Koziar's Christmas Village - Bernville, PA

Years ago I read an article about one of best Christmas decorated areas in America.  I read about Koziar’s Christmas Village located in rural Pennsylvania.  I filed that under “Never mind, when will I be there?” (I had never even been to PA at this time)

This year we were in PA brainstorming things to go see for the holidays and BAM I remember.  I found out it’s a 1.5 hour drive from Philadelphia…sold.  When will I have this chance again.

Kazoo’s Christmas Village is located in Burnsville, PA and celebrates their 68th anniversary this year.  

2015 Season runs from November 7 - January 2. 

Admission: 3 & Under FREE, 4 to 10 $8, 11 to 64 $10, 65+ $9.

PROS

Never-ending Christmas Lights!

The view of the Christmas Village when you come down the hill.

Bathroom Decor.  The Christmas decorations continue on to the bathrooms.

Organized Line.  As you walk through the Village a path is roped off to allow everyone the chance to see everything.

Free Parking

CONS

Food Selection. They do serve hot chocolate and popcorn.  If you are making the long drive I would stop somewhere along the way and eat before you go.  (We didn’t come for the food but there were some people assuming they had a restaurant).

Merchandising.  They have a large selection of ornaments and christmas decor for sale. I was hoping they would have unique “Koziar’s Christmas Village” ornaments for gifts or souvenirs but no such luck.  A little disappointing considering the ornament selection.

October in Salem, MA

One of the best fall trips I've taken has been to Salem, MA in October.  Move over snowy little Christmas towns because I have found a little Halloween town!  A lot of what Salem has to offer is year round but the October festivities make it the best time the go.

Things to Do

Salem Witch Museum

The Salem Witch Museum covers everything from the 1692 Salem Witch Trials.  Admission covers reenactments and information on anything you wanted to know about the history of witches.
salemwitchmuseum.com
19 1/2 Washington Square North

Witch Dungeon Museum

Even if you decide not to go in the museum allows for some great photo ops with the stocks in front of the building.  The Witch Dungeon Museum provides a live reenactment and tour of the dungeon.  (Check website for coupons)
witchdungeon.com
16 Lynde Street

House of the Seven Gables

Visit the historical house that inspired Nathaniel Hawthorne's "The House of the Seven Gables." It has been turned into a museum and the house where Hawthorne was born moved to the property.
7gables.org
115 Derby Street

Salem Witch Trials Memorial

The memorial consists of granite benches marked with names of those executed during the Salem Witch Trials.
43 Charter Street

Witch House

The house is the only remaining structure in Salem that stood during the Witch Trials.  The resident was Witchcraft Trials Judge Jonathan Corwin.
310 1/2 Essex Street

Essex Street Pedestrian Mall

Great place to walk around and find souvenirs.  There are halloween themed street performers and musicians.

John Ward House

The house is a National Historic Landmark and it now owned by the Peabody Essex Museum.  If you are interested in first period architecture make sure to stop by.

Annual Psychic Fair and Witchcraft Expo

We walked around to see what all the fuss was about and although I didn't get my fortune told, you can get your cards or palm read at this annual fair.
festivalofthedead.com/psychicfair.html
176 Essex Street
Free Admission

Salem's Vintage Photography

This isn't your normal vintage photography studio...it's HALLOWEEN themed!  They offer many halloween backgrounds and for $50 you walk away with a CD full of all the photos and 3 magnets.  We couldn't resist...
salemsvintagephotography.com
172 Essex Street

*Paid tours of Salem are available but we were able to navigate the area on our own.  There is also a carnival, haunted houses, wax museum and different events in the park.

Where to Eat

Anchor Pub & Grill

If you are looking for an amazing lobster meal without paying an arm and a leg make the 5 minute drive to Beverly, MA (just over the water).  There is nothing fancy about this place but if you want good food this is where the locals go.

The best place to sit for service is the bar but there is a room with tables if you are a large group or with kids.  The specials are listed on a white board and I would stick with what's on that board...you won't regret it!
20 Cabot Street, Beverly, MA

Stuffed Clam

Salem Tips

*The streets downtown are lined with great little restaurants if you want to stay local.  During the October festivities there are long wait times so be sure to put your name in before you are hungry.

