This summer our family road tripped from our home in South Carolina to New England, Ontario, the Midwest, and back. Here are some of the highlights if you find yourself on a similar path and want some recommendations.
Fast Forward to Our Stops:
Hershey, PA | Southern Maine | Lakes Region of NH | Niagara Falls | Mackinac Island | Upper Peninsula of Michigan | Pasty Obsession | Wisconsin | Chicago | Cedar Point | Rock & Roll Hall of Fame | Baseball Hall of Fame
One van. One puppy. Two boys with ADHD. Podcasts for hours. Binders of DVDs. A whole lot of Nacho Cheese Doritos. Some stressful moments. Mostly good times, though!
Leg of Journey 1: Charleston, SC to Hershey, PA; 653 miles
I love chocolate and my husband is a rollercoaster aficionado. What better place to merge our interests than Hersheypark?!
We hadn't been to Hershey since a high school marching band trip way back in the mid-1990s so we were excited to see what's changed in the past 30 years.
Our family spent the entire day at the park, from opening to closing, plus two hours the night before through their Preview Plan benefit (it's free!).
My husband and our 11 year old rode all of the big rollercoasters - their favorite was Wildcat's Revenge - while our 8 year old and I enjoyed some less intense attractions, such as ZooAmerica. ZooAmerica is an 11 acre home to animals indigenous to North America and is included in Hersheypark admission. Our favorite exhibit was the playful black and brown bears.
Our other favorite attractions were the Lightning Racers, Ferris Wheel, Dry Gulch Railroad, SooperDooperLooper, and Skyrush. Unfortunately we ran out of time and did not get to explore the waterpark.
A trip to Hershey isn't complete without visiting Hershey's Chocolate World and the free-of-charge Chocolate Tour ride where you'll learn how they make their delicious treats. The tour concludes with a free sample. Hurrah!
Helpful hints:
Hersheypark does not have a dog boarding facility despite what you'll read on Reddit. We learned the hard way. Here is an amazing alternative: Alpine Kennels & Grooming. Lisa saved the day and took in our puppy! Plan ahead as they'll require a certified veterinary inspection form and vaccine records per PA state regulations.
Here's a great place to stay that is pet-friendly, clean, and just a few miles from the park: Holiday Inn Express. Free breakfast, too. Our kids loved the automatic pancake maker.
Leg of Journey 2: Hershey, PA to Ogunquit, ME; 451 miles
Our next stop was Ogunquit: my hometown in Southern Maine. Ogunquit is Abenaki for "Beautiful Place by the Sea" and that it is. I am lucky to have grown up in such a picturesque place!
Whenever I'm home, I love to walk on the Marginal Way. It's a one mile paved path along the rocky shore with great views of the beach and Perkins Cove. And it's where my husband and I got married in 2010! Now that we have kids, our walks are interspersed with exploring the tide pools for sea creatures like snails, sea urchins and starfish and wading in the freezing cold ocean water.
We hit up some other popular southern Maine spots while we were in town:
York Beach to explore the shops, play games at the beachside arcade and watch the saltwater taffy making process at The Goldenrod.
York to see the Cape Neddick Nubble Lighthouse, one of the most photographed lighthouses in the world.
Wells for The Steakhouse and my favorite meal ever: petite filet mignon - medium rare - with the house potatoes and a garden salad with parmesan peppercorn dressing & the Scoop Deck for my usual: lemon meringue pie ice cream on a sugar cone. chef's kiss
Kennebunk for bowling at Garden Street Bowl. Their food is really good, too!
Leg of Journey 3: Ogunquit, ME to Meredith, NH; 77 miles
We left our kids and puppy home with my mom while my husband and I attended our friends' wedding in the lakes region of New Hampshire. We stayed at Mills Falls at the Lake, a quaint resort on Lake Winnipesaukee that boasts multiple hotels, restaurants, shops and activities.
Our friends (shout out to Al & Michelle!) were married at the beautiful Castle in the Clouds, a restored mansion that overlooks the lake and mountains. What an incredible venue! Castle in the Clouds is open for tours, dining, community events and hiking. Beware of the bear, though: we saw one during the reception!
