Well folks we have hit the end of the road. 82 Days...35 States...11,124 miles...49 1/2 license plates...3 oil changes...4 time zones...10 National Parks...17 hotels...4 campsites...56 types of local brewed beer...35 straight days with no rain...200+ deer...a west coast sunset...an east coast sunrise...what an adventure...
We returned back home last Friday and have taken a few days off from the blogging due to the Holiday season. What an incredible journey we have both participated in. The things we have seen, the places we've been, and the people we have met have just been incredible. We have pictures, videos, scrapbooks, and souvenirs so if anyone would like a more in depth look at our trip please let either of us know! We have plenty of great stories to tell! Thank you to everybody that opened up their homes and living spaces for us. Everybody was far to kind to us and everyone showed us the greatest hospitality, we really can't thank everyone enough! Here is the last video we took on our adventure. Hope you all enjoyed the updates and following along, check back from time to time to remember it, and maybe there will be something new to look at!
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Our last night......Or is it?
On what was supposed to be our last day on the road...(Ooops!) We used one of the two museum admission passes that Tyler got for Rachel's birthday. We went to the Norman Rockwell museum in Stockbridge, the town he lived in for a majority of his life. What an incredibly talented artist he was. We saw all 300+ Saturday Evening Post covers that he drew as well as many of his original pieces of art. We sat in for a gallery talk that lasted about a half an hour and gave us some insight on many of his greatest pieces. A few of the paintings that stood out to us were the famous cop and boy sitting at the counter, the gossip picture, the marriage license, the four freedoms, and the down town of Stockbridge. This especially stood out to Rachel who loved the details of one particular building, the historic Red Lion Inn.
We left the museum and decided to stay in town in the Berkshires for one more night...(ha!)... We told ourselves we would drive around and just pick the first reasonable place we saw. We drove...And found the Red Lion Inn! We asked if they had a room available and they let us go up and see it before we booked it. We walked in the room to see the cop and boy painting starring us in the face, when we turned around over the bed was the marriage license picture. We couldn't pass it up. The Red Lion Inn was built in 1773! It was so historic. It had a nice old smell to it and was rich with character. We walked around downtown to some cute little shops and ate dinner in the Inn's Tavern. In the morning we planned to get up, visit one last museum, and head home...
Day 81...
So we woke up planning to leave the Red Lion Inn, go to the museum, and head home... Not! After walking around a bit and getting a nice lunch, it became late afternoon. We decided not to rush the museum (which was about an hour north of us at the time) and for our last night, just go to Vermont! We headed North without a care or worry, no reservations and no place to be. We stopped along the way to see Fantastic Mr. Fox. Which Tyler thought was one of the top five best movies he has ever seen! Rachel enjoyed it too. It was funny, artistic, and just down right brilliant...Go see it! After dinner we made our way across the border into Vermont to look for a hotel. After stumbling upon a few closed motels, getting stuck in some back road snow, and some night exploring while driving, we came across a cheap motel for our last night.
The next day we went to the Mass MoCA... Museum of Contemporary Arts. It was...well... weird! The first floor was quite strange with some unique videos that didn't really make too much sense to us. Floors 2 got better with some model landscapes, and structures. Floor 3 was very interesting with an exhibit devoted to wall drawings and a kids section with funny fruit pictures! After the museum we began our drive back to Millis, MA...
We left the museum and decided to stay in town in the Berkshires for one more night...(ha!)... We told ourselves we would drive around and just pick the first reasonable place we saw. We drove...And found the Red Lion Inn! We asked if they had a room available and they let us go up and see it before we booked it. We walked in the room to see the cop and boy painting starring us in the face, when we turned around over the bed was the marriage license picture. We couldn't pass it up. The Red Lion Inn was built in 1773! It was so historic. It had a nice old smell to it and was rich with character. We walked around downtown to some cute little shops and ate dinner in the Inn's Tavern. In the morning we planned to get up, visit one last museum, and head home...
Day 81...
So we woke up planning to leave the Red Lion Inn, go to the museum, and head home... Not! After walking around a bit and getting a nice lunch, it became late afternoon. We decided not to rush the museum (which was about an hour north of us at the time) and for our last night, just go to Vermont! We headed North without a care or worry, no reservations and no place to be. We stopped along the way to see Fantastic Mr. Fox. Which Tyler thought was one of the top five best movies he has ever seen! Rachel enjoyed it too. It was funny, artistic, and just down right brilliant...Go see it! After dinner we made our way across the border into Vermont to look for a hotel. After stumbling upon a few closed motels, getting stuck in some back road snow, and some night exploring while driving, we came across a cheap motel for our last night.
The next day we went to the Mass MoCA... Museum of Contemporary Arts. It was...well... weird! The first floor was quite strange with some unique videos that didn't really make too much sense to us. Floors 2 got better with some model landscapes, and structures. Floor 3 was very interesting with an exhibit devoted to wall drawings and a kids section with funny fruit pictures! After the museum we began our drive back to Millis, MA...
