Sunday, I visited American architect Frank Lloyd Wright's renowned Fallingwater in western PA.
The place, designed and built for the Kauffman family (of the now-defunct Kauffman's Department Stores) of Pittsburgh in the 1930s still leaves visitors in awe. It's a beautiful example of integrating manmade structures and nature and living in harmony with one's environment.
Finish reading 'Fallingwater' »
This weekend, friends and I rented a cottage near Ohiopyle State Park so we could do some things we discovered during our July camping trip there.
The ropes course at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort's adventure center was our first adventure. I can tell you firsthand that it's not for the faint of heart!
Finish reading 'Ropes course' »
A couple of weekends ago, I tagged along with a group of local mushroom hunters for a story. I was amazed how much variety they found in a little more than an hour in the woods near Safe Harbor Park in Lancaster County.
I thought I'd share a couple extra photos here that didn't make it into the story. If you're interested in learning more about wild mushrooms, check out the group.
Finish reading 'Local mushrooms' »
I've been a bad blogger. This photo shows why -- I'm buying a house. And as anyone who has bought a house knows, it's a time-consuming process.
You have to set up your mortgage and insurance, get a home inspection, weed out years of accumulated junk, arrange for utility transfers and address changes.
I'm all for new adventures, but I must say this is among my scariest adventures to date.
Finish reading 'Adventures in home buying' »
If you haven't made it over to WIlliams Grove this week for the annual Grangers Steam Engine Festival, you have two more days to get there.
I went last weekend with my sister and my niece, and even though I'm not much interested in trains, it was pretty cool to see the old steam engines and the old-timey festival atmosphere.
We took my niece, Lilyana, on a train ride and got some chicken barbecue for lunch. If you have kids -- and if any of them have the least bit of interest in trains or tractors -- I'd say this is a must-do.
Admission is $2 for adults and train rides are $3. You can't get cheaper entertainment than that!
Sunday morning, I drug myself out of bed early to go to Williams Grove.
The former amusement park and picnic grounds in Cumberland County's rural Monroe Township closed down a few years back, but the place has found new life with a weekend flea market in a beautiful setting.
I got more peaches than I can eat in a week for $1.50, a bunch of homegrown tomatoes for a dollar and a beautiful green pepper for less than 50 cents. You'll also find vendors selling yard-sale-type items, antiques, plants and more amid the remnants of rides.
Williams Grove is also the site of the annual Grangers steam-engine festival, set for this weekend. I've never been to it, but I'll probably go -- if nothing else than to watch my 14-month-old niece ride on the trains she's obsessed with.
And to get more peaches before summer's over!
My birthday fell on a Tuesday this year, so the best way I could think to celebrate was to invite a group of friends to join me for dinner at a place I have wanted to check out for some time now: Bube's Brewery.
About half an hour from York in the small town of Mt. Joy, the historic brewery complex offers a variety of dining options in a very cool setting.
We were supposed to dine in the Biergarten, but the weather looked threatening, so they put us in a room on the second floor of the main complex, right next to an old-fashioned general store of sorts.
Finish reading 'Brewery worth a trip' »
Saturday, I, Jennifer Vogelsong, a non-beer-drinker, took a bronze medal in an event in the Beer Olympics (disclaimer: This event was not in any way, shape or form related to the official Olympic Games now on televison sets everywhere) hosted by friends of friends.
It was the keg toss -- the only event in which drinking beer was not required!
I went because I had heard the organizers put impressive effort into the event and I couldn't pass up a chance to check out something as crazy-sounding as this. I wasn't disappointed.
Finish reading 'Games of a different sort' »
I spotted these "Life is Crap" T-shirts in Ocean City, N.J. when I was there for a day last week to celebrate my (gulp!) 31st birthday.
Apparently, there's a bit of backlash by folks who are fed up with the popular motto's cheery attitude. You knew it would happen sooner or later!
Sunday afternoon, some friends and I hiked to an observation tower near the resort town of Mount Gretna and climbed the narrow rusty ladders to the top, where you can supposedly see parts of four counties on a clear day.