We stopped at one of my favorite swimming spots on the drive back to Maine: Ellacoya State Park in Gilford. The park is only a few miles from BankNH Pavilion, a cool outdoor venue that attracts some big name performers. Summer 2024's lineup includes Dave Matthews Band, Chris Stapleton and NKOTB, to name a few.
New Hampshire has 22 state parks that feature alligator-free swimming! That's a treat for this Carolina Girl. My other favorites are White Lake State Park in Tamworth, Wentworth State Park in Wolfeboro and Jenness State Beach in Rye.
Leg of Journey 4: Meredith, NH to Niagara Falls, Ontario; 490 miles
We picked up the boys from my mom's house and started in on the bulk of our road trip. My mom was kind enough to babysit our puppy during this portion of our trip. Thanks, Mom!
This leg of the journey included visits with friends we hadn't seen in years, so it was extra special.
We stopped in Brattleboro, Vermont to have lunch with my close friend from undergrad (hey Amanda!) and her parents (who were celebrating their wedding anniversary that day - congrats Geno & Melissa!). I love Vermont for its crystal clear rocky rivers. We stopped along the way to wade in one.
We continued along the rolling green hills of Vermont to Slingerlands, New York to stay a few nights with my husband's good friend from college (hi Gabrielle!). It was fun introducing all of our kids - they got along great. The kids entertained each other so we could have adult conversations over wine. Perfecto!
Catching up with our friends was good for the soul and my favorite part of our trip. I recommend booking visits with your friends wherever you go!
On to Niagara Falls!
We drove across the rest of upstate NY to Ontario, Canada to stay at the falls over the 4th of July holiday for two nights.
I have fond memories of visiting Niagara with my family when I was 9. I was captivated by the sheer magnitude of it and the fact that people had gone over and survived the ordeal. I remember spending hours watching the water rush over, mesmerized by the power and potential danger. I felt awe and fear and joy. I felt the same way this time around as a 44 year old.
My boys - not so much. Maybe it's their ADHD. Maybe it's because they're iPad kids. Maybe it's because they are boys. Whatever the reason, they weren't as enthralled as 9 year old or 44 year old me.
They said they thought it was cool, but that's about it. After leaving Niagara Falls, I asked them what their highlight was and both agreed it was Clifton Hill. Are you f***ing kidding me?! It's basically the Myrtle Beach of Niagara Falls. So tacky.
Things I Thought Were Incredibly Cool at Niagara Falls:
Journey Behind the Falls - Explore tunnels that bring you literally behind the Horseshoe Falls. So dramatic!
Niagara City Cruises - I recommend booking a nighttime one during a fireworks show.
White Water Walk - This quarter mile boardwalk lets you stroll along the Niagara River and it's Class 6 rapids.
WEGO Bus System - Very affordable and easy way to get around town. Leave your car at the hotel and catch the bus.
The view from this IHOP at 6732 Fallsview Blvd. It only gets 2 out of 5 stars and the prices are outrageous, but the view is totally worth it.
Smoke's Poutinerie - When in Canada, order poutine! Soooo good.
Leg of Journey 5: Niagara Falls, Ontario to Mackinac Island, MI; 485 miles
We drove through Canada to get to a state none of us had been to before: Michigan! We picked up our good friends in Saginaw, headed north to St. Ignace and took a ferry past the Mackinac Bridge to Mackinac Island for the afternoon.
I've always heard that Mackinac Island is a special place: no motorized vehicles, horse-drawn carriages, beautiful flowers, unique boutiques, and lots of fudge shops. Mackinac definitely lived up to its hype: what a charming, old fashioned island!
Apparently we visited during high tourist season because the place was swamped with people on bike rentals. It was crowded but it added to the festive vibe. We were all sugared up on a lot of free fudge samples so we were there for it!
We escaped the hustle and bustle of downtown by walking through some of the forested state park that brought us by Skull Cave and the stunning Arch Rock, a 50 foot wide rock formation that towers above the tropical-looking turquoise waters of Lake Huron.