*There is a lot of street parking and some paid lots around the small town.  Downtown Salem is very walkable.  We parked and walked everywhere except for the lobster trip to Beverly.

*Dogs are welcome in most places except the museums.  We took our little guy all over town without a problem.  The Halloween themed photographers even helped us dress him up!

York Fair, PA

York Fair - The World's First Fair (est. 1765)

Nothing kicks off the start of Fall better than a county fair.  This weekend we headed to the York Fair's 250th Anniversary.  York is a two hour drive from Philly so we headed out to the country to enjoy the fair.

Butter Sculpture

Admission to the fair was included with concert tickets and we couldn't pass up an opportunity to see Alabama!  What can I say...I am a country music fan and you don't have to ask me twice to go see an Alabama show.

The evening was great!  We took in an Alabama show, ate funnel cakes and fried oreos, saw animals, witnessed a butter sculpture, and ended the night on the ferris wheel.

The York Fair is held every year and begins the first Friday after Labor Day.  York Fair

Weekend in Pittsburgh

My husband and I decided to head to the Steel City for a few days on our way to Cleveland.  Pittsburgh had a reputation for being a rough industrial city but a lot has changed.  The city was clean, the people were friendly, and it actually reminded me of Portland, Oregon.

Things to Do

Check out a game (Pirates/Steelers/Penguins)  

Pittsburgh is known for selling out most of their games even when their teams aren’t doing well so make sure to get your tickets ahead of time.  We checked out a Pirates baseball game.  The whole area in front of the stadium shuts down, including the bridge, for tailgating.  There was a live band, drinks and it was a great time.

Ride the Inclines/Mt. Washington

The inclines let you ride up Mt. Washington in a cable car for great views of the city.  We decided not to ride the inclines and drive up because we wanted to get some exercise and walk around Shiloh Street at the top of Mt. Washington for the great views.  (Only a 5-10 minute drive from downtown) I think the Inclines would be great if you are traveling with kids. 

Inclines

View from Shiloh Street

View from Shiloh Street

Point State Park

Point State Park is a great place to take a walk and enjoy the large fountain.  The park takes up 36 acres and sits right downtown.  Bikes are available to rent to take around the park or ride around downtown.

Andy Warhol Museum

While in the hometown of Andy Warhol it's worth a trip to the Andy Warhol Museum.  It is the largest museum in the country featuring one artist.  Admission is $20 for adults but if you go on a Friday night it's half price.

Yoga in the Square

Downtown Pittsburgh offers a free yoga class every Sunday morning at 10am in outside in the square downtown. (June-September) http://downtownpittsburgh.com/do/yoga-in-the-square

Places to Eat

Primanti Bros.

When in Pittsburgh you have to try one of Primanti's famous sandwiches.  Their sandwiches are large and are stuffed with french fries and coleslaw.  My husband and I shared a sandwich because they were so large.  www.primantibros.com

Pamela's Diner

Pamela's Diner has multiple locations and we tried the one located in "The Strip."  They are well known for their crepe like pancakes and have even been sent to the White House to make them for President Obama.  They offer a large breakfast/brunch menu but stick to any of their pancake options, you won't be disappointed.
pamelasdiner.com

Leaf & Bean (The Strip District)

This interesting coffee shop not only has a tropical laid back atmosphere but it doubles as a cigar shop.  Whether you are just a coffee drinker or enjoy cigars this place will make you feel like you are on vacation.

*The Strip District is a neighborhood in downtown Pittsburgh that features bars, restaurants and shops.  If you are looking for souvenirs or sports memorabilia there are a lot of vendors and some good deals.  In the Strip you can find anything from exotic meat to cigar shops.

Strip District Meats

Montreal, Quebec

We spent a weekend in Montreal and we tried to experience everything Montreal has to offer.  The french speaking capitol of Quebec was like stepping into a small Europe tucked inside Canada.  I was able to practice my french but everywhere we went people spoke English.

