Jim Thorpe or Mauch Chunk?

Posted on October 25, 2024 by Janette

This tiny town is nestled in the Pocono Mountains. Although I have been to the Poconos before, I have never ventured to this historic location. My mistake was not realizing what a tourist trap the little town would be! My advice? Get there early in the day to find a parking spot. Even though I took off work and traveled here on a Friday morning, it was still busy.

We arrived early and found a church parking lot charging $20 for the day, which was perfect. From there, we only had to walk for a few minutes before we reached the main streets. I used this MAP to find the shops we wanted to see, but it wasn’t necessary. It seems impossible for anyone to get lost or turned around here.

One of the museums guests could visit was the Old Jail Museum pictured below, which looked very interesting.

I also learned that the town of Jim Thorpe (named after a Native American athlete) was originally named Mauch Chunk. This name is the Lenape phrase meaning “Bear Mountain” as the town is nestled against a hilly backdrop. Visitors can see references to “Mauch Chunk” listed on shop signs, paying homage to the original name.

The narrow streets were hilly and the environment felt like a European town. Buildings were colorfully painted and there was a beautiful aesthetic to every inch of the area.

Around every corner, little shop signs described interesting wares found within. There were coffee shops and small eateries, vintage/antique shops, or places selling unique or handmade goods. One of my favorite places focused on seasonal goods and decorations. Naturally, I had to buy a selection of tiny glass pumpkins from a seasonal shop! Another fun stop was a sassy print shop that made funny cards and other paper products. The printing machinery was visible for visitors to admire along with vintage components scattered around the store.

No visit would be complete without documenting a street mural. This was the only mural I noticed, and it was added to a beautifully restored building.

Although I did not take the train ride, I appreciated seeing the bustling station. Many families were using the short ride to further appreciate the Fall season on a nice sunny day. Now that I know what to expect, I would love to return and visit again!

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Mississippi: The Magnolia State

Posted on October 17, 2024 by Janette

Anyone who knows me understands my love of decorating and home renovation shows. Perhaps it’s my love of making a mess only to reorganize, making a space feel new. This was the inspiration for a recent trip to Mississippi. The Magnolia state had two things I wanted to see: another state capitol, and Laurel. For those unfamiliar, Laurel is the rural area where HGTV show Home Town is filmed.

Arriving in Jackson was interesting. It had a small airport and the city felt like a small town. The downtown area was easy to navigate and the capitol building stood proud on the city block. This was my 24th capitol building visit…almost halfway through the list!

Upon entering, we were greeted by the friendliest staff. They showed us the gift shop and we lounged in the guest area before our tour started. The tour guide was very knowledgeable and took us all around the building. Amazing stained-glass features were everywhere.

The center of the building offered beautiful views of a colorful dome. I learned the color was added later and not original to the building. Apparently, the color was added sometime later and was beautifully done.

The next day, we traveled to Laurel, the charming small town where the show Home Town is filmed. It did not take long to spot the places on our list. The first stop was Ben’s workshop and general store.

We signed up for a golf cart tour of the town, which was fun. During the tour, we learned about many houses featured on the show in past seasons. We made our way back to the car and took a ride around the “downtown” area. Keep in mind that this is a small town, as advertised. There are only a few streets to explore and many of the businesses close at 5pm. However, there was still much to see as street murals were everywhere!

While we were visiting, we did some great shopping! Lots of small businesses can be found with awesome products. We also paid a visit to each coffee shop, and visited the welcome center featured on the show. Lastly, we visited the Lauren Rogers Museum of Art. This museum is free and definitely worth a visit. I was very excited to visit this area and the trip did not disappoint. This proved to be a great weekend getaway, so pay Laurel a visit and see the charm for yourself.

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The Point of Pittsburgh

Posted on October 4, 2024 by Janette

I visited Pittsburgh a few times in college, about 20 years ago, and then again in 2014. It’s amazing how your memory of a place can differ from a new experience in a quasi-familiar place.

A work conference brought me to the city for a few days at the end of Summer. The visit provided me with the opportunity to rediscover the city after many years. The first thing that struck me was how “sleepy” the city felt to me. Traffic was light, the streets were never crowded, and most restaurants felt almost empty until later in the night. As someone who does not enjoy large crowds, I enjoyed the feeling of space and room to breathe.