Pro tip: To get to Arch Rock you can either climb an extremely long, exhausting set of stairs or take the roundabout route that's much more gradual, but covered with horse droppings. Pick your poison. We picked the gradual/horse poop route.
Mackinac Island is a place my husband and I would like to come back to, sans kids, for a relaxing vacation. I'd love to stay at the iconic Grand Hotel and spend hours sipping cocktails on their expansive porch. Someday we'll get back there!
Leg of Journey 6: Michigan's Upper Peninsula; 300 Miles
Michigan's Upper Peninsula is another spot I'd heard good things about so we had to check it out. We rented an Airbnb (this spacious A-frame) for three nights in Munising with our native Michigander friends, Regan & Vince. Munising is a small town along the shores of Lake Superior and the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.
Pictured Rocks is breathtaking - a landscape of colorful sandstone rock formations all along the shoreline. We decided to explore from the water via tandem kayaks. We booked a 5 hour, 5 mile kayaking tour through Pictured Rocks Kayaking. It was spendy but absolutely worth it!
We were able to paddle in and out of caves and were close enough to cliffs to observe their unique layers of color left by metal and mineral deposits. Each group of kayaks was assigned a tour guide for educational and safety purposes. The tour boat followed us the whole way and could've picked us up for a break had we needed one. And the boat had restrooms!
I'm glad we were in tandem kayaks because our kids pooped out around mile 1.5 so we were able to continue on without their paddling "help".
What a gorgeous place!
Our family really leaned into the UP (Yooper) food culture! We dined on pasty (rhymes with nasty) no less than five times. A pasty is basically a hand pie filled with meat and vegetables, either served with ketchup or gravy, depending on who you ask. And when you ask, you'll see that this preference is deeply ingrained in that particular Yooper. (I'm a gravy girl, btw.) Pasties are popular in the UP because of its mining history; they were an easy, portable, handheld, all-in-one warm meal for men working in the mines.
The most aesthetically pleasing pasty was this one with the black bear motif from The Bear Trap Inn in Shingleton. However, the best tasting one was from Miner's Pasties and Ice Cream in Munising. I stuck with the tried and true classic pasty throughout our trip: beef with rutabaga, onion, and potato and it was amazing.
I love that Miner's shreds its root vegetables versus cuts them into chunks. It made for a better pasty, IMO. The third picture is from The Bear Trap Inn: dessert pasties in blueberry and strawberry rhubarb. Yum! I don't have photographic evidence of the other three or four we ate because we demolished them too fast.
One last word about pasties. Check out this guy's blog. He is my new hero: The Pasty Guy. Next summer I'd like to follow his Pasty Trail I & II for our summer road trip.
Other things we did in the UP when we weren't eating pasties:
Swimming in the freezing cold (58 degrees!) crystal clear water of Lake Superior at Sand Point Beach in Munising.
Stargazing at night - we saw the Milky Way! The UP has a lot less light pollution than we're accustomed to in Charleston. ⭐
Shopping along the streets of downtown Marquette. This little city gave us funky Asheville, NC vibes! We also stopped to take a selfie at the Marquette mural during a rainstorm.
Wine, beer and liquor tasting at Munising's Upper Peninsula Inspired wine shop.
Spent good quality time with our dear friends who we hadn't seen in nine years! This is another plug for connecting with friends on the road - it's the best. ❤
Although we ran out of time, we'd have liked to check out some of the many waterfalls in the Pictured Rocks region, the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum in Paradise, and this Glass Bottom Shipwreck Tour out of Munising. And all the pasties, obviously.
Trivia Fact: Gordon Lightfoot's song "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" details the actual wreck of the freighter ship Edmund Fitzgerald in Lake Superior on November 10, 1975. Listen close to his words and you'll learn all about it and the 29 crew members who died.
Leg of Journey 7: Munising, MI to Chicago, IL; 380 miles
My husband, the spontaneous man that he is, suggested we take a different route than I had planned. Instead of backtracking through Michigan, he suggested heading due south to Chicago. I said "hell yeah!" as Chicago is my favorite big city!
