For this installment, I am again sharing a family trip in my 1979 Dodge Aspen Special Edition Station Wagon. The year 2016, and for that summer’s vacation, we decided to travel to the Pocono Mountain region of Pennsylvania. In case you missed my previous COAL entries on this Dodge Aspen, Part 1 appears HERE, and Part 2 HERE.
We began with a 5-6 hour drive as we crossed the state from west to east as well as from north to south. It’s a diagonal drive that bisects the state. Starting near Pittsburgh, we were on the interstate for a while, but we did manage to find a few back roads and out-of-the-way places once we were in the Pocono Region. Along the way, we were to take a visit to a fly-in & drive-in show, take a ride on a train, and find a race track, as well as a high-elevation state park. All with the family and in the 1979 Dodge Aspen Wagon for the entire week.
Let’s start our 2016 adventure to the Pocono Mountains by first stopping at the Golden Age Air Museum / Grimes Airfield in Bethel, PA. It is just off of old US 22/ I 78. At the beginning of our travels this weekend we were passing through an area that was hosting a Fly in & Drive In Car and Aircraft show. I believe it is an annual affair, so if you are ever in central PA on your way to New York City or New Jersey, the museum or the show is worth a look. The weather was a bit dreary while we were there, so there was not an impressive amount of vehicles, but we had fun looking at all of the vintage aircraft and air support tools and equipment.
Most of the drive from Westmorland County, PA to Bethel, PA looked like this windshield view. However, a little drizzle did not put a damper on the beginning of our vacation!
We made it after stopping at the Waffle House#1394 in Carlisle, PA while swapping interstates from I76 to I81. For some reason, there are a few quirky non-direct intestate interchanges in PA. Breezewood I76 to I70 being the worst of them all in my opinion.
There are a few hangar buildings, each one is full of air museum artifacts and planes.
We parked next to this fantastic little BMW 2002 for the drive-in show.
A few single-engine planes arrived, I suspect more would have been there if the weather was better and not so dreary and rainy. Apparently ’round these parts folks shy away from bringing out the vintage cars and planes in the wet weather.
All of the museum sights are fantastic for someone like me who knows so little about aviation or planes in general. I probably could spend an entire day there looking at all of the displays and reading about the artifacts that are on display.
Even the little human was having a good time so far. For this vacation, she was 2.5 years old.
We left the show at maybe lunchtime, and we headed to the next attraction before checking in at our hotel.
Next Stop: Roadside America Miniature Village.
When we were there, little did we know that in 4 years the attraction would be closed and its contents auctioned off after the Covid 19 Pandemic in 2020.
Like any good anytown USA model exhibit, the lights would get dark every ~30 minutes or so and it would be nighttime.
I suspect any model railroader or miniature model enthusiast would have appreciated this place!
I am glad that I did get to see this nice family-run attraction before it closed. I suppose that’s why we still go to the local drive-in theatre once or twice a summer every year. The cars and trucks look modern (usually except mine), but the experience is authentic from a generation or two ago.
I certainly cannot put my daughter up on my shoulders anymore like this.
The next day we went to another local car show in the morning. This time we headed up towards the New York state line to New Milford, PA. This local show in a park setting had a cool community fair vibe. The puppies on display were more interesting for the girls than those old cars.
My daughter loves to hang out with a furry friend of any type, she still does to this day.
After our car show fun in New Milford we headed to Costa’s Family Fun Park on the way back to the hotel. It had a water park, playground, mini golf, and go-karts for me to channel my “inner Lewis Hamilton.”
Track days with a 2-year-old in tow are difficult. This will suffice 🙂
For the next day’s trip, we visited 2 places:
For some reason, I thought Buskill Falls was a state park, but upon researching things for this write-up, it seems that it is a private entity.
There’s enough to see and do there to keep us entertained for a little while. It is very close to the Delaware water gap as well. I don’t have pictures of that, but it is the Delaware River valley that creates most of the border between Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
For our last stop on this day’s trip, we arrived at Claws ‘n Paws Wild Animal Park. There is a lot to see and do there especially if you are an animal lover.
Next on our trip was Big Pocono State Park. This park sits on the top of a mountain adjacent to a ski resort. Even though there were not tons of shady areas, it was a nice breezy place to stop on a hot sunny day.
The Aspen posed at the top of the Big Pocono Ridge.
An artsy picture of my wife on the ridge with the Aspen Wagon.
The view out of a parking space is fairly expansive at Big Pocono State Park.
Before we officially left the Pocono Region, we had to stop at the “Tricky Triangle” as the Nascar types sometimes refer to it. The gates were closed, and no events or practice laps were happening that day.
For the last leg of our trip, we headed south towards Jim Thorpe, PA. The Town’s name was changed in 1954 to Jim Thorpe, as a tribute to the Native American Athlete Jim Thorpe who is buried there.
The little one gets another good nap en route. The Aspen with its functioning A/C is cozy, quiet, and plush enough for a good nap.
