‘Roadside America’ Articles at Sweetnicks

Visit: Packet Alley, Delaware

August 12, 2018 · Narrative

Looking for a fun day trip with your family? Let’s head to Delaware!

Last summer, another family and I planned a whirlwind day trip to Delaware. If you’re a regular reader here, you know I am fond of the Roadside America app, and that’s how a quick visit to Packet Alley in New Castle, Delaware got added to our “Things to Do” list.

Seriously the cutest neighborhood ever with narrow cobblestone streets and beautifully designed houses, I swear I would move there in a heartbeat. We slowly navigated our way to our destination and found on-street parking easily.

This above sign was put in in 1933, to herald the significance of this little blink-and-you-miss it historical alley way.

Why was this spot so important?

Back in the 1830s and ’40s, it was a common DC-to-Northeast thoroughfare for many of those traveling North. Stagecoaches from the south would unload on one end of the alley by the street, and riverboats from the north would pick up the contents from the other end and be on their way. A practice started in the 19th century, many famous people walked the same path we did that summer day, including former President Andrew Jackson, Presidential hopeful Henry Clay, Davy Crockett and Chief Black Hawk.

…

Visit: World’s Largest Tooth {Princeton, New Jersey}

July 12, 2013 · Narrative

Over the last few months, we have visited the tallest and largest Buddha statue, the world’s largest frying pan, and a 34-foot tall statue of Mary. Why not the world’s largest tooth next?

Another find, courtesy of the awesome Roadside America app, we hit this oddity a few weeks back when we were in Princeton for the afternoon. It is a replica of a human molar and stands an impressive 15 feet tall. It is on Sloan Avenue, in front of an industrial-type warehouse facility, across the street from the train station, and was very easy to find. Standing next to it, there are statues of a couple, looking very confused. I would be confused too if I suddenly discovered a fifteen foot tall tooth on the side of the road!

…

Traveling This Summer? You Need This App. {Roadside America}

June 10, 2013 · Narrative

When I was planning our recent road trip to Baltimore, I wanted to break up the road trip a bit. Both to make it more fun and interesting along the way, and to give me a chance to get out of the car to stretch my legs a bit.

I heart road trips because it gives you a chance to really see the areas you’re going through, and unless you have a tight schedule, you have the freedom and control to stop whenever you want to. Many of my fondest memories from back in the day are from road trips with friends, even The Ex (our honeymoon was a road trip to Florida), and now that the kids and I road trip together, it’s even better.

So I googled around to find some good web sites that would show me some quirky and fun stops we could do along the way to Baltimore this weekend, and I hit pay dirt when I happened upon Roadside America’s web site. You can search by state (and drill down by city), and find a plethora of places that are off-the-beaten path type kitschy things to do along the way (including specific directions, tips, and whether or not others deemed it worth a stop). It also has a route planner so you can map out your journey. I put our home address in for the start and finish of the trip, and plugged in all the stops I wanted to do along the way, to give me an itemized turn-by-turn itinerary, which I printed out and brought with me. By using Roadside America’s itinerary, I was able to have the most efficient way to visit all the stops, but then I also plugged each address into the GPS, so I wouldn’t have to refer to the paper while we were en route.

Me <<<< safe driver!

…

Visit: Roadside America {Shartlesville, Pennsylvania}

March 26, 2013 · Narrative

Every year we went to Hershey Park, I would see Roadside America on the opposite side of the highway.

And I would make a mental note that I wanted to stop there.

And every year, on the way home from Hershey Park, we would pass right by it before I realized it, and I would make a note to stop by the following year.

This went on for years.

Seriously.

But finally (finally!) when the kids and I and Mystic and his kids last went together (Labor Day 2011), we managed to stop in and finally check it out.

Roadside America is one of those quaint little unique stops that is perfect when you’re on a road trip and want to get out of the car for a few minutes and stretch your legs. Billed as “the world’s greatest indoor miniature village,” it certainly is a sight to behold. It started as a hobby of two young boys (Paul and Larry) in the late 1800’s and was born from their fantasies and active imaginations. Buoyed by regular drawing lessons from a nun (at three cents each session), the boys spent all their after-school and weekend free time working on the miniature houses and villages. Putting everything they had into it.

…