It's not super well-known -- the Park at Governor Dick isn't a state or county park and I heard of it for the first time when friends mentioned it. We had a bit of difficulty figuring out which roads would take us to the trail head, and the trail itself wasn't well-marked, but we figured it out.
It was a nice excursion, but we were a little frustrated at the lack of on-site information about the tower and the park. We like to learn a little when we're visiting new places.
Now, for the ice-cream...
Finish reading 'Hike and ice cream' »
Friday night, I did something I've been wanting to do on a Friday night for some time now.
I walked to Eckel's drug store in Mechanicsburg for an ice-cream cone.
The town landmark still makes milkshakes with those lime-green mixers and whips up some of the tastiest floats and flavored sodas around. It was the setting for filming of some scenes in the movie "Girl Interrupted" in early 1999.
It's one of the reasons I love living in a small town. If you've never been there, it's definitely worth the 35-minute drive from York.
I know you can't resist reading a blog post with a headline like that!
Two colleagues and I accompanied members of the York Daily Record/Sunday News's Teen Takeover staff to a York Revolution baseball game Monday night.
It was a monkey magic Monday at Sovereign Bank Stadium and I took full advantage!
In the first photo, you'll see me peeking behind the back of magician/illusionist Eli Georgaras to see if I can spot any secret moves as he performed a card trick. (I couldn't -- he was pretty swift.)
In the second photo, you'll see Django, a 17-year-old capuchin monkey, perched on my shoulder.
Django and I go way back.
Finish reading 'Monkeys and magic' »
Check out my story in today's paper about the American Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore. Friend and coworker Melissa Burke (YDR's religion reporter and a Baltimore resident) raved about the current exhibit and suggested the museum might make a good backyard travel for cash-strapped locals looking for a nearby day trip.
I wasn't disappointed. Here are some photos from my visit that we didn't have space for in the paper:
Summer isn't summer for me without a visit to Cowans Gap State Park near McConnellsburg.
Earlier this month, my family rented a cabin there for a week and I spent a weekend there. Here are three photos that show my favorite parts of camping:
The rowboat that got me hooked on being on the water and taught me how to steer a boat. It was my inspiration for buying a kayak two years ago. I wanted to be able to go out and paddle around on my own.
The campfire. Oh, the stories, the silliness. The sticky marshmallow S'morey goodness. This glowing fire probably has coals that are perfect for cooking mountain pies.
And lastly, the view. The relaxing scenery by the lake is a sight for sore urban/suburban stressed eyes.
I hate the way my voice sounds, but other than that, I think this video of me flying on a trapeze in Baltimore two weeks ago is pretty freakin' cool.
All credit for its coolness goes to YDR photographer/videographer extraordinaire Paul Keuhnel, who captured my airborne frustrations and success (note, that's success, singular!)
Keep your eyes on the Living section of the paper in August for the full story and another video.
Have you ever tried this? Would you?
Normalville! Ha!
Makes me want to knock on the doors and interview the residents, maybe hang around town for a few days to see what normal looks like, you know?
And then there's the whole philosophical discussion of what is normal, anyway?
Seriously, if you need to check it out for yourself, it's in southwestern PA, not too far from Ohiopyle State Park. Let me know what life's like in Normalville! :)
To continue with the string of posts from my weekend in and around Ohiopyle State Park, I offer you this crazy example of man versus nature.
Two friends and I were enjoying the natural waterslides (more on that later) and swimming in the river when we saw
Finish reading 'Man versus nature' »
This sign above the restrooms in the Ohiopyle visitor's center (a former train station -- see photo below) had me totally perplexed.
As I waited my turn in line, I thought about it probably a little too much. How would flushing the toilets in the station restrooms be affected by whether the train was there or not:? Afraid that I wouldn't enjoy the rest of my afternoon without knowing the answer, I had to ask.
The answer wasn't pretty.
It isn't every day you see fathers letting their toddlers play in the middle of turnpike lanes. Or strangers seated on a towel on the shoulder, tossing cards between them in an impromptu game to pass the time. Or friends playing Frisbee on the side of the road.
As I returned from a weekend of camping with two friends early Sunday evening, we screeched to a stop on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, just east of the Somerset interchange. For nearly three hours, that's where we stayed.
