Tag Archives: family fun

Tarpon Springs, Florida- The Sponge Capital!

One of my favorite places to visit in the area is the little town of Tarpon Springs.  Drawn there originally by an arts and crafts show, we have now driven the 45 minutes north of St. Petersburg several times.

tarpon springs florida

After living in Maine for six months, this little coastal town almost seems like home!

tarpon springs florida

Tarpon Springs is the self proclaimed Sponge Capital of the World.  You see, in the early 1900’s, it was discovered that the Gulf of Mexico was rich in varieties of sponges.  This attracted Greek sponge divers who wanted to make a living in the United States.

Over the next 30 years, the Tarpon Springs sponge industry became the largest industry in the state of Florida.  Even larger than the citrus crops or tourism!

In the 1940s, blight reduced the growth of sponges, and this profitable industry was nearly wiped out. However in the 1980s, new sponge beds were found. Now, Tarpon Springs is back to being a leader in the world’s natural sponge market.

tarpon springs florida

Our first visit in Tarpon Springs included our friends and coworkers, Rick and Judy and their granddaughter.

I’m totally getting that selfie thing down!

tarpon springs florida

This bustling little town is the home of many small and interesting shops.  Of course, there are plenty of natural sponges available for purchase all over town.

tarpon springs florida

And lots of great homemade soap shops.  I’m a big fan of homemade soaps and having tried my hand at them before, appreciate the quality and amazing selection!

tarpon springs florida

Soap shops, tourist items, t-shirts, you name it.  This town has something for everyone.

tarpon springs florida

Couldn’t find enough seashells?  They have your back.

I won’t tell.

tarpon springs florida

Dave’s favorite place in this town is the Hella’s Restaurant and Bakery.  Their huge selection of Baklava, Spanakopita, cookies, pastries, and cakes is enough to get you in the door.  Dave has gone their twice now and stocked up on Cannolis.

Awesomeness.

tarpon springs florida

Yes, this town even has a Husband Day Care Center!

tarpon springs florida

Hungry?  Head over to Yianni’s Greek Cuisine Restaurant, right on the Sponge Docks!  They offer traditional Greek cuisine and live music.  My favorite is the Pork Gyro Platter with tzatziki sauce!

And amazing Sangria!

tarpon springs florida

And I even found a boat named after me!

tarpon springs florida

Tarpon Springs is a great little town for family fun.   It is one of the many highlights of our stay here in the St. Petersburg area!

Fun in Florida in the winter!

I’m currently juggling three websites, and this one seems to suffer a bit.  My goal (hopefully soon) is to post twice a week on here.  Currently, I’m really not doing well at that!

blogging on iphone

When we first hit the road, I thought I’d have tons of time to write.  I mean, I quit a full time job that included a hour and a half commute each way.  I should have tons of time, right?  But we are work camping right now to help supplement our income.  That requires at least 30 hours a week working for the campground for an hourly wage plus campsite.

My other websites, Suzy’s Sitcom and Daily Holiday Blog have taken off this year and I’m trying to keep up with them.  Hopefully very soon we will not need the supplemental income provided by work camping.  Not that I dislike working at the campgrounds, but I cannot somehow make more hours in my day!

rain at the koa

Dave and our friend Judy on a rainy KOA day…

In the meantime, life goes on at the campground!  We are currently in St. Petersburg, Florida for the winter, parked amongst the snowbirds from Canada and northern US.  We will be here two more months and then will be moving onto the Grand Canyon in Arizona for the summer.

My sister came to town this past week to spend a few days with us.  Here is a short video that I put together from her visit!

The winds were pretty strong and it felt like winter finally arrived in Florida.  But we had tons of fun in spite of the the windy weather.  We look forward to visiting with her again when she comes to Arizona!

Dave needs a haircut pretty badly.  After taking a photo of him with his locks blowing in the wind, I couldn’t help myself.  I had to make a romance novel cover out of it.

romance novel cover humor

And then post it on Facebook.

Because that is what I do.

By the way, Buffy Dickenson is my make-believe stripper name.  (Just put together the name of your first pet and the street you grew up on).

What is yours?  LOL!

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What is your word for the New Year?

A new year.  If there was one word that best describes the year 2015 for us, it would be “change”.  It was definitely a year of change.   We have seen so many beautiful things this year, made lots of great new friends, and are both so much healthier now than we have been in years.

christmas in fort desoto florida

A year of change.

