Vacation with kids Part 1

So, I haven't been blogging because I have actually been on vacation since Sunday.  We spent almost three days in Amish Country, Lancaster, PA, taking in the local scenery, taking a bus tour, a pretzel factory tour, a buggy tour and some general sight seeing.  The Amish countryside is lovely and peaceful and I'm not sure that the novelty of seeing horses and carriages would ever wear off for me.

Our hotel was not so nice.  We stayed at a Howard Johnson's with an indoor waterpark.  We were to have a queen bed and a pull out sofa for the kids.  The kids actually had a pullout mini loveseat, which scarcely had enough room for them and our queen bed should have been called a queen bed of bricks.  I was generally awake before dawn with my back killing me. 

The waterpark was nice, but $10 a day per person, and it didn't matter if you swam or not.  Though there were places to sit and even tables upstairs, you had to pay to enter.  Stupid. 

The kids have actually been pretty good albeit a little high strung.  Overall though, it has been nice to get away.  We left Lancaster this morning and are currently just inside New Jersey and tomorrow we explore New Hope, PA.  It looked interesting on the internet and we were able to get reservations for two nights at a Marriott.  Much nicer room, double the size of the last one, with two queen beds that actually give a bit when you sit down.  Oh and free coffee in the lobby...mocha, yum. 

Our Marriott stay began with a fire alarm going off while we were in the lobby having some warm drinks, when suddenly all the lights went out and this high pitched annoying alarm began to sound...it sounded for about ten minutes in total, but what was really interesting is that for the first five minutes of it, no one told us to do anything.  Not get out, or stay calm or run for our lives.  So we just sat there until some guy who just looked like a hotel guest (nothing setting him apart as a hotel employee).  Apparently, it was just a power outage, though no one shared that information with us for about ten minutes.  Glad it wasn't a bomb scare as there was no sense of urgency on the part of any employee. 

What has really been interesting here in NJ is how different it feels after a couple of days in Lancaster.  I miss the animals (sheep, goats, horses, cats...dang, I miss my cats!), and the rolling fields and the buggies and all the amish furniture stores.  With kids, you don't get to shop much, but I did shop in passing as we drove by stores.  Not quite the same, but you do get part of the local flavor. 

I'll let you know how New Hope is!  Hope everyone is well!  We'll be home before the weekend!