http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Zpet/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Zpet en-us Mon, 04 Jan 2010 07:45:33 +0000 Mon, 04 Jan 2010 07:45:33 +0000 Monday June 29 Crater of Diamonds State ParkWe left around 8am for the one hour or so drive to Crate of Diamonds State Park near Murfreesboro Arkansas. Along the way and even more so when we entered Murfreesboro both Manoli and I wondered about how little traffic there was on the road and how deserted Murfreesboro seemed. Could the Crater of Diamonds State Park be less popular for some rea http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Arkansas/Hot-Springs/blog-413972.html Sunday June 28 St. Louis West KOA to Hot Springs KOAWell another day of mostly travel. We left St. Louis a bit after 8am stopped at a TA Travel Center for a very good lunch at their Country Pride Restaurant then continued on to Hot Springs Arkansas. This KOA is a bit different in that it is laid out on a series of hills. Very nice though with a big officestore a pool game room two http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Arkansas/Hot-Springs/blog-413197.html Saturday June 27 Elkhart KOA to St. Louis West KOANot much to write about today. We left the ElkhartMiddlebury KOA this morning just after 8am and stopped at a KFCTaco Bell along the way for lunch. Wersquod reset our watches to Central Time just before that and were trying to adjust our routine by eating a later lunch than usual but didnrsquot expect the KFCTaco Bell place to help us http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Missouri/St-Louis/blog-413075.html Friday June 26 Amish Communities TourWe started our day by heading towards the American Countryside Market near Elkhart that Manoli wanted to visit. It was quite busy and contained not only a number of interesting shops but some folks set up out front as a sort of flea market. We didnrsquot find anything exciting enough to buy but we did try a breakfast pretzel stuffed with eggs ham an http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Indiana/Shipshewana/blog-412798.html Thursday June 25 Niagara Falls KOA to Elkhart Co.Middlebury Exit KOAHaving a longer than normal trip ahead of us we got up pretty early and hit the road. Other than having to pay tolls in New York Pennsylvania and Indiana the trip was pretty much uneventful. We stopped for lunch at Arbyrsquos and arrived at the KOA at about 3pm. The ElkhartMiddlebury KOA in Indiana is a bit larger t http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Indiana/Elkhart/blog-412796.html Wednesday June 24 Niagara FallsAfter a leisurely wakeup we mounted up and headed for the Canadian side of Niagara Falls. We paid the 3.40 toll to cross the Rainbow Bridge into Canada and then passed thru their inspection station. Knowing we were mostly interested in the falls area we followed the signs to the falls and the big ldquoPrdquo for parking signs. After driving thru the wh http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/New-York/Niagara-Falls/blog-412291.html Tuesday 23 June Herkimer KOA to LewistonNiagara Falls North KOAWe left the Herkimer KOA quite early around 7am. After letting the GPS get us lost right off the bat we finally located I90 West. Itrsquos actually the New York Thruway The drive of about 250 miles got us to the LewistonNiagara Falls North KOA before noon but they checked us in anyways. This KOA is a bit smaller and th http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/New-York/Niagara-Falls/blog-412290.html Monday June 22 Herkimer KOAToday we are going to the diamond mine but since we havenrsquot been jogging as often as we should we decided to run first. The KOA office had told us about a nice trail along the Erie Canal in Herkimer so after our morning coffee off we went. The trailpath was almost all paved very scenic and about 2 miles one way. After the refreshing four mile loop we http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/New-York/Niagara-Falls/blog-411529.html Sunday 21 June Littleton KOA to Herkimer KOASorry for the Coopestown but there was no Herkimer or close placeBefore we left Littleton we discovered a major discrepancy between the route to Herkimer KOA that the GPS had set up and the one I did using Google Map. Irsquod noted the difference in routes but the distance difference of 100 miles was a bit of a surprise. We ended up using http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/New-York/Cooperstown/blog-411244.html Saturday June 20 White Mountains Day 2Today is our day to tour the Northern and part of the Central regions of the White Mountains. First we headed up to Lancaster to check out the Fullerrsquos Sugarhouse and their real maple syrup. Lancaster was a nice small town and Fullerrsquos had a great assortment of maple syrups and products. We ended up buying a larger jug of medium amber for o