Christmas didn’t involve the normal family get togethers this year. It was a little strange celebrating the holidays in 90 degree weather.

Yes, record highs!  Florida was supposed to be temperate this time of year.  Dave calls it Tropical.  I call it False Advertising.

But with new lives and new places come new traditions.  We celebrated with a beach picnic with our friends from Bar Harbor, Rick and Judy.

new year resolutions

New Year resolutions?  Well, let’s just say that my main resolution this year is to continue to live freely.  To take some advice from my dog Ralph who insists that New Years resolutions need to be simple.

Be nice to nice people.

Enjoy life, travel, go on an adventure.

Rather than focus on resolutions, I am focusing on one word this year.  From the website, One Word 365,

One word you can focus on every day, all year long… One word that sums up who you want to be or how you want to live.

It will take intentionality and commitment, but if you let it, your one word will shape not only your year, but also you. It will become the compass that directs your decisions and guides your steps.

christmas in fort desoto florida

So let’s consider that word while I tell you about our holiday.

How do you celebrate Christmas when you are miles from your relatives and currently living in neverending sauna?

christmas in fort desoto florida

You snag your good friends and head to the beach for a picnic!  Fort De Soto, to be exact.

Fort De Soto Park is one of my favorite places in the St. Pete area. It is located on five offshore keys, or islands just south of the city.  Historically, the islands were used for military fortifications.  There are two piers, beaches, picnic areas, hiking trails, bicycling trails, kayak trail, and even a ferry to Egmont Key State Park!

christmas in fort desoto florida

This is Rick and Judy!  We met them while working in Bar Harbor, Maine.  Winter jobs are hard to get in the camping industry.  You see, Florida is in pretty high demand in the winter because much of the campgrounds in cooler areas are closed for the winter.

This means that you might very well run across folks that you worked with in other areas of the country if you are wintering in Florida.  Rick and Judy, and one other couple that we worked with in Maine, are working with us here in St. Petersburg.

christmas in fort desoto florida

It’s very nice to have friends in the area to celebrate with.

christmas in fort desoto florida

And do a bit of beach combing with.

Rick and Judy will be heading to the northwest in the spring, and we will be headed to Arizona.  We will definitely miss them.  The camping world is a small place, so we just may end up working together again in the future.

Change is becoming a regular occurrence.

christmas in fort desoto florida

Oh, and speaking of change, guess who stayed up past midnight for the first time in 30 years?

We have some plans for 2016.  We will be here until March, and then will be moving onto Arizona for the summer.  The fall is still a mystery.  But that is half the fun.

That word for 2016?  Let’s go with “Adventure”.  And we will see where that takes us.

Happy New Year!

Fall in New Jersey

Did I mention that I’m terminally behind in posts?  We have been in Florida for nearly a month and I’m still writing about the trip down!

We took a month to get from Bar Harbor to St. Petersburg, FL and during that time we did a lot of relaxing, visited tourist attractions, and even attended my daughter’s wedding.

After leaving the New England Coast in mid October, we headed to New Jersey.

new jersey rv travel

New Jersey?  You bet!  Most folks think New Jersey is just an extension of New York City with nothing but pavement, traffic and congestion.  And I’m here to tell you that most of New Jersey is nothing like that.

new jersey rv travel

We were headed to Lake Hopatcong, NJ, where Dave grew up.  The plan was to visit friends and check out the area.  He hadn’t been back in years!

We parked the RV at Panther Lake Camping Resort.  It is a 160 acre camping retreat located next to a scenic 45 acre lake in Andover, New Jersey. Loved the beautiful trees and the nice grassy lots!  The RV park was just a short driving distance to our destination, Lake Hopatcong.

Hopatcong NJ

Lake Hopatcong is the largest freshwater body in New Jersey.  Located 30 miles from the Delaware River and 40 miles from New York City, it is a mostly residential lake whose few public access points include Hopatcong State Park and Lee’s County Park Marina.  

Most of the shoreline is privately owned by individual lakefront residents, homeowner or community associations, or restaurants and marinas.

new jersey rv travel

Wildlife along the shore was plentiful.  In fact the deer were a tad too friendly for my taste.  They did not have any fear of humans and would pretty much come right up to you.

