Video of Trip Pictures

This is a video of pictures from our trip in chronological order. It is about 1/6 of the pictures we took. We hope you enjoy it. We will be sharing our pictures this Sunday evening (August 1) at 6:00 pm at Northside Baptist Church. Come join our family as we share about our trip - bring a snack to share!

Trip Recap

Trip Data

Miles travelled = 5,387.2 (about 235 miles or 4 hours per day)

Money spent = $2,751 (about $17.09 per person per day for lodging, transportation, food and entrance to attractions; not included are souvenirs) - for those of you wondering how a pastoral family of 7 can even afford that, we saved for it and used our tax return (with child tax credit) to cover the cost

Lowest elevation = 0 ft. above sea level in Pine Point, ME (we stepped in Atlantic Ocean)

Highest elevation = 6,283 ft. above sea level in Mount Washington, NH (same day as 0 ft above)

Farthest North = Lancaster, NH

Farthest South = Saint Petersburg, FL

Farthest East = Pine Point, ME

Farthest West = Saint Petersburg, FL

States Visited = 18 (Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Rhode Island, Ohio, West Virginia)

Non-States Visited = 2 (Washington, DC and Ontario)

Number of National Monuments/Parks = 29 (Ft. Sumter, Ft. Moultrie, Jamestown, Yorktown, Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania, Ford's Theatre, Old Post Office Tower, 56 Signers of the Declaration of Independence Memorial, Vietnam War Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, World War II Memorial, White House Visitor's Center, Jefferson Memorial, Ft. McHenry, Gettysburg, Independence Hall, Castle Clinton, Liberty Island, Ellis Island, Steamtown USA, Old North Bridge, Lexington Battle Green, Bunker Hill, USS Constitution, Roger Williams' House, Antietam, Appomattox Court House, Ft. Frederica)

Number of Other Monuments/Parks = 11 (Mount Vernon, Marine Crops War Memorial, Arlington National Cemetery, US Holocaust Memorial Museum, Betsy Ross' House, Benjamin Franklin's House, Washington's Crossing, Amistad Memorial, Salem Witch Trial Memorial, Boston Freedom Trail, Monticello)

Number of Other Attractions = 17 (National Archives, US Capitol, Supreme Court, Library of Congress, Smithsonian - American Indian, Smithsonian - Air and Space, Smithsonian - Natural History, Smithsonian - American History, Smithsonian - Castle, Bureau of Engraving and Printing, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia Mint, Empire State Building, Mount Washington, Plymouth Rock, Mayflower II, Niagara Falls, Heinz Field)

State Capitals Driven Through = 6 (Richmond, Trenton, Hartford, Boston, Providence, Albany)

Favorite Attraction - something you saw

Tim = My kids wandering around Grandma and Grandpa Kroll's farm
Lisa = Ford's Theatre
Makenzie = Gettysburg (cyclorama)

Makaylah = Maid of the Mist

Jordan = Heinz Field and PNC Park

Jariah = Gettysburg (army activity)

Jedidiah = Washington DC

Least Favorite Attraction - something you saw

Tim = Washington's Crossing

Lisa = Amistad Memorial (because we didn't get to really see it)

Makenzie = Heinz Field

Makaylah = Heinz Field

Jordan = Ellis Island

Jariah = Gettysburg (weird hat)

Jedidiah = a squirrel

Favorite Event - something you did

Tim = 25th High School Reunion

Lisa = Saw family

Makenzie = Riding cousin Jerry's ATV

Makaylah = Green Valley Book Fair

Jordan = Riding cousin Jerry's ATV

Jariah = Riding cousin Jerry's ATV

Jedidiah = Riding cousin Jerry's ATV

Least Favorite Event - something you did

Tim = Driving about 5,100 miles of the trip

Lisa = Driving/riding for so many miles

Makenzie = Walking around Washington DC

Makaylah = Walking up stairs into Crown of Statue of Liberty

Jordan = Walking through Washington DC

Jariah = All the time spent while driving in the mini-van

Jedidiah = 

Favorite Hotel

Tim = Marriott in Woburn, MA (hot breakfast/cookies/suite)

