Summer is mid way over, and so it means that the two Feldy ladies have to leave Long Beach Island, NJ and head home. This year, we did something a little differently. We decided to meet the man of the fam in Ephrata, PA - Central PA, Amish country for sure. We have some more traveling to do tomorrow in which we are going to be picking up a classic car for the boy to toy around with, but in the meantime, the ladies decided to take advantage of the route and explore. Philadelphia has so much to offer in so many ways, but we wanted to go the abandoned route. There was so much we could see. I really wanted to do Mount Moriah , but I was told it was in a pretty bad neighborhood. so, we decided to go to visit two places : The SS United States and the Divine Lorraine Hotel. The SS United States was our first stop. Right in the area in which the ballparks are and the piers are, we turned a corner and bam - it was right there. That ship is big and so magnificent. To wonder the grandeur that existed when it was on the water, cutting through the ocean. It must have been a wonderful experience. I love cruising, so I was in awe. We got out of the car. Little Soon To Be Five Year Old wanted to "drive the ship" and to explore, but Homeland Security had other thoughts on the situation. Instead, we crossed the street and just looked and discussed. What did a room look like? What did the beds look like? Was there a pool? Lots of questions and we just made up answers. I discussed some of the history of the ship and I think my little scholar (HA) listened. Here is alittle information if you want some history - http://www.ssusc.org/.
Then we went to the Divine Lorraine Hotel. The first integrated hotel of its caliber in the Philly area, this exquisite apartments turned hotel sits relatively alone in North Philly. I got lucky with a parking spot right up front. We traversed the scaffolding - yes it was like a jungle gym - and we looked up and over and around and just took in the whole site. we both wished we could go in, but the signs and gigantic locks told me no. The design is unique with the middle hollow, balconies facing each other. There were so many windows, all shapes and sizes, broken, blocked, painted. The balconies were our favorite part. We loved the built in ladder rungs. Little Girl thought that would make it easy to borrow an egg like we do with our neighbor Katie. Fantastic sights.
We finally got to Ephrata and then drove through Amish country to St. Peter's Village. We hiked this amazing creek, I think the French Basin, with huge black rocks. Favorite thing...water of course. Little Bossy Mossy loved walking in the water, climbing the biggest ones, making them "all wet" and splashing. She fell in completely. We all laughed, including her. What fun. Usually travel days suck...leaving vacation, going home to bills and laundry and the mess that you know you left beforehand and thought - I will do it when I get back. But this trip was just great. Seems very fitting considering the last three weeks have been just as wonderful.
Then we went to the Divine Lorraine Hotel. The first integrated hotel of its caliber in the Philly area, this exquisite apartments turned hotel sits relatively alone in North Philly. I got lucky with a parking spot right up front. We traversed the scaffolding - yes it was like a jungle gym - and we looked up and over and around and just took in the whole site. we both wished we could go in, but the signs and gigantic locks told me no. The design is unique with the middle hollow, balconies facing each other. There were so many windows, all shapes and sizes, broken, blocked, painted. The balconies were our favorite part. We loved the built in ladder rungs. Little Girl thought that would make it easy to borrow an egg like we do with our neighbor Katie. Fantastic sights.
We finally got to Ephrata and then drove through Amish country to St. Peter's Village. We hiked this amazing creek, I think the French Basin, with huge black rocks. Favorite thing...water of course. Little Bossy Mossy loved walking in the water, climbing the biggest ones, making them "all wet" and splashing. She fell in completely. We all laughed, including her. What fun. Usually travel days suck...leaving vacation, going home to bills and laundry and the mess that you know you left beforehand and thought - I will do it when I get back. But this trip was just great. Seems very fitting considering the last three weeks have been just as wonderful.