We started off the month departing Kentucky and heading to
West Virginia. Our first destination is
a revisit after some fifteen years to Pipestem Resort State Park. I must say WV knows how to do state parks, as
this one includes two hotels, a campground, restaurants, a pub, two golf
courses, indoor and outdoor pools, a nature center, a riding stable and a plethora of hiking
trails. We enjoyed several hiking trails, waterfalls, golf, and a wonderful
seafood buffet where we feasted on crab legs, shrimp, salmon, and prime
rib.
After a week in Pipestem we headed north to Canaan Valley
State Park, another WV beauty with a hotel, golf course and ski resort. We enjoyed some of the quaint small towns in
the area as well as day trips to Elkins, Blackwater State Park and Seneca
Rocks. Blackwater River also known as
the River of Amber is actually the color of tea. The mountains and valleys within the
Blackwater drainage contain many plants and trees contain tannins that
contribute to this phenomenon.
Our trip to Seneca Rocks was nice and easy on horseback
instead of the steep hike to the top. Seneca
Rocks is a prominent and visually striking formation rising 900 feet above the
confluence of Seneca Creek with South Branch of the Potomac River. It
overlooks the community of Seneca Rocks consisting of a North and a South
Peak, with a central notch between.
We spent two great days in Elkins WV first with a scenic 4
hour train ride aboard the Tygart Flyer along the Cheat River to the High Falls
of the Cheat. The vintage diesel-powered
locomotives climbed mountain grades, an “S” curve tunnel, a high bridge and miles
of unspoiled mountain views terminating at the stunning High Falls. We really
enjoyed the ride and the buffet lunch aboard the train was also very good.
We returned to Elkins again for the 44th Annual
Augusta Festival which included local crafts, workshops for artists, concerts, and
pickin’ contests for banjo and fiddle.
Wow did we see some talented artisans and musicians and some great foot
stomping “Mountain Music”.
From WV we headed to PA for two weeks of fun in the sun with
our four youngest granddaughters. We
arrive at Buttonwood Campground in Mexico PA, set up camp and headed to NJ to
pick up the kids. We enjoyed this
destination campground for a week of tubing, swimming, fun and games with the
kids and a weekend visit from our daughter as well.
Next stop was Mt Pocono Campground where we enjoyed a
carnival and demolition derby which the girls really loved. Our daughter visited again this weekend and
brought our great grandson. On Saturday
Chippy and I stayed back with the baby and Dina and the girls headed out to hit
the zip lines.
From PA we headed to Rhinebeck NY for a week to help
celebrate Mother Sexton’s 89th birthday. We enjoyed a fantastic dinner at the Ristorante
Caterina de’ Medici at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park NY. Mother really enjoyed the truly authentic
regional Italian cuisine surrounded by her loving children and in-laws.
The Sexton brothers also enjoyed a nice round
of golf at Red Hook Country Club in the morning, and no clubs were thrown. We also enjoyed many more gourmet dinners at Patty
(sister) and Peter’s house. Our brother
in law really is a great cook!! On
another day trip we visited the Storm King Art Center in New Windsor NY, which
is one of the most visited sculpture parks in the world. There are over 100 gigantic sculptures created
by some of the most acclaimed artists of our time spread over 500 rolling acres
of woodlands and fields of wildflowers and native grasses.
No comments:
Post a Comment