College Road Trip!

The winter break we've all be praying for is quickly arriving. That also means extra time not spent on homework, studying, and all the other wonderful things that come along with college life. What are we going to do with ourselves? Road Trip! 

      We live in just the right area too, just a hop,skip and a jump away from a couple other amazing states. How about the beautiful mountains of Virginia, the beaches of Jersey, the Big Apple, the ski lodges of Pennsylvania, or the eve the rivers in Delaware? If you don't get to these places be sure to definitely check out Maryland along with the "Crabs, Old Bay and Beer" blog! She gives great restaurant advice, recipes, and interesting places to visit. Get Up and Get Out now that you have the time. You won't retreat it. http://yesimfrommaryland.blogspot.com

Waterfront Winterfest

It's the most wonderful time of the year! Winter is approaching rather rapidly and along with it traditional holiday activities. Waterfront Winterfest at Penn's landing is the perfect way to jump into the Christmas spirit.

 Penn's landing offers an Olympic size skating rink, to the public, over looking the vibrantly lit bridge that stretches across the Delaware River. Even though this a great winter sport families, friends, and lovers alike look forward to it's not all Winterfest has to offer. Surrounding the skating rink are spectacular tress, sparking lights, rustic wooden benches, 360degree walk ways, and other outdoor attributions that make guests feel as if they're right at the heart of a winter wonderland.

Winter nights can get chilly, especially after spending hours on ice. Luckily, there are enchanting stone fire pits surrounding the rink that offer warmth to skaters or fervent onlookers.  This year's added feature includes cozy huts to rest in before getting back onto the ice. They are decorated with festive wreaths, twinkling lights, strung from the stone fireplaces, and comfy couches. Hungry? Check out the Lounge, a huge heated tent, decorated to make guests feel right at home, cabin style. There are plenty of tables, couches, and wooden rocking chair, for families, hungry guests, or those looking to get out of the cold. The Lounge has delicious hot chocolate and coffee, for numb fingers and warm bellies, as well as classic dinner options. The best part is admission is only 3$ and skate rentals 10$. If you're a Blue Cross member admission is free! 

Late Night Diner Runs

College students are all too familiar with the nights that consist of tons homework, two six-page papers (that have yet to be written), a chemistry lap to be typed, a power point presentation to be made, a room to be cleaned, along with countless of other things to do all by midnight, and yet we can't seem to do any of it. This is mostly because we are off eating food, that preferably isn't campus made, with our friends. I think I can safely say that many of us are guilty of this but quality time with friends and quality food is always worth it; most of the best college memories are always made during these nights. Our go-to diner on these nights has been Minella's Diner. They offer great food that is sure to satisfy late night cravings and distraction from a night of procrastination. Whether you'e in the mood for breakfast, lunch, dinner, desserts, or just a cup of coffee the diner is the best night spot to eat out at, and the best part is its open 24/7! 

Shore to Please

Believe it or not, one of the best times to go to the beach is in the fall. It's a beautiful time of the year without the extreme heat, unbearable cold, and overwhelming crowds. It's the perfect time to pick a sunny day and make a day trip down to the shore! It's just a short drive, only an hour and a half, over the bridge into New Jersey. You would be surprised how many of your favorite shops are still open on the Ocean City Boardwalk and even more surprised how many of them have great sales going on. Many of the clothing, furniture, surf, jewelry, and others are open all year round, whether on the boardwalk or on Asbury Ave, starting at 5th street. Because the Christmas season is just around the corner, you can pick out presents and decorations at Mia's Christmas Gallery on the boardwalk.  Even if it is on the cooler side, you can stay warm with some delicious, gourmet coffee from Ocean City Coffee Co and grab some lunch from the shore's favorite Manco and Manco's Pizza. If you're looking for a nicer seafood dinner, The Crab Trap is the place is the place to go.

Hit the Trail

We are a generation all too consumed with technology. We often forget that there is a world beyond our computer screens and life on social media. I want to encourage you to put down the smart phones and to get in touch with the outdoors, after you read my blog of course.

Valley Forge National Historical Park is a beautiful get away, conveniantly only a short distance away. The park has 19.5 miles of hiking trails that take you anywhere from the Appalachian trail to Mount Joy. You can choose to from a variety of trails, such as, hilly, flat, historic, depending on your intended adventure, including, hilly, flat, long distance, and historic.  If you want to take on Valley Forge National Park by bike there are 21 miles of trail available to the public, both paved and unpaved. 

If you aren't into the whole physical activity there is no excuse not to get involved in the outdoors. The park offers guided old fashioned trolley tours so you can enjoy 90 minutes of historic information and the beautiful scenery all at the same time. Times may vary so be sure to check out their website for more information. Even if this doesn't appeal to you, the park provides a self-guided driving tour that takes you through some of the most beautiful scenic views, as well as, monuments. It can last as short as 20 minutes and as long as 2 hours, it is up to you. 

Valley Forge National Park provides interesting for other actives like bird watching and offers special accommodations, such as, story telling benches. They are continuously active with children, offering scout programs and historical soldier actives. So the moral of the story is, there is a way everyone can get involved with the outdoors! 

