DON'T BE A LOSER... STAY AT kooser state park in somerset PA

We actually stayed at this site twice on this trip , once on the way out to Michigan  and once on the way back to reduce travel time. Kooser State Park---http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/findapark/kooser/index.htm--- is very small but nice, ample space you aren't on top of other trailers. There are only 22 spaces but it is well kept , camp hosts were nice and accommodating as was the park ranger who go us wood when we arrived past check in time.  Their sister park is Laurel Hill State park--http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/findapark/laurelhill/index.htm- about 6 miles up the road.  This was a much larger camp facility however they only offer electric and no full hook ups...So we decided to stay at Kooser and take the  few minutes drive down to Laurel Hill which is huge!!  Lots of hiking and biking trails, boat ramps, fishing, nice and big.   KOOSER STATE PARK and LAUREL HILL STATE PARK are close to  the house Architect Frank Lloyd Wright designed Fallingwater  We decided not to go to the home being it was $25 per person to tour and most write ups said it was disappointing for the cost. If you are interested it's approx. 25 miles from the State Park ---http://www.fallingwater.org/82

Kooser State park also has year round cabin rental.  You can snowmobile and cross country ski.  The only downside to Kooser was the highway that runs next to the camp.  It's noisy in the evening if you want to hear just crickets and no highway noise this might not be the place for you.  We were pretty sure we heard coyote in the distance. 

CMU MICHIGAN ADVENTURE-- HAVE DOG WILL TRAVEL STERLING STATE PARK MONROE MI

SPRING GULCH CAMPGROUND NEW HOLLAND PA REVISITED

Went to one of our favorite camp grounds this summer-Spring Gulch in New Holland Pa.  Had a wonderful time.  Took a tour of President James Bucchanan's home Wheatland-http://www.padutchcountry.com/members/James_Buchanan_s_Wheatland.asp.  Had a nice tour by costumed interpretors.  If you want to tour the home and the museum you have to pay separately to do so.

Found a self guided tour of the covered bridges of Lancaster Co. and took a nice drive through to hunt for bridges...one bridge we even found some Amish children playing and I caught a photo of a horse and buggy as it came through the bridge.   http://www.pacoveredbridges.com/lancaster-county/

During our time out searching for bridges we ended up at the Lapp Family Farm in New Holland Pa not far from where the camp ground is.  This is a fully functioning and working dairy farm.  We stopped and had fresh made ice cream and took home some eggs and farmers cheese which was really delicious --http://www.yelp.com/biz/lapp-valley-farms-new-Holland

The high light of the trip for me was shopping at the CKC Convention ( Creative Keepsakes Convention) which was held at the Downtown Lancaster Convention Center---http://www.lancasterconventioncenter.com/.  This event is awesome for anyone who loves scrapbooking and card making.  Great place to take classes, attend a cropping event ( where a room full of people play with paper, scissors and glue and invent fun paper crafts, or you can just shop , shop, shop   for unique paper craft items that you can't find locally.  Vendors come from all over the country to sell and participate this 1X a year event.  http://www.ckscrapbookevents.com/CKScrapbookConventions/CKCLancaster.aspx

We ate the first night in Lancaster at the Yoder Buffet--http://yoderscountrymarket.com/restaurant.php  It was really delicious , good food, plenty of it and very inexpensive.  The great thing for me is that the market which is a full service food market is right next door so next year when we go I will not be packing food in the trailer, we will go out to eat the first night then food shop for the week at the market.  They had everything!  Baking supplies, premade foods and your standard grocery  fare.

Fun night out at the Sight and Sound theater seeing Moses, where bible stories come to life. My husband had an end seat and the actors on horses and with camels and other live animals come down right through the audience.  Love their productions always fun seeing the bible being acted out http://www.sight-sound.com/WebSite/home.do


 Had a wonderful time once again at Spring Gulch and look forward to going there again next year...Fall is an awesome time to go so much to see and do I highly recommend a fall visit to Lancaster Co Pa http://www.padutchcountry.com/activities/fairs_festivals_lancaster_county.asp

