Tag Archives: travel

Ready For A Road Trip

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Who here is ready for a road trip? I know I am.

There’s something exhilarating about watching the sun wake the day while you venture out to see what the world has to offer. When the weather is nice, I like to open the windows and I always have good tunes to set the tone.

One of my favorite things about a good road trip is actually ditching the car to explore on foot. There’s nothing better than finding a nice downtown, parking the car, and taking a walk.

That’s how you see the things the car window cannot show you. It’s surprising how many historic plaques, flower boxes, alleyway murals, and nice patches of shade you’ll find when beating the pavement. Of course, this doesn’t include the smells and sounds you miss with the windows rolled up.

Ah, I just reread that last sentence. I suppose I should change it to say “with the windows closed” but I’m a young Gen Xer and car windows in my vocabulary will always be rolled. And I’m ok with that.

On pavement, you’re more apt to wander into a nice shop or to say hello to a stranger. You may even find yourself enticed by the aromas of a bakery or cafe so that you go in to sit a while.

A good road trip always includes a good road trip snack and lunch. That’s part of the fun. I don’t make the rules. That’s just how it works.

Some towns reveal many secrets on these walks. Brick sidewalks and pocket parks, chalk drawings and cats in shop windows are some favorite things to discover.

I like to take pictures of things I see both to have a record of the journey and because it changes the way I perceive the world. Looking, not for the best picture, but the most honest one is my technique these days.

Depending on how far you go, a road trip could be just for the day or for many days. It could cost you some lunch and some gallons of gas or it could be an all out Thelma and Louise adventure. Just don’t end it the way they did!

By the way, I’ve been to Canyonlands National Park in Utah where they shot that movie. Now THAT was an epic road trip. If you ever get a chance, Utah is a wonderful road tripping state.

But there are things to explore all across this great nation. So exit the interstate and look for the interesting.

These little towns, city neighborhoods, and rural roads through forests and farmland are the beating heart of this country. It’s where life happens. So take the drive but remember the journey is the destination. Slow down to enjoy it. Slow down and make the journey fun.

PS- The dog pictured isn’t mine but I spotted him in a car parked next to me recently and he seemed like a good (if not judgmental) boy waiting to feel the wind in his ears.

Bookstore Crawl

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One of the main activities of my Pittsburgh trip last month was a bookstore crawl.

You see, the greater Pittsburgh area is home to dozens of independent bookstores. That doesn’t count the chains like Barnes and Noble or Half Price Books.

That’s just the small guys.

On previous trips we have made a decent dent in that list of local book shops but decided to make an effort to hit a few more.

Here’s where we went:

Amazing Books and Records.

This store specializes in used books and records. In a rare instance of restraint, I didn’t find anything but my friend left with a decent stack. It has a cool vibe with smooth music, coffee brewing, and a guy behind the counter who charmed me by recommending a couple of other stores in the neighborhood. I liked his sense of community among local businesses. Visit them here.

Riverstone Books

Just down the street we explored Riverstone Books which sells basically everything I would ever want to read and some things I didn’t know I need to read. This is a delightful store with a small but mighty nonfiction section amidst a robust collection of fiction, children’s books and bookish things. They host author talks and other events that made me want to come back. There’s also a French bakery a couple of doors down, in case you need to know.

Stay Gold Books

In terms of footprint, this store is small. However, this is a carefully curated collection where it feels like every book has earned its spot on the shelf. There’s a comfy sofa and the place is run by some lovely people so I was glad to linger here. Visit them here.

Kards Unlimited

This is a cool gift shop with a fantastic selection of books. So it’s not a dedicated bookstore but that’s half the fun. Not only do they have a good mix of the popular and obscure in books, there’s jewelry, blown glass ornaments, paper goods and lots of novelty items. Visit them here.

Beyond Bedtime Books

I have written about this used bookstore before. It’s really packed in there but everything is tidy and organized and you never know what you’ll find. I picked up a like- new signed copy of a Marie Benedict book for just a few dollars. There’s a small bakery down the block with amazing brownies. In case you need to know. Read about them here.

We also stopped at a Barnes and Noble so I could pick up the new Bella Grace Field Guide which is a different story for another day. We had three more bookstores on our agenda for that day but ran out of time. I think we ran out of time because we kept stopping for brownies and macarons but that’s also a story for another day.

We have goals for next time.

In case you’re keeping track, that’s six bookstores in a day plus a seventh in Bedford. We won’t discuss all the baked goods and candy involved in this trip!

Go Explore

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Friends, we have made it to Friday. Not just any Friday, mind you, but the start of Memorial Day weekend.

Take sometime this weekend to go for a ride, visit a small business that’s new to you, explore a hiking trail or do some other thing that makes your heart feel good.

Life isn’t meant to be survived. It isn’t meant to be spent on a dull treadmill. It’s meant to bring you joy and learning, new horizons and fresh opportunities

This is a good day to start acting like it.

What are you waiting for? The door is open. Go explore now!

