We came to Pennsylvania after the Tortuga decided to catch on fire. Originally we were spending Thanksgiving here, but Aunt Marice invited us to come now since our home was in the shop. Not pulling the Tortuga meant we could take more scenic routes to and from different places, like taking the Lincoln Highway (Hwy 30..the first interstate). It really is a beautiful state with the lush greenery, open country spaces, and Lily’s favorite….horses! What we did:
Longwood Gardens: This is a beautiful place and only a few miles from Aunt Marice’s. If you are a flower lover, you will love this place. The kids really liked the greenhouse with the different types of flowers. They also thought the wall of ferns was “so cool!” Mushroom Festival: We were in town during the annual Mushroom Festival, so we of course had to check it out. We went to the parade on Friday night then Saturday walked the streets of the festival. Sunday morning we even walked in the 2 mile family fun walk fundraiser. The Franklin Institute: We went here because Aunt Marice said Uncle Joe used to always take his kids there when he visited and they loved it. Well, it was a great recommendation. Our kids loved it too (and we were able to get in free with our ASTC membership). These museums are a great way to do some science homeschooling! Independence Historical Park: We had to check out the historical area and the Liberty Bell. The kids were able to see the first capitol building, supreme court, and Independence Hall, where they signed the Constitution. It was a great learning experience for all of us. Lily was upset to learn that President Washington had slaves but was happy he freed them when he died. Lance didn’t understand why Martha Washington didn’t do the same and instead gave them to her grandchildren. While here, we also visited the Federal Reserve and the Mint. The kids got souvenirs of a brand new quarter (West Virginia) that has never been circulated. Gettysburg: We did this on our way back to Ohio to pick up the Tortuga. We were able to borrow the audio tour from one of Aunt Marice’s friends. We saw the different parts of the battlefields and learned more about what happened there. At the end of the day, we went to the ranger talk “Battlefield in a Box” and the ranger was awesome. He had the kids help out and it really made the battles and the different areas we had seen earlier, come to life. After the talk, a family from Napa, CA introduced themselves to us because they are thinking of RVing next year. They just spent a few months in Europe and are now touring the East Coast. It was great to meet another family on the road and swap stories and helpful hints. State College, PA. We stopped here on our way to Ohio for a mid-drive break. We found an ASTC science museum, Discovery Space. It was small but the perfect size for us to take a break for an hour or so. We then went to the local park and played while eating lunch. It is a cute little town.
Overall, round 1 of Pennsylvania was perfect; family, school, sightseeing, and new friends!
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Where we stayed:
We don't have pictures of our food, but since people have asked here is where we ate.
If you have been following us on Facebook, you have read that we had a little fire on the Ohio turnpike. Even though it made us do a detour, everything turned out as well as could be. The Tortuga (the kids' nickname for the fifth) had the battery box area at the front of it destroyed. This means the controls for the brakes, slides, stabilizers, and all electricity is not working. The Police Officer who responded followed us off the highway and gave us directions to the nearest big RV place in the town of Clyde that would be able to service the Tortuga. There was also a hotel right down the street (and it had a pool! bonus!). Once we were able to get into the RV repair shop, the service department let us know that no matter what the damage it would be a few weeks because they would have to order the parts. The Labor Day holiday wasn't helping and it would take longer to get things done. Ugh
So, that's what we are doing now. Although this could have been tragic, we were very lucky. Everyone from the police officer, turnpike mechanic, hotel staff, and RV employees were extremely helpful in the situation. So far on this trip, we've noticed the niceness and generosity of people. America is a great place!
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AuthorKim: I've seen very little of the US and can't wait to see it all with my family. This is a crazy adventure that I never thought I would have the guts to do! Archives
April 2017
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