I always love seeing street murals when I explore. There were many peppered throughout the city.

Walking around the downtown area brought back some memories. I loved visiting the small businesses in Market Square, seeing the new restaurants in the area, and taking pictures of the beautiful nearby architecture.

I remember some buildings, but the next two photos were new locations for me. The inside of a nearby hotel was awe-inspiring and the church was stunning.

One area I had never explored before was Point State Park. My hotel window offered a great view, and I had a few chances to explore on foot during my stay. After viewing the Point, I saw the beautiful waterfall and color-changing lights at the bottom of the convention center. Pittsburgh may feel like a small city, but I had lots to do, see, and experience for a few days.

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A Week in Myrtle Beach

Posted on September 13, 2024 by Janette

Living in a valley surrounded by mountains can be quaint, peaceful, and romantic. Yet, I’ll never pass up time to spend on a beach! Towards the end of summer, I had the opportunity to spend six days in Myrtle Beach, and it was glorious. I had a beautiful view outside the window and perfect weather for enjoying the sand and waves.

I tried a few new things during my vacation, but kayaking is one of the most memorable activities. We had an early morning departure for our tour. It was cloudy so we did not bake under direct sunlight, making the temperature perfect. About halfway through our trip, our guide led us to an uninhabited island. We parked the boats and had time to explore on foot.

The island was covered with birds and everyone explored the sand looking for sand dollars. The sky and flora were beautiful that day, so we enjoyed taking pictures and walking to the surf.

The other activity no one had tried before was the “Beyond Van Gogh” immersive experience. We started with the guide explaining the background of Van Gogh’s life. Next, we entered the hallway, reading letters Van Gogh wrote to his brother and other family members on large boards. The hallway led us into the main space. Large screens covered the room’s perimeter and some were in the center. Projectors cast images of Van Gogh’s work onto the screens and the floor. This truly made us feel like we were inside his paintings. Some of the portraits were animated, so we saw men and women blinking to us from the screen. This was a truly unique and memorable experience.

The rest of the week was filled with days at the beach, ice cream, new restaurants, shopping, and mini golf. We even managed to fit in an escape room and a murder mystery dinner…so much fun!  I could not believe how much there was to do, and I would love to go back!

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Exploring the Coastal Treasures of Cape May

Posted on August 26, 2024 by Janette

I have been all over the East Coast, visiting little gems and large attractions alike, but Cape May, New Jersey was never on my radar, until this summer. Driving through the back streets to the bus parking area, I immediately saw some amazing spots I needed to check out. There was so much to see with beautiful front lawns, pretty decorations, and flowers blooming everywhere.

Considering this day trip would not include sunbathing/beach time, I hit the streets to explore the local shops. Along the way, I found beautiful plants of every color in bloom. The streets were well-maintained and every property that faced a sidewalk was flooded with color.

The cutest local playhouse was at the end of a street across from a nice park. This is definitely a location I’d love to visit again when I can stay for a show!

Criss-crossing my way down towards the beach I found other nice hangouts. Coffee shops abound and coastal-inspired artisan shops are everywhere. However, my favorite street was lined with beautiful Victorian houses, each with different colors, and beautifully maintained. I even noticed signs advertising entire houses for rent which would be amazing for a few friends or a large family to utilize.

There is one section of the road that only allows pedestrians to walk. This portion featured many of the restaurants in the area, among other fun finds and beautiful architecture nearby.

Although I only had a few hours to explore, I truly enjoyed my time and can see myself returning again. Perhaps next time I’ll forgo the shopping area, rent a golf cart, and visit the nearby state park and Cape May Lighthouse, or perhaps go parasailing.

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Gunpowder and Gardens, Part 2

Posted on August 5, 2024 by Janette

After learning about the duPont family, it was only right that we visited Longwood Gardens. About 30 minutes over the border into Pennsylvania, visitors can experience what was once a simple park. Due to the duPont family’s interest in gardening, the area’s natural beauty influenced one particular family member. Pierre began with one long flower garden and then expanded to include indoor facilities, fountains, and other forms of entertainment.

