October 2016
We spent a long weekend at Lake Wallenpaupack, a man-made lake in the Northern Poconos created as a reservoir for a hydroelectric plant. Because we left in the evening after work, we stopped and spent a night at Sands in Bethlehem before heading the rest of the way up to the Poconos. Our first stop was in Honesdale to board a train for a scenic ride along the path of the former Delaware and Hudson Canal to check out the beautiful fall foliage. We then headed to Hawley to check in to our motel right across the street from the lake. We spent much of the weekend walking and driving around the lake and exploring downtown Hawley. Along the way we found time to stop at a few very cool diners. After heading out of town, on our way home, we went to a cider mill because nothing says fall like a cider mill. Then we visited the home of the first chief of the US Forest Service, Grey Towers. It's now a national historic landmark and museum. Overall, it was a slower paced, more relaxing vacation than we usually like to take, but it was still a lot of fun.
We had a delicious dinner at Emeril’s Fish House at Sands Bethlehem
The view from our room at Sands Bethlehem
Our waiter at breakfast kept bringing us more and more napkins. Do we look messy?
The view from our room at Sands Bethlehem
The Hotel Wayne in downtown Honesdale
The Delaware and Hudson Canal was critical to the movement of coal through this region.
One of the creepier Pokemon Fall decorations you’ll find anywhere
Historic Pennsylvania Railroad cars on the Stourbridge Line railroad
Historic New York Central Railroad car on the Stourbridge Line railroad
Historic Pennsylvania Railroad caboose on the Stourbridge Line railroad
Replica of a gravity railroad car. These were once used to haul coal through the region.
Historic Pennsylvania Railroad car on the Stourbridge Line railroad
Inside a historic New York Central Railroad car on the Stourbridge Line railroad
Delaware, Lackawaxen & Stourbridge Line all decked out for Halloween
I’m always amazed that spitting was such a problem on trains.
Passing through Stokesdale
The Stourbridge Line has a lot of historic cabooses. This one is from the New York Central System.
The Stourbridge Line has a lot of historic cabooses. This one is from the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway.
The Lackawaxen River flows among the Fall foliage
Dorflinger Glass Factory in Honesdale is now a museum
Fall foliage abounds along the train route
The Lackawaxen River flows among the Fall foliage
This wall was once part of the Delaware and Hudson Canal
The Wallenpaupack Hydroelectric Project is the reason Lake Wallenpaupack was created
Historic Pennsylvania Railroad cars on the Stourbridge Line railroad in Lackawaxen
Awaiting the return of our train in Lackawaxen
The train returns to pick us up in Lackawaxen
The Lackawaxen River flows among the Fall foliage
The Lackawaxen River flows among the Fall foliage
Back at the Stourbridge Line station in Honesdale
Antique wooden plow car
Back at the Stourbridge Line station in Honesdale
Downtown Honesdale
Downtown Honesdale is all decorated for Fall
Honesdale Presbyterian Church
Honesdale City Hall was built in 1892
The train station in Hawley is another stop on the Stourbridge Line
Downtown Hawley with the Fall foliage covered mountains in the background
Walking the trail along the shore of Lake Wallenpaupack
The sun sets over Lake Wallenpaupack
Walking the trail along the shore of Lake Wallenpaupack
The Wallenpaupack Hydroelectric Project is the reason Lake Wallenpaupack was created.
Walking the trail along the shore of Lake Wallenpaupack
The sun sets over Lake Wallenpaupack
We stayed at the East Shore Lodging motel.
We stayed at the East Shore Lodging motel.
Walking along the shore of Lake Wallenpaupack
The historic Hawley Silk Mill, built in 1880, is the largest Blue Stone building in the world.
Walking along the former canal bed at the Delaware and Hudson Canal Park
Walking along the former canal bed at the Delaware and Hudson Canal Park
Delaware & Hudson Canal Park
Daniel's Farmhouse at Lock 31 of Delaware and Hudson Canal was later owned by the Hintzes
The former Delaware and Hudson Canal at Lock 31
The former Delaware and Hudson Canal at Lock 31
Daniel's Farmhouse was built in the 1820’s and sits at lock 31 of the Delaware and Hudson Canal
Daniel's Farmhouse was built in the 1820’s and sits at lock 31 of the Delaware and Hudson Canal
Travelling the mountain roads of Wayne County
The Hawley Presbyterian Church is far from a traditional loooking church building
Built in 1902, the First National Bank of Hawley building is now a restaurant
Penny Lane Candies and Candles
The Hotel Belvidere in downtown Hawley
Built in 1902, the First National Bank of Hawley building is now a restaurant
Odd Fellow's Hall Building
The Hawley Bank Building has changed colors a bit since its years as a bank
Apparently they take their politics seriously in Hawley with different benches for Democrats and Republicans
Of course, an old town in Northeast Pennsylvania must have a cool old diner. This is the Hawley Diner.
Of course, an old town in Northeast Pennsylvania must have a cool old diner. This is the Hawley Diner.