They sure were beautiful, though.

new jersey rv travel

Here we were able to meet up with Dave’s childhood friend, Daniel.  He and his family still live right here where they grew up.  They hadn’t see each other in over 30 years.  It was a fun reunion!

new jersey rv travel

We went out to dinner with Daniel and his family where we all insisted on sitting outside along the water, bundled up in our sweaters.

Because when you are in such a pretty area, you really need to enjoy it.  Right?

It was a lot of fun meeting this amazing family, and we do hope to visit with them again in the future!

new jersey rv travel

As for the town of Hopatcong and the area around it really seemed to stand still in time.  According to Dave, this ice cream stand was a regular destination of his as a child.  He says it looks just the same.  Home of the Skyscraper, Cliff’s Ice Cream is a regular tourist attraction.

Of course, we had to stop and get a bit of ice cream.  Sometimes I have to sacrifice for the benefit of the website.  Right?

new jersey rv travel

And I’m here to tell you that New Jersey is a beautiful place in the fall!  Check out this fabulous pumpkin and gourd display!

new jersey rv travel

The Lake Hopatcong area is home to many U-pick farms.  And many of them are open year round!  Depending upon the season, you can find all types of fruits, vegetables and flowers available.

new jersey rv travel

We spent quite a bit of time at several of the farms in the Andover area, picking large black berries, cucumbers, green peppers, and fresh corn.

new jersey rv travel

Just look at this bounty!  You can’t find fresher corn that that!  And if you are looking for a great way to make it and some yummy berry cobbler on the grill, be sure to check out my 3 Berry Cobbler and Grilled Corn on the Cob recipes!

new jersey rv travel

Faith says we need to get back on the road now.  Note the gapped teeth in the front.  We call her our little hillbilly.

Anyway, we headed south from New Jersey after a fun visit.  Our next long-term destination would be Tybee Island, Georgia, for a brief reprieve before we attended my daughter’s wedding in Atlanta.

Stay tuned!
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Branson KOA- Campground Review

four starsOverall Rating: Nearly Perfect

 

We stayed for several days at the Branson, MO, KOA – Mar 2015, while we attended the KOA Boot Camp.  This was the first time we had ever been to Missouri, and were very excited to not only learn more about KOA, but experience the city of Branson.

Branson KOA review

We were welcomed at the front entranceway by a miniature Elvis himself!  Cute!

Branson was going to be lots of fun!

three starsSetting:  I have to say right off that I might have had a different impression at a different time of the year.  We were put in a Premium Full Hook up Site near the campground’s Convention Center.

Branson KOA review

A large part of this particular campground is placed along the side of a steep hill, with each campsite terraced above the one below.  The premium sites were separated by white picket fences and included picnic tables.

Those that do not get around well might have issues exploring this campground due to the terrain.

It worked well for us as we were only there for a few days, and didn’t spend a ton of time outside, however, for those that are there to enjoy the camping experience, the lots were pretty small.


This photo of Branson KOA & Convention Center is courtesy of TripAdvisor

I do have to say that there was a large variety of spots, many of which were plenty big enough for larger rigs, and plenty of room for maneuvering.


This photo of Branson KOA & Convention Center is courtesy of TripAdvisor

And along with the variety of spots, there were several Deluxe spots that included grills and patios.  These were particularly nice.

Amenities

four starsBathrooms were in great shape and very clean.

five starsWIFI- The park offers it for free and while it might be different during peak times, I never had an issue getting on line.

four starsLaundry- They have a nice laundry room available 24 hours a day.

five starsActivities- this park includes a swimming pool, a huge convention facility, fitness center, golf cart rental, horseshoes, a hot tub, playground and pontoon boat rentals.   Lots to do on site!


This photo of Branson KOA & Convention Center is courtesy of TripAdvisor

In season, they also offer free breakfast, and food service including pizza, hot wings, fudge and ice cream brought to your campsite.

This is one of the fun perks of KOA!

five starsStaff was friendly and available to help out if needed.  They made a great first impression by meeting us at the front gate and directing us inside.  They were quite knowledgable about the area.  The office can even get you discount tickets at some of the shows and attractions in Branson!

Branson KOA review

four starsDog Friendly– This campground had a very nice fenced in area for the dogs.  Walking the dogs was enjoyable and there were plenty of areas in the campground to take them to.

The positives?  Great park!  Very near downtown Branson and all it has to offer.  In my opinion, it is a great place to stay if you are in town to enjoy Branson.  In season, there is plenty to offer in the park to keep the kids entertained.