Around every corner, visitors can see caretakers’ constant work and dedication of to keep the numerous varieties of plants and arrangements at their peak. Guests can spend all day in the gardens as there are locations to eat, and plenty to see. You can sit and watch fountains playing along to various music pieces, find shade under large mature trees, or spend time inside admiring orchids and other exotic plants.

Once a private garden of about 200 acres, the current garden is over 1,000 and is open for the public to enjoy. Over one million guests come to Longwood Gardens each year and it is no surprise they keep visiting. Each season shows off new displays, the gift shop stocks a variety of amazing products and plans throughout the year, and the Christmas displays are not to be missed.

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Gunpowder and Gardens, Part 1

Posted on July 25, 2024 by Janette

Along the Brandywine River in northern Delaware sits an estate where visitors can learn about the duPont family’s legacy. The Hagley Museum and grounds are the location of the duPont gunpowder manufacturing company, established in 1802.

A tour of the area included a short bus ride to the original family house where the company started. It was hard to imagine the family lived in the house where the gunpowder was made! The house now serves as a museum and features amazing pieces from around the world. The garden and landscaping are also beautiful and gave us a preview of what the family would develop next.

A jaunt to the grounds includes visiting the structures along the canal. After a few accidents at the house, the manufacturing moved to the canal to keep the growing production safer and to utilize water power from the creek to run the machine shop nearby. Our guide gave us a gunpowder demonstration with the family recipe and explained how the structures were built as three-sided stone squares. The fourth wall was covered with wood and other thin materials facing the water. In this way, if an explosion happened, the blast would use the path of least resistance and blow towards the water, not explode projectiles in all directions.

Considering the nature of the family business, the duPont family developed a set of intense safety protocols for all their workers to follow. Even though accidents did happen occasionally, they were a relatively safe company for the time. Apparently, those who work in various duPont factories today also have intense safety protocols…a healthy holdover from the company roots.

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Italy Chronicles: Part 9 (Pompeii, Cassino, Castel Gandolfo – The Last Installment)

Posted on July 4, 2024 by Janette

This was our last day to explore Italy. After another delicious breakfast, we boarded the bus and enjoyed the amazing coastline as we left the Amalfi Coast.

We arrived in Pompeii early in the morning and entered when the location opened to meet our local guide. The day was surprisingly warm and sunny, which we welcomed after a handful of frigid days we had experienced on the trip. Our guide took us around the archaeological site for about two hours, explaining a detailed history of the city’s past as we explored the ruins, and learned how modern the city was for its time before the eruption.

The scale of the city was larger than I realized and boasted things like bath houses, fast food stalls, and two theatres.

It was amazing to see how well-preserved the houses, clay artifacts, frescos, mosaics, and plumbing systems are to this day.

Just outside the complex are rows of souvenir shops with a restaurant on the corner, where we grabbed lunch before heading out of town. After an hour and a half, we made a stop in Cassino to see a large abbey. It was located at the top of another large hill which made for amazing views. In a large open courtyard, we saw a film crew filming a local movie. We were able to walk around the edge, enjoy the view from the windows, and continue up the stairs into the church when they took a filming break.

We never got tired of seeing the intricate marble work and carvings in the churches throughout the country.

Back on the bus, we traveled another 45 minutes to Castel Gandolfo, the summer residence of the Pope. We viewed the front of the estate from the bus, with its manicured lawn. It appeared larger than life and very imposing. Our bus driver then had to drive us around to the other side of the town to get a view of the back of the estate. Here we were able to disembark and walk up to see the views on foot. Originally built up by Italian elite for summer residences or vacation houses, this town is situated at the edge of Lake Albano, a volcanic crater lake. In the 1960’s this lake was actually used for Olympic rowing competitions. Not a bad place to paddle around!

We traveled an hour back to Rome to end our whirlwind tour. It was wonderful to see so many cities, meet so many amazing people, learn so much history, take so many photos, and try so many different foods. Our family had a fantastic time during our two weeks of adventure and we made memories that will last a lifetime…and cause belly laughs reminiscing about!