Lisa = Marriott in Woburn, MA (hot breakfast/cookies/suite)

Makenzie = Holiday Inn Express in Middleboro, MA (cinnamon rolls)

Makaylah = Holiday Inn Express in Middleboro, MA (cinnamon rolls)

Jordan = All the relative's houses

Jariah = Holiday Inn Express in Middleboro, MA (cinnamon rolls)

Jedidiah = Marriott in Stafford, VA (cool pool toys)

Least Favorite Hotel

Tim = Quality Inn in Greenfield, MA

Lisa = Days Inn in Washington DC (small room/one bed)

Makenzie = Days Inn in Washington DC (small room/one bed)

Makaylah = Days Inn in Washington DC (small room/one bed)

Jordan = Days Inn in Washington DC (small room/one bed)

Jariah = None

Jedidiah = La Quinta in Savannah, GA (no pool)

Favorite Restaurant

Tim = Clambake in Pine Point, ME

Lisa = Bull & Finch ("Cheers")

Makenzie = None

Makaylah = Bull & Finch ("Cheers")

Jordan = Bull & Finch ("Cheers")

Jariah = Family Cupboard in Bird-in-the-hand, PA

Jedidiah = Bull & Finch ("Cheers")

Least Favorite Restaurant

Tim = None

Lisa = Burger King

Makenzie = None

Makaylah = McDonald's

Jordan = None

Jariah = Seafood place 

Jedidiah = KFC

Dad's Recommendation - for those considering such a trip (some repeated from last year)

1. Get a National Park Annual Pass. They are only $80 and you can get your use out of them at a lot of places. (29 parks for us x 7 people = about 40 cents a person per park)

2. If you got to a National Park, checkout the Junior Ranger program. It is different in each park and easier in some than others but it really helps the kids learn about the park. (Our boys got 18 badges this year and we all learned a lot)

3. WiFi is a must-have hotel amenity. A pool is nice but not necessary if you are going to arrive late and leave early.

4. If you got more than 4 people, throw in a sleeping bag (or 3) into the car so you can get 1 room - save your money for attractions.

5. Arrive early and at least just before the park/site opens. There are few people that do and there is far less traffic (cars and people).

6. Take a cooler for the car and keep drinks (juice boxes, sodas, etc.) in it and have a good water bottle for each person. Take snacks so you can "refuel" on the road.

7. Get a portable DVD player (and car mount) so you can entertain for hours on the road. (If anyone needs one, we can loan you ours)

8. A hot breakfast (free) at the hotel is great but most continental breakfasts will do well at filling you up as well.

9. Print maps and directions before you go but also take a GPS. The printed maps will give you good information that sometimes the GPS won't but a good GPS will walk you through the "steps" ahead and will let you search the area for a restaurant.

10. You don't need to take as many clothes as you think. Over half of our hotels had laundry facilities. All of our clothes fit into 1 suitcase. We only took 3 changes of clothes per person and did fine.

11. Download or backup your pictures each night while you are recharging your camera batteries.

12. Remember you are taking the vacation to be with the very people on the trip that are driving you nuts. Remind yourself as often as it takes for you to enjoy the trip and for them to enjoy the trip. Being with them at the sites is the best part of the trip, not just the sites.

Dad's Helpful Websites

1.) www.nps.gov = Find and plan your trip to some of America's best places

2.) www.bestparking.com = Find parking garages in major cities as well as getting rate guarantees at some and even making reservations at others

3.) www.google.com = Use their map feature (I usually use Mapquest) and select Public Transportation option to find buses or subways in major cities or use the Walking option to figure time and distance for walking in major cities

4.) Airline websites = You can now book hotels (with fewer points than a one-way or round-trip flight uses) with your airline points through most airline websites

5.) Hotel Chain websites = You can check amenities at hotels and locations relative to public transportation

6.) www.recreation.gov = You can get tickets or reservations to many government places that you would otherwise have to wait in line for (ex. Washington Monument)

7.) www.blogger.com = Share your trip with others!