We had magazines, snacks and had just used the bathroom, so we managed OK. But I felt
Finish reading 'Turnpike troubles' »I thought I'd share a couple more photos I took Thursday when I spent much of the evening on or near the Susquehanna River in Harrisburg.
Thursday evening, some friends and I went to check out a new event called Jazzin' on the Pride.
From 5 to 9 p.m. each Thursday, you can enjoy live jazz music, a full cash bar and free snacks and wings on the Pride of the Susquehanna riverboat.
This is an awesome option for folks who are fond of hanging out on the waterside decks of places like The Waterway in York and Duke's in Wormleysburg.
The boat stays docked at Front & Locust streets on the Harrisburg side of the river for the duration of the event, so people can come and go as they please. Best of all, it's all free (except any drinks you buy at the bar).
Since it's so new...
I snapped these photos of fireworks over the Susquehanna River in Harrisburg Sunday evening with my little point-and-shoot camera. I wasn't sure how they'd come out because I had never attempted to take firework photos with a point-and-shoot and without a tripod.
I snapped this picture on the highway coming home. It's Philly's Boathouse Row on the Schuylkill River. I kind of like the motion blur of the patriotic colors.
This is my niece, Lilyana, getting up close and personal with a kayak for the first time in her little 1-year-old life.
My sister Amy and I headed to Gifford Pinchot State Park Saturday morning for some kayaking on the lake. We took turns paddling in my kayak and playing with Lily. While my sister packed stuff in her car -- I am learning that little folks require many things for even the smallest excursion -- Lily took advantage of the free time to check out the kayak up close.
As any good boater knows, you check your equipment before heading out (above). Then, you get in -- or try to! (below)
In all seriousness, I hope Lilyana learns to appreciate and enjoy the outdoors as she gets older. Maybe one day we'll even go kayaking together.
I did manage to escape from work a bit early to check out Jubilee Day. (it's amazing how fast I can get work done when I have a goal in mind!) I missed connecting with my sister and niece, but walked around with some girls from my book club.
I had Bricker's French Fries and a most-wonderful cappuccino ice cream with fudge swirl and toffee bits -- what a healthy dinner, eh?
Finish reading 'Jubilee Day report' »
Today, a photographer and I tagged along with some York folks who went to Reading to check out the GoggleWorks center for the arts in that city's downtown.
We planned to spend a few hours. We stayed for nearly twice that. There was just so much to see and do.
Finish reading 'Goggle, not Google' »
Yesterday, two co-workers, a friend and I visited the newly reopened Newseum in Washington, D.C. If you read this blog regularly, you know I've been wanting to go there for a long time.
We figured it would take a few hours to fully enjoy the place. We got there 11:45 and didn't leave until 5:30 -- there was that much to see.
Finish reading 'Newseum a treasure trove' »
(Doubleclick on the image to fully appreciate it)
OK, so yeah, it's kind of gross. But in a fascinating kind of way.
When I learned I'd be spending four days in the Seattle area, I somehow became obsessed with seeing this Wall of Gum in Post Alley near the Pike Place Market downtown. I can't even recall where I read about it during my pre-trip research, but it sounded weird and quirky enough to merit a look.
The local folks we were visiting hadn't even heard of it, but humored me nonetheless. I thought the wall was pretty cool -- could probably even classify as public art. Art by the people, for the people. Something like that.
Sure beats gum on your shoe.
(Once again, doubleclick on photos to see larger)
Check out this picture I snapped while traveling through the Detroit airport.
We went into what felt like a tunnel and got on the moving walkways, but the walls and ceiling flashed a rainbow of funky colors in time to a jammin' rhythmic percussion beat. Made the long trip between terminals feel, well, almost fun!
This weekend, my car overheated when I was in the D.C. area.
Of course, it was dark. I was in an area I kind of knew, but not all that well. I pulled over near a fire station to ask where I could buy coolant or antifreeze or whatever it is the car wanted.
One of the firefighters pointed me to an auto parts shop down the street.
By the time I got there, it had just closed.
