Marking number 19 in my Capitol collection, the New Jersey State House was a fun addition to the list. Although construction prevented us from seeing the rotunda, our reserved tour still covered the rich history and decor of the third state in the union.
*Fun Fact: New Jersey’s Capitol building is the only Capitol from which you can see another state. Just across the Delaware River, you can see Pennsylvania.
From small beginnings, the state house has undergone 12 major construction projects since it was built in 1792. These projects altered the size and shape of the building, bringing it to the stately building it is today.
Nods to historical elements and stat icons can be seen all around the building.
Just remember that the building is off limits unless you have a scheduled tour, so go online for details and sign up before you visit. Parking is free, and there are lots of exciting things you can walk to from the parking garage!
On my quest for (relatively) local points of interest to explore, I looked up some interesting places I had never heard about before. Planning a day trip, I set out to visit two locations that had things I love: food, crafts, and beautiful architecture.
The first stop was the Lancaster Central Market. Located in the heart of downtown Lancaster’s Penn Square, this historic market is something to experience at least once.
This market was the oldest municipally-owned market in the country until 2005, and it is huge! I never knew this place existed, which is surprising considering it has everything I love inside! It took forever to weave back and forth around rows of stalls selling everything from fresh flowers, hot sandwiches and food items, snacks and bakery items, coffee, smoothies, candles, Amish quilts, and many other amazing treasures.
After some fresh juice, delicious donuts, a hot sandwich, and a few Amish-made gifts later…it was time to head back to the car. This area of downtown is very walkable, and if I had more time, I would have liked to walk around the downtown a bit more. It is a busy city, so parking the car in the garage and walking on foot is the way to go if you explore the area.
Next up was the city of Reading (pronounced “redding”). Here, high up on a hill overlooking the city sits a pagoda of all things! Who knew?
Built in 1908, this historic building sits atop Mount Penn and is the symbol of the city. This seven-story wooden building was first constructed to serve as a luxury resort hotel. Only a few years later, when that plan was abandoned in 1911, the pagoda was donated to the city of Reading and has remained an icon ever since.
Boasting 30-mile panoramic views of the area below, this is a great place to spend some time relaxing. Plenty of parking spots sit just outside the walking area so visitors can easily explore the area down below the building as well.
If you are ever in the area of Reading or Lancaster, Pennsylvania, come check out these points of interest!
Another museum worth the visit is the Rodin Museum.
Jules Mastbaum (1872-1926) began collecting works by Rodin in the early 1920’s with the intention of opening a museum dedicated to him. Considered the father of modern sculpture, Rodin had many plaster casts made of his clay models, allowing him to save his work and experiment with form further. He was known for his ability to render extreme expressions which ranged from inner turmoil to overwhelming joy.
By 1926, Mastbaum had collected the greatest collection of Rodin’s sculptures outside of Paris, but due to his sudden passing, Mastbaum’s wife had the museum plans executed to create the building that exists today. This museum is not huge, but it is a beautiful place to spend an hour walking around.
Also, if you happen to pay full price at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, you can get into the Rodin Museum for free. Otherwise, the Rodin Museum is “pay what you wish” every day, which is still a great deal.
Spending time in this city is not something I did enough when I was younger. So, I was very happy to spend a weekend taking in some amazing art museums.
The first museum to visit was the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Yes, this is where the famous Rocky Statue is located, and the front of the museum is grand indeed, but this is not where you enter. Appreciate the museum façade in all its glory, but then make your way around the right side of the museum, all the way to the rear, where you will enter as a patron.
A helpful tip is to visit the museum at 5:00pm on Friday night. The normal $25.00 a person fee is waived, and patrons can “pay what you wish” for their entrance ticket. This is the only night the museum is open late, so enjoy the almost free price while you can!
This museum contains three floors and has two awesome gift shops. Two special exhibits were on display on the second floor, and I loved viewing the Great Stair Hall with the Diana Sculpture on the same level.
Besides the Arms & Armor exhibit (which was worth the visit) my favorite exhibit was the Asian Art collection. There was a re-created Japanese garden and tea house where details of the infamous tea ceremony are depicted. As someone who has traveled to Japan and participated in a tea ceremony, this exhibit was simply stunning.
