Pennsylvania Loop

Hola!

We spent most of the kids' "April Vacation" break (it must be an East Coast thing?  They get a week off in February and a week off in April) on a Pennsylvania Loop.  Frank and I visited some of these places Way Back When, but we had never taken the kids.

PENNSYLVANIA STATE U.  We started our loop, actually, at Penn State University, their main campus at University Park.  This was an afterthought.  We already had planned to be in Pennsylvania, then it turned out that that school was one of the schools to which David sent his SAT scores.  "Do you want to tour the school?" we asked David.  It was added to the agenda.

We were glad we went!  It was a good tour, of course made even better with sunshine.  It was nice weather, flowers in full bloom, students enjoying the sun on the grass between classes, and the tour guides were enthusiastic.  It's a very nice campus.  It is pretty huge, even to me, and I like big schools!

Soldier Cemetery

GETTYSBURG.  Then it was on to Gettysburg.  I have been fascinated with the Civil War era since reading a biography of Abraham Lincoln.  What a time to be the President, when half the country secedes from the union and wants to become their OWN country.

Slavery was the controversy of the decade and there were such strong opinions and feelings on both sides of the debate.  We walked around the battlefields and took the car tour on CD.

The Whitesells pose with Lincoln

(Bill is actually taking this photo.  I put him in anyway.)

LANCASTER.  Lancaster was next, where we got to visit Frank's aunt and uncle.  The unexpected surprise was that Amelia (Frank's cousin) was also in transit, and we overlapped for that night and got to visit with her.

It was SO nice to have a beautiful home to stay in for one night, and great company, amongst our week of hotel stays!



with a beautiful "galaxy" print on the back

AMISH COUNTRY.  We drove around to see the lush farmlands and to learn about how the Amish people do things.  It sounds a little weird but we drove around, just to observe.  (As respectfully as possible, I'll add.  I tried to emphasize to the kids that it was not a People Zoo.)  It's just educational to see a little piece of the Amish lifestyle.  To see them still using horses and buggies, no electricity and washing clothes by hand.  Some have stores in their basements where they sell handcrafted goods.

 We stopped at one house that had "handcrafts" on a sign out front.  We went into their basement and browsed.  We ended up buying "quillows," beautiful quilts you could fold up into themselves to make pillows.

So bright, we're all squinting but David

There was also an official store there, where I ate the absolutely very best big, soft pretzel I think I have ever eaten.  Melt-In-Your-Mouth-Wow.  These pretzels were so good, we bought the batter mix to come home and make them ourselves...I have my doubts, though, that I can even come close.

somebody pointed and covered Teresa's face

PHILADELPHIA.  The last day we spent in Philly, learning about the signers of the Declaration of Independence and our founding fathers.

The Liberty Bell was a highlight for me, as well as the "LOVE" sculpture in a downtown park.  This was placed in the park in 1976, on the country's 200th birthday.

This is where the Declaration of Independence was signed

The gift shop had the movie "National Treasure" showing.

Feel the beat: "Gonna Fly Now!"

The other famous movie, more for the parents and grandparents of today, was "Rocky."  Go ahead, think back: Sylvester Stallone in his early days.  Those steps he ran up during his workout--you remember!

The early morning run, making us all gag with that drink he made with about 6 raw eggs, then running and running throughout the city.  His workout finally took him up the MANY steps of the Art Museum in downtown Philadelphia.  Fists pumping the air at the top: "Gonna Fly Now!"

VALLEY FORGE.  Last stop was Valley Forge.  The films they have at the visitor's centers usually give good overviews of the time period and area, and this one was no different. 

This was the winter camp for Washington's army, in the winter of 1787-88.  Really hard conditions for the soldiers, who were very hungry most of the time, and very cold most of the time.

Of course I could go on and on!  But this gives you a quick overview.  If you ever want to visit Pennsylvania, we can give you some recommendations!  It was far from comprehensive, but we got just a taste of our contry's early days.
Have a great week!  Kari