Planning a trip to Washington DC, MD, DE and NJ

[Ginger's Mom]

Sorry I didn't get back to you sooner, I will need to check for a good route from Atlantic City to NY. But my gut says Garden State Parkway or Atlantic City Expressway to the Turnpike. I would not recommend 206, it is one lane in both directions in the southern-most section, it is busy, it is not well kept up (plan on your car going *thunk-thunk, thunk-thunk* for about 3-5 miles in Burlington County), not real scenic. Nah, not my choice. I will check Map Quest tonight and see if anything looks like a nice drive.

[catnapper]

Hmmmm.... I do not see Pennsylvania in that listing!

Perhaps you couls swing by good ol' PA?

[Vermontcat]

Emily, I got your PM so I have the contact #'s for you and Lbaker now. Thanks.
I will PM you my contact info this weekend.

Ginger's Mom, it looks like we better stick to a main route and stay off those bumpy back roads. We have enough roads like that here in Vermont.
Let me know if you come up with a better route, I may just want to head over through Trenton or Philly into PA if that is a better route.

Catnapper, actually I was thinking of asking you and Jen what town the Petsmart is in that you work at and some of her foster kitties are at.
Do you work on Saturdays? What are your hours? Does Jen still have DaVinci up for adoption there? On Saturday the 29th we may have time to visit if we go through that area. You can PM me if you don't want to post it here. I still have your phone # from last summer.

[jenluckenbach]

Actually, DaVinci is home with me right now............but I could certainly make sure he is at the adoption center if you like. (You won't be able to resist him)

The Petsmart is in Wyomissing, PA> 1183 Berkshire Blvd.

I would be working Saturday the 29th. with my work hours and the drive to the Petsmart I would not be able to be there before 5pm. BUT, if your plans call for a dinner in Reading/Wyomissing, it would be certainly worth the effort for me to come down.

[Vermontcat]

Jen, we will be driving back north to Vermont on the 29th so it would be around mid-day that we might be going through your area.
We still have to decide which route to take from southern NJ to get back to NY state on our way back to VT.
I will let you know if we do head out your way.
Give DaVinci some hugs and kisses from me.

[Ginger's Mom]

Hi, I just did a quick look on Streets & Maps and they also recommend the Garden State Parkway from Atlantic City, to where it meets the NJ Turnpike, then the Turnpike (Exit 129) all the way up to NY, then Route 95 until you hit I-91 in Connecticut. It says from Atlantic City to Vermont is 436 miles. Now that pretty much takes you up the eastern side of NJ. Jen is out in Allentown (?), that would add another 80 miles or so to your trip. But it might be worth the trip and a lot of fun.

[Vermontcat]

Ginger's Mom, we were checking on the best driving routes this weekend and even to drive down to DC the quickest route would be from 87 in NY to the Jersey Turnpike then 95 into Baltimore then DC. It will be a lot of city driving on a Saturday. How is the traffic around the Philly area, anything we should know about? We are coming from the Lake Champlain side of Vermont so it is quicker to go through NY state on 87 rather than through CT. On the drive down to DC it will be 8 1/2 hrs driving so we really won't have any time to stop for visits that day since we want to get into DC before dark. On the drive back from NJ, I don't think we would be able to head too far off course into PA for any visits either.
My husband will be doing most of the driving, especially in the city areas.
Thanks for helping with more info on a good route.