Any negatives?  Well, I really hesitate to say this because it truly isn’t the fault of the campground, but this area of the country can be quite volatile in the spring and summer.  While we were there, we were holed up in the RV each evening while thunderstorms, hail and potential tornados made their way through.

We ate dinner the first night looking out the window as hail the size of marbles came down on our VW bug and motorhome. (No damage- unless you want to count the indigestion…)

For the record, Branson KOA does not offer a tornado shelter.

branson missouri travel camping

In the area and looking for something to do?  We recommend the fun and campy town of Branson.  Lots to see and do!

For more information on Branson KOA, be sure to check out their website!

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Sunrise on Cadillac Mountain and a visit with family!

One of the hardest part of our life transition was leaving our family behind.  Talking to them regularly on the phone is great, but we do miss seeing them in person.  They were curious about our adventure and wanted to come visit.  So this past week, we were delighted to host my daughter, mother, sister, sister-in-law and sister’s mother-in-law.

top of cadillac mountain bar harbor maine

It was so much fun to see them again!  Of course, we had to show them around!  Our first stop was the top of Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park. Cadillac Mountain at 1,530 feet, it is the highest point along the North Atlantic seaboard.  A perfect place to show them some of the beautiful sights of the coast of Maine!

sunrise on cadillac mountain

My daughter will be getting married in November, and we had lots of catching up to do.  I will be creating some of her wedding decor, so be sure to stay tuned to my other website, Suzy’s Sitcom for the latest wedding craft project!

top of cadillac mountain bar harbor maine

Of course, she shares my sense of humor.  There are many reasons why we call this the Sitcom!

hadley point maine mussel fishing

We then took them to Hadley Point where we went mussel fishing at low tide.  The Georgia brigade purchased boots just for this!  Mussels can be found attached to the rocks under the seaweed when the tide goes out.  This particular area has thousands of them.

hadley point maine mussel fishing

We let them sit in cold water and corn meal overnight to get most of the sand out of them, and then boiled them in wine, chicken stock and garlic.  Yumm!

lobster bar harbor oceanside koa maine

Of course, you cannot go to Maine without a taste of lobster!  The campground that we work at, Bar Harbor Oceanside KOA, has their very own lobster man!  He serves fresh lobster dinners every evening from his tent in the middle of the campground.

lobster bar harbor oceanside koa maine

I was able to teach them my method for eating a whole lobster.  (A bit of trial and error on my part).  You can read the story about my ridiculous first attempt at lobster eating here.

lobster bar harbor oceanside koa maine

My sister caught on pretty darn quickly!

bar harbor oceanside koa maine camping

We then sat around a campfire and enjoyed another beautiful sunset. (Note the bottle of bug spray near my feet).  My boss likes to say that there isn’t a single mosquito in Maine.  They are all married with large families…

bar harbor oceanside koa maine camping

Proper s’more techniques were taught.

…and her last night there, we decided to go with my daughter to see the sunrise from the top of Cadillac Mountain.

sunrise on cadillac mountain

As I mentioned in an earlier post about checking out the sunrise on Cadillac Mountain, you definitely need to dress warm.  We brought winter coats, hats and a blanket.

As you can see, the hubby isn’t very good about sharing blankets.  And I have a very scary looking face at 4:00 AM.

It was freezing!  In July!

sunrise on cadillac mountain

But very much worth it!  What a beautiful sight!  The sun begins to rise in Bar Harbor about 4:00 AM.  And as you can see, we weren’t the only crazy people there checking out the view.

sunrise on cadillac mountain

We had so much fun with the family here and were able to show them just a bit of the sights and experiences of this beautiful part of the country.

Our new lifestyle is exciting and we very much love our decision to take a chance and start traveling, but seeing the family again will be one of the highlights of our summer.

