Good Cheesy Fun at the Aluminum Tree and Ornament Museum: ATOM

It is good to be a little silly during the holidays and the folks at the Aluminum Tree and Ornament Museum (ATOM) in Brevard, NC may have one of the wackiest museums around.

 

Staying at the Sunset Motel in Brevard, NC

The classic motor lodge is slowly going extinct so it is nice to find one still surviving in small town America. We checked in to the Sunset Motel in Brevard, NC while we were doing some house hunting in WNC.

Visit the Haines Shoe House for Ice Cream

One of our favorite places to stop for ice cream is the Haines Shoe House near York, PA. Since this was the last weekend of the season we did the roadtrip for our last ice cream fix until it reopens in the Spring next year. We joined up with my sister for this outing which made it even a little more special.

The Return of Pezylvania

Pezylvania has returned to Renninger's Antique and Farmer's Market. Ralph Riovo, founder of PEZylvania, held the first PEZylvania gathering in October of 2007. After his passing in 2012, the gathering took a little break but it is back now as strong as ever. Visiting this small gathering of PEZHeads is a great way to spend a fall day in Berks County, PA. The event also raises funds for the Animal Rescue League of Berks County, Inc (ARL).

Why own a Flamethrower? Because you can!

It finally arrived! We were one of the first to pony up the funds for The Ion Production Team's IndieGoGo campaign for their XM42 Handheld Flamethrower. This crazy piece of hardware has awesome giggle potential; we couldn't stop laughing from the moment we squeezed the trigger.

Here Kitty, Kitty! A Trip to the National Capital Cat Show

We took some time out from our busy schedules to visit the National Capital Cat Show at the Dulles Expo Center in Chantilly, Virginia. Nearly 400 cats competed in this weekend long event. This year's featured breeds were the Cornish Rex and the Himalayan. We snapped a bunch of photos for you to enjoy of the different cats.

Traveling to the Whoopie Pie Festival in Lancaster, PA

Have you ever had one of those cream filled treats known as a whoopie pie? Did you know there is a festival dedicated to the sweet little cake? The Whoopie Pie Festival is held every year in Lancaster county at the Hershey Farm Restaurant and Inn. Over 100 different varieties can be purchased during the event!

White Post Restorations 75th Anniversary Car Show

It's not often a business remains open for 75 years so when White Post Restorations marked that milestone off on the calendar it was time to celebrate. The entire town of White Post, VA turned out to help with the open house and car show. There were tons of things to see and do at this wonderful event.

Don't Take Life Too Seriously

Don't take life so seriously.  If you want to dye your beard blue then go ahead and do it!

Chesapeake Bay Insulators Club Show at the Roundhouse

The Chesapeake Bay Insulator Club picked a fantastic location for their 16th Annual Shenandoah Valley Insulator Show. The former B&O Roundhouse in Martinsburg, WV hosted the event. The spacious roundhouse allowed the vendors to spread out and everyone to explore. Peg picked up a few things for her collection and I was happy for any excuse to visit this wonderful old building.

Shopping at the West Side Market in Cleveland, Ohio

If you are looking for something to do in Cleveland, Ohio check out the West Side Market. Built in 1912 it is Cleveland’s oldest continuously operating municipally owned market. It's a great place to purchase such items as flowers, fruits, vegetables, nuts, meats, pasta, pierogies, gyros, baked goods, and more. If you are in the city, do yourself a favor and check it out.

Road Trip: Great Lakes Science Center

We were on the road and decided to check out the Great Lakes Science Center in Cleveland, Ohio. This is a great place for children and the young at heart. You are sure to find something to entertaining here. The exhibits change frequently so check their website to see what's happening before you go.

Having a Good Time on the Maryland Ice Cream Trail

Sometimes you just need the right reason to take a road trip. The Maryland's Best Ice Cream Trail is one such reason. Pick up your passport at your first stop, answer a question related to Maryland's dairy industry, and get your passport stamped. Think of it as a scavenger hunt to try some of the best ice cream Maryland dairies have to offer. Once you get all your stamps you can enter to be named "Maryland's 2015 Ice Cream Trail Blazer" by mailing in your completed passport. We took on the extra challenge of visiting all eight dairies in a single weekend.

Taking a Ride Behind the Norfolk & Western Class J 611 Steam Locomotive

The crew at Bubba's Garage was lucky enough to take a ride behind the N&W Class J 611 steam passenger locomotive on one of its first outings after being recently restored. The garage donated to the "Fire Up 611" campaign and we were eager to take a ride to see where our money was used. My heart was pounding with excitement as this beautiful steam train pulled in to the station. The Manassas Depot, built in 1914, makes a great backdrop for the steam locomotive. We all hopped aboard for "The American" from Manassas, VA to Front Royal, VA on an early June morning for the 100 mile excursion.

