Road Trip Help

[Chuck Jackson]

In a couple of weeks I will be driving from Norfolk, VA up to Canandaigua, NY to see my family. I plan on taking 17 through VA and picking up 15 in Pennsylvania all the way up through Penn Yan. As I have never travelled on 15 through Pennsylvania past Harrisburg, anyone who has any suggestions for great places to stop and sample the local culture and cuisine, please pass them on. I really am sick of the whole Eastern Shore to 476 to 81 to 17 drive and am trying something different. Any ideas? Thanks in advance.

Chuck"driving on my own with Bruckner, Richard Cheese, Miles Davis, Metallica, and the operas of Donizetti in the cd player"Jackson

P.S.- for those of you who are going to be @ Norfolk don't forget to take a jog over to Smithfield and eat at the Virginia Diner. A heart clogging good time will be had by all, Y'all.

[Philip Jensen]

Lets see, I know a little of that area. Williamsport has the Little League museum if you're into that. Also Grizzly tools East of town. Bullfrog brew pub is not bad (downtown). Lewisburg is a quaint town I'd like to explore myself a little more. There's a nice looking antiques mall I haven't had time yet to check out. I did eat at a nice BBQ place (after buying a Helicon at an auction) on the West side of the river near Sunbury (just South of Lewisburg) that was on the bluff overlooking the river and the rowing skull home base for Bucknell Univ.
I've heard the Corning glass museum is quite nice.

Now if you side track West (maybe an extra 3 hrs driving total) of there to my real stomping grounds. We've got our local Arts Festival July 12th-15th - lots of music. All hotels are typically booked, but something could be arranged.
July 28th is the Beer Expo with over 150 breweries represented.

Best of all, July 21st, Pig Roast, MY HOUSE! Possible jam session too.

You might stay on I-95 (or Rt-295) and take I-83 North from Baltimore (after stopping at Baltimore Brass, just off I-695) as it is much faster (depending on the time of day of course)

[Chuck Jackson]

From Norfolk, I'm sure you could take I-95, up through Virginia, and ride that until you reach 695 (the baltimore beltway) and go north on I-83. Other than taking 13 up the eastern shore, I don't know any other routes that would be much different.

I guess I should have been more specific. I have travelled all these specific routes, including taking 17 to 81 and then going up. I like the idea of taking 15 through Pennsylvania because it goes right to SR 20 about 2 miles from my sisters house. I have taken 15 as far as Harrisburg before and and now want to continue through the Keystone State to NY. Just looking for a little local color to break up the trip. BTW, this route takes exactly the same time, a little over 9 hours, that the Eastern Shore route does and the 17 to 81 does. I will never take the I-95 North from Richmond again. The drivers make the Las Vegas locals look like Mennonites in comparison. Thanks so far, keep those suggestions coming.

Chuck

[Philip Jensen]

Here's the region just north of Harrisburg
http://www.explorepahistory.com/regions_susquehanna.php

I'm more familiar with the areas North of I-80. I may have a travel brochure for Rte 15 north of Williampsort. I'll check tonight.

The Woolrich store, just West of Williamsport in, a... Woolrich, is kinda neat. Prices typically aren't that much better than elsewhere but the occansional deal can be had. It is a short scenic drive off the main highway

My preferred route through Harrisburg coming up 15 is to stay on 15, past the Turnpike and take I-83 East, cross over the river and take the 13th St. exit (2nd one past the river). Turn right and cross over the highway you just left. Turn left (downhill) and the first traffic light. At the bottom of the hill, turn Right onto Cameron St. This will take you right through the middle of town with amazingly little traffic. Follow the signs for State College and get on Rt. 322/22 (you actually just stay on the same road - it turns into these). This will take you North and Rt. 15 will branch off just past where the Susquehanna and Juniata Rivers meet. I always stay on 322 to come home.

The Alleghany Brewing Co. is on the lft side of Cameron St and further North off of 15, there is a brew pub in Selinsgrove

[Rick Denney]

In a couple of weeks I will be driving from Norfolk, VA up to Canandaigua, NY to see my family. I plan on taking 17 through VA and picking up 15 in Pennsylvania all the way up through Penn Yan.

You realize that we live about half a dozen miles west of U.S. 15 in northern Virginia?

I assume you'll be coming up 17 and joining 15 south of Warrenton, VA. They are together for a few miles until north of Warrenton, and then 15 splits off east. I'm assuming that's where you'll pick up 15.

If you need a quick, but excellent burger in Warrenton, there is a Five Guys on U.S. 15 there. Five Guys is a local chain, and will remind you of what fast-food hamburgers were like in the good old days.

From there, U.S. 15 will take you up through Leesburg, VA, and then up across the Point of Rocks bridge into Maryland. It will continue north to join with U.S. 340 until you get close to Frederick, MD. Then, 15 will turn north towards Pennsylvania.

There is a restaurant up towards Emmitsburg, MD call the Shamrock. It's not bad. That's the last decent sit-down restaurant until you get to Harrisburg. There are excellent choices on U.S. 40 for the couple of miles west of 15 in Frederick, too.

I've driven 15 from Culpeper, VA to Harrisburg more times than I can count, but usually it's industrial driving--solely to get there. A few years ago, I drove to Toronto and took 15 north of Harrisburg all the way into New York. It was a beautiful drive, but I don't recall anything special in the food department. Philip seems to have more experience up that way.

Of course, 15 takes you right past Gettysburg, which is worth a stop if you've never been there.

I'd be glad to meet up with you in Leesburg on your way through, and we can have reasonable New Mexico-style food at Anitas. Nothing else, food-wise, in Leesburg is worth going out of your way. This area ain't like Vegas--here people eat at home. I do miss the great restaurants in Texas.

Rick "who'll be around in a couple of weeks" Denney

[Chuck Jackson]

Rick,

My exact route. However, as of an hour ago my wife got a killer gig and we won't be in Norfolk until July 18th. I will be heading up the following Monday the 23rd. Stay in touch and hopefully I can buy you lunch.

FWIW: I am constantly amazed by Southwest Airlines. Not only did they happily change our tickets, but gave us a better rate. I have travelled on this carrier solely for 9 years and have never had one problem. Of course, a horn was never part of my luggage.

Chuck

[MartyNeilan]

US 13 North from Virginia through Maryland has got to be one of the prettiest roads on the East coast. I also used to take US 301 from Virginia to New Jersey, but that is not near as nice as 13, and it may be more out of your way. However, I could get from Richmond to the Jersey border faster on 301 than on I-95.