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A look at Southwest Harbor and Bass Harbor Lighthouse

Spring has finally come to our part of Maine!  The grass suddenly greened up, the weather has warmed up a bit, and the dandelions are in full bloom!
dandelions dog spring in maine

Back in Georgia, the schools have let out for summer and I’m sure it is very hot and humid there.  While we are totally not missing that, it is a bit strange to be celebrating spring weather when it is nearly June.

bar harbor oceanside koa maine

The park is starting to fill up.  We had a big crowd over the Memorial Day weekend and our first taste of how busy it will get as the weather warms up here.

atlanta georgia traveling sitcom

When Dave and I lived and worked in Atlanta, we carpooled every day- an hour and a half each way in heavy traffic.

bar harbor oceanside koa maine

We still carpool, but this is our new ride!  Cute, right?  Takes us about 5 whole minutes to get to work and the traffic?  Other than an occasional seagull or goose, it is nonexistent!

trip to bass harbor lighthouse

We get two days off a week and plan to use them to explore the area.  The Bar Harbor Oceanside KOA is located on Mount Desert Island.  It is a huge island with lots of areas to explore including a Acadia National Park, tons of hiking trails, lots of coastal towns, lobster fishing, beautiful mountains, and even a lighthouse or two!

This past weekend, we took a trip down to Southwest Harbor, Bass Harbor, and the Bass Harbor Lighthouse. Southwest Harbor is the largest town on the southwestern “quiet side” of the island. The town has some great shops, galleries and restaurants worth checking out more thoroughly in the near future.

bar harbor southwest harbor

As we entered Southwest Harbor, we stopped to admire the amazing views.  You can see the open ocean here, dotted with various small islands.  And just check out the rocks!  I had immediate plans of gathering a bunch and creating a whole new batch of Painted Paisley Stones!

bar harbor southwest harbor

…and apparently they knew I was coming.   It appears that I may not be the only one who loves a pretty rock.

bar harbor southwest harbor

Our next stop was the lighthouse.  My ultimate goal on this trip is to visit every lighthouse in the area, and with nearly 60 lighthouses on the Maine coast, I have my work cut out for me!

Built in 1858, Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse is the only lighthouse located on Mount Desert Island.  There are not currently tours available for this lighthouse as it is maintained by a private family, but you can take the walkway right up next to the tower and lighthouse viewing area where you can see a panoramic view of the harbor and the islands in the distance.

bar harbor southwest harbor

To the left side of the lighthouse is a path that leads to the rocks below where you can capture some amazing photos of the cliff and lighthouse.  Here I am in my KOA yellow parka checking out the view before I carefully picked my way down.

bar harbor southwest harbor

We sat here for quite some time enjoying the view and keeping an eye out for seals along the shore.  I hope to come back here soon around sunset and get some more beautiful photos.

bar harbor southwest harbor

The little town of Bass Harbor is not only picturesque, but is known as one of  the most lucrative lobster-producing ports in the state.  The town also has terminals for two different ferries which can take you to more of the surrounding islands.

We plan on taking some of the ferries in the near future and will let you know more about them then.

bar harbor oceanside koa

But for now, we have work to do back at the Oceanside KOA.  And a few beautiful sunsets to enjoy there!

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When in Maine, we eat Lobster!

I’m a firm believer that I should make an attempt to try out life as a local where ever I end up.  So with that said, apparently those that live in Maine have a thing for lobsters.  Which means I will have to make the sacrifice and eat a lobster meal.

It will be tough, but we will just have to do it…

how to eat a lobster in bar harbor maine

So where to go?  Well, I could name fifty restaurants in the Bar Harbor area and hundreds more along the Maine coast that sell lobster.  You see signs of that red pinchered thing everywhere.

bar harbor oceanside koa

See all those white floats in the water just off the shore?  Everyone of those is a lobster trap.  They go as far as you can see in all directions.  A passing lobster just doesn’t have a chance in Bar Harbor.

how to eat a lobster in bar harbor maine

Lobsters, lobsters everywhere.  Lobster shirts, lobster signs, lobster salt and pepper shakers, lobster Christmas lights, lobster cookie cutters, lobster calendars…

how to eat a lobster in bar harbor maine

Even Lobster Ice cream!  And yes, it had real chunks of lobster in it. Ben & Bill’s Chocolate Emporium located on Main Street in Bar Harbor has lots of fun flavors in their homemade ice cream selection including Dulce de Leche, Bubblegum, (KGB) Kahlua and Bailey’s Irish Cream base ice cream with a Grand Marnier fudge swirl, Rum Raisin, Root Beer Float, and many more!

My personal goal is to try each flavor before the summer is out.  Will let you know how that goes!  For the record- I  have already tried the Lobster Ice cream.  It was ummm…. interesting.