Friday, December 18, 2009
Happy Birthday to Rachel!!
Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday dear Rachel,
Happy birthday to you!!!
For Rachel's birthday, Tyler gave her a surprise. We went to Lenox, Ma to the four diamond Cranwell Spa and Resort. What a wonderful gift! Cranwell is located high on a hilltop with absolutely breathtaking views in the Berkshires. We stayed in the Carriage House which is linked to the spa in a heated glass enclosed walkway. We both benefited greatly from some serious relaxation. The spa package included unlimited access to the heated pool, steam room, sauna, and jacuzzi! Also, dinner at the Tavern and two passes for each of us to museums of Rachel's choice in the area!
Rachel thoroughly enjoyed the spa visit, she suggested that this could maybe be a yearly tradition...we'll see!
Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday dear Rachel,
Happy birthday to you!!!
For Rachel's birthday, Tyler gave her a surprise. We went to Lenox, Ma to the four diamond Cranwell Spa and Resort. What a wonderful gift! Cranwell is located high on a hilltop with absolutely breathtaking views in the Berkshires. We stayed in the Carriage House which is linked to the spa in a heated glass enclosed walkway. We both benefited greatly from some serious relaxation. The spa package included unlimited access to the heated pool, steam room, sauna, and jacuzzi! Also, dinner at the Tavern and two passes for each of us to museums of Rachel's choice in the area!
Rachel thoroughly enjoyed the spa visit, she suggested that this could maybe be a yearly tradition...we'll see!
Back to Port Jervis
After the city we made our way back to the Matamoras, Pa and Port Jervis, NY area to stay and visit with Uncle Bill, Aunt Val, Kate, Emilia, and Uncle Mike and Aunt Pat. They made Rachel a birthday cake and Emilia finally was able to watch Twilight! During our stay here we also went to the tri - state rock where we were able to stand in 3 different states at the same time! (New York, Penn, and New Jersey). Next: Surprise for Rachel's birthday!
Monday, December 14, 2009
Herrow New York
On Wednesday night we arrived in New York City to stay with one of Tyler's best friends and college roommate Zack. Zack actually lives right across the river in Englewood, New Jersey about 1.5 miles from the city. He has a nice new apartment and is enjoying his job of managing the Brooklyn Diner on 57th street. We were lucky enough to sit in for dinner one night and breakfast the next morning. Delicious! Zack is doing a great job managing the restaurant and we felt like celebrities getting wine and dined by New York's finest. We met so many people at the bar who made our experience even more fun!
Our first night in the city we went out to walk along 5th avenue to Rockefeller Center to see the lights, decorations, and the Christmas tree. We got out of the parking garage and started walking down the street where we saw limo after limo after limo lined up on the side of the road. We got to Paris movie theater and were stopped by security guards because people were coming out of the theater. Turns out it was the movie premiere for Its Complicated with Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin, and Steve Martin...So...Who comes out of the theater? Meryl Streep! Followed by; Martha Stewart, Steve Martin, Jon Krasinski from the Office, Gayle King from Oprah, Tina Fey, Rita Wilson (Tom Hank's wife), Judah Friedlander (whom Zack got a hug from), Caroline Rae and I'm sure many more whom we didn't see or recognize! What a way to start our NY trip.
Across from the tree is a lighted snow flake display that performs a light show synced to the theme song from Home Alone. We continued down to Times Square for dinner and sight seeing. The next day Zack had off so we went into the city in the afternoon. Zack's dad, Steven, owns Deerstag shoe company. So Zack brought us in to tour the office. It just so happened that members of his dad's band had band practice that night! We sat in for about 8 classic rock songs and had our own little private show. The set ended with Rockin' in the Free World! We went to Macy's to see the windows and met up with Rachel's former co - worker Liz for a dinner in Little Italy.
The next day we met up with Zack at the restaurant and waited for him to get off work. We went to a couple bars in the city and came home to watch Home Alone. The last morning we went into work with Zack at 7 am! Reason being is we didn't want to drive ourselves or take a bus and we were meeting Tyler's Aunt Val, Uncle Bill, Cousin Kate, and Emilia (The Griswold Family) for a day in the city. The restaurant doesn't open til 8 so we got to see everyone set up and prepare for the day. After breakfast we met up with the Griswolds and rode the ferris wheel at Toys R Us in times square (got the Scooby Doo car), went into the New York Mets Clubhouse store, walked through Bryant Park, had lunch, and explored many parts of the city. We had a lot of fun with them. We met back up with Zack after work and returned to his apartment for hot spiced apple wine cider, apple pie, and Christmas movies.
Unfortunately this was our last big city stop :( But the trip isn't over yet! We returned to Port Jervis to spend the next two days with the Griswold Clan. Tomorrow (December 15th) is Rachel's birthday, so we're off to celebrate for our last day on the road...