July 19 = Day 23

Synopsis:  383.0 miles driven; 6.5 hours on the road; Savannah, GA to St. Petersburg, FL; Visited Ft. Frederica

Our last morning on the road and we started with an OK breakfast (continental except for waffles). We left around 8:00 am which wasn't necessary for a 6 to 6.5 hour ride home but the night before we (Mom and I) made a final decision to add another stop to our trip. We had used the National Park Service website (www.nps.gov) to see what we could visit with a little extra time on the way home.

We found Ft. Frederica on the NPS website. Now the site had no particular attraction for us (over or compared to other sites or attractions) but in looking through their website we found out that their Junior Ranger program book was unique and award winning.

Check it out and consider going - http://www.nps.gov/fofr/forkids/upload/JuniorRangerSummary.pdf.

It is truly a unique and fun experience for younger kids to dress up and use all the "old" items to complete a scavenger hunt around the site. Even though it is mainly an archaeological site, you can really get a real feel for an early colony and their development.

After getting Jedi and Jariah their last Junior Ranger badge (#18) for the trip, we hit the road for home. Passing through Georgia we came to our beloved Florida and arrived home around 4:30 pm. We quickly unloaded the van and made room for picking up our animals from the great families watching them for us. One trip for the dog, another for the ducks and soon to be another for the rabbit and by 7:00 pm we are all home (except the rabbit). Sad news - we came home and Stinky II (Jariah's hamster) had died of old age and one of the ducks (Dead Duck) had died of unknown reasons.

We spent the evening unloading bags and dividing up the souvenirs and paperwork received on the trip and we were all in bed by 10:30 pm.

Shortly, I will post a final recap of the trip and perhaps a video of pictures from our trip. Again, thanks for reading and thanks for praying for us.

Hotel Deal of the Day: Home at last, home at last...how good it is to be sleeping in your own bead (in your own room).

July 18 = Day 22

Synopsis:  473.1 miles driven; 7.5 hours on the road; Forest, VA to Savannah, GA; Attended Heritage Baptist Church

We packed up this morning from Nana and Papa's house and headed to church at Heritage Baptist Church (our former church in Virginia). What a great morning to see and talk with "old" friends. The kids heard many a "I remember you when you were little" and mom and dad enjoyed many a "you guys haven't changed a bit" during the morning. I preached in the morning services and the family got some time to visit before and after with many people - hopefully we were a blessing to people.

We hit the road by 1:15 and spent the next 7.5 hours driving through Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and into Georgia. We are getting ready for bed and should arrive home tomorrow night. Thanks for reading and praying!

Hotel Deal of the Day: One night at La Quinta for $0 from points accrued from hotel stays on last year's trip.

July 17 = Day 21

Synopsis:  8.8 miles driven; .25 hours on the road; Forest, VA; Spent the day at Nana and Papa's house

We had originally planned to go today to the D-Day Memorial in Bedford, VA and possible Smith Mountain Lake but had a family conference last night (Friday) and decided to spend a relaxing day around Nana and Papa's house instead. Not much to report other than some resting and napping, a couple of competitive rounds of "Apples to Apples", a boys vs. girls round of "Gestures" (boys won), and then some games on the Wii. Alos got to have dinner with great grandma Kroll and share some of our pictures from her old house that we visited on the trip.

Hotel Deal of the Day: One night at Nana and Papa's house for $0 and that includes family card games and Wii games for free.

July 16 = Day 20

Synopsis:  147.6 miles driven; 2.5 hours on the road; Charlottesville, VA to Forest, VA; Visited Monticello and Appomattox Court House

Cold breakfast...not nearly as good as we have been enjoying but still a filling start to the day. We slept in this morning (meaning we didn't start the morning wake-up routine until 7: 00am and didn't leave the hotel until after 8:00 am). We set out for Monticello - Thomas Jefferson's home. We had tickets for the 9:30 am tour and they ask you to be there at least 30 minutes early.

