Driving through Hamburg

After an exhausting visit to Six Flags Great Adventure, I made my way to Pennsylvania. I really love the industrial vibe of the state, as it reminded me a lot of Northern Germany. It even goes so far as to travel through places like Hamburg or Hannover. Having lived in Hamburg for almost 10 years, I really had to stop in the small town of Hamburg, PA. Even if it was just for a quick stop at the local Arby’s before making my way to Harrisburg. Here I stayed at the Penn Harris Hotel and Convention Center, which was conveniently located.

Click here for the next report of the Stumbled Runner tour. 

Visiting Tennessee

After two days of stumbling around Carowinds and a very nice get-together with the Buzzed Bars coaster club, it was time to make my way to the Smoky Mountains. At Carowinds I stayed at the nearby Best Western, which was very convenient and comfortable. However, in hindsight, it would have made more sense to stay at the nearby SpringHill Suites, where most of the club members stayed. 

The trip to Pigeon Forge was nothing short of beautiful. America definitely shows its beauty in the most rural parts of the country. After a very scenic four-hour drive, I finally arrived at one of the most beautiful theme parks: Dollywood.
Not knowing any better, I parked my car in the park’s car park. The next day I used the trolley service from the Pigeon Forge Mass Transit Center, which was very convenient and saved me a bit of money.

In Pigeon Forge, I stayed at the stylish Hotel LeBlanc – a Best Western Signature Collection property. Overall, I had a great stay in the town. It has a lot to offer and a surprising amount of charm, despite having all the quirky little tourist traps you could imagine. It also has a brilliant Hard Rock Café – a must on all my road trips.

Click here for the next report of the Stumbled Runner tour. 

 

 

Heading for the Carolinas

As Kings Dominion was really empty, I had all the rollercoasters behind me in no time at all and was able to continue my journey in the late afternoon. The next day’s destination was a good five hours away, and my hotel was about halfway along the route near Raleigh Durham Airport. This time I chose a Microtel Inn & Suites, a chain of the Wyndham Group, which I would not recommend for the time being, as the bed was on wheels, the breakfast consisted of breakfast burritos and the hotel was generally very noisy, which is a particular experience near the airport. At least the hotel was reasonably priced.

Click here for the next report of the Stumbled Runner tour.