Our first night in the city we went out to walk along 5th avenue to Rockefeller Center to see the lights, decorations, and the Christmas tree. We got out of the parking garage and started walking down the street where we saw limo after limo after limo lined up on the side of the road. We got to Paris movie theater and were stopped by security guards because people were coming out of the theater. Turns out it was the movie premiere for Its Complicated with Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin, and Steve Martin...So...Who comes out of the theater? Meryl Streep! Followed by; Martha Stewart, Steve Martin, Jon Krasinski from the Office, Gayle King from Oprah, Tina Fey, Rita Wilson (Tom Hank's wife), Judah Friedlander (whom Zack got a hug from), Caroline Rae and I'm sure many more whom we didn't see or recognize! What a way to start our NY trip.
Across from the tree is a lighted snow flake display that performs a light show synced to the theme song from Home Alone. We continued down to Times Square for dinner and sight seeing. The next day Zack had off so we went into the city in the afternoon. Zack's dad, Steven, owns Deerstag shoe company. So Zack brought us in to tour the office. It just so happened that members of his dad's band had band practice that night! We sat in for about 8 classic rock songs and had our own little private show. The set ended with Rockin' in the Free World! We went to Macy's to see the windows and met up with Rachel's former co - worker Liz for a dinner in Little Italy.
The next day we met up with Zack at the restaurant and waited for him to get off work. We went to a couple bars in the city and came home to watch Home Alone. The last morning we went into work with Zack at 7 am! Reason being is we didn't want to drive ourselves or take a bus and we were meeting Tyler's Aunt Val, Uncle Bill, Cousin Kate, and Emilia (The Griswold Family) for a day in the city. The restaurant doesn't open til 8 so we got to see everyone set up and prepare for the day. After breakfast we met up with the Griswolds and rode the ferris wheel at Toys R Us in times square (got the Scooby Doo car), went into the New York Mets Clubhouse store, walked through Bryant Park, had lunch, and explored many parts of the city. We had a lot of fun with them. We met back up with Zack after work and returned to his apartment for hot spiced apple wine cider, apple pie, and Christmas movies.
Unfortunately this was our last big city stop :( But the trip isn't over yet! We returned to Port Jervis to spend the next two days with the Griswold Clan. Tomorrow (December 15th) is Rachel's birthday, so we're off to celebrate for our last day on the road...
Sunday, December 13, 2009
A visit to Ms. Kara!
Our next stop after Washington DC was Pipersville, Pennsylvania where Rachel's college roommate, Kara lives. Pipersville is located in Bucks County, a very beautiful area of Pa. Before heading into Philadelphia, Kara took us over to Rice's Flea Market which had just about anything you could think of! We made our way into Philly in the early afternoon and went to the Art Museum steps, which are made famous from the training scene in the film Rocky. Next we went over to see the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence was signed. We spent some time on South Street and of course had to get a Philly Cheesesteak (one without cheese) while in the city! We ended the day with a beer at Kara's favorite local bar, and we even got to play a round of darts!
The next day Kara took us for a tour of Bucks County. We went to Peddler's Village, which is very quaint with cute shops and Christmas lights, and a whole room full of Gingerbread houses from a contest. We all had a great time catching up, it was like no time has past. Next stop: NYC!
The next day Kara took us for a tour of Bucks County. We went to Peddler's Village, which is very quaint with cute shops and Christmas lights, and a whole room full of Gingerbread houses from a contest. We all had a great time catching up, it was like no time has past. Next stop: NYC!
Thursday, December 10, 2009
The Nations Capitol
Saturday and Sunday we made our way through some snowy skies into our Nation's Capitol, Washington D.C. We got in late Saturday night so we really only had Sunday and part of Monday to do our D.C. touring which was nearly not enough for D.C. but we definitely made the most of it. We got tickets for the Old Town historic trolley tours which brings you around the city while narrating history of Washington D.C. It will bring you to and drop you off at any memorial and a trolley comes to a stop every 30 minutes.
With this Trolley we were able to see all the major spots; The White House, Capitol Hill, Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, National Mall, Korean and Vietnam War Memorials, The Smithsonian Castle, The Holocaust Museum, The Air and Space Museum and the National Zoo. All of the spots were more than worth seeing but the most interesting were the Holocaust museum, Air and Space, and the Zoo!
We stayed at the four star Grand Hyatt Washington while in D.C. What a beautiful city filled with history of our country.
With this Trolley we were able to see all the major spots; The White House, Capitol Hill, Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, National Mall, Korean and Vietnam War Memorials, The Smithsonian Castle, The Holocaust Museum, The Air and Space Museum and the National Zoo. All of the spots were more than worth seeing but the most interesting were the Holocaust museum, Air and Space, and the Zoo!
We stayed at the four star Grand Hyatt Washington while in D.C. What a beautiful city filled with history of our country.
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