"To Disney & Beyond" ~ Road Trip 2010 ~ Final Drive & Final Thoughts

[Spartangirl]

QUICK LIFE UPDATE

Hi Everyone! I'm still here...I've had a crazy couple of weeks, with this past week being Parent-Teacher Conferences at school. I had 100% attendance at my conferences, which is fantastic and I really had some nice conversations with the parents that I had a chance to meet with. Unfortunately, I'm EXHAUSTED!!! I promise I'll be back soon with responses and a new update and I appreciate you hanging with me. It stinks when life gets in the way of the DIS! If I'm reading your TR, I'll be back to respond on it in the near future too!!!

 

[Tracy161]

Glad to hear your conferences went so well! Don't worry... we'll still be here!!!

 

[Aburns8]

Hey Lynn!

Glad that you had great parent attendance this year. And I can't wait to read more. I even started my own trip report. The link is in my signature!

 

[MeMom]

QUICK LIFE UPDATE

Hi Everyone! I'm still here...I've had a crazy couple of weeks, with this past week being Parent-Teacher Conferences at school. I had 100% attendance at my conferences, which is fantastic and I really had some nice conversations with the parents that I had a chance to meet with. Unfortunately, I'm EXHAUSTED!!! I promise I'll be back soon with responses and a new update and I appreciate you hanging with me. It stinks when life gets in the way of the DIS! If I'm reading your TR, I'll be back to respond on it in the near future too!!!

Congratulations on 100%. Very nice.

School has consumed much of my time lately, too. So much paperwork and many projects going on.

Hope you guys can enjoy some good down time this week!

 

[floridascgirl]

I'm getting ready for my upcoming parent conference so I can empathize with how exhausting all the prep work is. Hope you have a relaxing Thanksgiving holiday.

 

[redsox721]

Just got around to reading the last update. Unfortunately we lost my beloved mother-in-law to cancer on November 15. She had been suffering for a short time and is now in peace. Needless to say we have been a bit crazy.

As for the update, as usual, wonderful pictures. Just love the one of you and Chris on the balcony with the beach in the background. The mexican food looks amazing. Can't wait for the next update.

 

[Shannon84]

That is great to hear!! Even though it keeps ya very busy

 

[Spartangirl]

Great pictures of the beach.

Thank you so much!

I LOVE the ornament that you picked. Your tree must be amazing. Such wonderful memories.

Thanks! I don't know about amazing..., but it means so much to Chris and I and really does help to preserve the wonderful memories that we've made together!

The pizza looks delicious. I love coconut so I think I would love the pizza.

It was fantastic...if you like coconut, I definitely agree that you would LOVE the pizza!

Need to read the next chapter.

Thanks for continuing to read!

Yikes! Too bad you got stuck in rush hour. Sounds like you made it okay, though.

Rush hour was NOT FUN, but it really didn't dampen our spirits!

You're hotel room looked really nice and patriotic!

We were pleasantly surprised! It was a really nice room!

Your experience with the thunderstorm on the battlefield sounds so eerie.

IT WAS! Thinking about it now brings the goosebumps right back on my arms!!!

I'm looking forward to your daytime adventure!

Thanks for continuing to read! I'm planning on getting an update up soon before I head out for our Thanksgiving festivities later on today!

What...no Chick-fil-A? I would just die. I'm a sucker for peanut oil.

I KNOW!!! I truly have a love for Chick-fil-A now...I don't know what I did before discovering the chain! I only wish we had one closer...

Loved the pics of the sunrise! I like how the palm trees are in the foreground.

Thanks so much!

It is funny that you went to Chick-fil-a. My parents are down here for the weekend and they met up with me for lunch today and we went there. In fact that was their first time every eating it! The DC traffic stinks. We have learned that if we are ever coming back from Detroit that we have to go through WV to skip the traffic.

Yay for Chick-fil-A! Glad your parents got to experience it! The DC traffic is HORRIBLE!!! Thanks for the tip about going through WV...I will keep that in mind!

Thanks for the update!