Finish reading 'Dumb girl, nice strangers' »
One thing you learn quickly in the Andes mountains is that while it can be 80 degrees and hot at sea level, it gets pretty gusty and cold as you gain altitude.
Even though I was freezing when they snapped this picture (I have issues with coats, but that's another post for another day), I was so excited to set foot on the nearby Chilean border that I left my jacket warming my bus seat.
This picture documents one of a few surreal moments Laura and I had during our time in Argentina.
You know what I'm talking about. When all of the sudden it hits you that it's the middle of the afternoon on a weekday in February and instead of being a slave to e-mail and deadlines, you're in the top of the Andes mountains and feel like you're flying through the blasts of wind. And you realize you're on another continent, in another hemisphere, in another world. And you feel very alive.
This, my friends, is one of those credit-card moments. I don't care what anyone (including myself) says about how inconvenient and expensive travel is. Moments like this are priceless.
Have you ever had a surreal moment in the outdoors or while traveling?
I think it might have been a waste of money.
Still, this morning, I visited the travel health clinic at Holy Spirit Hospital to get whatever vaccinations were recommended for my trip to Argentina.
The nurse who showed up -- after making me wait more than half an hour past my appointment time -- wanted to chat.
Finish reading 'Pre-trip needling' »
January means:
The Christmas tree is sitting out for the trash.
You've already broken/worn out/returned whatever gifts Santa brought.
Without all the holiday parties and family gatherings, your social life is a little sparse.
There's really nothing to look forward to. Except spring, which is months away. Or Valentine's Day, if you're into that.
What's a soul to do?
Finish reading 'The only good thing about January' »
Yesterday, I went on a journey of a different sort. A trip to organization land. It's a place I don't feel like I visit often enough, yet from what others tell me, I stop by more than most.
It started while browsing at Target with a friend during yesterday's day-after-Christmas sales. (I know, browsing at Target never leads to anything more than an empty wallet and a full shopping cart of things you didn't know you needed.)
Anyway, I found some super-cool plastic storage boxes that snap together. I thought they'd be perfect to hold some of my smaller gift-wrapping supplies. Then I got an ornament storage box. I figured it was about time I did something other than wrap them in newspaper and stuff them into bags when the original boxes disappeared.
Back home, inspired by my new organizational tools, I tackled the after-Christmas mess of gift tags, bows, half-empty reams of wrapping paper and miscellaneous cards and clutter.
When I was done, I got that strange feeling of peace that comes over me whenever I put things in order. I know, I know, I'm a freak. It's just that I don't function well in the midst of mess. For me, it makes stressful moments even more so and creates unnecessary hassles.
I know, it's true, life is messy. You can't always put things into neat boxes and store them away until you feel like thinking about them again. But it's almost a new year -- time to clear away the cobwebs and prepare for fresh starts. So hopefully you can relate to my organizational urges.
Now, if I could just get the energy to tackle my filing cabinet, or my closet, or....
The four people who died in the fire on Kings Mill Road in York over the weekend were from the state of Oaxaca, Mexico.
Two years ago, I was fortunate enough to spend some time in the city of Oaxaca, which is in that state, not far from San Jose del Progreso, where the York family is from.
Because I like to try local foods wherever I travel, here is a picture of "quesillo," a stringy, white cheese that I ate with Saltine crackers many days for lunch while I was there. And below is an example of the "tamales" that many Mexicans prepare at the holidays.
Yesterday, I had high tea.
A friend's mother recently opened a tea room in an old Victorian house in East Berlin, so a group of us went to check it out. I like tea, but honestly, I'm more of a coffee person. And I was a little nervous about the whole prim-and-proper, tea-time experience.
Could I sit still for two hours as they slowly served course after course? Did I have the proper table manners for such a formal occasion?
Or, would I drip honey all over everything (I did) and have to get up and wander around every half hour or so because I was antsy from sitting (I did) and leave hungry after a series of petite courses? (I didn't -- quite the opposite, actually)
Finish reading 'A culinary adventure' »
Last night, I was standing in the middle of Union Station in Washington, D.C., with a group of friends from college, when a security guard approached us.
We had just finished dinner at The Dubliner nearby and stopped in to check out the holiday decorations inside the fancy building.
