Category: travel

Bad driving and good eating

Bad driving and good eating

Yesterday was what I called the day of bad driving. It was also the day of good eating but I’ll get to that in a minute or so.

We had visited the Science Museum of Virginia in Richmond. Out interest was specifically the exhibit on Pompeii but the price of admission to that included general admission of the museum. As I retired scientist that interested me and maybe I’ll have another post on that in a day or two. But for now I’ll just say we had spent the night in Richmond and so were at the museum when doors opened and left in late morning. I could have stayed longer but we figured we had a 5 hour drive in front of us. We live in southeastern PA.
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Visit to the Newseum in Washington DC

Visit to the Newseum in Washington DC

Earlier this month my wife and I decided to visit Washington, DC. We thought of several places we could easily see in one day but our first stop was the Newseum and it was so interesting that we ended up spending most of our day there.

We had started off in Alexandria on Friday and enjoyed walking around and seeing the sights and thought we could spend Saturday in D.C. and then head home on Sunday.  We had stayed in the Embassy Suites which was just across the street from
the Metro stop. It was a great place to stay as it was convenient to both Alexandria Old Town and DC. The hotel was just a couple blocks from King Street with its many shops and restaurants. If you want to go to older part of King nearer to the river, it is a good walk. We enjoyed the walk but some might opt for the free trolley.
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Scenic drives

Scenic drives

We like driving get-aways. It might be a day trip or maybe a short journey of a few days. Sometimes you are in a rush to get somewhere but if you have the time, scenic drives make the journey worthwhile in itself.

We have a book I have mentioned here before, National Geographic Guide to Scenic Highways and Byways: The 300 Best Drives in the U.S.. As the title tells us has hundreds of scenic drives in the United States.

This time we were going to spend one night away from home which gave us 2 days of sight-seeing. We decided to see the lower to middle Hudson Valley in New York. We had been there before but usually we had a specific destination in mind and were in a rush to get there.
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Battle of Moore’s Creek Bridge

Battle of Moore’s Creek Bridge

During a recent vacation we spent a few days at Wilmington, NC. One afternoon, after a pleasant lunch on the riverfront, we drove to Moore’s Creek National Battlefield.

The Battle of Moore’s Creek Bridge took place about a half hour northwest of Wilmington NC in a very rural area.   It was rural then and it is rural now.

Looking at the map, it is fairly close to an interstate highway so it may not be quite as remote as it seemed to us. We went by another route so it seem quite remote. We didn’t expect anyone else to be there but there were several carloads.
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Great map of Ireland

Great map of Ireland

I’ve never been to Northern Ireland but I understand that it is beautiful. I’ve been to the Republic of Ireland but it has been many years and I’m ready to go back. So I think that when I do go, I will see both. And notice that I said “when” rather than “if”.

I can be a bit cynical at times. You may have noticed that in some of my more political posts. But when it comes to things like genealogy and travel I tend to be more optimistic. So I’m already planning my trip to Ireland. Continue reading “Great map of Ireland”

A visit to the Big Duck

A visit to the Big Duck

Last week we decided to visit the Big Duck.

BigDuck300

As you can see the duck is really big, dwarfing the flagpole and building in the Background of the picture. My wife and I decided to take a driving tour of part of Long Island and since the Big Duck was one one route we could take, we decided that was the way to go.

We thought we would use one day to explore the South Fork and visit the Hamptons and Montauk. We planned the day so our journey passed the Big Duck. We were staying in about mid-Island so we took the Long Island Expressway to the NY-24 exit just before Riverhead and headed south through Flanders, NY on route 24. The Big Duck was sitting there off to the left of route 24 as we went south before we reached route 27 and 27A.

Other than saying “you can’t miss it”, I don’t think more explicit directions are needed. After all, if you can’t see a 20 foot high duck by the side of the road, you probably should not be driving.

Washington’s Crossing and north along the Delaware

Washington’s Crossing and north along the Delaware

Last spring my wife and I had a pleasant day riding north along the Delaware River. I meant to write then but didn’t get around to it and figure I should do so now before the memories get even fuzzier. The trip was partly based on a trip in National Geographic Guide to Scenic Highways and Byways: The 300 Best Drives in the U.S., a book we have often used to find scenic drives.

The drive in the book starts in Trenton, NJ but we thought Continue reading “Washington’s Crossing and north along the Delaware”

Western Maryland and the Casselman River Bridge

Western Maryland and the Casselman River Bridge

Last week my wife and I took a few days to visit Frederick, Maryland and points west. One of the highlights of the trip was the drive from Frederick to Deep Creek Lake Continue reading “Western Maryland and the Casselman River Bridge”

A drive through New Castle and along Delaware Bay on DE 9

A drive through New Castle and along Delaware Bay on DE 9

On a nice Monday, mid-way between April Fools’ Day and Tax Day, we decided to take one of the drives from “National Geographic Guide to Scenic Highways and Byways: The 300 Best Drives in the U.S”.