You're welcome...thanks for continuing to read!

Will you please come back and show us a picture of your travel tree when it is ready for the season?

Absolutely!

The sunrise pictures are beautiful. Maybe you can choose one that is frameworthy, and you can look at that scene any time you walk by.

Thank you so much! I have recently started adding some of my photos to canvas to hang as artwork in our house. We do have a sunrise picture on a canvas print and we recently added one of the Disney castle pictures with the fireworks from this past trip! See, great minds think alike!

I have a Chick-Fil-A less than a mile from my house, and I pass another one on the way to school. I rarely, rarely, rarely eat out, so I don't even think about them. It was funny to see you get so excited over it. I guess I should not take mine for granted, huh?

Awww...I would be in heaven! Chris was laughing at me for getting so excited about eating there, but it's a special treat since we don't have any around us. I'm not a fast-food junkie, but for some reason, Chick-fil-A hits the spot for me!

That pizza sounds interesting. Trent and I are both ham and pineapple pizza fans, but I have never thought to add coconut. I'm kind of afraid to try it, though. If I like it, I'll be spoiled, and then I'll have to always have coconut on hand!

Ha, ha! Chris and I were both ham and pineapple fans BEFORE trying the pizza too.......now you can add coconut to that list too!

 

[Spartangirl]

Beautiful sunrise!

I was so glad I got up to experience it...it really was gorgeous!

Charles happened to be walking by while I was reading this update and asked about the Chick-Fil-A picture. I had to explain to him that Northerners get really excited about Chick-Fil-A when they come down South.

Yes, I know I'm a dork...but we do get a "bit too excited" seeing our favorite Southern chain! I hate to admit that I even get excited once I start seeing the signs...

It is very yummy! I won't tell you how they have Peppermint Chocolate Milkshakes during the holiday season.

Nooooooo.......my cravings are starting now!

Oh, I got goosebumps just reading about you standing there on the battlefield at twilight. Can't wait to read the next update!

It was unbelievable...I get chills just thinking back to that moment! Next update should be up shortly...thank you for continuing to read!

Your trip report is amazing. I am enjoying it so much and hate to see it come to an end. You will have to squeeze WDW on all your trips so we can continue to read about your travels; or start a web page.

Thank you so much for the amazing compliments! You just made my day...let me rephrase that, my week!

Beautiful pictures!!

Thank you!

I know how horrible that DC traffic can be...you guys probably passed right by where we live I do not understand how people live up there, I dont have the patience

Wow...DC traffic is unbelievable!!! I don't know how anyone could drive in that mess day in and day out!

That Chick-Fil-A is dangerous...when I first moved to the south I was pronouncing it incorrectly as "Chicken Filla"

Well, I guess that's how it looks!

Can't wait to read more about your adventures, it sounds like nighttime would be a very eerie feeling there!!

Thanks for continuing to read! Nighttime is definitely very eerie. I can honestly say that I was pretty "spooked" standing there on the battlefield...the storm didn't help!

I know EXACTLY what you mean about Chick-Fil-A! I have similar excitement whenever we get a chance to go to one on vacation!

Chick-fil-A is the best!

I am SO excited to hear about your experience at Gettysburg! I love that place so much... so much rich history, and so many stories.

It was amazing and I can't wait to share!

Yet another great update! Oh, and your dinner looked fabulous!

Thanks so much and it was! Chris and I are big Mexican fans so we loved it!

about the traffic!

It was unbelievable!!!

I can't wait to hear about Gettysburg. DH & I really want to visit there one day!

It's a fantastic place to visit...so much to do and see!

 

[Spartangirl]

Glad to hear your conferences went so well! Don't worry... we'll still be here!!!

Thanks, Tracy!

Hey Lynn!

Glad that you had great parent attendance this year. And I can't wait to read more. I even started my own trip report. The link is in my signature!

Hey Andrea! I will be right over to your report!

Congratulations on 100%. Very nice.

Thank you...I was pleasantly surprised! That usually doesn't happen!

