Day-Tripping in Eastern Pennsylvania

What a great day we had last Friday!  The weather was fantastic so we postponed our chores and yard work to hit the road.  Since we moved to New Freedom, PA three years ago, we haven’t really taken much time to just get into the car and explore the area.  Looking at our map, we hit upon the idea of driving along the Susquehanna River to Wrightsville and then on to Mount Joy.  Mount Joy enjoys the reputation of being the go-to place for the affluent in years past.

The drive along the Susquehanna was picturesque but unfortunately the road turned away from the river after Brogue.  We continued through Wrightsville where we happened to see this tavern with hand-painted screens on all the front windows.

The bridge that connects Wrightsville and Columbia is a must-see.  This beautiful span is a mile long and was finished in 1930.  But before the present bridge was constructed, many other bridges had been built and destroyed for various reasons.  The most famous one was the covered bridge that spanned the Susquehanna during the Civil War.  The painting below depicts the bridge being burned by Union troops to keep the Confederates from crossing the river.

Today the bridge makes a wonderful backdrop when you dine at the John Wright Store and Restaurant.  The old factory that houses the restaurant was once an ironworks and some of the factory installations have been used as sculptures on the grounds of the restaurant.

As you can see, you can have lunch or dinner on the patio.  The store carries some of my favorite brands, Brighton Jewelry and Vera Bradley Bags.  Who knew that this little gem was so close to our home?

Columbia, PA has become one of my most favorite towns in our state.  If you don’t eat at John Wright, you can go to Hinkle’s Pharmacy, an old-fashioned gift shop and general store.There is a small diner inside that has the long counters with leatherette bar stools that were so popular in the 50′s.

And if you enjoy poking around thrift shops like we do, you’ll find that the Reusit Shop fits the bill.  This place is clean and organized into neat departments.  The displays have been lovingly arranged.  But the best part of this shop is that the prices are cheap, cheap, cheap!  After the two Mennonite ladies at the register had checked us out, we noticed a blue dog in the display window.  This little fat guy was made of heavy rubber and was just begging for a new home. If anyone can tell me who he is, I would be very grateful!  $4.50 bought our little friend and we finally got into the car and continued on to Mount Joy.

Alas, by this time it was getting so late in the day that we barely scratched the surface of Mount Joy.  We took a quick drive through the town and were immediately delighted by the quaint New-England type atmosphere.  Unfortunately, our own little dog was waiting at home so we made plans to re-visit beautiful Mount Joy another time.

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