Sunday, May 22, 2022

Seeing the sights

Ward and I took a break from our everyday routine and spent a couple of days exploring central Pennsylvania this past weekend. As we do most on our trips, we made sure we had a place to stay, snacks and sandwiches, and a few ideas of what we might want to do. We also thought about how we would work around the weather on this trip, which was predicted to have temperatures in the 90s and the threat of severe storms. However, timing was everything, and we managed to avoid any real problems. Here are some highlights from our trip.

We visited the Hershey Gardens in the morning before the stifling heat of the afternoon.
The temperatures were not too hot, but we did have a bit of rain.
Notice the Hershey's Kisses on the signposts. This is in the town of Hershey, where everything is related to Mr. Hershey and his chocolate enterprises. 



The gardens were established in 1937, so there were many mature plantings.


Many of the spring flowers were finished blooming, and the summer ones, like this allium, were starting.


In addition, to the outdoor gardens, they had a butterfly atrium. (Although, this is a moth.)


The gardens were host to many school field trips, but we managed to maneuver around them with no problems.


After the Hershey Gardens, the skies were darkening with severe weather threats, so we weren't sure what we wanted to do. Proceeding with uncertainty, we headed to Hunter Mansion in Harrisburg. As we explored the park along the Susquehanna River associated with the mansion, the rain began. With a mad dash, we were able to make it under the cover of the mansion porch before the heavens opened. And as luck would have it, there was a tour guide waiting, and we then had our own personal tour of the entire house.


Ward especially enjoyed our private tour because he could look at the
details of the woodworking, some as old as 200 years old, as long as he wanted.


After the rain stopped, we explored the grounds
before heading to the hotel and having an early dinner.
This is an ice house they filled with ice from
 the river in the winter. It lasted most of the year.


The next morning, we explored the back roads on a barn quilt tour. But after a couple of hours, we decided it was too hot and headed for home.


But along the way, we stopped in Gettysburg at the Dwight D. Eisenhower Historic Site. We had explored the battlefields in Gettysburg but had never been here before. Unfortunately, we saw that the house didn't open for tours until next week, but we decided to scope it out for another time.


But luck was with us again when we found a ranger who spent an hour or so with us telling us about the house, farm, and President Eisenhower. Eisenhower bought this farm after he retired from the military, and it featured prominently during his presidency. The afternoon was hot, but under the shade of a big tree with gentle breezes blowing, it was an enjoyable afternoon. And interesting. I learned many things about Eisenhower that I didn't know. 

We were able to make it home before another rainstorm, and much to our delight we saw that the electrician had finished the lighting in the kitchen. Slowly but surely we are getting there.

Until next time...

16 comments:

  1. What a lovely little getaway! Those gardens would have been fun to walk around! I have wanted to go to Hersheys sometime but we have yet to make it there. Their chocolate is like my favorite kind of chocolate that I could eat every day if my weight would allow me to do so! I would have also enjoyed the butterfly atrium! Seems like this is the time of year for field trips. I remember being in Washington DC the week before Memorial Day and seeing so many school groups there. I do also like to take tours of historic houses. Getting your own personal tour sounded like a great adventure! And what luck too with visiting the Dwight D. Eisenhower Historic Site. I have been to Gettsyburg but just the battle field. This would have been interesting to see too! And what an added bonus to have the lighting completed for your kitchen remodel!! That is definitely a win!

    betty

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    1. Sometimes you just need to have a little break to reset and this trip did just that. The most school groups we have ever encountered was in Japan when we happened to be there during visiting season. Every child in Japan visits a list of naional sights as part of their schooling. They were every where!

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  2. But did you eat chocolate????? :)

    Sounds like the perfect little getaway. What pretty gardens!

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    1. Yes, we had M&Ms. Sometimes, you can smell the chocolate in the air in Hershey and we did this time. :)

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  3. Such beautiful photos. I want to get some chocolate too Kris. Regine
    www.rsrue.blogspot.com

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    1. When you go through the exhibit on how they make chocolate, they have free candy bars for you at the end. We didn't do it this time, but we have before. The candy bars were appreciated as much as the free bag of potato chips at the end of the tour of a potato chip factory. Or the free ice cream at the ice cream plant. I think I'm seeing a theme. We like to tour food plants and get samples. :)

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  4. You and Ward take the most interesting sightseeing tours! I want to go with you! But, seeing your photos and the descriptions are almost as good! How nice, too, to get home and find the kitchen lighting has been completed! :) It won't be long now before you start cooking in your new kitchen!

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    1. Of course, there were many more details to what we saw and learned. Maybe I'll share more of them another time. Compared to a few months ago, I think the end may be in sight for the kitchen. Yay!

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  5. Replies
    1. We were really happy with the timing of everything. Some off it was planned, but most of it was good luck.

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  6. Hershey's is quite famous in India too. My daughter loves it on her bread.....what a spectacular tour...a travel to past...with gardens from. ..1937...200 yr old furnishings what not. Hope u had grt fun :)

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    1. Who doesn't love Hershey's? We did have fun and hope to do it again sometime.

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  7. I've been to Hershey Garden. It is very beautiful. Another garden I frequent with my family is Longwood Gardens. Have you ever been there? I used to have season tickets because we went back to see the garden displays for each season. The season tickets was the cheapest option. Plus, you can take two guests for free.

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    1. We have been to Longwood gardens. However, this is its busiest time of the year with timed entries, so we didn't want to fight with the crowds. We will go back another time.

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  8. By the way June, how is your kitchen renovation coming along?

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    1. The cabinets are mostly installed, the countertops are in, and they are installing the backsplash tile today. Next up is the plumber to install the dishwasher, garbage disposal, and sink. Then there's the range hood and lots of touch ups and other last details. But now when I say the end is in sight, I actually believe it. Also today, Ward is busy redoing our kitchen table and I'm trying to figure out some window coverings.

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What do you think?