Bringing Bowling Back

I can take a guess, that for most people, the last time you went bowling was most likely for someones 8th birthday party. I'm sure that most of us clearly remember using those dinosaur shaped bowling shoots that guaranteed at least a spare or pretending that we were some sort of astronaut with those slightly ridiculous bowling shoes. Even though times have changed, and we don't go around searching for the heaviest ball to throw down the lane or turn every knob of the prize machines to see if one will magically come out, okay maybe sometimes, bowling still lives on.

An Apple a Day, Keeps the Boredom Away

The fall season has arrived and with it all the things that we love! We can fully enjoy sweater weather, beautiful leaves, crisp air, colorful scarves, jack-o-lanterns, and yes, pumpkin flavored everything, but lets not forget the classic apple picking. Linvilla Orchard is the place to go for all your autumn needs. They have acres of orchards, filled with a variety of apples from Golden Delicious to Fuji. You can load up one of the carts that they provide, scout for the best apples of the bunch, and either pay by the pound or fill up your box for a set price. Just think of all the delicious pies and afternoon snacks that are sure to come.

Free? Sounds Delicious!

There is nothing college students enjoy more than Food, Deals, and FREE stuff. These words are like music to any college students ears. Luckily, some businesses understand that we still have college loans to pay.  Here is a list of deals (depending on your location) that will make our lives, as broke students, a little less painful. 

Food:

•  Burger King: 10% off of purchase with valid student ID 
•  Chick-fil-a: Free drink with purchase with valid student ID
•  Arby's:10% off of purchase with valid student ID
•  McDonald's:10% off of purchase with valid student ID
•  Buffalo Wild Wings:10% off of purchase with valid student ID
•  SubWay:10% off of purchase with valid student ID
•  DairyQueen:10% off of purchase with valid student ID
•  Chipotle: Free drink with purchase with valid student ID
•  ShredWich: Every Monday is College Monday, receive 50% off any meal with student 

Entertainment:

•   Reel Cinema: 9$ movie ticket with ID; 5$ midnight showing, along with opportunities to win prizes. Check out their website for specific midnight dates and showings
•   Eastern State Penitentiary: 10$ to enter just present student ID at ticket counter.
•  Philadelphia's Magic Gardens: 5$ with student ID
• Oct. 20th See the Philly Orchestra perform free with college ID. If you have further interest in their shows, college students can purchase unlimited tickets for only 25$. 

Other:

• Check out Groupon! They have amazing deals for restaurants, sporting events, various activities, and promotions
• Amazon Student: 50% Amazon prime. It comes with 2 day shipping, exclusive deals and promotions, 5$ (both) for referring a friend, unlimited photo storage, TV, movies, and more. They also offer 6 month free trial!
• FedEx: When you’re shipping a package, you can earn 20% to 30% off by showing your student ID.

Retail: 

• Alex & Ani: Students with ID receive 10% off in-store purchases of non-sale items at this jewelry maker. 
• Banana Republic: Save 15% on your full-priced, in-store purchases only.
• J.Crew: The store offers 15% off when you’re shopping in-store. Learn more about the discount on their website.

Your Not So Typical Bar

No need to worry, you don't have to be 21 to get into this bar. The Wayne Coffee and Ice Cream Bar is a hidden gem, located below a restored suburban building right in the heart of Wayne. This social hub offers coffee and donuts, as well as, ice cream and treats, both in the morning and late in the evening to help you "start and end your day right."
 The Wayne bar can satisfy any sweet tooth with their unique selection of ice cream from the best vendors, local and far alike:

• Graeter's Ice Cream Co. ~ Cincinnati Ohio 
• Little Baby's Ice Cream Co. ~ Frankford Ave, Phila
• La MiChoacan Ice Cream ~  Kennett Square, Pa
• Scooped Ice Cream Co. ~ Eagle, Pa 

 They are sure to have tasty classics, such as mint chocolate chip, and new monthly flavors, like Carmel Stout, that will quickly become your favorite choice. Wayne bar is known for delicious milk shakes, hand dipped ice cream, and famous "Wayne Bar Sundae." They also have a variety of options for vegans. Be sure to check out their menu!

Pet Therapy: Stress Free, Mess Free

Let's face it, we can't help but smile when we see a dog happily wag its tail or a kitten pounce on the fuzzy toy strategically pulled across the floor. For those of us at college, being away means that we are forced to leave behind our best friends, better known as pets, for the piles of work that inevitably leads to stress. But no need to fear, Pet Supplies Plus has just the solution. This friendly pet store may be small but their workers and volunteers have a big heart for animals. They encourage visitors to play with their "ready to adopt" kittens and cat, even if adoption isn't an option for them.They also have other animals, such as birds, guinea pigs, frogs, snakes, and fish, that may spark your interest. If you are looking for more than just a short weekend visit Pet Supplies Plus offers volunteer hours, from once a week to once a month, that best fit any busy college student's schedules. Not only does this relieve some unwanted stress, but it allows students to return to college life without the responsibility of taking care of another animal full time, and no I'm not taking about a roommate. Who says you can't have your cake and eat it too.