http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/New-Hampshire/White-Mountains/blog-410630.html Friday June 19 White Mountains Day 1We got up early enough today but having noticed a Jeep dealer nearby wersquod decided to have an overdue oil change done and the tires checked. The mechanic said the tires had some wear left on them but that the front brakes were in need of replacement with 2mm left. I told them Irsquod like to get it done now but that we were on vacation and didn http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/New-Hampshire/White-Mountains/blog-410327.html Thursday June 18 Boston KOA to LittletonLisbon KOAWe left the BostonCape Cod KOA about 9am heading towards our next KOA in Littleton New Hampshire with stops along the way at Laconia and Wolfeboro New Hampshire. We stopped in Laconia to visit my motherrsquos grave then on to Wolfeboro to visit the town where I was born. I canrsquot say I was born and raised there since I only liv http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/New-Hampshire/Franconia/blog-410137.html Wednesday 17 June BostonAgain we got a late start and headed to the commuter train station for our ride into Boston. Even at 930am they had plenty of parking available at 4.00 a day. You just shove four ones into the little slot below your space number and yoursquore good to go. Our train was pretty neat with a second level with lots of windows. The trip cost 7.50 oneway from Midd http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Massachusetts/Boston/blog-409627.html Tuesday 16 June Minutemen ButterfliesWe were a bit lazy this morning and didnrsquot leave the KOA until after 9am. Heading up I495 to avoid the Bostonbound traffic on I95 our first stop was Concord. After checking with the visitorrsquos center for maps and handouts we walked up Monument Street to the North Bridge where the Revolutionary War was started with ldquothe shot heard http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Massachusetts/Lexington/blog-409266.html Monday 15 June Plymouth Cape CodWe drove the 15 or so miles to Plymouth after a rather long trip to get our morning coffee since the KOA store doesnrsquot open until 8am. Parking in one of the free parking lots near the ocean we were surprised again at how desolate the place seemed. Apparently this time it was due mostly to the early hour and chilly weather a high of 62 I think bec http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Massachusetts/Plymouth/blog-409057.html Sunday 14 June NYC KOA to Mystic BostonCape Cod KOAWe left the NYC KOA around 9am heading for Mystic Connecticut before our next home base at the BostonCape Cod KOA in Middleboro or Middleborough depending on where you look. The trip to Mystic was pretty much uneventful not even getting GPS lost. Our first stop was Mystic Pizza for lunch at this famous eatery from the movie by the http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Connecticut/Groton/blog-408738.html Saturday 13 June Empire State BuildingWe left the KOA today basically just to go up the Empire State Building and jog in Central Park. After driving the 15 or 20 miles to Beacon to catch the train to NYC we parked and ran for the train that left just seconds before we reached the platform. The next train wasnrsquot due for about an hour so we headed back to the car. On the way a guy s http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/New-York/New-York/Manhattan/blog-408544.html Friday 12 June Philadelphia KOA to NYC KOA via Statue of LibertyWe left the PhiladelphiaWest Chester KOA a bit after 8am and after another couple of glitches in the GPS routing arrived at Liberty State Park in New Jersey. Parking was 7.00 and the final road in was made of cobblestones and VERY rough The ferry terminal is attached to an old railroad terminal and kind of neat. They have http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/New-York/New-York/Manhattan/blog-408285.html Thursday 11 June Hershey LancasterToday was our day to visit Hershey and the Amish country around Lancaster. After our morning coffee we headed for Hershey to visit Hersheyrsquos Chocolate World. We had no trouble finding it although it seemed a lot further than Irsquod thought. We came into Hershey from the east on Hwy 322 and found signs directing us to the ldquoHershey Attracti http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Pennsylvania/Hershey/blog-407949.html Wednesday 10 June Philadelphia Day 1Since it had stopped raining during the night and the forecast called for possible light showers in the late afternoon we decided to spend the day in Philadelphia. After my 630am run to the distant Landhome Foods store for coffee we drove to the nearest train station at Thorndale. It was probably only 10 or 15 miles away but on narrow winding roads. http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Pennsylvania/Philadelphia/Center-City/blog-407686.html