2007 Family Vacation: Day 1

From West Virginia

Destination:Days Inn-East/Airport, 800 S. Eisenhower Blvd., Middletown, PA 17057
Distance: 540 milies
Driving Time: 8hrs. 32 min.

Today was the first leg of our trip to Newport, RI to see Kathy's cousin's wedding. Ideally, we wanted to leave at 10:00 or 11:00 am which would ideally get us to the hotel at around 8:00 or 9:00 pm with stops to eat, bathrom, etc. True to the Norton spirit, we left at 1:30 pm in the 2007 Dodge Grand Caravan we rented.

With three kids, every rest area is a tourist attraction, so we stopped at (almost) each one. We got into West Virginia at 4:00 pm and stopped at the rest area to get a map and stretch. West Virginia speed limit is 70 mph, so we would have made really good time if there wasn't so much construction going on. Before we left WV, we stopped at a Subway and had dinner around 7:00 pm.

From Maryland

Crossed the border into Maryland around 8:00 pm. Stopped at the rest area, but the welcome center was closed. Stretched and left. Construction was heavy again. didn't make very good time.

Crossed into Pennsylvania at 9:30. No rest area because we were on a state road (US 220). We were supposed to go on US 220BR (Business Route), but road was closed. We backtracked 12 miles and finally made it to Pennsylvania Turnpike, where we were the only passenger vehicle on the road. More construction. Ugh!

Made it to the hotel at 12:00 am. We unpacked and are going to bed. Going to Hershey, PA tomorrow as a side trip before we end up in Newport, RI. Pictures and more blogging then.