Places to Eat:

Schwartz Deli

Famous for their salted meat sandwich.  Schwartz's Deli is the oldest deli in Canada.  This place gets very crowded and there can be a line out the door so try to aim for between meal times, later at night, or take it to go.  The sandwiches are delicious and so large two people can share.  For less than $10 two people can split one.
3895 Saint-Laurent Boulevard

http://schwartzsdeli.com/ca/en/

Dieu du Ciel

If you are looking for a place to relax and have a beer this is a great place.  This microbrewery has a large selection and quite a crowd.  We were able to get a seat on a Saturday night only after standing 5 minutes.
29 Avenue Laurier Ouest
http://www.dieuduciel.com/en/home.php

Juliette & Chocolate

This place is for chocolate lovers.  They have a large dessert selection (anything with white, dark or milk chocolate you can imagine) and great choice of crepes for breakfast/lunch.  

1615 Rue Saint-Denis (Multiple Locations)

Patisserie Au Kouigh Amann

Pastries that melt in your mouth.  This place was heaven and dirt cheap.  Breakfast of a chocolate croissant, regular croissant, and two coffees was less than $10.

322 Avenue du Mont-Royal E.

Boulangerie Mr. Pinchot

I had read reviews about this bakery claiming it was better than "Au Kouigh Amann" so we decided to try both.  The pastries were good but not as tasty as Au Kouigh.

4354 Rue de Brébeuf

Patati Patata

I had never tried poutine but always heard of it as the famous Canadian food so it was a mission to try it while in Montreal.  This place although small and limited seating was packed and had delicious and cheap sliders and poutine.  Poutine is french fries, cheese curds and a brown gravy/sauce.  I realized prefer plain french fries but it was worth a try.

4177 Boulevard Saint-Laurent

Best in Japan Bar

This hidden gem and "Secret Bar" is worth a stop for a great selection of drinks.  The place isn't cheap but the ambiance is worth the visit.  The bar is hidden and we stumbled on it after watching people go through a door that wasn't marked on the street.  The red door is located right next to Patati Patata and a store.  When you open the door from the street the end of the hallway is illuminated by the candlelight of the bar.  The bar does serve Absinthe.

3723 Boulevard Saint-Laurent

For Dog Lovers:Le Doggy Cafe

This is an indoor cafe that let you eat lunch or grab coffee with your dog.  If you are traveling with a dog like myself this place was a great place to stop by and enjoy coffee with my little guy.

avenue 1t9, 4493 Avenue Papineau

Places to Go:

Notre-Dame Basilica

The large Basilica is located in historic Old Montreal.  You can take a tour of the Basilica for around $10 and they do tours all day.  They do hold masses in the church if you are interested in attending.

110 Rue NotrDame O

Mont (Mount) Royal

Montreal's small mountain located right behind McGill University.  Drive or hike up for great views of Montreal.

Boulevard Saint-Laurent

Many of the best restaurants in Montreal are located along this block.  The block is full of restaurants, shops, and bars.  Walking along this block we came across some of the great restaurants and bars listed above.  If you are looking for some unique shopping there is great shopping.

Underground City

Montreal's Underground City is the largest underground complex in the world.  It it made up of interconnected complexes under downtown Montreal with shopping, restaurants and subway stops.  Before going I was told to make sure to get a map because the place is very confusing.  I didn't follow the advice because I'm good with directions and thought I'd be ok.  WRONG.  Get the map!  I spent around an hour lost and going in circles until I was able to find a map.  The Underground City lets you directly walk from Old Montreal to McGill University.

McGill University

McGill University is considered one of the 17 most beautiful university campuses in the world by Travel & Leisure.  The downtown campus is located at the base of Mont Royal.  The University offers guided tours and maps online if you want to take a self-guided tour.  The campus is beautiful and worth walking around.

845 Rue Sherbrooke O

Atwater Market

Before going I read many great reviews for this weekend market.  I was disappointed.  I don't know if it's because we went in the afternoon, but most of the booths were empty and there wasn't many food options.

138 Avenue Atwater

Where to Stay:

Hotel Omni Mont Royal

Using Hotwire we got a great deal for a couple of nights at the Omni Mont Royal. The rooms were spacious and clean with great bedding. The hotel is directly across the street from McGill University. The location allowed us to walk everywhere. Boulevard Saint-Laurent was a 15-20 minute walk, cutting through McGill. Additionally, walking through the Underground City took us to Old Montreal to visit the Notre Dame Basilica.