nctiger71

We live in eastern NC and have made 6 plus road trips up the east coast over the years; anywhere from 1 to 2 weeks long.

This is the route we (two old married couples) took in May of 2021 when we went to Niagara Falls. It's not the way I would go if were primarily interested in NF. We had something to do in DC and then the guys wanted to see Cooperstown.
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For a road trip from coastal VA to NF I would consider stopping at these places:
- Corning/Watkins Glen NY: The Corning Museum of Glass is a must see, IMO. You will see things that you did not think could be made of glass. There are glass blowing demos and information about the development of fiber optics and all kinds of glass wares. We were there about 1/2 day and had a good lunch in their cafeteria.

- Watkins Glen is about 20 miles north of Corning and sits at the southern end of Lake Seneca. Watkins Glen State Park is there and it is a walk in a canyon along a river. I think it is about a mile long walk/hike in and then back, or you can take a shuttle (was $5 I think) back to the start.

From WG you can drive up the east or west side of Seneca Lake to Geneva and then head west toward Buffalo on Hwy 5 or I 90. The Finger Lakes Welcome Center is in Geneva and I suggest you stop there and get information about the area. They sell products that are made in the area such as wine and sauces. It's worth a stop.

When we left NF we took US 19 south through NY and PA to Somerset, PA. There are a number of sights to see within an easy drive of Somerset.
- Flight 93 National Memorial is 14 miles, 21 minutes
- Fallingwater, an historical home designed by Frank Lloyd Wright is 31 miles, 45 minutes
- Fort Necessity National Battlefield is 22 minutes from Fallingwater

- Johnston Flood National Memorial is 32 miles, 35 minutes. It will take about an hour to see the visitor center and watch the video, etc.
- The Allegheny Portage Railroad Nat. Hist. Site is 25 minutes from JFNM. It explains how they got river barges over the mountain from the navigable waters on east to the west.

Before you get to Hershey you might want to check out the dePont family homes in the Brandywine Valley. There are 6+ homes/gardens in the Winterthur, Delaware/Kennett Square, PA area. Longwood Gardens is probably the most notable.

The city of Niagara Falls has suffered an economic downturn over the recent decades and parts of it are run down. The falls are still worth visiting. When we were there in 2021 Canada was locked down due to COVID and we could not go there. None of the activities that we could see on their side were working. I would expect that they would be open now. Take your passport.

I may have done a trip report for the NF trip. I'll post it here if I did.

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Take me to school. What are stumpage fees?

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Stumpage is a term that refers to the value of the tree on the stump. It’s the amount the landowner is paid.

Then there are the the costs of harvesting, skidding, and loading on the truck. Then there is the transportation cost to the mill and profit for the logging/hauling contractors.

Add all that up to get the cost of the raw material at the mill.

A few years ago we stayed at the Double Tree by Hilton on Washington St. It’s about a block and 1/2 to a train station; 1/4 to 1/2 mile walk to Boston Common IIRC. We walked there to start the Freedom Trail.

I think we took an Uber from a restaurant to the ball park but took the train back to the hotel.

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Me: 70 Wife: 62

Our reasoning is that if something happens to me, my wife will be eligible for my check amount. I want to make that amount as high as possible.

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I took it at 70, wife took the spousal amount at 65 or 66 - whatever age it maxed out for her.

The idea above was one reason. We’re both healthy (as far as we know) and she will likely live into her 90s. I retired at about 65 and lived off savings for 5 years. Another reason for waiting was the market was flat when I retired and waiting to take SS had a built in 7-8% annual growth rate. And future COLAs would be based on larger current payments.

If either of us would have had a serious health issue we would not have waited. But, if making that decision today and given the current US debt amount I’m not sure I would wait. I don’t have as much faith in SS being there now as I did 11 years ago.

Dan Blocker (Hoss Cartwright from Bonanza) went to school there.

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As a boy, Blocker attended Texas Military Institute. He enrolled in a San Antonio school in 1940. He went to Hardin-Simmons University and Sul Ross State University, where he earned a degree in speech and drama.[3]

In 1946, Blocker played football at Southern Baptist-affiliated Hardin–Simmons University in Abilene, Texas. In 1947, he transferred to Sul Ross State Teacher's College in Alpine, Texas, where he was a star football player, and graduated in 1950. After two years of military service, he earned a master's degree in the dramatic arts.

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If you go to The Breakers get there early and there should be plenty of parking spots. When we left about noon people were circling the lot looking for a space. We went in late July a few years ago.

We also went to Rough Point; Doris Duke’s mansion. It was much less crowded. I asked the staff about Doris killing her interior decorator; don’t think they appreciated that question.

If you get tired of looking at mansions the Lizzie Borden house is about 30 minutes away in Fall River, MA.

We did Zion in the summer in 2021, IIRC. The road, Zion Canyon Scenic Drive, into the main part of the park where the lodge, the narrows, angel landing, etc. are is in and out. When the shuttle is running (Spring, Summer, Fall) cars are not allowed past the visitor center unless you have a lodging or camping reservation.

When the shuttles are not operating I think you can drive to the end of the ZCS Dr. That is where the mile long paved path is that goes to the narrows. There is parking there but not a lot.

There is also parking at the lodge. I don’t know if you have to be staying at the lodge to park there. There are several hikes you can take from the lodge such as to the Emerial pools.

There are also other parts of Zion that in a different area than where ZCS Drive is. North of St George, about 20 miles I think, off of I-5 is the Kolob Canyon Visitor Center. It’s in and out 5 miles and there is hike to a scenic overlook at the end of the road.

Be sure to drive Zion-Mt Carmel Hwy, through the tunnel, to the canyon overlook.

Key West, Charleston/Savannah,

Maybe southwest Florida; Naples area but don’t know what their situation is after the recent hurricanes.

Canada doesn’t use pennies; they round up or down to the nearest nickle.

That works for me; especially since it cost $.03 to make $.01.

NM - link posted