There was an abundance of art to view in this museum. A patron could easily spend all day in this location, so my game plan was to view the areas I was most interested in, considering the visit took place in the evening and there were only a few hours to tour. Definitely worth while and I would love to go back in the future!
Who doesn’t like a good nature cruise…especially when it takes you to the heart of the Superstition Mountains!?
On my visit to Arizona, I was able to take the Dolly Steamboat on a leisurely sightseeing cruise. The steamboat has been cruising since 1925, and what a way to experience this six-mile section of water.
Sitting on the top deck (the enclosed portion with air conditioning), we gazed out the large windows to enjoy breathtaking scenes of the mountains as we traveled down the lake. The captain recounted legends and lore of this section of mountain and pointed out various wildlife as they popped into view.
Small snacks were served on board, but there was a take-out window on the dock where you could order food to bring along with you on the boat. And although we did see some smaller boats wiz by, our nature cruise was very peaceful and quiet. This is a must-do if you are in the area!
For those of you who love to see animals in the wild, you will love a trip to Williams, Arizona, where you can drive through the Bearizona Wildlife Park.
As I have already seen the Grand Canyon, and the Capitol building in Phoenix, this was a nice adventure. Visitors can drive through sections of the park to get up-close and personal with dozens of bears at feeding time.
There is also an area where you can freely walk around the enclosures of various animal dens, and to get refreshed after a long, hot day, visitors can enjoy a delicious meal at Canyonland Restaurant.
Not to mention, the gift shop is pretty amazing…worth taking a turn to walk around if I do say so myself! This was a fantastic day trip to a place I had never heard about, but it was definitely worth the journey.
Just seven miles away from Longwood Gardens sits Baldwin’s Book Barn, which boasts a collection of over 200,000 books. Originally, when I heard about the book “barn,” I didn’t think about a building so large that you need a detailed map to navigate the four floors.
However, the map was much needed if you want to see every inch for yourself. There are narrow staircases, low ceilings, and books located around every nook and cranny and under every staircase.
Even the décor is book-themed! This was an awesome place to kill a few hours. If you enjoy being emersed in literature of all types, this place is worth checking out for sure. The next time you are in West Chester, PA, stop in. The book barn is open every day from 10:00am to 6:00pm except for Thanksgiving and Christmas.
About an hour outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania sits the beautifully manicured estate owned by Pierre du Pont that is now known as Longwood Gardens. Originally purchased as the Pierce Farm, Pierre spent his life traveling the world, experiencing amazing technology and architecture, and adding those elements into the gardens we see today. I have wanted to visit Longwood Gardens for a few years now, so getting tickets months ago for the Christmas timeframe was worth the wait!
Since we arrived a bit early (as tickets are for timed entry and I didn’t want to be late) we had some time to kill. The gift shop was a natural time-killer, as it was huge and I could have spent a fortune in there. Unique, novelty items abounded, like this rack of pastry ornaments! Attention to detail was apparent in every inch of the building, and all items fit perfectly with a chilly winter’s day when you just want to see pretty decorations, smell cozy scents, and snuggle up with loved ones as the holidays approached.
In addition to a beautiful cardinal ornament, I purchased a pack of candles that were supposed to smell like a woodfire burning…which is one of the most appealing parts of winter for me. We also purchased some snacks and a mini flocked tree as a table-top decoration. We also poked into the garden center where you can purchase live plants.
And when I say that every inch of this place is beautiful…I’m not kidding. Here are examples of two different bathroom locations and how they were decorated:
Even though it was cold and the normal plants and flowers were not in bloom outside, there was still plenty to see. There were also a number of buildings you could visit to escape the cold. Here are some of my favorite indoor pics:
Outside there was also plenty to see as pathways were decorated, Christmas trees were placed everywhere, and even the normal trees had lights to guide your way. Just beyond the entrance to the gardens sits the café and restaurant. Other than that, we found a cute little pop-up café where chilly visitors could grab a hot chocolate and cookies to stay warm at the other end of the gardens. This happened to be right next to the treehouse, which was definitely worth a visit!
As we circled back toward the exit we visited the open-air theatre, and even caught the fountain performing a water show! Apparently, that fountain remained operational while the others had been shut off for the season, and it performed the water show every 15 minutes.