This dam is an integral part of the Wallenpaupack Power Project
This dam is an integral part of the Wallenpaupack Power Project
This dam is an integral part of the Wallenpaupack Power Project
This dam is an integral part of the Wallenpaupack Power Project
The Wallenpaupack Hydroelectric Project is the reason Lake Wallenpaupack was created.
This dam is an integral part of the Wallenpaupack Power Project
This dam is an integral part of the Wallenpaupack Power Project
This dam is an integral part of the Wallenpaupack Power Project
This dam is an integral part of the Wallenpaupack Power Project
A misty affernoon along the banks of Lake Wallenpaupack
The Wallenpaupack Power Project feeds water down this massive pipe from the dam to the power plant
The 84 Country Store has quite a menagerie of creatures outside
The 84 Country Store’s giant ice cream is intact but someone seems to have eaten the giant popcorn.
This tub brings new meaning to a hot bath
The 84 Country Store in Greentown
The 84 Country Store in Greentown
A wringer washer and Chesterfield cigarette ad? If I believed in reincarnation, I’d say my grandmother lives here!
Inside the 84 Country Store in Greentown
Dining at the 84 Country Store in Greentown
Ever eat with a cow wearing a bearskin rug looking over your shoulder? I have!
The Wallenpaupack Power Project feeds water down this massive pipe from the dam to the power plant
Our room at East Shore Lodging has a lot of doors.
Muggs Diner doesn’t look like a traditional diner, but the food is quite good.
What better place to go in the Fall than a cider mill
Ritter's Cider Mill
Ritter's Cider Mill has no shortage of pumpkins
Ritter's Cider Mill turned 55 gallon drums into farm animals. How cool!
My mother can never resist a good wooden cutout!
My mother can never resist a good wooden cutout!
Ritter's Cider Mill turned 55 gallon drums into farm animals. How cool!
The goats at Ritter’s Cider Mill are a lot of fun.
The goats at Ritter’s Cider Mill are a lot of fun.
The goats at Ritter’s Cider Mill are a lot of fun.
Cows and alpacas wandering among the Fall foliage
How in the world does this goat manage to avoid getting his head stuck?
Heading into the corn maze
My mother in the corn maze
I found my way out of the corn maze.
This apple cutout was clearly meant for people much shorter than my mother!
This pumpkin cutout was clearly meant for people much shorter than me!
Apples on their way into becoming delciious cider
Fresh apple cider donuts
Apples heading into the cider mill
Taking home a basket of apples
They fill the cider bottles right at the register as you buy them
Pressing apple mash into cider
Pressing apple mash into cider
Pressing apple mash into cider
Grey Towers is the ancestral home of the first chief of the US Forest Service
Heading up to Grey Towers among the amazing Fall foliage
Grey Towers is decorated for Fall
Grey Towers is decorated for Fall
Laurel Hill Cemetery at Grey Towers
Laurel Hill Cemetery at Grey Towers has some very old graves
The Pinchot Family plot in Laurel Hill Cemetery at Grey Towers
The Pinchot Family plot in Laurel Hill Cemetery at Grey Towers
Laurel Hill Cemetery at Grey Towers has some very old graves
Laurel Hill Cemetery at Grey Towers
Grey Towers is the ancestral home of the first chief of the US Forest Service
Grey Towers offers some spectacular views
The US Forest Service operates Grey Towers
Grey Towers is the ancestral home of the first chief of the US Forest Service
Out on the porch at Grey Towers
Grey Towers is the ancestral home of the first chief of the US Forest Service
Grey Towers is decorated for Fall
You don’t have a statue of a turkey in your backyard?
A bust of the Marquis de Lafayette looks toward France from Grey Towers
A bust of the Marquis de Lafayette looks toward France from Grey Towers
Grey Towers offers some spectacular views
Grey Towers is the ancestral home of the first chief of the US Forest Service
We picked the right weather day for a visit to Grey Towers
Grey Towers is the ancestral home of the first chief of the US Forest Service
Grey Towers’ sundial
The entrance hall makes quite a first impression
The fireplace is surrounded by Mr. Pinchot’s many hunting trophies
Anyone else feel like that moose is staring at you?
Anyone else feel like that moose is staring at you?
A desk inside Grey Towers
This painting depicts Cornelia Pinchot and her children
The Grey Towers study has artifacts from around the world
You don’t often find a tuna mounted on the wall
The decor in Grey Towers is quite unique
Two more tunas hanging on the walls
The painted walls give the room a cool three dimensional feel.
Why hang paintings when you can just paint your art right onto the walls?
Out on the patio
The formal dining room is outside and the dining table is made of water with food floating on it.
The formal dining room is outside and the dining table is made of water with food floating on it.
The Bait Box was built as a play house for the kids.
The formal dining room is outside and the dining table is made of water with food floating on it.
This American chestnut tree is part of an effort to restore this nearly extinct tree.
Grey Towers’ carriageway (now the driveway, I suppose)
The US Forest Service operates Grey Towers
We tracked down another cool local diner, the Milford Diner
On the way home, we caught a few deer hanging out in a field
On the way home, we caught a few deer hanging out in a field