Two weeks later and we're still talking about how much fun we had on this trip.
With a new full-time job claiming my previously free time and planning a wedding of my own (47 days, people!), this post has been pushed to the back burner a little more than I would've liked. But here we are, a belated yet lovely memory file of friendly visits, new cities and milestone celebrations--all of my favorite things!
This road trip's been in the making since the moment my best friend called me to share she'd gotten engaged. That was in February.
So for the following six months I schemed up ideas of stops we could make, side adventures we could undertake and sights we could see on our 20-hour drive up to the Green Mountain State. What would be my third trip to Vermont would be my fiance's first and I could. not. wait. to introduce him to some of my favorite places.
Fast forward to the week-of and you'd find an exhausted couple with sore feet and a mean case of chaffing (TMI? That's life, y'all). But really, we spent the week adventuring our way up state by state and we could not have had a better time.
We made sure every moment was chock-full of everything each location had to offer, planning our steps carefully to prioritize our time (and dollars).
Our first stop: Lancaster, PA. Yes, home to the Amish, but more importantly the new home of one of my best pals. A 15-hour stop in this cozy city led us to dinner at Lancaster Brewing Company (hot wings and patio lights--nuff said;) a brunch of Nutella waffles, AKA my love language; a stroll around the cutest little historic downtown, and a quick driving tour through the Amish/Mennonite town Bird-in-Hand. It was just as wonderful and fascinating as you imagine.
After our too-short visit in Lanc, we headed over to Philadelphia with a two-hour time limit and way too many to-dos. We ran up the Rocky steps to make room for a Geno's cheesesteak, then rushed for New York as we *sadly* passed on seeing Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. Just a valid excuse to visit again later ;)
As for NYC... Well, you know how I feel about that place. The Big Apple's chaos feels a lot like home to me, and I was over the moon to share it with my guy for the first time. The sentiment is shown in my detailed, over-crowded spreadsheet that laid out each one of our 40 hours in the city (which is directly correlated with our blisters and sore bodies).
Lord, bless this man's soul and soles.
With gas claiming the major hunk of our budget, cheap eating was our way of life for the week. Color-coded notches on my Google Sheet planned out which meals would be worth our dough and which times we'd be munching on snacks from home. Obviously AC's first Philly cheesesteak made the cut, as did Lancaster meals for the sake of spending time with my gal.
For New York, though, I relied heavily on past experiences and praised God for prior spending-savvy travel buddies who'd introduced me to some of my very favorite meals ever...
- 2 Bros Pizza: This place is credited with my survival during the summer I lived in NYC. Their deal for 2 slices and a can soda for $3 just can't be beat. Plus it's delicious. AC was thrilled. And because you only spent six bucks on dinner and have a natural sweet tooth (just me?), treat yourself to a Magnolia cupcake for dessert.
- Bagels: "Toasted?" Of course. Add strawberry cream cheese and a Coke, and it's my go-to breakfast in the city. You can find them just about anywhere for just a couple dollars. Prepare to be fascinated by how quickly they throw everything together behind the counter; it blows my mind every time.
- Los Tacos No. 1: I tried to adequately prepare AC for just how wonderful these tacos are, but he had to taste to believe. And believe he did. These medium-sized tacos come in at $2.75 a piece, which can add up when you're watching your wallet while burning all the calories walking around the city. But I promise it's worth every single penny. Just pass on buying a drink and bring your own water bottle. (Carne asada is my personal fave, but I really don't think you can go wrong here).
- Sammy's Halal Food: I featured him in my last NYC post, and I'll probably name drop him again in the future. That lamb over rice... Y'all, I can't get enough. I'll make a special trip to Queens just for this meal every time. Seven bucks will get you a plate-full, so count that lunch and dinner, or just share with a friend for an even cheaper split. Then enjoy the 7 train skyline view on your way back toward Manhattan.
We left the city with full bellies, aching backs and surprisingly full wallets thanks to our cheap meals. I've got to say, though, my personal favorite came in driving off with my newly-signed copies of 100 Days to Brave and Learning to Speak God from Scratch, courtesy of Jonathan Merritt's book signing on the Upper East Side. I came for the love of Annie and stayed for the fascination of Jonathan and his work. You should read both of them and love them as much as I do.
With new books in tow, we headed for Maine by way of Yale University, Providence, RI and my newfound favorite, Boston. A quick stop on Yale's campus revived all of my deepest Gilmore Girls feels before we pointed our compass (ahem, GPS) toward one of my favorite stops of the whole trip: Primark.
Based in Europe, this killer shop only has nine U.S. locations, and they're all in the northeast. I first heard about the brand through an Instagrammer I follow and I've been obsessed since day one. Their prices are low, their ethics are high and their stuff is cute.
Since every other dot on our map was packed, Boston's Primark location seemed the best fit. That is, until we realized the hellacious reality that is Boston parking. Not. Happening. My little soul was crushed--until AC found another location just 30 minutes north. *angels rejoice*
To give you a breakdown of our haul, I purchased 3 pairs of shoes, 2 sweaters, 6 tops, 2 sets of earrings, a pair of pants and a romper for under $150. That's wild. One pair of shoes was one sale for two. dollars. What even? This place is magic and you have to go ASAP. [Part of how they keep their prices so low--no shipping. So while you can browse their selection online, you can't order it from home :-(( ]
From Boston onward we were really just craving some rest and recuperation--which is the exact reason God created places like Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont, probably. All green everything, crazy beautiful mountain views and picturesque little creeks and lakes and rivers (and of course the Atlantic Ocean) are the themes of New England. We welcomed the soothing scenery and slower pace as we prepared for the marriage of our favorite newlyweds and brushed off the leftover chaos from NYC and Boston.
We stayed at a tried-and-true, real-deal Maine bed and breakfast (as compared to our unofficial sponsor, Airbnb) in a cozy little town and so enjoyed the crisp night air (as compared to our heat-ridden home, Alabama). After soaking up every available ounce of Maine's calm, we set out for the main destination and helped turn our engaged friends into married folks!
Despite a rainy forecast that turned outside plans into an indoor reality, the wedding was beautiful and downright perfect. There's nothing quite like watching your best pal embark on the happiest journey of her life. (And just look at these pictures!)
It was a wild week full of all kinds of adventures and we still can't shut up about it. Now we're just trying to decide where to go next, so send over any ideas you might have!
xoxo,
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