Road Trip: Visiting the Virginia Museum of Transportation in Roanoke, VA

While driving up I-81 near Roanoke, VA we decided to pop on over to the nearby Virginia Museum of Transportation to see what they had to offer. The museum has been housed in the former, 1918 vintage, N&W freight station since 1985 when flood waters destroyed their previous location. It occupies 5.75 acres in downtown Roanoke.

Strolling the Grounds of the Biltmore House and Gardens

Walking the grounds of the Biltmore House and Gardens, in Asheville, NC,  is an enjoyable experience. There are acres and acres of grounds to cover on well maintained trails. The house itself is beautiful and even if you travel outside of the blooming season, as we did on this warm afternoon in late May, you should be able to find something in the gardens to interest yourself.

Have you ever seen a White Squirrel? Visit Brevard, NC!

You can see white squirrels in Brevard, North Carolina! We aren't talking about albino squirrels with their pink eyes but honest to goodness white squirrels. Peg and I have looked for white squirrels in other cities that claim to have the cute critters but have never had any luck finding them until now.

Exploring the NC Transportation Museum and the N&W 611

Are you into trains?  How about vintage automobiles? You can find them both at the North Carolina Transportation Museum in Spencer, NC.  The museum is housed in multiple buildings and covers 57 acres at the former Spencer Shops. The Spencer Shops was once Southern Railroad's largest steam locomotive repair facility on the east coast.

Steam Engine Returns to Walkersville Southern Railroad

Just outside of Frederick, Maryland is a small railroad run by mostly volunteers. The tracks were once part of the Pennsylvania Railroad and later part of the Penn Central Railway. Bankruptcy and the destruction of a bridge over the Monocacy River by hurricane Agnes left the tracks abandoned in 1972. In 1991 the Walkersville Southern Railroad was formed and by 1995 trains were once again running on the Walkersville-Frederick line. While the WSRR normally runs diesel locomotives we were there for steam!

Arsenal of Democracy Flyover - Warbirds Over Washngton, DC

A once in a lifetime event happened on Friday, May 8, 2015, in the skies over Washington, DC. World War II vintage warbirds assembled in 15 groups to honor the 70th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day as they flew over the National Mall. The formations represented the major battles of WWII. I took the day off to experience the Arsenal of Democracy Flyover and to be able to share some aircraft photos with you from my location near the WWII Memorial.

Things to do in PA - Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania

The Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania is packed full of history dealing with railroading in Pennsylvania. You can browse the more than 100 locomotives and railroad cars on their 18 acres in Strasburg, PA. The museum first opened in 1975 and is owned and operated by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. They do a good job of education and preservation at their museum.

The Haines Shoe House - A Curious Place near the Lincoln Highway

If you are ever driving the Lincoln Highway (state route 462) or Rt 30 outside of York, PA be sure to stop for some ice cream at the Haines Shoe House. Located at 195 Shoe House Rd in Hallam, PA, it was built by Colonel Mahlon Nathaniel Haines in 1948 as an advertisement for his over 40 Maryland and Pennsylvania shoe stores.

A Trip to Sleepy Hollow Cemetery and the Old Dutch Church

The recent Sleepy Hollow TV series on the FOX network got us interested in visiting the town of Sleepy Hollow in New York. We decided that we should make a road trip to the Old Dutch Church which inspired Washington Irving to write The Legend of Sleepy Hollow for which the TV series is based on. Right next to the Old Dutch Burying Ground is the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery where Washington Irving is buried.

What's at the PEZ Vistor Center and Factory?

I LOVE PEZ, and a tour of the factory is the collector's dream come true. I was able to realize this dream a few years ago when PEZ opened their Visitor Center and the Northeast PEZ Convention hosted a bus trip there with an exclusive tour of the factory! This year they did it once again  and added a PIZZA party. A single bus full of collectors arrived on a lovely Thursday afternoon just in time for a pizza party in the upstairs loft of the factory.

A Trip to the Barker Character, Comic and Cartoon Museum

Wouldn't you like to visit a museum dedicated to cartoon characters from 1873 to the present? We did just that on a recent trip sponsored by the NorthEast PEZ Convention. The Barker Character, Comic and Cartoon Museum is located in Cheshire, Connecticut and houses the personal collection of Gloria and Herbert Barker.