We were also catching up on stories and laughing as we walked under the 90-foot ceilings. Unfortunately, we didn't realize how the sound of our merriment was carrying through the place.
Finish reading 'One remarkable reprimand' »
OK, so I know I promised orb pictures for Halloween today, but after going through my photo files, I realize that I must have taken those three years ago -- before I was organized with my pictures -- and so cannot find them.
But I've got an even better treat -- some cool pictures from tomorrow's celebration, which, for many people around the globe, is a bigger deal than Halloween.
For those of you who don't know, Nov.1 -- not Oct. 31 -- is really the big day for people in many parts of the world who want to honor, welcome or ward off spirits and departed souls.
It's Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead. Two years ago at this time, I was lucky enough to be traveling through the colonial Mexican towns of Oaxaca and Puebla. My return flight was on Nov. 1, but we were lucky enough to stop in the main plaza/town square of Mexico City that morning. Here's what I saw:
The scene left me awestruck.
... I'd recommend checking it out from the Pole Steeple overlook in Pine Grove State Park in western Cumberland County. (Don't worry -- the girl in the photo, my friend Megan, isn't contemplating jumping. She's just snapping pictures of the view, in case you were wondering!)
The hike is short at 0.75 miles, but rather steep. Once you get to the huge rock outcropping at the top, though, it's all worth it. The view makes you feel like you're king (or queen, as the case may be) of the world.
In the summer, you can even hear the laughter of the kids down below in Laurel and Fuller lakes. The times I've hiked there, the trees have either been covered with green leaves or none at all. But I think it would be awesome to see the autumn colors (if we ever get any) from there.
What's your favorite place to enjoy the fall foliage?
In case you've taken issue with our string of 80-degree days in October (you won't hear this warm-weather lover complaining!), I share with you this photo of the view from my bedroom window, taken late last October.
I wonder if (and when) we'll have colors like that this fall?
Yeah, that pretty much describes my Sunday afternoon.
You know it's bad when you get lost on the way TO the place you're going for the express purpose of getting lost. Among rolling hills and fields of corn and soybean, on roads with tractors and grannies driving 20 below the speed limit. This is where I got lost.
Some folks know it as Fawn Township.
One of my college roommates and I have started talking about going to Italy for a week in February. If you've been to Italy, or have heard of something we should definitely see or do or eat or experience, please post a comment to help guide our trip-planning!
I did some preliminary research over the weekend and Venice is calling to me. I also hear that Carnavale is in early Feb this year. I wonder if it would be worth trying to plan our trip to coincide with that or if it would be too crowded?
I won't speak for Laura, my former roommie, but I love markets and any places/experiences that give me a window on the local culture and awesome opportunities to capture it with my camera. I'm not such a big fan of looking at buildings and museums and ruins for long periods of time, but enjoy them somewhat.
Laura is a frequent reader of this blog, by the way, so we'll both benefit from any suggestions you have for us.
Before I give you the answer to yesterday's trivia question (I'll wait till Monday so more of you can post guesses) (see entry below), I'll serve up one last beach-related post to finish off this steamy midsummer week.
This one will be mostly pictures, because it's Friday and reading/writing is such effort. :)
First, any family shore destination worth its salt on the East Coast has an amusement pier. And every good amusement pier has a Ferris wheel. Better yet, one that puts on a spectacular light show while it spins like the one above that enthralled me at Wildwood this weekend.
And then there's skeeball.
Anyone who frequents the Jersey Shore or Ocean City, Md., knows that besides the sun, sand and waves, the main attraction at the beach is on the boards.
But did you know that the boardwalk wasn't named for the planks of wood the walk is made from?
Of course not. That would be too easy.
Just this weekend, I learned it was named for railroad conductor Alexander Boardman, who got tired of all the sand in his train's seat cushions when passengers took off their shoes on the trip home from the beach.
The country's first boardwalk was built in 1870.
Without doing a Google search, calling a friend or otherwise cheating, post a comment and tell me where it was. Bonus points if you know how long this boardwalk is today.
Yes, it's been four days since I posted a new entry. I apologize. But I have good reasons.