We got there by 8:45 which gave us time to pick-up our tickets, stop by the gift shop to get ideas for later, and then catch our shuttle to the house (from the Visitor Center). The house itself and the things Jefferson did to design and decorate it were fascinating. The kids seemed really impressed with the wine "dumb waiter" system - it's cool. After our house tour, about 35-40 minutes, we did our own walking tour of the other buildings. Along the way, the kids got to try their hand at writing with a quill pen and ink (thank goodness for the safety shirts provided).

After visiting the house and grounds, we walked back the visitor center by the trail that goes through the woods. It's a short walk, through some hills and trees we don't have in Florida (downhill the entire way) and you get to stop at Jefferson's grave (and not just see it from the shuttle bus). Back at the Visitor's Center, we did our souvenir shopping and then completed our day at Monticello by watching the film they had on Jefferson.

From Monticello, we hit the road for Appomattox Court House. We had a scenic drive through southern Virginia with clear roads and no traffic in front of us. Once at Appomattox, we had barely gotten there and picked up our Junior Ranger booklets (for Jedi and Jariah) when they started a re-enactor's story of a Yankee soldier from the time of the surrender. It was pretty good and very informative. After he was done, we toured the park on our own and completed the Junior Ranger program (I think our 16th for this trip). Buying some souvenirs was our last stop before hitting the road to Lynchburg.

We got to town earlier than expected so we took a "Tim and Lisa Kroll" reality tour and drove by all the places we lived in the area previously. We arrived at Nana and Papa's around 4:30 pm and Nana greeted us. I think the kids just about wore her out with the five of them talking at once about their trip when Papa got home from PA. Lisa and I took the opportunity (with child care available) to go out to a favorite restaurant to celebrate our 22nd anniversary (I love you, Lisa). We're now resting and the kids are enjoying the time with Nana and Papa (I hope Nana and Papa are enjoying it).

Hotel Deal of the Day: One night at Nana and Papa's house for $0 and that includes visits to the dungeon and adventure walks for free.

July 15 = Day 19

Synopsis:  416.1 miles driven; 7 hours on the road; Ellwood City, PA to Charlottesville, VA; Visited Antietam Battlefield and Green Valley Book Fair

Aunt Shirley and Uncle Tony made us breakfast again (french toast, fried ham) and got us some donuts. We got on the road around 7:40 am and began the 4 hour drive from western PA to Maryland. After an uneventful morning, we got to the Antietam Battlefield near Sharpsburg, MD around 11:30 am. Jedi and Jariah signed up to be Junior Rangers and we were off to see the battlefield and to complete our five activities.

We started by looking through the museum and then watching the 25 minute film they show about the battle and about Lincoln's visit to the battlefield. We learned several things about Lincoln we had never heard before. Following the film, we walked out to the first tour stop (Dunker Church) and looked around at the middle site of the battle. We then jumped in the van and drove around the battlefield on the auto tour. The tour starts where the battle started (near the Cornfield) and ends near the place the battle ended (near Burnside bridge). It was very impressive and a great battlefield to visit.

From there, we headed to I-81 and got some lunch along the way. In 2 hours we were at the Green Valley Book Fair (in Mt. Crawford, VA). If you don't know about it, look it up online. If you do, then no explanation is needed for a family of book lovers. We shopped there for about 90 minutes before taking the hour drive into Charlottesville. Tomorrow we see Monticello and Appomattox before getting to Lynchburg and our family and friends there.

Hotel Deal of the Day: One night at a Super 8 for $0 from accrued points from last year's trip West.

July 14 = Day 18

Synopsis:  183.9 miles driven; 3.5 hours on the road; Ellwood City, NY; Visited Great Grandma and Grandpa Kroll's family farm, PNC Park, Heinz Field, Brighton Hot Dog Shoppe, Butler Cemetery and Locus Grove Cemetery

Aunt Shirley and Uncle Tony cooked us breakfast this morning (eggs, bacon, sausage, cereal, etc.) before we hit the road around 7:40 am. We started with a stop at the old Kroll homestead - the house my grandfather Kroll built and in which my dad grew up. The people living there allowed us (I had contacted them before the trip) to take a walk around the property and tell some stories of the past.

