bushkill Falls but free) and we stopped by Country Junction in Lehighton just before getting back on I-476. I don’t expect it to be anytime soon but I know we will take this trip again in the future.

7 – Appalachian Trail

This was not the most exciting trip we took during the summer but it was good to just get out and hike for a change. It had been way too long since I had put my boots on a dirt trail. The trail is beautiful in the summer and if get to the mid way point at the right time you can run into a number of through hikers and hear a handful of interesting stories about their time walking in the woods. But, in the end, the reason for the placement above the aforementioned trips is simple; this is something that I was able to cross off my bucket list. I would like to return some day to walk a bit more.

6 – Crystal Cave

When the temperature is in the mid 90’s with high humidity it is a refreshing experience walking into a cave. While I have explored a handful of caves in my life it had been some time since I had last gone spelunking and this was a first for my wife. The reason for the higher ranking is twofold. First, exploring a cave is a great exercise if you enjoy photography as it forces you to use depth and find patterns in a way that is seldom seen beyond the cavernous confines. Second, this was a trip back to my childhood as I have a vague recollection of a school field trip to this location and it was nice to share that memory with my wife. I am certain that we will bring others with us upon our return.

5 – Local Cemeteries (Leverington, Barren Hill, and Gulph Christian)

This trip was long overdue and while it had its depressing moments the overall experience was one that I will never forget. When you spend hours upon hours working on your family history you can easily get lost in the documents and forget the people and places. Visiting the graves of your ancestors brings you back to reality in a way that is hard to explain. This was the first time I was able to visit the resting places of my family and one that I will never forget. I will return in the future as there still is a lot of work to be done and a wrong that needs to be made right. I don’t know when but I will be writing about this topic in the future.

4 – Gettysburg

When you know your family participated in the Civil War, visiting some of the battlefields takes on an entirely different dimension. When you know you had family members on opposite ends of the field it brings about a certain surreal aspect to the experience. Standing behind the rows of cannons you can’t help but think about what it would be like knowing that your actions could cause the death of your family member. Today it is a fascinating contrast between the beauty of the scenery and the horrors of what transpired 150 years ago. I am certain that we will return in the future when we can spend more time walking the fields.

3 – Knoebels

This was a great trip and one that we are both looking forward to taking again in the future. It was one of those simply enjoyable experiences where we could walk around the amusement park taking in the sights and sounds all the while doing so on a budget. Being nestled in the mountains while going on rides and taking pictures is the perfect amusement park experience for us and one that I am glad we were able to share this summer.

2 – Jim Thorpe (x2)

There is a reason why this little mountain town was the only place we visited multiple times this summer. This may be our favorite little town to visit and we are looking forward to returning over and over again. It was a great place for us to both relax and explore at the same time which is not an easy combination to find. Natural mountainous beauty mixed with the small town charm is a hard combination to beat. This would have taken the top spot if it wasn’t for one very special event this summer.

1 – New Providence

I can’t say that I am a fan of Lancaster County. I really don’t have anything against it but it is not somewhere that I would choose to visit, I much rather go to the mountains. However, there is one reason why we continue to go back and that is to visit family. That alone would not get New Providence on this list but this summer it shot to the top. The reason is simple, my niece graduated in June and we headed over there both for the party and for the actual graduation ceremony. I am immensely proud of my niece and being able to see her graduate is why this was the best trip of the summer.

So that’s the recap of my favorite trips that my wife and I took this summer. As I said before, there are various reasons for the placements but this is how things fell into place as I looked back over the last few months. I am looking forward to continuing to travel around the commonwealth and while the frequency has since diminished I am looking forward to a few destinations in the near future that I will be writing about and posting pictures. For now I will leave you with a couple of questions (both topics I will also be writing about in the future): What are some of you favorite local destinations? Where would you like to go?

Restaurant Routine

There are a few restaurants in the area that my wife and I frequent. We don’t go out to eat as often as we used to so when we do we usually go to the same places over and over again. We would much rather go somewhere that we know has good food and reasonable prices than somewhere that we know very little about.

We reserve the adventurous dining experiences for when we are on the road. As a result we have had some amazing meals (the pastrami salmon sandwich at Bar Louis in Milford) and some downright horrendous piles of food-like substances (the fish and chips at the Hilton Hotel in East Brunswick, New Jersey) during our travels this summer. Overall, we have been mostly lucky and even when we weren’t we didn’t get sick.

When we are at home and we are looking for something quick and inexpensive, we usually end up at Hummus Mediterranean Grill in Ardmore. While my wife usually rotates her selection between the chicken kabob and the vegetable platters I am pretty set in my ways and I get the combination platter every time. While this pales in comparison to the many delectable dishes we enjoyed in Jerusalem (particularly around the Mahane Yehuda Market), this may be the best Israeli style Middle Eastern food I have been able to find in the states. I recommend first timers go hungry and order the combination platter to get a little taste of everything. If that still isn’t enough, and I doubt that, get a side order of fried cauliflower to top off your bursting belly.

Hummus Mediterranean Grill

18 Greenfield Avenue, Ardmore, Pennsylvania 19003

http://www.hummusardmore.com/

Urban Spoon Rating: 100% (2 reviews)

Zagat Food Rating: 19/30

Dining room photo taken from the website.

Fellini Café in Newtown Square is our other usual dining spot which we were first introduced to by my parents a few years ago. What confuses some on the Main Line is the common name that this establishment shares with other restaurants in Ardmore, Berwyn, and Media. Do not be mistaken, these are completely separate eateries and the others can’t hold a candle to the one in Newtown Square which, simply put, has the best authentic Italian food on the Main Line. For this reason, reservations are recommended.

