Meduseld Meadery
I won’t call it a “hobby,” but perhaps my affection for craft beer could be labeled an “interest”. In our travels across the U.S. and around the world, we’ve visited hundreds of craft breweries where …
National Museum of the American Coverlet
We stopped by the National Museum of the American Coverlet in Bedford, PA because…well, why not? Did we know anything about coverlets? Nope, but we know a little bit more now. Let’s start by clearing up …
Shoofly Pie
The Pennsylvania Dutch region of south central Pennsylvania around Lancaster County features a large number of culinary delights. Besides scrapple (it’s best to try it before you look at the recipe), chicken corn soup, hog …
The Great Utz Chip Trip (Factory Tour)
Why yes, this is another item that’s been on the to do list for years and is only now finally accomplished. The Utz Chip Trip Tour is literally in the same town (Hanover, PA) where …
The Turkey Hill Experience
On many drives to visit Doug’s family in Pennsylvania, we’ve passed by the unmissable signs for the Turkey Hill Experience in Columbia, Penn. On more than one occasion, I’ve longingly said “look, Turkey Hill and …
Demuth Museum
While in Lancaster we popped into the Demuth Museum; we had read it was small and quick, and that’s an understatement. The museum is housed in where American Modernist Artist Charles Demuth spent most of …
Lancaster Central Market & the Newspaper Reader
We overnighted in Lancaster at Meduseld Meadery (poor Doug!); in the morning we walked into Lancaster proper to visit the Lancaster Central Market and have breakfast. The LCM is the oldest continuously operating farmers market …
Architecture / History / Museums / Religion
The Ephrata Cloister
The Ephrata Cloister in Ephrata, PA (near Lancaster) is another “I didn’t see it when I lived there, but came back as a tourist” experience. The Ephrata Cloister is not far at all from where …
The Boss, Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Springsteen grew up in Freehold, just 40 minutes from where I grew up (Forked River); it seemed time to do some musical exploring while on a visit to my parents’ house. Springsteen (or “The …
New Jersey Shark Attacks of 1916
In July 1916, media across the U.S. buzzed with reports of five shark attacks in three locations in central and southern New Jersey. The first two attacks were on the Jersey shore, with a fatality …