New Oxford, Here we come!

I have passed through New Oxford numerous times and never took the time to consider making a left or right turn on any of the side streets. We just drove through it to an auction site that we visit every once in awhile in Hanover, PA. I have to admit that we had wondered about a couple of bed and breakfasts that were around town, but we never followed our curiosity to see where it takes us. We should have!

As always I heard the tip in the weirdest places; waiting in line to mail an IRS envelope in the post office, the guy was telling his friend about an antique mall in New Oxford, PA. I did not want to look that I was ears dropping or interrupting him, but he was talking at length and by the time he was done talking he was out of the post office. I had a choice to wait another 20 minutes in line by chasing him, or wait my turn (next one in line) and Google the matter. Time restraint made me choose the latter. So….

We took I270 North towards Frederick and continued on Route 15 N towards Thurmont and Gettysburg. There are a few stops that are worth the while if you have time to stop and explore. The Cunningham Falls is on Route 15 and it is a decent place to cool off and take a dip in the lake area of the park. The hike is also a desired activity, if it is not too hot to follow the trails. Another place that is also worth looking into and I just found out about is Catoctin Wildlife Preserve Zoo just before Thurmont. The zoo features unique safari truck rides that allow visitors to touch and feed large herbivores in a wooded setting. What people don’t know is that this place has a big collection of snakes with deadly venoms for research purposes. Scientist study the venom to make an anti dote for the poison when and if someone is stung by that. Thy have rooms full of these cold blooded reptiles that hiss and move to just give you the creeps.

Upon entering the state of Pennsylvania, be prepared to take a look at their outlet just on your right hand side. The Outlet is nothing compared to the big and fancy one in Leesburg, VA or the one on Route 50, but with the limited choices that you are offered, I always get a lot of shopping done for a lot less than anywhere else. The prices are a lot cheaper and there is no sales tax!

On route 15 there are a lot of farms that in the past just sold you their produce on stands with big signs, but this time I noticed people actually walking the fields and picking up their own fruit. The trend of picking up your fruit has gotten into the border of Maryland/Pennsylvania and I guess now days this is a family activity for bonding and spending quality time together. When I stopped at one of the stands, people were picking cherries and blueberries and looked flushed, yet very happy and satisfied. The produce was as good as any other farmer market.

A few exits after Gettysburg, we finally turned into Route 30 East towards Hanover, and that is the road that we were very familiar, but not anymore! In the place that they once had all the junk stores, a new building with 10+ Movie Theater has opened and has become the attraction of the area. As we traveled down the road, I noticed that a few second hand stores are gone, but the second hand hub cab store is still working. The guy with a very small junk store has bought the whole strip and is expanding the store and renting the others to second hand shops. The bargain hunting days were over, as these stores have jacked up their prices with more trash to sell. Once, there was a real caboose that we always had ice-cream and coffee with the 4teens in it and that has closed down and an available for lease sign is posted in front. But as you get to the heart of the town with the beautiful circle and the water fountain that floats the blue water, a new coffee shop has opened that multitasks and serves a lot of purposes. The coffee shop serves as the tourist center, advertising stand and information station. The lady who ran the store asked a lot of questions from us and wanted to make sure that we had enough to do and that we were informed about the upcoming events. As we were drinking the delicious and freshly brewed coffee and some scones, we noticed that people were coming for more pound cake and apple cake that the store has been running out since the morning. They said that no one makes these cakes better than this store. I have to admit that the scones were good. There were a few bars and restaurants in that circle that were family run and packed with people. The menu looked good.

And at the long last, we found a couple of antique mall and stores that we had not noticed before and I our many various trips in the past. Nice stores, plenty to see. One of them had really antique stuff with good prices and there I saw a lot of picture frames and oil paintings that are worth buying for those who are looking for them.

As for us, we bought a few glass dishes that I can recycle, regift and resell in my world. As usual, the hubby chubby found all the weird stuff that no one ever notices and values except for him and the vendor. This time he bought a thermometer that I used to use as a child in my hometown. We had a lovely day and I do not regret one bit my ears dropping the other day. Sometimes it pays to put your nose into various affairs. I came home with old and new purchases and tired enough to have a very dreamless night. New Oxford, really recommended for even an overnight stay.