Atlantic City/Camden Aquarium Mini-Trip Report About This Page:

[Chrissi]

Well, nobody asked for it, but I’m posting a mini-trip report about our spontaneous Atlantic City getaway anyway. This may take a day or two so bear with me.

First, a little background info…

It all started Tuesday June 4th

As many of you know, Walt and I are expecting our first child in a couple of weeks. It seems that lately everyone has been telling me that I have to stay close to home. I woke up Tuesday morning feeling trapped. In the past month, I’ve hardly been out of the house to do anything but grocery shopping, doctor visits, and baby shopping at Target. I needed to getaway! To feel young and free and spontaneous! So, I got up early Tuesday morning and packed an overnight bag. Then I woke up Walt and told him I wanted to go to Atlantic City. He looked at me like I’d grown another head and said no. “No?” I said, “Whaddya mean, no?!” (I think I may have even stomped my foot…) He calmly rolled over and said that it was too far for me to go in my current condition and he wasn’t up to a long drive anyway. So, hormonal/emotional mess that I am, I threw a fit. [img]graemlins/blush.gif[/img] I even cried…I told you I was an emotional mess! So, I pulled all of his stuff out of the bag I packed that morning and asked him to check the oil in my car. He said, “Why? Where are you going?” So, I said, “I don’t know how far I’ll get, but I’ll call you when I get there.”, grabbed my bag and headed for the door. Ten minutes later, Walt’s stuff was back in the overnight bag and we were on our way…
[img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

[AKLRULZ]

Love it! I'm ready for the next installment!

[September]

Good for you, Chrissi...now if you can motivate your child like that I'll really be in awe!

[Elliot'sDragon]

I love it!
I am hoping to be spontaneous on Monday. (Day Off).

[Chrissi]

Day 1 Part 2

We left the house at noon and headed for the highway. We were definitely on our way, now! We got on Route 33 South and things went downhill quickly. Walt suddenly remembered why we hadn’t been driving my car very much. One of the front tires was mangled by a pothole and needed to be replaced. He suggested canceling our trip and stopping to get a new tire . (I live in a world where Murphy’s Law applies to my life everyday… [img]images/icons/rolleyes.gif[/img] ) I knew we couldn’t drive 400+ miles with the steering wheel shaking and Walt’s hands going numb, so we stopped. $80, 2 new front tires, and 45 minutes later, Walt asked me if I still wanted to go to Atlantic City. (I knew there was a reason I married that man! [img]graemlins/love.gif[/img] ) It was 2:00 PM and a little late for an overnighter to AC (for a normal, sane person), but we pressed on.

2 hours later we were fairly lost, but still heading south so I couldn’t really complain. For some reason Walt thinks NJ Turnpike signs will lead him to the NJ Parkway [img]images/icons/rolleyes.gif[/img] …Hence the somewhat lost part. The drive was hot and would have been a nice day to put down the windows and let your hair down, but we still had to drive through the remainder of the wildfires that swept up the parkway the day before. The smoke was horrible and putting up the windows like the signs suggested didn’t really work. We choked our way through several miles of rubber-neckers staring slack-jawed at burnt forest. [img]graemlins/dizzy.gif[/img] Not much fun.

The rest of the drive was mostly uneventful. At about 7:00 PM we pulled onto the Atlantic City Expressway. It was kind of exciting driving into AC on the expressway. You have to pass under this huge blue and white sign that says ”Welcome to Atlantic City” and past this white under-the-sea-looking welcome center. It looks like a Cirque Du Soleil prop tent. I guess it’s supposed to remind you of the ocean or something…

By a quarter after 7 we were nearing the south end of the boardwalk and our intended hotel on Chelsea Ave., The Howard Johnson. We pulled into Ho Jo’s parking garage and left the bags in the car on the off chance that there was “no room at the inn” [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img] . We lucked out. Not only was there a room available, but it was a king bed and only $59./night. Woo hoo! We went back for the bags, settled into our room, and relaxed for an hour before hitting the boardwalk for dinner.

[Tara O'Hara]

Chrissi,

You are a true adventurer and BTW, your pics rock!! Your belly is getting quite large and healthy looking and you guys look like you are having a great time!

Tara [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[sammycat699]

More More! This is so funny. I could just picture you having your tantrum. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] Mr. Beaner sure is a great guy to take you away like that.

[AKLRULZ]

Good stuff!

[Chrissi]

I just want to apologize for not finishing this TR up right away. It's probably going to take me longer than I thought. I'm having some trouble concentrating on writing my TR and I don't want to rush it for the sake of getting it done. So, if ya'll don't mind, I'll be taking my time and writing a thorough report when all this baby business has settled a bit. But I promise - I will finish!

[AKLRULZ]

Well it's not like you have a baby on the way or anything?!? Just joshing! You take your time, but I know I can't wait! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[iloverags2]

You go girl! Taking a spontaneous trip is one of life's joys. And Atlantic City is a great place to getaway.