PA Trip - Part 3: The Sights

At the end of April, Abby, Jake and I traveled to Pennsylvania for a college reunion of sorts and a week-long visit with friends on their farm (for part one go here, for part two go here). As part two showed, we spent a good deal of time enjoying the farm life...but now you will see that we also did some sight-seeing or outing nearly every day too! Our friends were gracious as ever, allowing me to drive the husband's car for the week while he borrowed his father's car. (I had to get used to the comparatively fast and aggressive Pennsylvania driving again! :)

Harrisburg Capitol

Ever since I was little, I've had a goal to visit every Capitol building in the US. I suppose it stems from living in a capital city myself and loving our own capitol building. When my dad drove with me over to Pennsylvania in 2005 on our way to my college, we went through Harrisburg just before dark. I decided to at least hop off the freeway and drive by the capitol building, hoping to later return to tour it with Kevin sometime during our two-year stay in Pennsylvania. Well, it didn't happen so I was quite excited to finally see the interior with our friends during our trip a month and a half ago.

I was not disappointed! The interior was grand, bold and ornate. The rich, dark colors in the interior stood in contrast to my our hometown Capitol with its light grays and pinks. It was opulent and majestic - a very fitting government building for a state where our country virtually began with the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the location of our first Congress. I was also quite impressed with the exterior, with its many staircases, balconies and, of course, the beautiful green dome. Although I am partial to the Olympia capitol, I must say that I believe I finely came upon a capitol building that might be even more beautiful!

As an interesting side note, as we walked along the ground floor I couldn't help but notice the red tiles. They reminded me of a place Kevin and I had visited nearer to PBU (along with my nephew Stephen who was visiting on his Spring Break), the Moravian Pottery and Tile Works. Sure enough, as I later read through some literature I was pleased to read that the tiles had come from that very place!

Hershey's Chocolate World

And what trip to that area of Pennsylvania is complete without a visit to the Hershey's Chocolate Factory? :) My third time there, it was still fun and was especially neat to share the experience with Abby and Jake.

Hershey Gardens

This was the only outing that just the kids and I went on without our friends. It was nice to stroll through the gardens with just the three of us. We spent several hours there, enjoying the warm (at times, HOT) sunshine. On the way back home to our friends' house, Abby asked how much longer it would be. I told her and then asked why. She said, "Because I miss my friends and can't wait to play with them again." :o)

Farmers Market

Our friends took us an incredible huge and locally famous farmer's market, the Green Dragon Market. I have never seen nor heard of a larger market. It's located on 30 acres, has outdoor and indoor shopping (7 buildings!), and is very crowded even though it's located in the middle of nowhere! Many of the vendors are Amish or Mennonite and it's a great place to purchase gifts/souvenirs and eat some delicious food.

Tea Party

While I stayed with my friend Gwen and her family of 8, we were only a few miles away from her father's home where her two sisters also live. The three sisters went on the study tour of Israel with my college class, which is where we all met and became friends. Although Christine and Michele were busy with their family business (their father owns a carpeting and flooring business that they help with), they still made time for us to come visit twice and also came along with us to the farmer's market pictured above. It was wonderful to spend more time with them and Michele spoiled us with her delicious cooking for dinner one evening and even put together a lovely afternoon tea for us another day, complete with scones, quiche and salmon dip!

Science Center

Our discount membership we purchased earlier this year to the Seattle Museum of Flight lets us get into hundreds of reciprocal museums for free, including the Whitaker Science Center in Harrisburg. Boy, was it neat! I haven't been to a "real" science center in over a decade (my life lately consists more of the Hands On Children's Museums type of stuff :). At first I thought it might all be way over my kids' heads, but we found plenty to keep them entertained and learning. I was especially impressed with an exhibit that lets the children make their own animated shorts by taking a series of pictures while they manipulate the toys into different positions, and a virtual graffiti wall (if there hadn't been so many kids in line, I would have done it too! :).

Now that I look back at it all, I can't believe we fit so many activities in one week and also felt like we had a decent amount of relaxation and play on the farm! What a great vacation! :o)