FRIDAY THE 13TH WAS GOOD LUCK FOR THE YANKEES!

I’m not a huge sports fan and, being married to a Pittsburgher, if I have any allegiance at all, it’s to teams that wear black and gold.  I did, however, almost feel like a real Yankees fan Friday night.  It’s easy to get caught up in the spirit of things when you’re there at the stadium and I ended up cheering as enthusiastically as everyone else watching the Yankees beat the Angels 6-5. 

Luckily, the weather cooperated too.  Temps cooled down to very comfortable low 70s and our seats were under cover, so the little bit of rain that fell for a few minutes didn’t do anything to “dampen” our spirits. 

Prior to the game, Paul an I went to Yankee Tavern.  I can sum it up in one word:  LOUD!  Couldn’t wait to get out of there.   Guess that means I’m really getting old when I can’t stand the noise level in a bar...

No matter how many times I see “Yankees Welcome Davis Day Trips” on the marquee, it still gives me a thrill!  Unfortunately, it’s extremely difficult to get a good pic of it, so you’ll have to take my word that that’s what it says in this photo.

Stopped in the Yankee Museum at the stadium.  Again, not being a real sports fan, I couldn’t fully appreciate it, but the “Wall of Balls” was kind of impressive.

Another highlight of the game:  Nathan’s French fries smothered in cheese sauce washed down with an ice cold beer.  Doesn’t get much better than that!

Our next trip is to the Seafood Festival in Havre de Grace, Maryland, on August 11.  This will be our first trip there, but I’ve heard lots of great feedback from those who have gone before.  Should be a fun and relaxing summer day, so join us if you can!

It was HOT on our Pentagon trip! Really,REALLY HOT!

It's always a little nerve-wracking doing a trip to a new place, especially a venue like the Pentagon where there are strict security policies. But I was very fortunate that all of 52 of my passengers were incredibly patient and extremely prompt (and I had Paul along to help). Thank you, thank you everyone!

We made excellent time getting to the Pentagon. But that meant we had about a half-hour to kill before we were allowed to enter the security check-in building. I also learned--much to my dismay--that our bus was not allowed to drop off anywhere near the check-in building. We had to park about a quarter mile away. The Pentagon tour itself involves about a mile of walking, so adding another quarter mile may not seem like a big deal, but it was beyond hot on Friday and I had hoped to minimize time spent outdoors.

So it was a toss up whether to wait on the bus or hoof it over to the 9/11 Memorial which was about a half mile from the bus. Decided to take the trek to the memorial and had just enough time to snap a couple of pictures before it was time to head over to the check-in building.

I will say that the security process went much smoother than I had expected and we were allowed to enter the very well air-conditioned visitors' area to sit and relax before our tour started.

This is where I would normally tell you the details about our tour, but since I'm planning to do the trip again next year, you'll need to sign up for that trip and find out for yourself! What I will tell you is that the tour is informative, interesting, and there's nothing like watching your military guide in ceremonial dress uniform walk completely backwards for an hour (including on escalators) while conducting the tour.

We stopped at Pentagon Row for a lunch break. Again, this was my first visit, so I wasn't sure exactly what the layout was. Happily, the restaurants were situated together in one area, which made it easy for each person to find a place to suit his/her taste. I had a great salmon BLT (without the B) at Sine Irish Pub & Restaurant. Next trip I think I'll check out Champps.

Because of the weather, I cut our time at Arlington National Cemetery by a half hour. It was probably too short for some and too long for others, but it's one of those things where you have to try to find a happy medium. 

Paul and I walked over to the United States Marine Corps Memorial (a/k/a Iwo Jima memorial) because he had never seen it. As we were walking back, we came across a funeral procession where the casket was being transported via horse-drawn caisson. Very dignified and impressive.

I had wanted to see the Changing of the Guard again, but I couldn't deal with the blazing heat. I cannot even imagine how the guards are able to withstand the extreme temperatures in full dress uniform.

There was a threat of thunderstorms for the afternoon and they held off until right after our final rest stop of the day. Then the torrential downpour began. Kudos to our Delaware Express driver, Don Sapp, for his excellent driving skills! The sky cleared up as we drove over the Delaware Memorial Bridge, but just as we were about to hit the parking lot, the rain came again...in bucketfuls. Not the best way to end the day, but at least it was the END of the day!