Dave just asked me about that diet I was planning to go on… Ice cream has lots of calcium, right?

how to eat a lobster in bar harbor maine

And speaking of diet, let’s take in a bit of seafood, why don’t we?  For our first stab at eating a real lobster, we checked out Stewman’s Lobster Pound.

how to eat a lobster in bar harbor maine

Ever eaten a whole lobster?  Well, it is an adventure.  Our waitress recognized the slightly alarmed looks on our faces as these red crustaceans were set in front of us and took us under her wing.  She showed us how to break the the claws off, and then how to twist the tail off the body to get to the tail meat.

After warning us that we needed to remove the “chute” in the tail, she left us to our adventure.

Okay.  I’m not thrilled about looking for a “chute”, but here goes…

So, here is what we learned.  DO NOT twist the tail off the body while holding it over your plate!  Bleh!  There  is green stuff that will fall onto your plate.  This is the lobster tomalley, which is apparently the lobster’s liver and pancreas.  Many people, especially in New England, consider it a delicacy, and eat it along with the rest of the lobster.

We did not.  I will only take this “eating as the locals do” just so far!

But we both did agree that the lobsters were delicious.  Especially the tail and claws.  Now that we have officially been broken in, we plan on trying a few more before we leave the area.  After all, we are experts now!

how to eat a lobster in bar harbor maine

On the home front, the dogs are getting used to their new surroundings.  Ralph has discovered red squirrels (which are the pretty red cousins to his nemesis the gray squirrel in Georgia).  Turns out that they are not afraid of him either.

Ralph now spends an enormous amount of time staring out the window looking for a squirrel sighting so that he can bark like a girl.

It’s a thing.

how to eat a lobster in bar harbor maine

And Dave is busy breaking in the grill.  This week we made Spicy Chipotle Burgers and Grilled Corn on the Cob.

It wasn’t as exciting as the lobster, but it certainly was delicious.

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The beautiful coast of Connecticut!

Driving north from Hershey, we rolled into Aces High Campground in East Lyme, CT.  We took a slight departure from KOA and chose this campground based on the fact that it was close to the ocean and boasted lakeside lots.

connecticut camping rv life

The weather was beautiful and we managed to get a spot right along side the lake.  Well, I have to admit that we were pretty much the only ones there.  We shared a campground with geese, ducks, and about 10 RV’s that were being stored there for the winter.

connecticut camping rv life

The dogs and I discovered a great walking trail that took us all the way around the lake.  Cool shot, right?  Of course after taking the photo, I had to spend 20 minutes untangling Faith from tree trunks.

Oh, and it was about a minute after that when my brand new (six day old) iPhone 6 suddenly bit the dust.  As a professional blogger with a major dependency on my mobile hot spot, this was a big deal.

connecticut camping rv life

So we ended up spending our entire first day in Connecticut looking for someone to replace my iPhone6.  You see, AT&T (while they were happy to take my money), do not support the iPhone.  They told us we would need to go to Apple.

We ended up having to drive an hour to the Apple Genius Bar in New Haven in order to get my phone replaced.  The day actually turned out much better once we got there.  The Genius Bar was located right in the center of Yale University.  They cheerfully replaced my phone and we were able to see Yale University up close and personal at the same time!

connecticut camping rv life

On the way back home, we did a detour to the coast and enjoyed some beautiful sandy beaches.  Dave challenged me to a 2 mile hike along this sandy trail.

Ever tried to walk for two miles in loose sand?  My daily exercise quota was totally met.  In fact, I’m going for another aspirin right now…

connecticut camping rv life

The next day, we visited Mystic Seaport.  Not doing any research up front, I assumed that Mystic Seaport was just a huge harbor full of ships.

connecticut camping rv life

It turns out that Mystic Seaport is the nation’s leading maritime museum. It is home to four National Historic Landmark vessels, including the Charles W. Morgan, the last wooden whaleship in the world.  The museum features a working preservation shipyard, a re-created 19th-century seafaring village, exhibits and even a planetarium.

connecticut camping rv life

The town of Mystic was quaint and colorful, and full of art! Totally my kind of town.

connecticut camping rv life

You know, my sister has perfected the selfie with her face in the foreground and something awesome behind her.

Us?  Not so much.

You can’t tell by the photo, but he is holding the camera (because he has longer arms) and I am pushing the button (because he can’t seem to hold the camera and push the button at the same time). In all the commotion, trying to push the button and get my short squatty head and his super tall head in the same frame, we always seem to lose the cool thing in the background.