We then went into Pittsburgh and got there early enough to go down to the Riverwalk and walk up to PNC Park and to visit the beautiful home of the woeful Pirates. By 9:45 am, we were back at Heinz Field to take the official tour of the place. We visited the regular stands, the better seats and even sat in a luxury box. We visited the Press room, the field and the locker room. We got to walk around and see the Steelers Hall of Fame as well as the six Lombardi trophies.

After some souvenir shopping, we left Pittsburgh and headed for the Brighton Hot Dog Shoppe. Now, there are many locations but we have to go to the Chippewa location (actually in Beaver Falls) because that is where my Grandfather Piper always took us in the couple of years before he died. We feasted on chili dogs and loaded french fries. After lunch, we took at quick run down Blackhawk Road (about 8 miles) to go into Ohio - yeah, another state!

We spent our afternoon going to a couple of cemeteries - the cemetery in Butler where my grandpa Kroll and my cousin Bryan are buried and the cemetery in Ellwood where my grandmother and grandfather Piper are buried. We finished our day with a short stop by the church where my grandpa Kroll pastored for 33 years and then dinner at Aunt Shirley and Uncle Tony's house with Aunt Kathy and her three girls (my cousins).

Hotel Deal of the Day: One night at Aunt Shirley and Uncle Tony's for $0 including home cooked Italian meals!

July 13 = Day 17

Synopsis:  292.4 miles driven; 6 hours on the road; Niagara Falls, ON to Ellwood City, NY; Visited Niagara Falls, Lisa's childhood home, Aunt Shirley and Uncle Tony

While others slept in a little this morning, I got up early to go get in line for tickets for the Maid of the Mist at Niagara Falls. The first boat is at 9:00 am. Now, here are some things they don't tell you. They start selling tickets at 8:30 am. The line that is there at 8:30 am is usually through by 8:35 am. The tour buses start to show up and drop people off around 8:40 am. The tickets are for no set time...so once you have a ticket, the time it takes to get through the line after the ticket booth is when you will get on a boat. Lisa and the kids got to the stand at 8:50 am (after getting ready and loading the van while I was in line).

We got on the first boat of the morning for the 9:00 am cruise (BTW - cruises last about 30 minutes). The cruise gets very close to the Falls (both American and Canadian) and you definitely get wet (whether upper or lower deck). The kids loved it and loved getting wet - really wet. We were on the starboard side of the boat which is the side opposite of the American Falls but close up to the Canadian Falls. That's how I would choose it if you could.

After the Falls, we got a little breakfast and some souvenir shopping done before returning to the US (across the Rainbow bridge) and heading for Lisa's hometown - Sandusky, NY. We stopped at John & Mary's in Arcade NY - try the A-bomb sandwich and the Chicken Club wrap (they are great). We then got to Sandusky and saw the elementary, middle and high school Lisa went to there. We also got to see the home she grew up in and the church her dad pastored all the years she lived there.

We then headed to Ellwood City, PA and Aunt Shirley and Uncle Tony's house. We caught them up on some of our travels and then had supper with them (delicious). After dinner we ran out to J & T's Drive In for some ice cream (yum).

Hotel Deal of the Day: One night at Aunt Shirley and Uncle Tony's for $0 including home cooked Italian meals!

July 12 = Day 16

Synopsis:  293.9 miles driven; 5.5 hours on the road; Cobleskill, NY to Niagara Falls, ON; Visited Niagara Falls

We slept in for our second day in a row and had a leisurely type morning around Grandma and Grandpa Friend's and Aunt Loey and Uncle Terri's house. We ate lunch there before setting out on the road for Niagara Falls. Grandma and Grandpa Friend (based on their many years of experience driving school buses into Niagara Falls) recommended that we cross into Canada through the Peace bridge rather than the Rainbow bridge and then take the scenic Niagara Parkway or Niagara Boulevard. We did and it was a smooth crossing and a wonderful drive. Again, we were looking for a moose along the way but this is as close as we got.

