In PA, we visited a “Bucket-List” place for G – the C.F. Martin and Company Guitar manufacturing facility. And no, we didn’t leave with a new guitar! They let you play multiple models of guitars and G was truly in heaven. We ate at Shady Maple Smorgasbord – what an experience! Pennsylvania Dutch comfort food in East Earl, PA. If you go, make sure to take time and visit their store downstairs – it’s huge! We spent an evening listing to Tommy Emanual in York, PA – WOW. I loved it as much as G – just a great fun concert. Definitely the best guitar player I’ve EVER heard.
And if you have a Martin, this is where you send yours for repair.
He was so gracious and funny too! And we were first in line to meet him.
He does all his own tuning.
He can literally sound like 2 or 3 people are playing at the same time!
In NY we visited the Vanderbilt Mansion in Hyde Park – beautiful and interesting history. If you are familiar with the shows “Gilded Age” or “Downton Abbey”, this is the type of home occupied by the millionaires of that time. Hyde Park was built by Frederick Vanderbilt, brother to George Washington Vanderbilt, of the Biltmore in Asheville, NC. Hyde Park is very different than Biltmore, being a National Historic site and not a private (self-sustaining) residence like Biltmore. Hyde Park is maintained by the National Park service and volunteers. Inside you can see paint and wall coverings peeling, carpet well worn, very unlike the pristine condition of Biltmore. But in my opinion it makes it feel more like a home. There was some initial family disapproval when Frederick married the socialite Louise, in secret. She was divorced, just the year before from his cousin and of course this caused gossip in the papers and in society. She was more social of the two, Frederick being reportedly very shy. Both were well liked and after her death there are records of Frederick eating downstairs with the household staff, rather than in a dining room. You wouldn’t see that on Downton Abbey! The mansion has a total of 54 rooms, but what I find interesting is they would host only 12-14 people for parties/events. Seems like a small amount when you consider the size, but this was just a seasonal residence for the family. 😉
The trunks to the far right were some of Fredericks many sea trunks – he was an avid sailor.
The bed has a “birthing rail” common with royalty. Interestingly, they never had children.
Franklin D. Roosevelt was their neighbor and friend in Hyde Park. Something else to tour next time we visit.
And of course, while in NY we visited our favorite Saunderskill farm bakery, a couple of times. So Yummy! It’s a dangerous place for us. LOL
We will definitely be going back to our last stops in 2025, especially the Jersey shore. Love love love Sea Isle City, Cape May, Ocean City, Somers Point and all the surrounding area. We took a Victorian Architecture tour in Cape May. Had some of the best pizza EVER (Panzini’s Pizzera) in Sea Isle City and best Italian food there at A Modo Mia. We compared it to food in Italy, especially the desert at A Modo Mia. Their limoncello cake was to die for – we went back just to get more another night, along with more pizza! It was also great catching up with old friend’s of Garland’s for dinner.