For the record, it was a boat.

connecticut camping rv life

And I certainly cannot talk about Mystic without mentioning the lighthouses!  The New London Harbor Lighthouse was originally built in 1801.  The keeper’s dwelling is now a private residence, but the lighthouse is still active. Tours need to be arranged for this lighthouse by appointment only, so we didn’t get to see it up close and personal.

new london ledge lighthouse

And there is the New London Ledge Lighthouse!  This one fascinates me because it has been featured on several ghost hunting shows.  I love ghost stories.

This floating lighthouse, originally built in 1901, is famous for the ghost of an early keeper, nicknamed “Ernie,” who allegedly haunts the lighthouse.  Lighthouses keepers in the past have reported unexplained knockings, doors opening and closing repeatedly, the television turning on and off by itself and even the unexplained removal of sheets from beds!

connecticut camping rv life

Unfortunately, the only way to get to this little lighthouse is by boat, so this is the closest I was able to get to it.

I’m sure Ernie was very disappointed…

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Beautiful and historic Hershey, PA!

Seems like the further we head north, the more we go back in time.  We left spring behind somewhere on the Pennsylvania line, and were met with chilly weather and trees that have just now started recovering from a harsh winter.

hershey pennsylvania koa camping

The Hershey Johnstown KOA was our campground of choice.  Tucked in beside the beautiful Swatara creek, we loved the ambiance of this little campground!  Our rig was a bit to big to fit in the spaces along the creek, so we were set back on the wooded side, but walking the dogs was a treat here.

hershey pennsylvania koa camping

Of course when in Hershey, one must go see what all the fuss is about!  And if it required eating chocolate, well Dave and I would just have to make the sacrifice.  We are just that dedicated…

Dave and I are history buffs, so we were excited to learn everything we could about this interesting town and the man that originated it.

hershey pennsylvania koa camping

The Hershey Company originated with candy-manufacturer Milton Hershey’s decision in 1894 to produce sweet chocolate as a coating for his caramels. In 1900, the company began producing milk chocolate in bars, wafers and other shapes.

Hershey used mass production in his factories and was able to lower the per-unit cost and make milk chocolate, once a luxury item for the wealthy, affordable to all.

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Our first stop was at Hershey’s Chocolate World.  Entrance is free, which is totally up our alley.  Chocolate as far as you could see.   I made Dave put that humongous Hershey kiss back.  And then we both backed slowly away…

Fun Fact: Did you know that Hershey’s kisses have been around since 1907?

hershey pennsylvania koa camping

We then took the free Hershey’s Chocolate Tour.  It was about a 10 minute ride through a Hershey “factory” where some animated cows show you how chocolate bars are made.  It was campy and fun!  And that cow song “Hershey’s Milk Chocolate!” will stick in your head.

Literally for days.

Oh, and you get chocolate at the end of the ride!

hershey pennsylvania koa camping

HERSHEY’S markets its products in approximately 70 countries worldwide. They currently have around 14,000 employees and net sales in excess of $6.6 billion.

And the cool thing is that The Hershey Company remains committed to the vision and values of the man who started it all so many years ago.

hershey pennsylvania koa camping

For a small fee, we took the Hershey Trolley Works tour of the city, where we were told the history of the city, the Hershey Company and Milton Hershey, the founder.

One of the stops was the Milton Hershey School.  We were able to go inside, but I have to tell you that my camera just didn’t do it justice.  So here is a short video that talks a bit about the school and it’s history.

In 1918, Milton Hershey and his wife, Catherine Hershey, donated all of their considerable wealth, of around 60 million dollars, to the boarding school upon Catherine Hershey’s death. Before his own death in 1945, Milton Hershey ensured the school would live on by donating 30% of all future Hershey profits to the school.

Due to this generous donation, Milton Hershey School now has over 7 billion dollars in assets, making it one of the richest schools in the world.

hershey pennsylvania koa camping

Part of the trolley ride included driving by the Hershey mansion, which is the home that Milton built for his beloved wife in the early 1900’s.  It now serves as an office building for those that handle the Milton Hershey School trust.

We learned a whole lot on our tour of Hershey and highly recommend the Trolley rides and the free Hershey’s Chocolate tour.

Special Note: Due to the time of year, we did not have to deal with crowds.  If you happen to be in the area during the summer season, be prepared.  They told us that the population of Hershey triples during the height of the summer season.

Our next stop is the coast of Connecticut.  See you there!.

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