Once in Niagara Falls, we wandered around the Falls area - our hotel is a half mile from the Falls and on the River Road running along the Falls (we can see the American Falls and Rainbow Bridge from our hotel room balcony). We stayed out late to see the illumination of the Falls so it is late and thus my blog will be short for tonight. In one week, we will be home.

Hotel Deal of the Day: One night at Michael's Inn for $0 by using Delta frequent flyer miles that Lisa had earned.

July 11 = Day 15

Synopsis:  23.3 miles driven; 0.5 hours on the road; Cobleskill, NY; Attended First Baptist Church in Cobleskill, NY; Celebrated Grandma Friend's birthday

We started the day by sleeping in - at least compared to our days on the road. We are staying at Grandma and Grandpa Friend's and Aunt Loey and Uncle Terri's house (they share one house). We left their house and went to Cousin Jerry and Alicia's house (BTW - all family relations are from the kids point of view) for breakfast. What a spread!

From there we headed into town (Cobleskill) and went to the First Baptist Church for Sunday services. It was a special morning for our family as we got to be there when the kids' first cousin once removed, Andrew Hughes, was being dedicated by Jerry and Alicia. He was great for the dedication while his sister, Danielle, was a little more enthusiastic!

After church, we returned home and surprised Grandma with a surprise birthday party (you'll have to ask her how old she is). She thought everyone was there to see us and celebrate Andrew's dedication but those things just lined up with our coming together for her birthday. Her two sons couldn't be there but all 5 of her daughters were. (Starting in the upper left and going clockwise: Linda, Lois, Louise, Lucy, Mother and Lisa)

After lunch, the kids enjoyed riding on cousin Jerry's ATV. They think we should get one for our yard...yeah right! A leisure day to regenerate us for returning to the road tomorrow.

Hotel Deal of the Day: One night at Grandma and Grandpa Friend's house  for $0 including time with cousins!

July 10 = Day 14

Synopsis:  120.2 miles driven; 2 hours on the road; Binghamton, NY to Cobleskill, NY; Visited Kirkwood River Park (25th High School Reunion) and Cobleskill (Grandma and Grandpa Friend)

First things first...today is Jedi's birthday and he turns 9 years old - Happy Birthday Jedi! Now all of our kids are odd...no, not like that! They are all odd ages - 9, 11, 13, 15 and 17.

We slept in this morning and took our time getting ready and out on the road from Uncle Scott and Aunt Weezie's house. They fixed us a GREAT breakfast and we watched Kung Fu Panda with them and their kids. We then left for Kirkwood, NY. This is where our class (CBCA Class of 1985) was having their family picnic as part of our reunion but before going to the park, we stopped by some of the houses on Main Street.

We found and got to see the church where Lisa's mom and dad were married, their first house (see picture), and the school that Lisa's dad went to when he was younger. After taking some pictures, we headed to the Kirkwood River Park for our class reunion picnic. Lisa and Kathleen were finishing the setup and most of our classmates arrived shortly after 11:00 am.

What a joy to spend some time with those that we had spent so much time with 25-30 years ago. As an added bonus, Mr. and Mrs. Ainsworth (our former principal) and Mrs. (Forrester) Maxwell (our former English and French teacher)  were able to join us for the picnic. All told there 13 of us (plus spouses and children) that were there for the picnic. What a great class (apology to Cindy and Ann not visible in my picture) and what a great time we were able to share together.

After the picnic, we took the 90-100 minute drive north to Cobleskill to visit with Grandma and Grandpa Friend. We got to share some our adventure so far, the pictures we took earlier in the day and just spent some time riding an ATV with cousins. What a good day!

Hotel Deal of the Day: One night at Grandma and Grandpa Friend's house  for $0 including time with cousins!