Most people wore their masks indoors and outdoors to both protect other visitors and also keep their faces warm in the very cold air. Everyone was nice, caring, and respectful while visiting and so many people offered to take pictures for others nearby. It was an amazing visit and I can’t wait to go back in the Spring or Summer when everything is in bloom outside!
At the end of the summer, I finally had the opportunity to visit a few more state capitols…one of my favorite things to do for domestic travel. First up was Dover, Delaware.
Delaware is an awesome state. It may be small, but there’s a little something for everyone in this nook of the East Coast.
Being from Pennsylvania, I had no idea that the area of Delaware once belonged to PA. Delaware became the “First State” in 1787 when its delegates were the first to ratify the U.S. Constitution at the Golden Fleece Tavern, a historic landmark.
As a small capital city, Dover has a lot to offer. Whether you are interested in the capitol building, the archives, or other museums like the Johnson Victrola Museum, the Biggs Museum of American Art, or the John Bell House (Dover’s oldest surviving wood-frame building), there is something to spark interest in everyone.
Dover has two capitol buildings. The Old State House, built in 1791, serves as a museum today. The tour is informative and describes how influences from England lingered in the process of criminal court proceedings. The building’s curved staircase was stately as it splits and curves around the front door, and must have been a show-stopper back in the day!
Replacing the Old State House in 1933 is called “Legislative Hall.” This is the current seat of government and has all the bells and whistles one would expect of a capitol building.
Dotted around the grounds of Legislative Hall are beautifully carved monuments. Inside the capitol and on the grounds outside are many references to the sacrifice and contributions of women in the military, which was so amazing to see. The Delaware Women Veterans Monument was one of my favorites for sure.
Annapolis, Maryland
About an hour and a half away from Dover is Annapolis, a sea-faring city that has been welcoming visitors for more than 300 years. Once named for Princess Anne as “Anne Arundel’s Towne,” Annapolis solidified its current name in 1708 when Princess Anne became Queen and she chartered her colonial namesake as a city. This is why the city’s flag boasts her royal badge: a crown over the entwined thistle of Scotland and Tudor rose of England.
The world-famous United States Naval Academy is located here and we saw hundreds of students in their white uniforms roaming about for family weekend.
The capitol building, completed by 1779, remains the oldest such structure in the U.S. in daily use as a legislative building. The present dome is the largest wooden dome in the U.S. and is made of cypress means and wooden pegs.
The area directly in front of the building showcases beautiful sculptures of prominent historical figures in such a beautiful way.
The short walk from the capitol building to the seaport is quaint and charming. The area highlights multitudes of small businesses. Everything from art shops to cafes can be found in the blocks leading toward the water with something of interest for everyone.
So, it’s official…my 30’s are over, and the chapter on my 40’s has begun. I’ve been spending some time thinking back to when I turned 30 and how I reflected over the previous decade of my 20’s. What seems like a lifetime of experiences has transpired.
When I turned 30, I remember thinking that after the demise of two serious relationships and feeling like I wasted time in my 20’s on other people, I would live my 30’s for myself.
Looking back on the past decade provided some interesting reflection. Throughout my 30’s I’ve had the following experiences that stand out:
1 quasi-stalker
8 different employment positions spanning 2 states and 2 countries
10 national travel experiences
13 international experiences
4 volunteer/charity work experiences
6 different addresses
3 volcanoes
3 passports
MANY international friendships developed
2 surgical procedures
21 consistent months of no travel 😦
1 pandemic
1 hangover (my first and last)
Multiple dates with seemingly good guys that went nowhere
1 awesome husband
Various continuing education/professional development activities and courses
3 moments of “What am I doing with my life?”
3 distinct periods of “starting over.”
2 moments of “This is exactly what I’m supposed to do.”
Countless books read
Countless books still to go
Looking back always makes me appreciate all that has occurred, good or bad. Life experiences help to shape us into the form we exhibit today, and I can’t really complain about where I am now and who I have become.
Some fun notable items from the past 10 years:
-I met international celebrities and went on a date with their son before realizing the family was famous.
-I got caught in a tear gas crowd control maneuver after a recent bombing had authorities on high alert.
-I received a fantastic marriage proposal from one of my high school students in Indonesia. He struck out, but at least he earned an A.
-I finally saw the northern lights (even if it was just a little) after three previous opportunities didn’t work out.
EXPOSED LATITUDES 