If you want to know more about this book, just click on the picture of the book and you can read comments on Amazon, and buy if you so decide.

So we started down US 202 from our home in West Chester, PA and headed toward New Castle, Delaware. The quickest way to do this would be continue until you get to I-95 in Wilmington and exit onto DE 141.

Or you could take the more scenic route getting off 202 before reaching I-95 at the Augustine cut-off which is marked for DE 141. It is a longer ride but this was a pleasure trip and we were in no rush. The road winds around a bit and you do get to go by the Hagley Museum (the old Dupont gunpowder works on the Brandywine).

DE 141 gets you really close to New Castle but ends just before it gets to the historic section. Under normal circumstances you would just follow the sign and go straight at the intersection with 273 onto Washington St. That would hit Delaware route 9 ( DE 9 ) at 7th street and you could follow that north into the center of town (but turn off 9 before it leaves town). Making a right at Delaware Avenue will take you through the center of town.

Unfortunately the day were going to New Castle, there was considerable roadwork on the few blocks you need to follow Washington St. We were detoured several times (and the detours were not well marked), so I was totally confused.

But we asked directions of one of the roadworkers and and quickly made it to the center of town. (Thank you, anonymous worker.)

Now that I’m home and had a chance to look at a detailed map (Google maps for New Castle, Delaware 19720 ), it seems I could have just made a left on 273 and that would have taken me to Delaware Avenue which runs through the center of town. I’d suggest that is you are going to New Castle and don’t know the area, it is probably a good idea to have a detailed map of the city. Maybe print the Google map.

New Castle is a pretty little town that fronts directly on the Delaware River. There is a great tourism website that gives you details on New Castle. For those who travel with a GPS, I’ve copied a suggestion from the website.

For GPS purposes: Use the address of The Arsenal at Old New Castle which is on The Green near the Old Court House at the center of town. 30 Market St., New Castle, Delaware 19720

There are plenty of very old buildings. And much of the river front is a large city park. The town is well worth a stop. It is amazing that so much of this colonial city survives. Unfortunately, we were there on a Monday and most the historic attractions were closed as were many of the shops in the center of town. I think we’ll be back but not on Monday.

We left New Castle intending to follow DE 9 out of town but again our plans were foiled by the construction and we once again got lost. We eventually managed to get back to DE 9 a bit south of New Castle

The road south of New Castle goes through an industrial area with a refinery, a power plant, and the like but soon becomes rural. Oddly since it runs close to the Delaware River and Bay, you don’t get to see that much water from the road but you do get the occasional view of the Salem nuclear plant near the southern end of New Jersey.

Several miles later we passed through part of Delaware City and then over a long and high bridge carries DE 9 across the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal.

For a few miles we travel past farms and the Augustine Wildlife Area and then reach the small village of Port Penn. As you might guess this is named after William Penn, the founder of Pennsylvania. Most people don’t realize it but what we now call Delaware was part of Penn’s land grant. Port Penn is home of the Port Penn Interpretive Center.

Once again, timing prevented us from seeing this as the Port Penn Interpretive Center was not open on that Monday.

After Port Penn, we continued past farms, fields, and salt marsh. By this time I started to get hungry for lunch but we saw nowhere to eat along DE 9 so we took a quick break by following DE 299 which goes into Odessa and then Middletown.

If you have had enough driving for the day, DE 299 intersects with DE 1 between Odessa and Middletown. If you want to drive a bit more, there is another intersection with DE 1 near Dover that is the way we elected to go.

After lunch we just followed DE 299 back to DE 9 and continued our journey southward. At first, it was a very similar ride to that just before lunch. We passed the Cedar Swamp and Woodland Beach Wildlife Areas.

Since our guidebook suggested the that a side trip to the town of Woodland Beach was worthwhile, we detoured there. It is just a few miles along DE 6 past an extensive network of waterways through the salt marsh. We enjoyed the side-trip and especially the pier going out into the bay. Town is small and very low-key and I imagine it is a great place to be if you like fishing or exploring the marshes by boat.

We returned to DE 9 via DE 6 and continued south. After a few more miles of farmland, we took DE 8 to DE 1. If you wanted to explore Dover, the state capital, you could continue west on DE 8 but we were ready to head home.

I’ve mentioned DE 1 a few times. From just south of Dover north to I-95 it is a wonderful road. Although is is just a state highway, it is as good as any interstate highway I’ve driven on (and better than quite a few). It is a toll road and E-Z pass is accepted.

We have an EZ pass so we were able to use the high speed E-Z pass lanes to avoid stopping to pay the toll. (It still costs but it is taken from my E-Zpass account). A bit south of Dover the Expressway ends so it is more like a normal highway.

