Road trips to see out-of-state family and friends have become an extended trip for us as it involves stops in RI, our home state of NJ and PA. Our most recent 12-day trip included those states and several we passed through in between.
During this trip, we attended a college graduation in RI, a soccer game and Mother's Day celebration in PA and visited an unusual museum (more on that later) there. In NJ, we took a long-time friend to dinner to celebrate her retirement after 44 years with the same company; treated a 98-year old friend to a take-in lunch at her home and visited with a former co-worker of mine.
It's unusual for me, but there wasn't a lot of photo-taking on this trip except at the graduation; however, a lot of happy memories were made.
The smiling graduate above is oldest daughter who received an MBA degree from Johnson & Wales University in Providence, RI. In addition to ourselves, her children, husband and other family members attended the event. In PA, the youngest granddaughter is an avid soccer player and on a traveling team this year. We watched one of her Saturday morning games which was in her hometown.
In between the RI and PA visits, we treated ourselves at two food places in NJ, neither have NH locations. That's our excuse for these less-than-healthy eats.
White Castle is famous for its small, square hamburgers or sliders which sold for 5 cents when introduced, but have gone up in price, now $1.29 to $1.59. Founded in 1921, in Wichita, KS, it's credited as the world's first fast food hamburger chain, but it's not a franchise. The company has been family-owned since its founding with every location privately owned. White Castle operates over 350 restaurants primarily in the Midwest and Northeast, and some Southern and Western states. Since there's no New England location, we wait for a NJ trip and dined at the same one in Piscataway, NJ, that was written about in this 2019 post. Rita's Italian Ice was founded in May 1984 by a former Philadelphia firefighter, Bob Tumolo, using a family recipe and the business was named after his wife, Rita. The product was originally advertised as water ice, using the Philadelphia regional term for what's called Italian ice in other parts of the country. In 1989, the family franchised the business. Rita's has over 600 locations in over 30 states, predominantly on the East Coast and in the Sun Belt (Florida to California). The closest franchise to NH is 45 minutes south in Walpole, MA.
We enjoyed family, friends and treats on this road trip. As satisfying as all of these were, there really is no place like home — at least until our next road trip or travel adventure.
25 comments:
...White Castle, a great memory!
Congratulations to your oldest daughter earning her MBA! What a wonderful accomplishment while having children.
This looks like it was a good trip and that you had some fun. I don't think I've ever eaten at a Whitecastle burger. I'll put that on my list. Congrats to the graduate. hugs-Erika
There's a Rita's near here. It's oddly situated in a parking lot, strange view for eating great ice cream.
None of those eateries in Hawaii, unfortunately. So good to see happy faces. Congrats to the graduate, the soccer player, and the retiree. I can’t believe she worked for 44 years at the same company. Impressive!
I remember Rita's. There was at least one we visited in Maryland.
Such a lovely road trip story dear friend Dorothy 🥰
First of all heartfelt thank to your daughter for her proud accomplishment of earning MBA degree 👍
She is sweet looking young lady.
How amazing to be able to see grandkids playing soccer,I bet she was happy to have you both there 😊
I loved seeing the family photos! Everyone looks so happy ♥️
You both look lovely as always dear friend having your favourite treats yes 🤗♥️
It’s nice to know about both food chains, very successful and popular surly
I feel so inspired by your friend who spent 48 years working in the same company wow ,hats off to her consistency,it is rare I believe!
Giving treat to another friend of yours sounds so sweet too .
I am happy you two had such a wonderful trip and time with your family 🥰
Yes no place like home I fully agree, we will be going to Islamabad in next month hopefully and I am missing my sweet home already 😂. But time away from extreme weather is crucial at this part of age 😔
Heartfelt best wishes for your next trip dear friend,sending love and prayers on your way 🙏♥️
There are several White Castles in my area, including one just a couple of miles away. We go there on occasion.
Ah, White Castle. Part of my wayward youth. Congrats to the daughter.
I remember White Castle, they had them in Washington, D.C. Now you can buy their burgers in the grocery store freezer. But I wonder if they taste the same. Great graduation photos!
What an incredibly full and heartwarming 12-day road trip across the East Coast! A huge congratulations to your oldest daughter on earning her MBA from Johnson & Wales, what a proud moment for the whole family to share. I love your perfectly valid excuse for the White Castle and Rita's stops; when you don't have them in New Hampshire, it is practically a rule that you have to indulge when passing through New Jersey!
My folks would talk about White Castle hamburgers from their early married days. They raved about them.
Its always nice to visit old friends and family. I'm glad you could do it. Congratulations to your oldest daughter and her MBA. Quite an accomplishment while being mom and wife at the same time.
I can't wait to see where you are off to next.
Sue
What a wonderful trip you just had! Congratulations to your daughter on completing her MBA! That's a big deal!! And so much fun to see the little ones playing soccer!! Happy Days. And that White Castle burger! What fun! We used to have a similar place years ago in Daytona Beach, called Royal Castle, and I can remember getting a whole sack full of those little burgers and taking them to the beach when we were kids. They also had "Birch Beer", which is a lot like Root Beer, but a little different taste. Nowadays, there is a Krystle Restaurant in the city nearest us, and they also have the little square "sliders" type hamburgers. I haven't actually been there, but I know they are good. Now I think I need to go there just to be sure they are as good as I think they are! LOL. Your trips are always so interesting and informative. Thank you for taking us along.
Good times with family and friends really is the best, isn't it? And the older we get, I think the more we value that time, knowing that it is far more limited than it used to be. You had a terrific trip. Three cheers to your daughter! Well done!
Congratulations to the graduate! 💐🥳
Your travels look lots of fun. White Castle I’ve been to maybe once. Wetson’s was the local fast food place Teaneck NJ that I frequented.
May
I havent had White Castle in years, many and many years.
No sliders are available here. I miss them. Did you have any onion chips? Mmmmm-mmm.
I am somewhat familiar with White Castle from living next door to Port Huron, Michigan. But I was more familiar with the fact that it was there rather than the fare. We did stop there once many many decades ago.
It looks and sounds like a good trip ... but like you I always feel there is no place like home.
All the best Jan
Congrats to your daughter! Quite an accomplishment.
I love seeing couples getting out and having fun together. Who doesn't love an adventure and when it includes seeing family and friends that's the best. I enjoyed your photos
Sounds like a wonderful trip to celebrate with family
Oh, my goodness--White Castle! How I loved their burgers.
We used to have a location in my neighborhood in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. John Travolta and his friends hung out there in Saturday Night Fever.
Sadly, it closed sometime in the 1990s.
I'm not familiar with Rita's Italian Ice, but I see there locations in Coney Island and the financial district.
Congratulations to your daughter and I love the photo of your granddaughter's soccer team.
You sure have fun visiting family and friends. Congrats to graduating daughter. Good on granddaughter for playing soccer. Its the best sport. I'm watching the Australian League Grand final this evening on TV. It is between Sydney FC and Aukland FC which is in New Zealand but they play in the Australian league.
Looks like you all had a wonderful time. Congratulations to your daughter. I seem to remember going to a White Castle on one trip. Can’t remember where or when though.
Post a Comment