Big (Tall) Ships, Big Crowds, Big Fun!

We were overdue for a trip to Baltimore's Inner Harbor and decided to go during the week-long Star-Spangled Sailabration event which is the national launch of the War of 1812 Bicentennial.  Couldn't have asked for better weather.  The day started out on the cloudy side, but ended up being mostly sunny in the low 80's with a light breeze that seemed to always kick up at just the right time.


The crowds were out in full force, but surprisingly everyone brought along their best manners.  There was no pushing or shoving and almost without exception everyone said "Excuse me" whenever they crossed the path of someone else.  It was so refreshing to be around that many polite people--even the "stroller people" (and most of you already know how I feel about them) were on their best behavior, keeping a safe distance from the heels and ankles of those in front of them. 


The lines for the tall ship tours and the water taxi were looong, but folks were chatty and friendly which made the waiting more tolerable.  And it was perfect for people-watching which is one of my favorite things to do.  I wasn't quick enough with my camera to catch the very large gentleman wearing the white rip-fringed tee shirt and rip-fringed denim shorts, but trust me, it was a fashion statement you don't see every day. 


I was lucky enough to be in line for the water taxi at Inner Harbor just when a military band started playing in the plaza and they were wonderful.  The water taxi is a great deal.  

For $12 you can ride all day until 11 p.m., you receive a pamphlet with discount coupons for area restaurants and shops, and it's a great way to cool off. 


The air show, featuring the Blue Angels, was supposed to take place between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.  There was a "subject to change" disclaimer on the schedule which was a pretty good indication that it wouldn't start on time.  And it didn't.  Fort McHenry was one of the suggested viewing areas for the air show but to get there, you had to take the water taxi to Fells Point and then transfer.  By the time I got to Fells Point, I decided that I didn't want to wait in the line again to get to Fort McHenry.  I love Fells Point, with its brick streets, interesting shops and all those fantastic pubs (100+)!  I spent a little time at Slainte on Thames Street which has a great atmosphere and a neat rooftop deck.  I would love to spend more time in Fells Point (so many pubs, so little time...) and also visit Fort McHenry, but I'll wait until a non-event weekend when the tourist count won't be quite so high.


Took the water taxi back to Inner Harbor and walked around a bit.  While waiting near the aquarium for the bus to pick us up, we were actually able to see the Blue Angels quite a few times.  Unfortunately, the batteries in both my camera AND phone had died by then, so I wasn't able to get any photos.   

Overall, another great Davis Day Trips!  

Picture-perfect day in NYC!

Like I’ve said many times before, it doesn’t pay to worry about the weather forecast.  Originally the NYC forecast for Saturday showed an 80% chance of rain and a chance of thunderstorms.  But Saturday turned out to be a beautiful rain-free day with mostly sunny skies and temperatures in the high 70s.  Perfect sightseeing weather!!

I try to find at least one new thing to do each time I go to NYC.  On this trip I walked to 36^th and Madison to visit the Morgan Library and Museum which houses the collections of banker Pierpont Morgan. 

The McKim Building, completed in 1906, was the original library.  In 1924, J. P. Morgan, Jr., opened the building to the public as a memorial to his father.  Over the years, the collections continued to grow and an annex was added.  In 1988, a Madison Avenue brownstone that had for a time served as a Morgan residence was added to the complex. 

The complex further expanded in 2006 to include a performance hall, lobby entrance on 

Madison Avenue, new café and restaurant, and a gift shop.  (Can’t have a museum without a gift shop, right?)  Unfortunately, this expansion, which was called the Renzo Piano Project, looks ridiculously out of place stuck in between the spectacular brownstone and the original library.   What a shame to put such a hideous contemporary structure between two magnificent historic buildings.

On a positive note, the interior of the McKim Building underwent an extensive renovation a few years ago and the results are spectacular.  The East and West Rooms are impressive and, while I tried to capture it on video, the rotunda must be seen in person to truly appreciate.

If price is no option in your travel budget, splurge on a meal in the Morgan DiningRoom.  During my visit, I saw just one lone soul dining there.  I’m guessing the waiter didn’t need much time to count up his tips at the end of his shift.  Those with a more modest budget can dine in the Morgan Café in the glass enclosed central court, although the ambience there leaves a lot to be desired.   