We drove south along Lake Michigan into Wisconsin, another state none of us had been to before. The farmland of Wisconsin was picturesque and felt very midwestern to this east coast girl. Obviously we stopped for cheese at a local farm and were poppin' curds the whole way to the Windy City. We also stopped in Green Bay for my husband to have his picture taken at some sporting arena. Football, I think it was....
Shout out to Priceline for a great last minute deal at the Hyatt Regency Chicago. This hotel is located in the heart of downtown, on the river and walkable to a lot of interesting spots. It was clean, modern, and had great views of the city skyline.
We only spent 22 hours in Chicago. Here's a quick rundown of what we did:
Dinner at Lou Malnati's Pizzeria for Chicago deep dish. Our kids were thrilled - more thrilled than they were by Niagara Falls. What?!
Visited Millennium Park for Cloud Gate (The Bean), Crown Fountain, and Jay Pritzker Pavilion.
Ate Garrett Popcorn - the Garrett Mix. Yum.
Hung out at Navy Pier.
Went on this speedboat architecture cruise.
Had an Italian beef sandwich at Al's Beef because that's what they make on The Bear and I think Jeremy Allen White is hot as hell, even before he wore those Calvin Klein skivvies.
I wish we had had more time for these places (which I've visited on past trips to Chicago):
Shedd Aquarium - love those belugas!
Lincoln Park Zoo - it's free!
Observation deck at Willis Tower (aka Sears Tower)
Leg of Journey 8: Chicago, IL to Sandusky, OH; 292 miles
Full on Italian beef, we left Chicago and drove to Sandusky, Ohio: home of Cedar Point amusement park. This was the part of our trip my husband was most looking forward to. Riding the roller coasters at Cedar Point has been on his bucket list since he was a kid! Cedar Point has been around for 150 years and boasts some of the most thrilling rides in the world.
However, I just about fainted when I saw the price he paid for our admission. The base ticket was around $40 (okay, that's what I expected) but then he upgraded me and the kids to Fast Lane ($125 EACH!) and himself to Fast Lane Plus ($180 MORE!). And that's on top of the admission ticket. OMG.
I'd been trying really, really hard not to be a cheap b*tch on our road trip.
Out of the two of us, I'm the thrifty one. I like a good deal, okay?! I was angry about the Fast Lanes cost when we first arrived but I grew to realize its value. We never had to wait in a line! We were able to maximize our one day at Cedar Point by riding anything and everything we wanted. We opened the park at 10 AM and closed it down at 10 PM having done every attraction available.
The initial sticker shock was painful but worth it in the end as we'll probably never go back to Cedar Point. It was a once in a lifetime visit for us so why not make it the best experience it could be?
Our favorite things about Cedar Point:
It's located directly on Lake Erie - so beautiful! Ride the beachside Ferris wheel and take in the view.
The park is very clean and the rides appear in good condition.
My favorite ride: Skyhawk swing - terrifying yet exhilarating!
Husband's favorite ride: Steel Vengeance roller coaster, followed by Millennium Force roller coaster
11 year old's favorite ride: Gatekeeper roller coaster
8 year old's favorite ride: Gemini roller coaster
The food at the park was actually pretty good. Invest in the All Day Dining Plan & Drink Wristband to simplify your life and save a little money. This allows for a meal every 90 minutes and a fountain drink every 15 minutes. The nacho bar at the Grand Pavilion and the chicken pot pie at The Farmhouse Kitchen were better than we expected.
A great place to stay:
South Shore Inn: We highly recommend this gem of a motel. It's small, clean and just a few minutes from the park. It's nothing fancy but has a great courtyard pool with slides and a good free breakfast. I like that it's independently owned and not a chain.
Leg of Journey 9: Sandusky, OH back to Ogunquit, ME; 765 miles
Cleveland's Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
We drove to Cleveland for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and boy, I'm glad we did! We thought we'd only be there for an hour - an hour and a half tops - but we ended up staying for four! My husband got his exercise running back and forth to feed the parking meter.