I ran away to the beach to escape the news that I am allegedly now 30 years old. (This still has not sunk in -- for some reason, I feel like 27 or 28 is a better fit for the reality of how old I feel.)
Usually, when I go to the beach, it's Ocean City, Md.. This time, I went to Wildwood. It was my first experience at the Jersey Shore, and I was pleasantly surprised.
For one thing, it's about a mile from the boardwalk to the water, which got me thinking a lot about beach erosion, an important issue for many popular shore spots on the East Coast.
It also has more of a nostalgic feel to it. Probably because it's been around longer than OCMD.
Since it's August and nobody wants to read about anything too taxing, I'm going to keep this week's posts shore-related. So even if you're sitting in an office reading this, you can imagine you're by the breakers, digging your feet in the sand, watching the gulls soar.
While you're daydreaming, leave a comment and tell us, what's your favorite beach for summertime slacking?
The past few posts on this blog have been nothing but pictures of readers who want to say to the collective you: "Don't you wish you were here?"
Sure, rub it in.
Don't get me wrong. I love seeing where York County folks are traveling. And I'm glad they take the time to share photos and travel tips from their trips.
But when I have to read and post more than one of these a week, it starts to get to me, because yes, dammit, I really DO wish I was there. Really.
Instead, I'm usually just sitting in my cubicle in a frozen office without windows, working until smoke comes out of my ears. Posting pictures of other people having fun in cool places.
Grrr.
This weekend, it was my turn.
Somehow, I got it in my head that I was going to try to do a 30-mile bike ride before my 30th birthday. I realize that in the world of bicycling, this is not a big deal. But I have never managed to ride this far/long and wanted to see if I could make it.
So I signed up for The Great Green America Fest's metric century, and checked the box for 30 miles instead of 12.
Silly me.
Finish reading 'I did it... well, kind of' »
A little more than a week ago, I joined dozens of other kayakers and canoeists for the first Susquehanna River Adventure. Because I kept putting my paddle down to take pictures, I'm going to tell you about my five hours on the river in photos.
Some folks competed in races, but I chose the "island hopper" route, which meant a bunch of us paddled from island to island learning about everything from the flora and fauna and history of the river to how to camp according to leave-no-trace principles.
We paddled under the historic Rockville Bridge and got a lesson on micro-organisms from a DEP biologist. (Poor girl, working on a Saturday!)
Today, I spent nearly six hours with aunts, uncles, cousins, grandmothers, siblings, parents, nieces, nephews, and assorted significant others (not all mine, obviously!).
Talk about adventure.
(I survived.)
hint: click on photo to enlarge
Friends and I spotted this sign on the main tourist strip in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, where the locals try their darndest to ply the tourist trade, even if it results in something like this.
I couldn't resist snapping a picture.
Well, actually, I have too many favorite places to pick just one, but right now, after three days of camping at Deep Creek Lake State Park, I'm reminded of just how much I love sitting by a campfire.
Here are three reasons why:
First, there's the mesmerizing factor. You can watch it for hours and never get bored. Well, at least I can. It holds my attention longer than most TV shows. And, it's one of the few places I can just SIT and do nothing and not feel like I'm wasting time. In short, relax.
Second, if you're with a group, chances are the conversation will range from philosophical to silly. With a sprinkling of stories enhanced for the retelling.
Third, the food. You can cook hot dogs, mountain pies (watch for a separate entry on this later) or roast marshmallows and make s'mores. Sip hot cocoa or your beverage of choice.
Anyone have any campfire stories to share?
With gas prices hovering at the $3 mark, I almost wish I were sticking closer to home this Memorial Day weekend.
Maybe, say, floating around the lake at Gifford Pinchot State Park, like my friend Emma (pictured above).
Or hiking the many miles of trails in the York County Park system.
Or chowing down on picnic food while taking in the awesome views at Sam Lewis State Park or Susquehannock State Park.
Or riding my bike along the Heritage Rail Trail County Park.
Who wants to fight holiday-weekend traffic on the interstates? Raise your blood pressure a few notches as you realize you're idiling away precious dollars of gasoline by the minute?
Finish reading 'Chill close to home' »
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