Fighting Canker Worms with Aerial Spraying by Helicopter in Shannondale

The fight to stop the defoliation of Shannondale, WV by cankerworms, better known as inch worms, took to the skies this morning.  The Shannondale Gypsy Moth Committee hired Helicopter Applicators Inc. (HAI) out of Gettysburg, PA to do the actual application to the area. They used Foray 48B Btk which is a bacterium that only affects caterpillars and will not harm other types of insects, fish, birds or mammals.

Spending a Saturday Morning at Sled Fest

We once again made the road trip to Duncannon, PA for Sled Fest.  This show has grown to capacity in just a few short years. It is held near the Old Sled Works which was the home to the Lightning Guider manufacturing facility. The show is opened to all pre '72 vehicles but if you want a parking spot plan on being there early. The Hooligans Car Club does a good job of parking cars to maximize the use of the small lot.

A Visit to The Martinsburg Roundhouse Center

If you want to visit the Martinsburg Roundhouse Center in Martinsburg, West Virginia you can currently do so by appointment only. We were the only ones on the Saturday visit that my wife had arranged. This gave us plenty of time to explore and photograph the large former B&O railroad complex. Our two guides for the morning were Bill Taylor, a former Martinsburg B&O roundhouse employee, and Stedman Howard, Chairman of the Berkley County Roundhouse Authority. The Berkley County Roundhouse Authority has done a great job so far in trying to restore the facility into a usable space. Compare photos from 2001 to today to see the difference.

Getting Some Sweet Goodness at the PA Maple Festival

There is nothing like a small town festival to escape the hustle and bustle of city life. A place where it feels like the entire town turns out to help. The Pennsylvania Maple Festival in Meyersdale, PA is just such an event. If you look at any one thing about the festival it might not seem worth the effort to visit but once you add everything together you get something pretty special.

Photos from the Sugarloaf Mountain Region AACA Swap Meet

We braved the bitter cold and snow squalls to do some shopping at the Sugarloaf Mountain Region AACA Swap Meet. Held at the Carroll County Agriculture Center, this swap meet is now in its 45th year.

Garage Art at the Mason-Dixon Gas, Oil, Automotive and Advertising Swap Meet

If you are anything like us you are always looking for things to decorate your garage walls. One good place to do that is at the annual Mason Dixon Gas, Oil, Automotive and Advertising Swap Meet in Frederick, Maryland. Held at the Frederick Fairgrounds, this swap meet (also known as the Mason-Dixon Automobilia and Petroliana swap meet) allows you to shop vintage garage collectibles for free.

Looking for Spring at the Philadelphia Flower Show

You know spring is just around the corner when the Philadelphia Flower Show opens its doors at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. The show is produced by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS), which was founded in 1827, and attracts gardeners from around the world to gaze at the beautiful displays. Each year a theme is chosen and this year it was "Celebrate the Movies!"

Classics at Atlantic City - An Auction, Car Show, and Swap Meet

The Bubba's Garage crew piled into the car to make a road trip out to Atlantic City, NJ for GPK Auction's Atlantic City Classics Car Show and Auction. While we didn't register as a bidder we figured we would at least see what was going on and maybe pick up a project from the car corral.

PEZ Collecting - Feeding the Obsession

PEZ has been around since way before my time. It started in Vienna, Austria as a breath mint for adults in 1927. The name came from the first, middle and last letter of the German word for peppermint - PfeffErminZ. My obsession started in the last century, with a 'PEZ Collectors Starter Kit' my hubby brought home from a holiday gift exchange at work.

Grabbing Lunch at the Reading Terminal Market

Located just across the street from the Philadelphia Convention Center is one of the best places to get lunch or pick-up some munchies for a road trip. The Reading Terminal Market has been open since 1892 and is now owned by the Convention Center. There is a large variety of vendors who sell at the market. If you have the patience to stand in the large lines you can get a cheesesteak from Carmen’s Famous Italian Hoagies & Cheesesteaks or maybe a hand-carved pastrami sandwich from Hershel’s East Side Deli. Don't like the lines? Sneak to the back of the market to have yourself the best grilled cheese sandwich in the state at Valley Shepherd Creamery & Meltkraft Grilled Cheese. Make sure you try it fried in duck fat!  Yum.

Old and New Meet at the Philadelphia Auto Show

More than 700 vehicles were spread out in the 700,000 square feet of the Pennsylvania Convention Center. While most people were there to see what the latest offerings from the major auto manufacturers were, vintage cars were also on hand from different museums as well as customs from the DUB Show and Carlisle Events.

Photos from World of Wheels Car Show in Pittsburgh

The crowds lined up for the 54th Annual World of Wheels, held at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and we were there to record the action for you. The $16 general admission fee gave you access to hundreds of cars, trucks, and motorcycles plus a few celebrities as a bonus.