Birthday Roadtrip - Part 1

Here's something crazy... I took a trip for my birthday!

Okay... so maybe that's not so crazy. But this was a bit more than my typical trip to Chicago I try to take around my birthday every year. So much, in fact, it's going to take more than one blog entry. I actually took time off for this one... and so did Eric!!

It started last Thursday... my actual birthday. We left crazy early for our little roadtrip... 4am!! But with good reason. We had one event planned that actually was a bit time sensitive, as we have to be in the middle of Pennsylvania by 1:30pm. It was right around a 9 hour drive, straight... which is impossible. We would need gas and food at some point. So we had a half-hour 'cushion' to play with, plus the fact that they almost always over-estimate the time length on these trip calculators. It was surprisingly pleasant to be on the road that early in the morning. And we were surprisingly awake! I think it was the adrenaline and excitement. For me, at least.

Our first destination (the time sensitive one) was the Yuengling Brewery in Pottsville, PA - the oldest brewery in America. They only gave two tours a day during the week, and the 1:30pm one was the latest one, so we thought it was worth a shot to get there in time. And we did... barely. Literally walked in as the tour was starting. Nan had actually once suggested that Eric might enjoy this tour since he had come the enjoy the beer while working so much in FL. It was unique in the fact that it was built into the side of a mountain and they actually utilized a spring in a cave for their water source. We even got to see it and go into the cave area, which isn't used the way it used to be, but cool, none the less. The tour, itself, is unique in the fact that you get up close and personal with all the actual brewing process and canning/bottling happening - it's a pretty small set-up, for the scale of brewing they do, and as an older facility, they don't have the 'predetermined tour routes' set up on platforms with 'models' set up of the brewing process... you get right in there and the workers just step out of the way, momentarily. I'm sure this is why they only have a couple of tours a day, too! So, needless to say, it was a cool tour and if you find yourself in the middle of Pennsylvania for some reason, it's worth a stop.

After leaving Pottsville, we didn't really know what to do with ourselves, since we no longer had a time obligation. But we were hungry, and virtually in the middle of nowhere. So we worked our way back to the interstate and found, of all places, a Cracker Barrel. I can't remember the last time I ate at one of those. Did you know they actually have a 'healthy' menu now, where they tell you the calories?? It surprised me! But it turned out to be the prefect stop after all the driving for the day (and still more to go).

From here, we had just a couple of hours to drive until we got to Newark. Yes, you read that right, Newark, NJ was our destination for the evening. But it wasn't for Newark.. it was for it's connection to the train into New York City, which is where we were going to start the day on Friday morning. But first, it was time to pass out from our long day of driving.

Friday morning we were up pretty early, considering the day we had before, and jumped on the train into Penn Station, NYC. We just had a couple of things we wanted to see here... the plan was to be back at our hotel before checkout at noon. Once we got off the train, we walked a couple of blocks over to The Highline to check out the new 'park' that has graced the west side of Manhattan in recent years. Eric learned about it in his quest to better the neighborhoods he has been working in, and has been wanting to have a chance to check it out. Since we were there so early, we had the place to ourselves, so we strolled from one end, all the way to the other. They did an awesome job converting this old elevated train line to a greenway for all to enjoy. if it wasn't for the skyline views, you'd almost think you were on a standard rail-to-trail project!

From the south end of The Highline, we walked to the nearest subway station and took it down to the 9/11 Memorial. We just wanted to see the final product, and it was spectacular. Well done. We didn't go into the museum or anything, but just walked around the site and the fountains, found the Survivor Tree, and just took in the somber memorial that it is. I'm sure it'll be even better once the new tower is done, as well as the transit station. But even with the walking detours around the construction, it's something worth detouring to see.

And just like that, our NYC list was done. We got back on the subway and headed back to the south end of The Highline, and walked the length of it again, from south to north this time. It was SO busy now, it was kind of crazy. Mostly tourists, of course, but we were glad we were there earlier so we could really enjoy it without bumping elbows with everyone else gawking at it. It is, at least, well used! But we finally made it back to Penn Station, and then back to our hotel to check out. It was time for our drive to Boston... the reason this trip even came to be.