Vacation Part 3 - Lancaster

We left Hershey on Friday and went right to the train (about an hours drive away). We arrived and bought our tickets and the kids each bought a few things in the gift shop while we waited for departure time.

Upon boarding the train the kids were very excited.
The conductor was very nice and told us lots of area history as we rode the 9 miles of track along area Amish farms. The train moved really slow (about 30 miles an hour) I am not a history person so I was a little bored but then again I had figured I would be and was there to support my son's dream of riding a train...I admit, it irritated me a little to know that each car took $250,000 to restore... starving children in the world dying every day but hey lets make a slow train for scenic rides. As I said, that's just me. Not a history person. I feel like there are always things in the present that need our attention and money more. But anyway...

This is a motel we passed where you can stay in a refurbished caboose.

Mal spent the trip like this and Elise spent the trip asking "Are you sure that bug's on the outside of the window?"

We got done and as we sat back in the car I asked "So Mal, what'd ya think?" And his response was "Boooorrrring!" Too funny. I thought it was just me but apparently the Rob Abells are better suited for other pass times!

We checked into our hotel and I needed a break so Rob disappeared with the kids and when they returned they had new swimming suits (and were VERY proud of them).

We all went down to the indoor pool in our hotel and chilled. While in the pool we realized we were swimming with a Methodist youth group. I was talking with one of the parents and she had pointed to Rob and asked if that was my husband when Mal chimed in "We call him Rob but she calls him her lover". (Which, I do not. Only Mal refers to Rob as my "lover", not I!!) So I turned red and the lady did too. We took the kids back to the room and they passed out quickly. This was the scene by 8pm.

The next day (Saturday) we were planning on going to the bottom of Philly to Longwood Gardens but we called it off and just hung out in Lancaster. Too much driving for little people. We found a cool playground with a duck pond just a few miles down the road from our hotel. The we went to lunch and shopping - letting the kids each buy a new outfit. You can really see their personalities in what they picked!

The rest of the day was spent swimming at the hotel and just laying low. The next morning we drove home. It was nice to get away but perhaps a bit too long for kids so young. Next time we think we'll do the cabin at a state park idea for about three nights and call it good.