For our last hurrah, we stopped at the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway. We took a train ride with the little one and learned about some of the area’s local history. And like most small out-of-the-way places in PA it has some relationship to ‘ol black… COAL!
Our trip was pulled and pushed by a Diesel-Electric Locomotive. The original hybrid powertrain in my mind! – I am not sure if they have Steam offerings. We would take a steam train trip in a future vacation. Watch out for more Dodge Aspen coverage on that one.
A view through the gorge rounding a corner.
A siding feating some other railroad equipment.
A few shots featuring the interior of our aptly vintage and somewhat well-preserved rail car. I like the upholstery and seating fixtures, especially since I have had limited time in trains in general.
We made some great family memories on the train and in the Aspen.
This brings us to the end of our 2016 vacation with the Aspen and the family. Another nap, and a few hours of windshield time for drive home.
Thanks for reading and riding along with us. Next time we will take the Aspen and family to Blue Ridge, Luray Caverns, and Cass, WV.
I’m really loving going on vacation with your family, and I’ma classic car.
We were fortunate to visit the UP several yeasts ago. Pictures rocks was simply beautiful.
Now at 61, my wife and I are preparing to start taking road trips in our 1978 Thunderbird Diamond Jubilee. Mechanic will be here today as matter of fact to button up the last of the engine maintenance work. Then to the transmission shop where it’ll get a full rebuild.
I’ll start my picture journey soon.
Great articles. Thanks for sharing
I went to a summer camp in Fredericksburg Pa , late 40’s,early50’s.We took an annual Roadside America trip each year.I even remember having to use an outhouseon the premises.It was a wonderful place and I am glad you got to see it.
It sure was a neat place and I am sorry to hear that it has closed after Covid. I am sure it was a labour of love for the family that owned it.
Very nice .
I remember traveling in the East, many Westerners don’t grasp just how green it is .
Your kids look happy and they’ll long remember feeling safe with the ‘rents when traveling if not the details of where they went .
As you don’t mention any I’m guessing the Dodge did it’s Dodge thing and hummed right along .
Looking forward to your next article .
-Nate
Yes as I recall, Other than some hotel washing with the morning dew, I did not break out any tools on this trip. Uneventful and good when that happens with your old car on vacation. I was either lucky or did my due diligence before departure.👍
When I was a kid we had a record, a “long playing” record, of a transcontinental train trip. Sound effects of chugging steam engines, train whistles, crossing gate bells clanging, conductors calling out “all aboooooaaard!”. As well as narration of the route. And the only words I remember were a description of the train going through “mountainous Pennsylvania”. As a 3 or 4 year old native Californian, fascinated by geography but with little actual knowledge, I couldn’t imagine that there were real mountains east of the Mississippi.
In 2016 I drove across the country and back for the first time, returning westbound through PA on I-80. The area around Delaware Water Gap was impressively rugged. I wonder if we crossed paths? Attached is the closest thing I saw to a CC on that stretch, no Aspens as I recall.
Nice. Well if you want real mountains around here Head to West Virginia, Virginia and North Carolina. They all have them and in my opinion, they are more rugged and impressive than in PA. A bit of hiking on the AT in Virginia will tell the tale!
We would not have crossed paths that year as I rarely did any I 80 Driving, Mostyl I 76, 78, and 81
Your little girl is adorable! There are compartments in the rear side walls panels. We stored baby pillows in there, which should not be used for sleeping babies incidentally, but were great for the many rides homeward after a day’s outing. Our three children rested their heads and we had blankets for them, too. Loved our 1978 Aspen wagon.
Nice. Thanks for sharing. Most models including mine have the locking rear panels, but I have seen some low-optioned models that do not include the locking doors.
Excellent post, and photos! Thank you for sharing so many vacation adventures, with your family, and Aspen. Your Aspen appears impressively at home, in a modern setting. The clean styling and updated wheels, really helps it look quite natural among modern SUVs. Plus, this wagon is such a perfect size for two adults, and small children. This region of Pennsylvania, reminds me a great of Central Ontario. A beautiful summertime destination. I really appreciated and enjoyed this, thank you!
As a kid at the time, I liked the tailgate-mounted air deflectors, in terms of their looks. I thought they looked modern. But I much prefer them today, without the air deflector. Your Aspen looks very clean, without it. I also find, it looks cleaner without the widely-kerned ‘D O D G E” on the tailgate, seen on 1976 to 1978 examples.
When I heard “Roadside America” was a goner, got soo sad..
As in the pictures, the family had a good time. I sure remember as a kid growing up in the 70’s, I saw Dodge Aspens and Plymouth Volare’s all the time on the roads. I love to look at trains and cars.
I love these stories about family travel with the old Aspen.
It can be a dicey proposition flying in such poor visibility without the benefit of full instruments and a control tower, so the sparse attendance of small planes on the day you were there does not surprise me. Those that showed up must have been locals. I love looking at classic small planes, so I’m glad they made the effort.