Keeping in the “tradition” of providing content for the OUP Photography Tour blog, I have yet another stop planned before the 2011 OUP Photography Tour kicks off on January 13th. On December 11th I’ll be headed to HersheyPark’s Christmas Candylane! I’ve been to all of HersheyPark’s Seasonal Events this year, and this marks the last one. Check back that weekend for an update!
Sorry for being a day late with this update, but when I finally got back home last night around 11 PM, I was dead tired. It was all that I could really do to unload my car, and I’ve still yet to unpack. Anyway, yesterday started off extremely early. After going to bed around 11 PM on Saturday, I woke up first around 3 AM, and had problems getting back to sleep. I dozed on and off for a few hours, and eventually just gave up and did some work on the laptop, packed, got showered, and dressed. At 7 AM I hit the hotel’s breakfast, which was much better than last week’s in Wyomissing. They had breakfast burritos & quiche available, although I chose against them. I just went with cereal, a bagel, yogurt, and orange juice.
Afterwards I checked out, and hit the road. Let me tell, this was NOT the week for picking. You have those, so I’m not stressing it too much. I still had an awesome time exploring. I first hit Circle Drive Inn Flea Market in Dickson City, PA. It looks like it has potential to be a huge market, but this time of year, simply was not. There were only maybe 10 vendors, and none of them had anything I was looking for. I moved on, and hit the Pocono Bazaar in Marshalls Creek, PA, and it was bigger and better, but still much of the same. Only picked up two small pieces there. Finally I attempted to hit Garden Drive Inn in Hunlock Creek, PA but… no market at all. I suppose only a diehard like myself hustles year ’round?
Regardless, all three look like markets that during peak season I would love to hit again. Perhaps next Spring? I will also try to find some more for when I make another Northeastern PA trip. After my unsuccessful picking journey, I gave up, and figured why not try some more Christmas shopping? I hit the Mall in Wilkes Barre as well as the Steamtown Mall in Scranton, PA. Scranton is a place I look forward to going back to and exploring. Really nice town with an old-school feel/vibe. The also have an observation bridge to view the town/trains that I shot some AWESOME photography on….
After Wilkes Barre and Scranton I headed back to Dickson City, did some more shopping, and shot some photography. By this time I was getting tired, and cranky, and looking forward to being home. A few hours later when my girlfriend was done with her family & friends (and we got into a nice fight) I picked her up and we headed home. VERY long weekend, took a lot out of me, but A LOT of fun! I always have a good time traveling around, exploring, shooting photography, and “biz deving.” Look forward to another trip back to Northeastern PA!
After working the night hustle last night we ended up getting a late start this morning and didn’t leave town until around 1 PM. I still only got about six hours of sleep, but plan on getting a nice night of rest in tonight. Regardless, upon hitting the road, snow was actually falling! I saw snow for the first time late last night when I was leaving the night hustle, and seeing it again today, Winter has pretty much officially arrived. Boo!
A few short hours later we arrived at Brandi’s friends house, where she is staying this weekend while I am out picking, in Meshoppen, PA. She lives on THE worst driveway/road in THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD. You may think this is an understatement, but no, just the truth. A dirt mountain road with rocks sticking up everywhere, potholes, mudpuddles, you name it. If you ever see the following sign/area… STEER CLEAR! 
Nonetheless, after being very cautious and working my way down this apocalyptic road, I headed towards my hotel, about 3o minutes away, in Dickson City, PA. This week I am staying at the Fairfield Inn by Marriot. Very nice hotel so far. They have a nice indoor pool/spa, which I have yet to try. Not sure if I will or not. Also a Complimentary Breakfast, as I am looking forward to, as always.
The town itself seems pretty awesome with a Mall, which I just went to, and an insane amount of stores, shops, eateries, etc… The Mall I went to is the Viewmont Mall, and is just literally a half a mile up the road from where I am staying. I actually picked up a few Christmas presents while there! The one was a great deal, and something I couldn’t turn down, the other, well… interesting story
Let me tell you, short, dark-haired girls from Israel can be VERY good salespeople. This company that I bought a Christmas present for my girlfriend from has two seperate stands, but with salespeople that come right up to you, and get right into your face. They both look pretty much about the same, and have an accent which is hard to describe. They were both extremely persuasive and “touchy-feely” while demonstrating/pushing their product. Each of them kept repeating the same phrase over and over during their flirting/sales pitch… “OH MY GOOSHNESS!!” You had to be there, classic! I also picked up some dinner at the Mall’s Subway.
