SUMMER OF CHARLOTTE - PHASE I
Looking back on this summer, I realize that most of what follows was possible because Charlotte was an early walker - taking her first steps before the twelve-month mark and turning her back on crawling by the time she reached thirteen-months old. I was thinking about the walking in the context of, "what will we do next summer", and realized that the walking makes it seem like she's older than she really is, that we are likely in line for a similar summer in 2024 - that she'll still be too young for rides at Sesame Place and Dutch Wonderland and too young to remember trips to places like Hershey and Lancaster or some larger scale trip further afield. Then I realized that next summer will likely be a repeat of this summer...which considering 2023 was a great summer...isn't necessarily a bad thing.
In the middle of May we took a day trip down to Ocean City. The trip was part introducing Charlotte to the Atlantic Ocean, which was freezing although a bit warmer that the Pacific Ocean, part scoping out the beach house we were renting in a few weeks, and part a quiet drive through the South Jersey Shore beach towns before the summer heats up. We made a few notes: Charlotte will not voluntarily leave the ocean or beach - her toes could turn blue and she'd still try to take on the waves. Charlotte likes Maanco and Maanco pizza. We drove the Ocean Drive all the way down to Stone Harbor and stopped at Jim's Lunch, Mike Trout's favorite place in Millville. I'm not sure eating at Jim's Lunch will give me an MVP-type edge but whatever works for Mike Trout, works for him.
At the end of May we shot up to NYC mid-week to attend Joyce's friend's graduation. Charlotte won't remember a thing but that didn't stop us from taking her photo at a few iconic locations.
Early summer was a good time to be out and about. We stuck around home for Memorial Day weekend. On Saturday we headed into Center City, grabbed breakfast at K'Far, a coffee at La Colombe, and walked around Rittenhouse Square - really doesn't get much better than that for a quiet Saturday morning. We killed some time at City Hall before catching the train back to Conshohocken.
Time for a road trip. There're two challenges with road trips these days. First, we need to return in time for Charlotte's afternoon nap, although she'll likely start the nap in the car. Second, Annie's still tagging along so we need to find places that are dog friendly mid-morning onwards. A loop out to The Pinnacle Overlook, a complete blank spot on the map, was a good dip-of-the-toe into restarting local road trips. Breakfast at C.R. Lapp's, just west of Quarryville. This is the sort of place you'd expect Steve Doocy to broadcast Fox & Friends from one morning but their Bouva Sampler, which is scrambled egg in homefries topped with American cheese and stewed tomatoes is out-of-this world fantastic. So different. So phenomenal. I'll need to return. Pinnacle Outlook was decent. Glad I finally made it to Oxford, not sure I'll ever head back. Kennett Square's always a great time just wish it was closer. Charlotte loved Kennett Square Brewing's mushroom pizza. Charlotte and Annie were the perfect travel companions - always up for anything.
The Odunde Festival is the largest African Street Festival in the U.S. It's held the second Saturday in June. I've been wanting to go a for a few years now and finally made it down there this year. Lots for Charlotte to soak in. Wish there was a bit more food vendors, wish it wasn't as hot, sad that Balkan Express never seems to be open, fun walking around this neighborhood and wow, what a festival it is. It just goes on and on and on. I'm not sure what I was expecting but Odunde is a full-fledged, major league festival. Will definitely need to return sooner rather than later although will come early like we did this time.
Jersey Shore week-long vacation time!!! One of the interesting things about having a child is that what's old becomes new again. I've been to the Jersey Shore a lot. I've been to the Boardwalk a lot. I'm not really a Jersey Shore-type of person. I don't like doing the same trip over and over every year. I don't really like the Jersey Shore towns (I'll end that thought there). Coming down here with Charlotte for the first time? It felt like it was my first time again.
At the start of July we met up with Toni at Parks on Tap at McMichael Park. When I'd go to these beer gardens with my dad, we'd sit and have a nice conversation, observe the crowd, but never have much of interaction. With Charlotte, she's either the star of the show, waving to everyone, walking up to random groups to say hi, or she's running around with other kids. It gives a relaxing summer night out in Philadelphia a new meaning.
We went to a sprayground in Phoenix and lo and behold there's one at the Houston Rec Center in Upper Roxborough. No idea why I forgot to wear my own swimsuit but Charlotte certainly enjoyed herself.
A quiet Friday night in July? Let's head over to Chestnut Hill. A beer at Chestnut Hill Brewing. Another at Campbell's Place - the owner was so into Charlotte that she brought out the street chalk and drew up a hopscotch. Just what I needed after a busy week at work.
Charlotte's Second Hoffmaster Campout - but the first one where she's a walker and eating solid food. From the campground to the pool and all points in between, there was lots of chasing Charlotte around. We didn't have much luck spending the night in the tent, otherwise it was a very busy and fun weekend.
Filipino birthday party in Toms River? And we are off. I've been intrigued with Toms River since their back-to-back appearances in the Little League World Series. Always wondered what Toms River had that Warrington didn't, besides Todd Frazier. And I don't know. I liked the waterfront area. There was a decent microbrewery and a few decent looking restaurants in the town center. The town felt past its prime and didn't seem to be in the phase of a renewal/renaissance. If there were twenty store fronts, ten were vacant. I don't quite know why Toms River town center wouldn't be a bit more bustling, the surrounding area has a decent enough of a population and income levels to support local businesses in a town center, but I could also be completely wrong about all this. In typical Charlotte fashion, once she saw a few people singing karaoke (which always makes an appearance at a Filipino party), she had to grab the microphones herself and belt out a tune.
To New York City again. This time to meet Filipino visitors for dinner in Little Italy. Sensory overload. Everyone gets a wave.
When we weren't out and about it was outback at Lola and Papa's. Playing in the turtle sandbox, reading books, and eating S'mores.
Two and under get free admission at the Warrington Swim Club - so guess who was there nearly every time she visited Lola and Papa this summer? Charlotte. The place hasn't changed much in the past thirty years. Only things that seemed to be missing, besides the diving boards, were the Fun Dip and Ghost-N-Goblins arcade game in the snack bar. Best chicken tenders.
Daddy Daughter extended lunch break trip to Manayunk...or answering the question on how long does it take to eat a half pretzel? We started in Pretzel Park, which was rocking with a summer camp, walked around Main Street for a bit, grabbed a cappuccino in Volo, vegan lunch at Volstead. Good weather. Good times. Need to do a fall circuit here when the leaves start to change.
And another trip to the Jersey Shore. This time to visit Aunt Karen and Uncle Jim in Point Pleasant Beach. The waves were a bit rougher today but that didn't stop Charlotte from send a barrage of sand throws at the ocean.
One last mini road trip, almost a pre-trip for the coming Fall season. Ben's Morrisville Deli - because, because why not? I've zipped past Morrisville enough times on Route 1 and owed it to myself to see what I was zipping past. Nice little blue-collar town. There're rocks marking the spot of Penn's Purchase. I'll need to return for a tour of Robert Morris's house. A drive up the lower River Road. Through Upper Makefield (maybe we should buy a home here...checks commute to work...maybe not). A walk amongst the chickens at Earth's Best Organics. A cappuccino at The Fancy Fig. Good morning before circling up to Lola and Papa's.