southphillysilly

Question: Is a “day trip” definitely a location you can get to and from in a day? Or just to in a day?

This is a pressing question because I really want to tell you about my trip to Spruce Head Island, Maine where all my New England dreams came true… but I don’t have a category for this! Should I create a “week trip” category? A “fantasy vacation” category?

Solution: I will temporarily label this post “Uncategorized.” Maybe (hopefully) I will start building up a “Dreamy destinations outside of South Philly” category.

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Picture this: The end of summer on the coast of Maine in a huge home poised over rocks and ocean– spending days reading, hiking, and eating, all with your most-loved-one and his/her fantastic family that includes a two month old baby girl.

If you’re having trouble visualizing, allow me to help:

Camden, Maine

Howard at Monhegan Island-- most likely singing and dancing to a Katy Perry song

Monhegan Island

Ben and his baby girl, Lily

Many images

And there are about 300 more pictures where that came from. Between the beauty of Maine and the darling baby Lily, we had our cameras out at all times.

My favorite part of the trip was Monhegan Island. We hiked the best trail of my life, a path overgrown with trees and blackberry bushes whose breaks in foliage allowed for spectacular views like the ones I included above. And this one:

copyright Ben Pinder

We had to take a ferry to get to Monehegan. On the way there we passed Andrew Wyeth’s house and our ferry’s captain blew the horn. Out came Mrs. Wyeth! She waved and made herself comfortable on an outdoor bench. Evidently the captain routinely functions as Mrs. Wyeth’s alarm clock.

The beautiful home where we set up camp was remote; at least a 20 minute drive to anything that looked like civilization.
So it was a short car ride to see this crazy breakwater lighthouse outside of Rockland. It took builders 18 years to construct the mile-long rocky pathway that leads to the lighthouse.

Ben took all these pics, too.

No travel necessary for this next scene, though… Our backyard!

You are probably tired of scrolling, so I will wrap this up.

Altogether, our trip to Maine was one of the most unique vacations in my history. Many more posts could be written on this topic. Possible post titles: “Picking and Cooking: Blackberries” “How Eggplant Parm changed my life”  ”Thanks for all the memories, Bruce” and “Babies make things Better.” But I will let this be it for now. Thanks for reading!

Howard knew someone who knew someone that gave us the hookup for Longwood Garden’s Fireworks and Fountains show on August 13th. We had access to the gardens all day and made full use of our admission. We also got to eat at the special BBQ buffet that included– what else– ribs!, hamburgers and hotdogs, cold salads, and an ice cream buffet.

Where is Howard?

Howard and I had never been to Longwood before. While it’s less than hour outside of Philly the drive and the admission price always discouraged us. After having gone, I can say now that one visit is totally worth the price. Pack a lunch and head for the day– I hear they have a great holiday display, too. Though if I went again it would definitely be in June when their peony garden is in full bloom.

Being that there have only been three days this August when it HASN’T rained in Philly, it was, of course, raining cats and dogs the day that we went to Longwood. So we familiarized ourselves with the conservatory– which was really something. We saw a few other parts of the gardens, too, since we were decked out in ponchos that we had scored for free.

obligatory poncho shot

There must have been 1500 people at the event– way more than I had anticipated. We knew that the fireworks must be spectacular after every last one of those folks stood for hours cold, cramped, and miserable in Longwood’s cafe waiting out the storm. We wouldn’t know until 8:45 if the show would go on, but people hung in there.

At about 8:30, Howard and I nestled into our wet chairs, ponchos sticking to the inside of our kneecaps, surrounded by air heavy with heat and rain. (If you couldn’t tell, this was my low point.)

But the fireworks show was incredible. We had to look straight up to see the show it was so close to us. A couple of times burned pieces of paper landed on me, remnants of the explosion. I have never, ever seen such a tremendous fireworks show so upclose. It was blinding, deafening, amazing! Like Gallagher shows.

All in all, it was a memorable day that I would do again.

This is the first post in a brand new category on Southphillysilly.com….. Day trips!

As it were, Mom and I exceeded 24 hours in Atlantic City, but since it is only an hour away, a 24 hour trip is totally doable. My sweet mother flew all the way from Savannah, Georgia to treat me to a few days in AC. Neither of us had been before, but we had been to Vegas. Which leads me to my first point:

1.) First AC, then Vegas. Never, ever reverse that order. How shall I say this? If Vegas is aged gruyere, AC is Kraft american. If Vegas is Cirque de Soleil, AC is a fountain show at the mall. Let’s be clear, though: I like american cheese. (especially in grits). I like fountain shows at the mall. I do not like Atlantic City.

Poor AC. It ain't got nothin' on Vegas.

We arrived at Caesar’s on Wednesday afternoon for a three night stay. By Thursday, we had called customer service because, sad to say, *cough cough* we are under the weather and need to cancel our reservation for tomorrow night. Without penalty, please. That was all Mom. Her southern drawl and pathetic little cough got us out of AC Friday morning with no penalty, thank you! Which brings me to my next point

Our room and the view, which, honestly, wasn't too shabby.

2.) Skip the slots, buy a sweater. Take your money, honey, and run to someplace, anyplace more interesting than AC. And then buy yourself something nice with the money that you saved avoiding overpriced drinks and rigged roulette.

We hightailed it — more accurately, slugged it through traffic on 76– to the King of Prussia Mall where we happily cruised for hours before dining back in Philly at the delicious Cochon, where we ate an entire pig to celebrate. (Not actually, but that’s what it felt like)

Mom chillin' at KoP

Verily, verily, I say to you, vacation elsewhere, people. One day trip that might not be worth taking.

Ultimate vacation shot, right? Wrong. That was the only sip I took of that nasty pina colada, and besides the human beings-- I was surrounded by concrete.