We drove all the way to I-95 and then home. The interchange between I-95 and DE 1 is under construction and a bit messy but clearly marked. I think I would probably consider an alternate route to avoid this intersection if I was doing this again.

It was a pleasant drive and we were home by late afternoon.

A drive in the Amish country of Lancaster County

A drive in the Amish country of Lancaster County

It was a nice Sunday and we decided to take our first drive with our new guidebook, “National Geographic Guide to Scenic Highways and Byways: The 300 Best Drives in the U.S”. The ride along PA 772 described in the book is a nice way to spend an hour or more depending on what you like to stop for.

You will see quite a few Amish once you get to Lancaster County. Be careful and on the lookout for the black buggies, smaller carts, farm wagons, scooters, etc. Remember you are sharing the road with the Amish and others who live here.

But first you must get to Lancaster County. From my house in West Chester, PA, there are several ways of getting to Intercourse, PA which was the new part of the trip for me. I suppose for anyone in the SE Pennsylvania Philadelphia suburbs, it would be similar.

But I get on US Route 30 West in the village of Frazer and quickly get on the by-pass that takes me around Exton and past Downingtown, Coatesville and quite a few other places where I would be constantly slowed down by traffic and stoplights.


After 30 minutes or so, the expressway ends, and Route 30 once again is highway with 2-4 lanes in various places. Sometimes the traffic gets pretty heavy but most times that I’ve traveled that way it is not bad until you get much closer to the city of Lancaster.

Also on Route 30 after the expressway has ended, you’ll leave Chester County behind and enter Lancaster County. You may notice the sign that tells you that and you may also notice gas prices drop. Route 30 goes over the mountain into Gap and everyone in the car (even the driver) gets a good look at some very impressive scenery.

But if traffic is bad you may want to cut over to PA 340 (Old Philadelphia Pike) before you get to Gap. PA 10, which comes up shortly after the expressway ends, will take you there (just go right or north off 30 West and left when you get to 340). 340 will take you into Intercourse where you will cross PA 772 and pick up this drive.

But if you choose to go via Gap, just follow Route 30 until you get to PA 772 (Newport Road). As soon as you leave 30, it gets much quieter and there are farms all around you.

This first leg of PA 772 will take you into Intercourse and the road joins 340 briefly. There is a stop sign at the intersection and you will need to make a left. (340 doesn’t stop but those on 772 do.) You will be on 340 very briefly and will pass Kettle Village (a shopping stop for some).

Immediately after Kettle Village, 772 will go off to the right. The turn is marked but I almost missed it. 772 continues for about another 30 miles with quite a few turns. They are well marked so the route is easy to follow.

The road goes through the town of Lititz. Lititz has a town square on 772 with a historic Moravian church and a historical foundation and museum. There is much to see in Lititz but it was Sunday and nearly everything was closed.

PA 772 continues though Mannheim and Mt. Joy and ends just before Marietta at PA 441. If you continue straight you’ll enter Marietta. If you go north you’ll end up near Middletown and Harrisburg where you can enter the PA turnpike. If you go south you’ll hit US 30 on the east side of the Susquehanna and return to Lancaster.

Since I’ve retired and moved to PA, we find ourselves taking several drives per year in the Amish countryside of Lancaster County. This ride along 772 was new to me and we plan on repeating it and spending a bit more time with some of the attractions which were closed during our Sunday drive.

For a more information on Amish country of Lancaster County, please see http://www.padutchcountry.com

The RetiredGuy likes to drive and plan

The RetiredGuy likes to drive and plan

As you may have guessed from the name of this blog, I am retired. I retired about 5 years ago and moved from Georgia to Pennsylvania. In my last working years, my wife and I knew we were ready to leave Atlanta after 30 years and we frequently visited family in New York, Maryland, and New Jersey.

So on each visit we would drive around and think about our retirement home. We finally decided on West Chester, PA which is about 25 miles west of Philadelphia and maybe 20 miles north of Wilmington, Delaware.

We like taking drives so we had been looking at library books and found one we like a lot so we bought our own copy. The advantages of buying are that you are not dependent on the book being in the library whenever you want it and you don’t have to worry about damaging the library copy. Books can get a little beat-up in the car.


So enough about us and building suspense. Were you really wondering what we bought?

We bought “National Geographic Guide to Scenic Highways and Byways: The 300 Best Drives in the U.S” from Amazon. So far we have done 2 of the 300 trips and have a few more in the planning stage so I suspect that we’ll get much more pleasure than the book cost. So if you click on the picture next to this, you’ll be able to see the book, read comments, and buy if you so decide.

We have no regrets about this purchase. I’ll be writing about those trips eventually, so stay tuned. And since I will be writing more, I’ll start a new travel category.