I stopped in the gift shop to see if there was a book about the history of the Morgan and was surprised that there was not one on the shelves.  I did, however, find exactly what I was looking for on Amazon.com (at what I’m sure is a lower price than I would have paid in the gift shop).

Strolled through Bryant Park which is the best place to go whenever you want to just sit and relax for a while.  In the summer, it's the perfect place to find shade from the sun and during the winter, it's fun to stroll through the holiday shops and watch the ice skaters at the free skating rink.


Of course, nice weather also brings tourists and they were in Times Square in full force.  And when the tourists come out, so do the performance artists, including the ever-popular Naked Cowboy.  Gotta give the guy credit—he’s done so well that he actually has a franchise now.  For a mere $5,000 fee (and 20% of your tips!), you can don a pair of Naked Cowboy tighty whities and strum your way to fame and fortune.  Ladies, don’t despair—there’s a Naked Cowgirl franchise as well.

Next I was off to see Harvey which is playing a limited run in the building that used to house the world-famous Studio 54 nightclub back in the late 70’s.  Wasn’t impressed so much with the building, which I found to be dreary and depressing, but was completely wowed by the show.  The entire case was wonderful and Jim Parsons (Sheldon Cooper, The Big Bang Theory) was absolutely terrific as Elwood P. Dowd, the role that Jimmy Stewart played on film.   If you can get to NYC before the show closes on August 5, go see it!

Ended the day with another fantastic meal at Frankie & Johnnies on West 45th.  Believe it or not, I actually do eat at other restaurants in Manhattan, but when I’m in the mood for a great piece of salmon, there’s no better plan than F&J.  The fact that I am so warmly welcomed by every member of the staff whenever I go there (especially Mario!) is just icing on the cake.  And speaking of cake, the peach crumble, is FABULOUS!

Our trip to Baltimore’s Inner Harbor for the special Star-Spangled Sailabration event is coming up on Saturday, June 16.  Only have three seats left on the bus—call us quickly if you want to come along!

Weather was great in NYC (which is more than I can say about Spiderman)

As I learned a long time ago, it doesn't pay to worry about the weather forecast because it changes so quickly.  Instead of the 80% chance of rain predicted earlier in the week, we didn't see a single drop of rain until we returned to Pennsville last night.  In fact, the sun was probably out more than it was in while we were in NYC yesterday and lots of folks enjoyed strolling through Times Square.


We made great time getting to NYC so I was able to hit the Foxwoods Theatre on 42nd  about five minutes after the box office opened and I snagged a $39 Spiderman rush ticket.  Rush tickets are offered by some Broadway shows to make tickets more affordable to students and those of us on a budget.  You have to hit the box office right when it opens though because there are a limited number of these discounted tickets available (the number varies from show to show).  I always check out Playbill.com for the most current info on rush tickets. 


After scoring my cheapie show ticket, I went across the street to the largest metropolitan McDonald's (at Broadway and 42nd Street) and used a "Buy One, Get One Free" breakfast sandwich coupon (from the free pocket guidebook that I give each of my customers).  For the bargain price of $3.80, I had more than enough food to fill me up until dinnertime.   This particular McDonald's also has large, clean restrooms which is another plus.

On our way into the city, I noticed a new place on the corner of West 40th and 8th Avenue called Beer Authority.  The name alone was enough to convince me I had to  check it out and since I had time to kill before the show, off I went.  What a fabulous new place!  They opened less than three weeks ago and all of the staff are full of enthusiasm and so gracious to all of the customers.  They will be opening a rooftop seating area soon which I plan to check out on our June 2 trip.  I predict great success for this place!


As happy as I was to see the Beer Authority open up, I was disappointed to discover that my go-to place for cheesecake, Maxie's in Times Square on 7th Avenue is now a restaurant called TSQ.  Their website is not up and running yet, so I don't have any info with regard to menu or pricing.  May have to check this out on the June 2 trip as well.  

Now, on to the "down" side to the day:  The much-hyped Spiderman was, in my opinion, pretty much a dud.  Sooooo glad that I only paid $39 for my ticket.  I stayed until a bit after the intermission, but kept thinking about the nice weather outside and I made a quiet Spidey-like escape out of the theatre.


Speaking of Broadway shows, we recently added Annie to our trip schedule (Saturday, November 3).  I heard yesterday--from a very reliable source--that Kathie Lee Gifford may be returning in the role of Miss Hannigan.  Hope it's true, but even if it's not, I'm sure the revival is going to be wonderful.  Our price for the trip reflects a $40 savings off the regular ticket price, so you'll want to get your reservation in early before we sell out!