I also went to the local Borders, simply because I have never been to any of their locations before. Pretty awesome store! There are so many stores to explore around here. I may hit a few more tomorrow, but I just wanted to get back to the hotel, get some work done, and relax because I have a long day ahead of me tomorrow. I plan on getting up around 6 AM at the latest and getting out picking all across Northeastern Pennsylvania.. I can smell the rusty treasure now!
After finishing my cup of the hotel room’s tea (I love rooms that come with tea in them!), I am going to get a shower, and probably just rest in the room, do some work, watch some TV, and get ready for tomorrow morning. Want to make it a semi-early night so I can get up and out early tomorrow. I’ve yet to plan my route for sure, but looking to possibly hit three Flea Markets, maybe more, maybe less. The ones that I am looking at are in Hunlock Creek, PA, Marshalls Creek, PA, and Carbondale, PA…
I’ll check back tomorrow, enjoy your night!
Just got home from a VERY long, yet VERY fun weekend of traveling pretty much across the State of Pennsylvania. We got up early today, well I got up before my girlfriend, around 6 AM. After enjoying the hotel’s AMAZING breakfast (which included eggs, hash browns, toast, ham, fresh fruit, pretty much EVERYTHING you can imagine) and checking out, it was back on the road!
We decided to head back to Middletown, PA and their “Saturday’s Market.” On Sunday it’s still enjoyable, just MANY less vendors and the indoor market isn’t open. I tend to like the outdoor markets better anyway, but by the time we got there today there really weren’t many deals going on. After being slightly disappointed, I decided to head to another Flea Market I found, this one being about an hour or so away in Denver, Pennsylvania. We didn’t get there until around Noon, but let me tell you, this one DID NOT disappoint! TONS AND TONS of vendors, even though a lot were packing up and leaving when we got there. I plan on going back really soon and making sure to get there early in the AM (we’re talking 5 or 6 AM for sure).
It’s called “Renninger’s Antique & Collector’s Market” and it’s something to check out if you are in to antiques, etc… like I am. In fact, the entire town of Denver, PA has many flea markets and antique shops. I pretty much just scratched the surface there. I honestly cannot wait to go back!
After leaving Denver, PA it was back towards Hershey! Once we got there we actually got to explore a new place to eat, this one being “Fenicci’s of Hershey,” right on Chocolate Avenue. Great atmosphere, alright service, great food. I enjoyed my Fried Haddock meal, although both the Tartar Sauce and the Cole Slaw were, well, pretty much NASTY. I am going to be honest here. Everything else though… on point. I can’t say it was the “best meal I ever had,” but I can say that I would go back. Take that for what you will…..
Afterwards, OF COURSE, it was off to enjoy our last day at HersheyPark and its “HersheyPark In The Dark” activities! Another very fun afternoon/night for sure. Overall it was a very fun “business/pleasure” weekend. I feel that I found some great items on my picking adventures, and had a BLAST traveling around, exploring, at our hotel, the park, and everywhere else we stopped. We will be back in Hershey in December for “Christmas Candylane” and who knows, maybe a surprise stop here or there before year’s end leading up until Florida in January 2011 when the 2011 OUP Photography Tour actually kicks off.
I love exploring/traveling and plan to do so more and more as new business opportunites begin presenting themself, etc…. For now I’ll leave you with a few more shots of today’s fun at HersheyPark! Enjoy, and check back soon, there just may be some surprises/stops, etc… in store!
It’s August 14th, and as promised, I am more than happy to announce the 2011 OUP Photography Tour!
In 2010 the Tour was introduced, and quickly became a passion of mine. I love travel, photography, blogging, the Internet, and business… what could work better? This coming year, I promise, is going to be huge. I will be kicking off the year with a bang in January, and be heading to Miami, Florida as well as Orlando, Florida and DisneyWorld! I am going to DisneyWorld! What could be a bigger and better way to kick off the year and Tour than that?!?
We will also be heading to Sandusky, Ohio and its famed Cedar Point amusement park, HersheyPark (which will be a scheduled Tour stop every year at least once!), and back to Outer Banks, North Carolina! A huge aspect to keep in mind for this year’s Tour is that surprise stops will be included throughout the year, so you never really know where else we may go. To find out, make sure you check out this Blog often!
For example, and great news if you love Hershey as much as me, we’ll be heading to Hershey at least twice before 2010 ends for their “HersheyPark In The Dark” and “HersheyPark Christmas Candylane” events. Both will have featured updates right here in this Blog! A pre-2010 Tour exclusive preview, if you will… I am also working on sponsorships, partnerships, and other behind-the-scenes details which I am hoping to be able to announce at some point soon. If you are interested in participating in anything of such nature shoot me off an Email!
Thanks guys, looking forward to an exciting year!