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Italy Chronicles: Part 8 (Naples, Capri, Sorrento, Salerno)

Posted on June 23, 2024 by Janette

After another delicious, traditional breakfast we hopped on the bus and traveled to the port area in Naples. We walked by a few older buildings before we arrived at the port to catch our ferry to Capri. It had stormed there the day before so we were happy the ferry was running and we would get to see the island.

The boat ride was about 50 minutes south to the island of Capri. Although it was safe to travel, the ride was very choppy. That was fun for a while…until it wasn’t anymore. The crew came through with barf bags and as they predicted, many passengers got sick before we reached the Capri dock. Luckily, once we were on solid ground and could feel the fresh air on our faces, everyone instantly started feeling better. We only had a few minutes to ourselves before we hopped onto the sight-seeing boat that would take us around the Northeast corner of the island to show us the beautiful rock formations on that part of the coast before returning to the main dock. We stayed on the boat’s top deck where we could feel the sun and wind on our faces, making us feel so much better.

Around the last corner, we saw the famous set of three rocks captured in every painting of Capri. Seeing this view from the water with the sun shining was worth the effort to get there!

Back on the island, we took trams up to a lookout area where we grabed some coffee and snacks. While we were there hanging out a storm was rolling through. Watching from inside a café we saw how the sky turned dark and the thunder echoed ominously. Luckily, the storm rolled out just as fast as it rolled in and we could get back to appreciating the beautiful views

After our lengthy visit to Capri, we boarded the ferry again and traveled east for about 25 minutes to Sorrento. This ferry ride was much smoother and enjoyable. We only had about an hour to explore, so we walked down some quaint streets and enjoyed a small area close to the center of town.

We saw citrus trees everywhere and spotted baskets of Ponderosa lemons everywhere, which are as big as your face! After some shopping and sightseeing, we reconnected with our bus and headed to Salerno for the night. It was dark when we arrived, so we didn’t see the amazing hotel view until the next morning at sunrise after a glorious night’s sleep.

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Italy Chronicles: Part 7 (Perugia, Assisi)

Posted on June 14, 2024 by Janette

Perugia is known as the city of chocolate, so our arrival naturally excited me. Upon meeting our city guide, we went up a few escalators to enter the old city of Perugia. Many years ago, a Pope decided to build a palace in this location, so he had everyone relocated from their homes, had architects put arched ceilings over the streets, and used the original city as the foundation in which to build his palace. Many years later, the palace is now gone, but the “modern” city of Perugia now sits. We heard that one of the architects didn’t like what the Pope was doing and decided to make detailed drawings of the old city, complete with names and occupations of the residents, which exists to this day. Exploring this old city and walking on the original streets that may be 2,000 years old was absolutely amazing!

I suppose we should thank the Pope for his actions as it perfectly preserved the city for modern-day visitors, offering us much to learn.

After our underground exploration, we took the escalators back to the surface and walked to the Piazza IV Novembre, or the 4th of November Square, named for the day WWI ended in Italy. Once a Roman forum, and then the center of the city’s medieval era, this location is a beautiful open area lined with shops and featuring an intricate fountain next to the side of the cathedral.

The Fontana Maggiore features two concentric circles of bas-reliefs depicting signs of the zodiac among other important religious figures.

Next, we learned about the “Baci” chocolates, meaning “kiss” in English. These delicious bites have a single hazelnut on top of a filled center, covered in chocolate and wrapped first in a paper with a sweet saying and then in foil with stars on the wrapper.

Back on the bus, we traveled to Assisi, a beautiful complex that sits high on a hill. From the parking area, we had to walk a short distance to the arch at the entrance and then up a zig-zagging set of roads that reminded me of San Marino!

We grabbed coffee and lunch before walking up to the Cathedral of Saint Francis. We were not allowed to take any photos inside the building at all, but we could enter on the left, follow the stairs down to the crypt to see St. Francis’ tomb (circa 1230), walk around the back of the tomb and exit on the other side up the stairs. The cathedral’s façade was located outside and up the hill 90 degrees, so we walked up there to take some photos of the area and the view. (This was the only church that had armed guards on duty.)

After our visit, we were on the bus for a few hours traveling to Naples to reach our hotel and promptly fell asleep.

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