Jean Bonnet Tavern

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Twenty years ago, I sat in the passenger seat of a car and pointed to a fantastic old stone tavern visible from the Pennsylvania Turnpike. My statement that it looked like a neat place to stop fell on deaf ears as my now ex-husband barreled on toward our destination.

Fast forward to my most recent trip to see my Pittsburgh friend. We were headed to historic Bedford for a day and she wondered if I would be interested in a meal at the historic Jean Bonnet Tavern?

Yes, it was the tavern I had seen so many years ago!

Oh, the value of spending this life with the right people.

So, after a day of wandering around Bedford, sampling candy and perusing antiques, we headed straight to the Jean Bonnet Tavern for an absolute feast.

This place was built in 1762 and is located on what we now call the Lincoln Highway. Back then, it was called Forbes Road and was the only east-west road from eastern Pennsylvania to the Ohio Country. Countless settlers and travelers passed through here. The tavern and inn was built as a safe haven for those weary folks who needed a place to lay their heads and have a good meal before continuing on their treacherous journey.

It was also believed to be a gathering place for the farmers involved in the 1794 Whiskey Rebellion.

This building is large and stone with big white porches and moody lighting inside.

You enter the restaurant through a wooden door into a room with a large stone fireplace. When you are seated, a hostess will set the mood by lighting a taper candle in a pewter candlestick. Those approximate two foot thick stone walls are decorated with coverlets. The food is good and the portions large.

There were other people in our dining room but for a few short minutes, there was no one in my field of vision. I could hear the clink of glasses and silverware but could see no one else. Flickering candlelight and simple decor harkened to Colonial days in a way that excited my imagination.

For a brief and shining moment, I was a time traveler. Was it 2026 or was it 1776? Who knew? Maybe George Washington’s Army was encamped right outside. Maybe a lengthy journey on horseback laid ahead of me the next day. Time had no meaning here.

This is not just a place to eat. It’s a place of experience. You can stay there too and I’m kind of hoping I get to do that someday because it looks nice.

Friends, this is why we travel. We go places for these glimmering, golden moments when we experience something so special we know the moment was all our own.

Want more information? Click here to visit their website.

National Museum Of The American Coverlet

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I am truly fortunate to have a couple of great friends to travel with to interesting places. My Pittsburgh friend is a born planner and has a knack for knowing exactly the kind of places I will like.

So when she said we would start our day in Bedford, Pennsylvania at the National Museum Of The American Coverlet, my knee jerk reaction was “hmm…. Ok.” And then my brain immediately reminded me that she has never taken me any place I didn’t like.

I’m so glad we went.

The National Museum of the American Coverlet is the first independent, year-round institution devoted to historic American woven coverlets. It is located in the former Common School which dates to 1859. The museum is located in the downstairs of this fantastic old building and they have done an exceptional job of working around some of the unique qualities of this building while still having gallery space for their rotating collection of historic coverlets.

What is a coverlet?

According to their website “Coverlets are woven bedcovers, used as the topmost covering on a bed. The weaver worked on a loom to construct the textile itself one row at a time, and the pattern was woven in as part of the process.”

This museum focuses on antique American woven coverlets and the collection ranges from 1771 to 1889. The coverlets come from all over the country and are in incredible condition especially given their age.

The current exhibit celebrates America’s 250th and I’m so glad we got to see it!

For all that my pal and I have in common, I’m always interested in the different ways we tend to view the world. We seem to take turns being detail people and being big picture people, depending on our moods and where we are.

In this museum, I was fascinated by the overall impact of the coverlets in this space. My friend sews, quilts, and does needlepoint. and was drawn in by the beauty of the smallest details on these coverlets. And the details are magnificent.

Want to learn more? Visit their website Admission is just $10 for adults. It’s a great place to start on your trip to Bedford!

The BIG Coffee Pot

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With the rise of automobile travel in the early part of the 20th century, so came the rise of novelty architecture and attempts to attract motorists into businesses along the road. Travelers through Bedford, Pennsylvania may notice this giant coffee pot which is a remnant of that era.

Built in 1927, this coffee pot was a gimmick to draw customers to a service station and restaurant owned by David Bert Koontz. According to a historic marker next to the coffee pot, the early menu included hamburgers, ice cream and Coca Cola. Not only did this quick fare appeal to motorists on the Lincoln Highway, Greyhound passengers took advantage as well when they stopped at the bus depot next door.

It was actually built in another location than its current one but was purchased by the Bedford County Fair Association, relocated to the county fairgrounds, and restored for future generations to enjoy. That was in 2004.

At 18 feet high and 22 feet in diameter, it’s hard to miss and a real treat for us vintage roadside junkies who pretty much live for this kind of thing.

You can’t go inside anymore but it’s free to walk around outside. Here’s a fun fact: if you filled it with coffee, it would hold 819,000 8 ounce cups of coffee!

While it doesn’t serve coffee, it does serve a great lesson in roadside history and the value of creative marketing during the early days of car travel.