School has consumed much of my time lately, too. So much paperwork and many projects going on.

Awww...hope things lighten up a little bit for you! It always seems like this time of year is so busy, both in our everyday lives and in our classrooms!

Hope you guys can enjoy some good down time this week!

The down time has already started! Hope you are able to enjoy some down time as well!

I'm getting ready for my upcoming parent conference so I can empathize with how exhausting all the prep work is. Hope you have a relaxing Thanksgiving holiday.

Best of luck to you on your parent conferences...hope they go well! Enjoy your Thanksgiving as well!

Just got around to reading the last update. Unfortunately we lost my beloved mother-in-law to cancer on November 15. She had been suffering for a short time and is now in peace. Needless to say we have been a bit crazy.

I am so sorry to hear about your loss! At least your mother-in-law is no longer suffering at this point in time...good thoughts and prayers are being sent your way.

As for the update, as usual, wonderful pictures. Just love the one of you and Chris on the balcony with the beach in the background. The mexican food looks amazing. Can't wait for the next update.

Thank you so much! I appreciate you continuing to read and the next update will be up shortly!

That is great to hear!! Even though it keeps ya very busy

Thanks, Shannon!

 

[Spartangirl]

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone! Hope you are able to spend the day with your loved ones! Safe travels!

 

[Spartangirl]

Thursday, August 5, 2010
History Abound & Dining By Candlelight

This morning we were scheduled to take a Segway Tour, but the weather was suggesting otherwise. The newscasters were calling for thundershowers on and off all afternoon (By the way, they were wrong...we didn't get a drop of rain all day!). So we called the Segway place and they rescheduled us for the next day with no problem.

Chris and I decided to head over to the Gettysburg Museum and Visitor Center.

Here we bought combo tickets for the movie (A New Birth of Freedom), the Cyclorama, and the museum.

Chris is the history buff, not me. To be honest, I wasn't sure what to expect going into this whole experience...but I did enter with an open mind and I'm so glad I did. The movie was narrated by Morgan Freeman and it was superb! The cyclorama is an absolute "must-do" in my honest opinion! It blew me away!

The museum was pretty interesting too and helped to bring me up to speed with the scope and importance of events that happened in the battle.

Before leaving, we stopped in the gift shop to buy our final ornament from our final stop. The pickings were slim, but we did come away with something!

We were pretty happy to find our ornament rather quickly because the gift shop was filled to the brim with people! Apparently there was some sort of a "National Jamboree" going on with the Boy Scouts and there were at least a couple hundred Boy Scouts in the shop with us and many more outside of it!

After exiting the gift shop, we made our way back to the car. By this time we were getting a little hungry so we headed over to the Historic Dobbin House which was built in 1776.

Our meal was going to be in the Springhouse Tavern, which was downstairs in the cellar. This was a fun restaurant...the servers were dressed in period attire, and we had to read our menus and eat by candlelight. Plus, our meals were served on rather ornate China.

I ordered a gill of porridge (Baked King's Onion soup) and a half salad. The soup was amazing!

Chris ordered a gill of porridge (Beef vegetable stew) and a half sandwich (Turkey on rye). His meal also came with potato salad. Chris said his meal was fantastic!

After lunch, we decided to explore the grounds on foot for awhile. We headed down the road and came upon the Farnsworth House, which was a building that stood during the Civil War.

Do you see the white spots all over the house?

They are highlighted bullet holes...there are over 150 of them! Supposedly, this is one of the most haunted inns in America!

On a side note, a few years back a couple of our friends stayed a night in one of the rooms in the Farnsworth House. My friend, Lisa, set this up. She is very interested in "paranormal activity" and thought this would be a unique place to stay while visiting and touring Gettysburg. Her husband, Jeff, went along with her antics all-the-while stating his non-belief in ghosts. After their stay, we asked about their experience. Jeff stated that he didn't sleep a wink and heard footsteps/noises in the attic above their room the whole night. He said he would NEVER return! We're not really sure if the inn truly is haunted, seeing as though we've never stayed there, but it sure was funny hearing about the experiences from our friends!

