See America Tour

RoyF wrote:


Most of the places we visited were very well known, but there were a couple of surprises (for us). Mystic Seaport in Mystic, Conn., may be well-known in the northeast but was new to me They restore old sailing ships. I would love to go back again. The Clark Institute of Art in Williamstown in northwest Massachusetts had an amazing art collection that was a complete suprise to me.

For Boston, New York, and Philadelphia, it is possible to find RV camping close enough for a rail-trip into town. We skipped New York (having visited numerous other times) but made day trips into the other two.

Been going to Mystic Seaport since I was in elementary school (standard school trip) but hadn't been there for prolly 2 decades before 2002. Boy, what a re-opening of my eyes! Enjoyed it so much we have been members for the past 10 years. It's gotten pricey since my wasted youth (pretty sure it was free for school visits back in the "daze") but I'm sure the stock market had something to do with their aggressive attempts to revitalise the operating and acquirement funds. that being said I hope being a member helps to offset costs and increase the fantastic work they are doing reminding us of our sea past:c:.

If I didn't live in this area, I'd park the car and RV in a nearby campground then visit Philly, NYC, and maybe Boston. None are areas that need personal wheels to get around.

Most every year, we grab a NJ Transit train @ Penn Station going to Trenton, NJ,then switch to a SEPTA train into Philadelphia; costs less than the Amtrak trip although about an hour longer. We spend 2 nights there, normally at the Penn's View (every room decorated differently, some with Jacuzzi tubs and/or gas fireplaces). Great little hotel/B+B with a credible Italian restaurant and wine bar on premises called Panorama. I say only credible since you are surrounded by restaurants of different cuisines in this town. Philly's food scene is ever changing and since I don't know your food likes/dislikes I'll leave you to make your own choices; suffice to say you can have fun.
A fast food run at the closest to you Philly steak sandwich (we get a sandwich for Gino's and one from Pat's, all trips, and after 10 odd years still can't tell which is better prolly cause we eat too fast to take proper notes, LOL) or just take a walk through the Reading Terminal and all will be well.

Amazing town for art, both on the streets and housed in museums.
We visit the Rodin Museum every. time we. go even though it's quite tiny. Also of course the "Rocky steps museum AKA MOA; the Barnes Foundation, the Independence Seaport (not of the caliber of Mystic IMO but still essential to understanding maritime's role in this region) and the Franklin Science Museum all are worth a stop.

Then of course you have all the historical sites and exhibits.
And Fairmont Park which puts NYC's Central Park to shame in terms of size and scope. NOT that I'd tell any Pennsylvanian that...oops.

Boston, hmmmmmm Beantown. I haven't been there much in the last 20 years (Got to fix that!) yet know it's still there, LOL. Nothing to say about it past the memories of a swan ride, Boston Pop during the 4th of July concerts, visit to Paul Revere House and USS Constitution (had a toothache for that. Yes. I remember it well); Isabella Gardiner Museum; late night eating in Roxbury before the trolley closed down for the night in my mostly about to be a teenage wasteland (my older sister attended college in Boston and got stuck with me ;))lifer; Faneuil Hall and visits to Cape Cod and the islands.

However you visit the NE....you are going to enjoy yourselves I suspect.