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| Here are some ways to make your drive into an
adventure: | | 1 - |
Mount Vernon by Candlelight | | 2 - | Where You Can Sleep on Cloud Nine | | 3 - | Lone Star Barbecue & Mercantile | | 4 - | EZ pass not so Easy in MD | | 5 - | Come Celebrate Ben Franklin’s 300th Birthday |
 | 1 - Mount Vernon by Candlelight |
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For a real special Holiday treat, why not stop and find out how
George Washington and his family celebrated Christmas? On December
2nd-4th and December 9th-11th Mount Vernon, his home, is bathed in
the warmth of firelight .
Visitors learn about the Washingtons' Christmas traditions; tour the
candlelit Mansion including the rarely-seen third floor; and meet
historical characters including Martha Washington and Tobias Lear, who
served as Washington’ secretary during his presidency.
On the grounds, guests enjoy caroling and free cookies and hot
cider around a roaring campfire. This is the only time of the year that
Mount Vernon is open exclusively for public evening tours.
You can buy tickets at Mount Vernon’s Main Gate or through Ticketmaster at 703-573-7328 or http://www.ticketmaster.com/artist/847545.
The food court and The Shops at Mount Vernon will be open until 9 p.m.
- admission tickets are not required to visit these areas. Price
Adults: $15,Children 11 and under: $8.
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| 2 - Where you can sleep on Cloud Nine |
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Following
the lead of upscale boutique hotels, Hampton Inns now have a new Cloud
Nine bed experience. Forget the old-fashioned bedspread - you can now
wrap yourself up in the plush down-like comforter covered with a crisp
white duvet cover. Sink into the three or four pillows with your choice
of firmness (some filled with soft down, some with firmer foam), and
you can also enjoy a lumbar pillow in a soothing color, that provides
you with back support while reading, watching television or using the
Hampton lap desk. To find a comfy room along I-95: 1-800-Hampton
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| 3 - Lone Star Barbecue & Mercantile |
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We aim to find as many family restaurants
as we can along I-95. At the Lone Star Barbecue & Mercantile at
Exit 98 in Santee, SC you will find the real deal when it comes to
down-home cooking (named #1 in the State), and you can try it all on
the buffet. Sure, there's BBQ with sweet or spicy gravy, fried chicken
and hush puppies, but also catfish stew, sweet potatoes with raisins
and marshmallows, apple salad, tomato pie, barbecue hash on rice,
beans, corn on the cob, slaw and more. If you're rushed for time, you
can take it to go.
As you walk on the creaky wooden floors,
appreciate that these buildings are all over 100 years old and were
part of a town. They were brought here and attached together to
recreate a bygone era. Enjoy reminiscing as you gaze at the shelves
laden with old time kitchenware, duck decoys, tools, shoes in boxes,
soda bottles, tins and food. We especially loved the curtains - old
underwear hanging on a clothes line. Hours; Thursday to Saturday 11
a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. 2212 State Park Rd. www.lonestarbarbecue.net Tel: 803-854-2000 |
| 4 - E-ZPass problems in MD |
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Those of you who happily enjoy the ease of flying through E-ZPass lanes should take notice of this:
Back
on Memorial Day, the MdTA raised the speed limit for E-ZPass lanes,
from 5 mph to 10 and 15 mph, according to MdTA executive director Trent
Kittleman. The 10 mph limit is for single E-ZPass lanes; the 15 mph
limit is for E-ZPass lanes separated from regular toll booth lanes by
other E-ZPass lanes.
If an E-ZPass customer breaks the posted
speed limit "by a significant amount," the MdTA will send a notice
warning that their pass could be suspended for two months if the
speeding continues. "We don't give a notice if it's
just a few miles" Kittleman said. "You have to be going well over the posted
speed limit to get a notice" warning of a possible suspension.
Kittleman said that of 300,000 E-ZPass accounts, only 100 customers this year have received a two-month suspension.
Drive
I-95 wants to know how to drive at 5 m.p.h. anyway? In contrast, in NJ,
they have figured out how to keep the traffic flowing: you can finally
drive through at your regular 65 mph speed at the bottom of the State
at mile 7. If one scanner can read at that speed, why not the others?
Do they need a speed reading course? |
| 5 - Come Celebrate Ben Franklin’s 300th Birthday |
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Ben’s 300th birthday is on January 17,
2006, so his city of Philadelphia is opening a major exhibition, Benjamin Franklin: In Search of a Better World at the National
Constitution Center on December 15th (which will run until April 30,
2006). In his time, Benjamin Franklin was this country’s greatest
scientist, inventor, diplomat, humorist, philanthropist and
entrepreneur. Three centuries later, his image is ubiquitous and his
achievements legendary, but the real lessons of his extraordinary life
are less well understood.
To expose you to his ingenious
problem-solving methods and leave you inspired by his example, 250
original Franklin artifacts, with more than 40 interactive
opportunities, including special effects, hands-on activities and
family-centered fun, which borrow from Franklin’s curiosity, wit and
wisdom have been gathered. The exhibit covers his youth, B. Franklin
Printer, his role in founding many of Philadelphia’s key philanthropic,
educational and civic institutions, Franklin’s inventions and his
diplomacy in France and England, etc.
Tickets to the
exhibition are $ 14 for adults; $ 12 for children ages 4-12, seniors,
college students and active military personnel; and $8.50 for groups of
20 or more. Tickets can be purchased by phone at (215) 409-6700 or
online at www.gophila.com/go/ben and more info can be found at www.benfranklin300.org
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| What's inside Drive I-95 : | |
Look ahead exit by exit to see which motels (with
800 numbers), gas stations, restaurants, campgrounds, 24-hour
pharmacies, auto mechanics, radio stations or radar traps are there.
We share our stories of the road : history on I-95, museums, trivia,
towns to explore or places to run the kids. These can be read for
entertainment during the drive, and may entice you to stop, stretch
your legs and discover someplace new. |
P.S. Why not buy the book as a holiday gift? Click here
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