As I usually do, I ended the day at Frankie & Johnnie's on West 45th Street.  I was long overdue for a visit and enjoyed seeing everyone again.  Mario still looks exactly the same as he did when I first met him about 15 years ago and I just can't figure that out.  Will be stopping back in June for dinner--they have THE BEST salmon in all of NYC and,of course, they are famous for their amazing steaks.


Hope you'll be able to join us on one of our future NYC trips so that you discover for yourself why I love this place so much!






  

No big winners, but still a fun day at Resorts Casino!

This was my first visit to Resorts Casino and I wasn't sure what to expect. On the plus side, they offered a pretty generous comp: $25 slot voucher and $10 food comp. Casinos started getting stingy with comps a couple of years ago, which is one reason that I stopped running trips to AC. With all of the competition from the new casinos in Pennsylvania, you'd think that the AC casinos would be offering MORE incentives to keep customers, not less. But that's my opinion...

I was disappointed with the overall look and feel of the place. I felt it was a bit on the dreary side and in need of some updating. They could also swap out a lot of the quarter machines for more of the popular penny and nickle machines. It seemed like there were an awful lot of the older single-line quarter machines available, while it was hard to find an open seat at the newer penny and nickel slots.

Resorts could do a much better job of getting folks through the lines at the restaurants, especially the buffet. It shouldn't be a surprise that people start to line up at lunchtime, so increasing the number of check-in clerks seems like a smart idea.

The buffet was on the small side and seemed geared more toward seafood lovers. I will say though that the max & cheese was absolutely awesome--right up there with some of the best I've ever had!

I had a most unpleasant experience in one of the restrooms--I won't go into the details, but it truly looked like animals had been using the facilities rather than human beings. Happily, the next restroom that I visited was the polar opposite.

Regardless of where I was, the staff members that I encountered were courteous and efficient and seemed genuinely interested in serving the customers. Big plus for the casino in that regard.

I was left with mixed feelings about Resorts. I don't think I'll schedule any additional trips there unless they offer something really outstanding for my customers or they do some updating of the casino.

It was too cold to walk out on the boardwalk, so I didn't take any photos myself on this trip. That's one thing that the Pennsylvania casinos will never be able to match--the experience of walking the boards and enjoying the ocean view.

Bottom line is that everyone seemed to have a good time and, of course, that's what it's all about. My goal is to make sure that keeps happening, so I'll continue searching for the best deals and hopefully on our next casino trip, somebody will come back on the bus a big winner!

Got some new trip ideas at the Philadelphia Inquirer Travel Show!

Spent several fun hours at the Philly Travel Show in the Convention Center yesterday and came home with a bag full of travel brochures and a few new trip ideas to research.

In addition to dozens of exhibits, special presentations were held throughout the day. Two very enthusiastic members of the Philadelphia Zoo gave a short, but interesting program about mammals and birds which reminded me that I hadn't been to the zoo in a long time, so I'm overdue for a visit. Did you know the Philly Zoo was the first zoo in America? And did you know that birds poo an average of 60 times day?? The things you can learn at a travel show...

Andrew McCarthy, best known as an actor--particularly as a member of the Brat Pack in the 1980s--is now an award-winning travel writer. He gave an entertaining interview that included his transition into travel writing. Here's a clip from the interview where he talks about the early days of his acting career.

After listening to his interview, I'm really looking forward to the release of his travel memoir this fall.

I was happy to see that the Cabot Cheese folks had a booth--nestled perfectly between two wine tasting exhibits. Cabot pepper jack cheese is the best!

I didn't get to see Chef Joseph Poon's demo in the afternoon, but his staff was making some awesome fruit and vegetable sculptures at his booth during the day. In 2006, Davis Day Trips did Chef Poon's Walk 'N Wok tour, which was wonderful, and we'd love to do it again if we get enough interest. Check it out and let us know!
Came home with a DVD from Grannies on Safari and after watching it, I've got the Tivo set to catch all of the upcoming episodes of their show on PBS. Watching the Grannies' DVD fueled my desire to go on an African safari some day. Anybody want to join me?

Going to go do some more research now. Keep checking the website for new trips!