Here are a couple of pics from the grounds...

Chris and I looked up at the sky. Even though we saw a few black clouds, there was no rain in sight. So, we made an executive decision to make our way over to the battlefields.

Up Next: So much history & so many lives lost...

 

[Aburns8]

I think I am going to have to make a trip up there! I like history as well and I am glad that the museum and movie were worth the money. That building was interesting with the bullet holes. I remember while in college that there was a special on the History Channel called the Ghosts of Gettysburg, so I knew it was haunted. I would be the person taking the ghost tour and staying at the haunted inn, that would be cool! Loved the update and can't wait to hear more.

 

[Charleston Princess]

Happy Thanksgiving, Lynn!

Cool update! I love history stuff and have never been to Gettysburg, so all the pictures were neat! Can't believe all those bullet holes in that inn!

 

[Tracy161]

So excited to read that you ate at the Dobbin House! My family and I went there years ago and ate downstairs in the cellar as well, what an awesome experience! You can almost imagine yourself there a couple hundred years ago!

I hope you had a great Thanksgiving!!!

 

[Princess_K]

So glad you enjoyed Gettysburg. My family went there probably 10-12 years ago and really loved it. We ate at Dobbin House too

 

[lovegrumpy]

We plan on going for a few days during spring break next year. We have been hitting alot of the civil war sites the last couple of mths.

 

[Shannon84]

Great update...I cannot believe the highlighted bullet holes!! Lee has been begging to visit there, he is a history buff too...I think next year we are going to make it a point to do a trip he plans

Hope that you guys had a wonderful thanksgiving

 

[Spartangirl]

I think I am going to have to make a trip up there! I like history as well and I am glad that the museum and movie were worth the money.

It's such an amazing experience...I really didn't think I would enjoy it as much as I did! The movie was really interesting and the cyclorama was incredible!!!

That building was interesting with the bullet holes. I remember while in college that there was a special on the History Channel called the Ghosts of Gettysburg, so I knew it was haunted. I would be the person taking the ghost tour and staying at the haunted inn, that would be cool!

I think I remember seeing that special too! Chris and I have done a couple of ghost tours too...I think we've laughed more than we've been scared though! Staying at the haunted inn would be interesting though...

Loved the update and can't wait to hear more.

Thanks, Andrea! More should be up shortly!

Happy Thanksgiving, Lynn!

Thanks, Jackie! I just love the holiday season!

Cool update! I love history stuff and have never been to Gettysburg, so all the pictures were neat! Can't believe all those bullet holes in that inn!

If you love history, you'd LOVE Gettysburg...it was so interesting! I was blown away looking at all of those bullet holes...I can't even imagine what went down there...

So excited to read that you ate at the Dobbin House! My family and I went there years ago and ate downstairs in the cellar as well, what an awesome experience! You can almost imagine yourself there a couple hundred years ago!

I completely agree! We loved the Dobbin House!

I hope you had a great Thanksgiving!!!

It was wonderful, Tracy! Hope yours was great too!

 

[Spartangirl]

So glad you enjoyed Gettysburg. My family went there probably 10-12 years ago and really loved it. We ate at Dobbin House too

It's such a great place full of so much history...I really was blown away! Isn't the Dobbin House incredible? I was so glad we ate there...what a unique experience!

We plan on going for a few days during spring break next year. We have been hitting alot of the civil war sites the last couple of mths.

Gettysburg is amazing...I bet spring break will be a fantastic time to visit! What a great idea in hitting different civil war sites before your visit...it will make your visit that much more memorable!

Great update...I cannot believe the highlighted bullet holes!! Lee has been begging to visit there, he is a history buff too...I think next year we are going to make it a point to do a trip he plans

I love it! That will be fun to have Lee do the planning for a trip! Gettysburg is very interesting........like I mentioned earlier, I'm definitely not a history buff, but I too, loved it!

Hope that you guys had a wonderful thanksgiving

It was so nice, thanks! I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving too, Shannon!