CORGI NATION UNITES---CORGI PICNIC HIBERNIA PARK-- COATESVILLE, PA

Hibernia Park Coatesville, PA  Had a wonderful time at the Corgi Picnic which gathers corgi lovers from Canada down to Fla., who meet at this park in PA to just meet, enjoy food , fun and fellowship with other corgi fanciers.  Everybody brings a dish and the grill is lit.  Hot dogs, hamburgers, veggie burgers, sides and don't forget the pup cakes with icing tops and milk bones for the fur babies.  This year was much more laid back.  People just seemed to want to eat and relax , not so much into the games.  The gathering has a purpose to raise money for
 Corgi Aid/ Corgi Nation which raises money to help out folks who may need an expensive operation or treatment for their beloved low rider and to help aid in adoption and rescue efforts.  There is a 50/50 raffle and a silent auction to help raise money for Corgi Aid.   Lucky Dog Treat Company -- owned and operated by Marlene Doyle of Willow Grove, PA was also there with a WONDERFUL  assortment of dog treats ( some for the feline friends as well) and gave 50% of her sales to CorgiAid.

It was a fun relaxing day.  My husband, Mike, was a first timer to the picnic and enjoyed himself and got a chuckle at how well behaved the corgis were with such a large gathering.  We also liked the portable pens the dogs had to rest in , they seemed relaxed and calm as they sat in their collapsible pens under the shade trees Collapsible portable dog pen --Amazon. 

We had a wonderful time may not go every year but will def. go again.  Really enjoyed the day and the dogs. 

HELLO, GOOD-BYE, FAREWELL, CONGRATS...SO MUCH TO DO SO LITTLE TIME

Our Son graduated Rutgers University with a BS in mechanical engineering, came home from college, celebrated his 22nd birthday, got hired to work out in Michigan and was packed up and gone 2 weeks later. We are officially empty nesters, except of course, for your 4 legged fur daughters who will stay at home with mom and dad and travel in the CMU.   People ask me if I miss my son and daughter who moved out a few months back.  I tell them," I'm been too busy cleaning out his and her bedrooms ,selling things on Face Book online yard sale sites,  downsizing and looking to earn some CMU Adventure money to feel sad ."

  Looking forward to our trip out to Michigan this summer to check out  the area where my son now lives. I've never been to Michigan, as a matter of fact when it comes to the USA I've never been a lot of places.  I have been up and down the east cost from FLA to Maine.  I  can honestly say I've been in or through every state up and down the eastern seaboard.  Never been to any states in the middle, CA once ( San Francisco for a weekend--definitely not enough time ), Colorado and Nevada out west and that is it.  I'm looking forward to getting out there and exploring the good OLE' US of A.

This trip takes us to Coatsville , PA KOA campground Coatesville, PA .  First time in a KOA. It's small and the sites are much closer together then we are used to ( the entire 4 times we've camped so far) but it is really clean, it has a family feel to it, staff are very helpful and friendly, nice pool, fenced in mini dog park and not far from major sightseeing and tourist attractions in and around the Philadelphia area. We came up here, the primary reason being the Corgi Picnic which will take place on Saturday at Hibernia Park in Coatesville, PA
www.visitpa.com/pa-bird-wildlife.../hibernia-county-park 
 --www.chesco.org/index.aspx?NID=1743. 

Our first night here we had  dinner at a tiny deli called Hoods BBQ and Deli.  The inside is nothing to look at but the food was good. Don't expect to go there and eat anything healthy I had the fish and chips platter with coleslaw and fries and Hubby had the pulled pork combo with macaroni salad, baked beans , and corn bread...( not a green in sight!) Was a good relaxing meal out.  Tomorrow, I'll start cooking in the camper.  Decided that our first night will be dine out.  With all the packing and unpacking , I need to be waited on and to distress and unwind from the whole  getting away experience.  Hoods BBQ & Deli    was good I recommend it for a quick inexpensive meal.  Close to the camp ground .

  Saturday is the Corgi Picnic.  Welsh and Cardigan corgis from Florida to Canada will be at the picnic.    Events will include meet and greet time, Hot dog eating contest which Holly will not participate in because of her delicate eco system, lunch with the humans, Reading of the Rainbow Bridge Poem to honor and celebrate those who left since the last picnic, musical hula hoops, costume parade and contest Holly is going as a Hostess Twinkie, Chiropractor for dogs seminar ( yes they do have issues with their legs, hips and spine problem for most low riders). There will be a 50/50 raffle and silent auction to benefit CorgiAid.
There are 100 families registered to this years picnic/event.   Maybe next year they will send an invitation across the big Pond to Queen Elizabeth, everyone knows what a corgi lover she is.

 

Will take photos at the picnic and share TTFN--Ta Ta for Now