Each and every ingredient can be differentiated in their dishes which do not try to dazzle you with fancy twists or interpretations. This is best exemplified in their Eggplant Parmesan which I frequently order as my entrée (don’t be fooled when you see it listed as an appetizer). It has just the right bite and light breading smothered in a simple red sauce covered in a perfect blanket of creamy fresh mozzarella. So simple but addictively delicious; this is as good as it gets.  

Fellini Café

3541 West Chester Pike, Newtown Square, Pennsylvania 19073

http://fellinicafenewtownsquare.com/

Urban Spoon Rating: 83% (43 reviews)

Zagat Food Rating: 24/30

Exterior photo taken from internet.

There is only one establishment that I visit on a regular basis which is Aldar Bistro right down the street in Bala Cynwyd. Each week I attend my Rotary meeting at this restaurant and I have never been disappointed even having ordered nearly half of the dishes over the past year. A regular special is the cocoanut crusted honey mustard salmon which is one of the best pieces of fish you can order in the area.

Even though it is described as a Mediterranean restaurant (in more of the Lebanese style) there is a wide variety of other options on the menu that compliment the more traditional food quiet well. However, equally exceptional is the service as Host and general manager Walid Assaf and the rest of the staff treat guest more like family than customers. While the food and service is exceptional no matter what time of day, it is especially nice for a casual business lunch. If so inclined, you can also join us for a Rotary meeting on Wednesdays at 12:15 PM.

Aldar Bistro

281 Montgomery Avenue, Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania 19004

http://www.aldarbistro.com/

Urban Spoon Rating: 84% (66 reviews)

Zagat Food Rating: 20/30

Exterior photo taken from website.

So those are my three regular spots where I go out to eat. Hopefully this gives you some additional options of where to eat in the Philadelphia suburbs. Whether you live in the area or you’re just visiting for a few days, set aside a meal or two and indulge yourself with some incredible food without having to sell your first born to afford it.

Milford And Waterfalls And A General Store! Oh My!

This week’s Shabbat adventure was more about driving than exploring one particular area. Our plan this past weekend took us as far as Milford, Pennsylvania where we turned around and stopped at a few places on the way back.

It’s always interesting as to where ideas come from with regard to places to visit. During an excellent discussion on Thursday, the woman interviewing me mentioned Milford which is situated just above the Delaware Water Gap. Our plan for the weekend was to explore the Gap and so this provided us with the perfect turn around point.

The drive began under an overcast sky with the clouds occasionally breaking.

We arrived in Milford in the early afternoon with music and tourists flooding the streets. For us, a music festival does not make for an ideal situation for a relaxing weekend but it was still a very nice town. After stopping at the Louis Bar in the Hotel Fauchère for a quick lunch where I had an amazing cured salmon reuben sandwich, we slowly walked around the town and stretched our legs as I took some pictures of the old buildings surrounding us.

After about 90 minutes we were back in the car on our slow journey back home. There were a couple of places we both took note of on our way up and we soon found ourselves entering the Delaware Water Gap where, a few miles in, we made our first stop at Raymondskill Falls. We parked the car in a small lot and followed our ears toward the sound of falling water.

Being the only ones on the edge of the water, we got right up to the railing and we took turns taking pictures of water beginning its freefall.

While my wife focused on the group of kayakers that floated a little too far down river, I was busy leaning over the edge to capture as much as I could of the natural beauty.

Seeing the top of the falls is one thing but we both knew that the truly astounding view is from the bottom so we made our way down the minimally maintained path to the bottom. Fortunately I am part spider monkey so it wasn’t too challenging despite my lack of physical fitness.

 As you can see in the following pictures, the view did not disappoint.

The hike back to the car was easier than expected and soon we were back in the car and on our way through the park down Route 209. We were both glad that we stopped at the unassuming falls especially when we pulled into the cluster that was waiting for us at Bushkill Falls at the southern end of the Gap (we felt like we were back in Edison, New Jersey). As it was now mid afternoon and the purpose of our day trips is to be an inexpensive weekend getaway, we were not going to spend $25 to walk down paths that resembled cattle shoots more than nature trails so, no Bushkill for us.

  

Rather than backtrack along the same route we came up (iPhone GPS sometimes has a very interesting way of getting you from point A to point B) we decided to just stay on 209S which we knew from our experience going to Jim Thorpe a couple of weeks ago that it would take us directly to the Northeast Extension. After seeing a few tantalizing billboards along the way, the road took us directly to our final stop of the afternoon in Lehighton. 

As you can see in the picture, Country Junction touts itself as “The World’s Largest General Store” so, naturally, we had to look around. We walked through the front doors and were immediately greeted by what, for my wife, was a very good sign…

Being the Wizard of Oz fanatic that she is we had no choice but to follow the yellow brick road. This store has everything and once we saw the prices we couldn’t help shopping for a few items that we have been meaning to pick up (as well as a few treats for later). We could have spent hours walking around and exploring the different departments but we knew our time was limited so we paid for our items, put them in the car, and concluded our visit by walking through the petting zoo.

I don’t know if it’s the world’s largest general store but I can say that we agreed on the final verdict. Greatest. Store. Ever.

By the time we got back on the highway we were a little tired from driving around most of the day but also reinvigorated by our little voyage which was reflected by the change in the sky as we relaxed in the car and started planning our next trip.