Where do I even start?!
We started on Level 0 in the featured exhibit area: Holla If Ya Hear Me: Hip Hop at 50. My husband is a big hip hop fan so he loved learning about these pioneering artists who created the genre. They had instruments, photographs, lyrics from notebooks, and clothing on display. There was a turn table that we had to drag our eight year old away from; he could've played with that all day.
Level 0 contains the bulk of the museum's exhibits such as the Roots of Rock, the Legends of Rock, Revolutionary Women In Music and Cities & Sounds. I enjoyed reading about and hearing some of my favorite rock 'n roll artists: Elvis, the Beatles, Elton John and Billy Joel.
Level 2 was our favorite floor of all: The Garage. The Garage contains a lot of different instruments to try out (guitar, bass, drums, piano, keyboard, etc.) and a lounge for jamming with the house band. My husband played guitar and I sang lead on Green Day's Basket Case with the house band. I'd guess around 50 or 60 people saw us. Did I mention we're not shy?! Our boys were obsessed with trying out all of the different instruments, particularly the drum kits.
Level 3 was another highlight: The Hall of Fame and the Power of Rock Experience show. The show was particularly moving - a 15 minute documentary showcasing many of the inductees jamming out hard. The end of the documentary shows Prince playing the Beatles' While My Guitar Gently Weeps and I was weeping myself. Ahhhmazing.
I won't detail everything here but Levels 4, 5 and 6 were equally as entertaining.
If you're ever in Cleveland: go to this museum! If you love rock 'n roll: book a trip there, ASAP.
Cooperstown's National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
After leaving Cleveland we drove alongside Lake Erie past Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse to Cooperstown, New York. Cooperstown in a small, quaint town in the middle of nowhere and home to the Baseball Hall of Fame.
I have fond memories of visiting Cooperstown with my family way back when, probably on our way back from Niagara Falls. My dad was a huge baseball fan (Go Red Sox!) so he loved that place.
Our kids enjoyed the Baseball Hall of Fame, but they thought it was less interesting than the busy, colorful, loud and playful Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. They were hoping for some interactive exhibits where they could swing bats and throw balls.
A few summers ago we went to the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory in Kentucky (check out that trip here) and they loved the interactive nature of it. The Baseball Hall of Fame was more reading/looking and less moving/playing. Our busy boys are definitely more drawn to the latter!
My husband and I enjoyed the Baseball Hall of Fame for its history, memorabilia, stories and photographs of stadiums, players and Americana. It may be a place that appeals more to the older generations who are less dependent on high tech exhibits. My Generation X may be showing but I love a calm, quiet, heavy-on-the-placards museum. It's probably not stimulating or screen-heavy enough for the Generation Z and Alpha kids.
Back to Maine
Eventually we made our way back to Maine and reunited with my mom and our puppy. We spent another week enjoying the cool summer weather, at least compared to what it would be in South Carolina.
We hung out with family and friends and celebrated my birthday with a pool party, Fireball shots and Dueling Drag Divas at Mainestreet Ogunquit!
Leg of Journey 10: Back home to Charleston; 1,050 miles
We began our journey back home about four weeks after we had left. We didn't have any stops or an agenda planned for the return trip as we were all really tired!
Instead of taking Route 95 South, as we'd normally do, we chose a more scenic route that avoided big cities like Boston, New York, Philly, DC and Baltimore. We took Route 81 South through upstate New York, Pennsylvania, into Maryland for like ten minutes and through West Virginia, which none of us had been to before. Another state checked off our list!
We spent the night in Staunton, Virginia at a really disgusting Days Inn. Don't stay there!
Aside from the gross motel, our return trip was pleasant. We enjoyed some beautiful scenery - rolling hills, the Blue Ridge Mountains and lots of farmland. We cheered when we crossed into North Carolina and cheered some more when we made it to South Carolina!
During our month away we accumulated more than 5,000 miles on our odometer, visited 18 states and one Canadian province, saw a lot of people who are special to us, and made some incredible memories as a family. I'm ready to do it all over again next summer!
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