Chincoteague,DC, and Omish country PA trip

Unbrok3n

Im going on a trip with my family first to Chincoteague,VA, then to Washington DC, then to Omish Country in PA. (weird assortment, I know) Anyway, I was wondering if anyone had any tips as to where some good shooting locations in any of those areas might be, or some suggestions on what to bring, etc. Thanks!
(I have a D80, 18-55vr, 70-300vr, 50 1.8, 35 2.8, hopefully a new macro, sunpak flash, 3021 legs)

Art Scott

Unbrok3n wrote:

Im going on a trip with my family first to Chincoteague,VA, then to Washington DC, then to Omish Country in PA. (weird assortment, I know) Anyway, I was wondering if anyone had any tips as to where some good shooting locations in any of those areas might be, or some suggestions on what to bring, etc. Thanks!
(I have a D80, 18-55vr, 70-300vr, 50 1.8, 35 2.8, hopefully a new macro, sunpak flash, 3021 legs)

Take everyting exceot the 35 f2,8......the 50 is much better and faster..............not familar wit the east coast or AMISH country PA.....as a mattter of fact I need to be out hunting a px of my own of the Amish around here.....

Phyxius

What kinds of things are you going to look for?


Chincoteague has lots of different options ranging from beach/dune/salt marshes/maritime forest. You can see everything from dolphins, harbor seals, humpback and sperm whales (obviously in the water!) to sika, white tail, racoons, wild ponies, peregrine falcons, shorebirds (Chincoteague is one of the top five shorebird migratory staging areas in the United States east of the Rocky Mountains), bald eagles, red tailed hawks, kestrels, screech owls and barn owls, monarch butterflies, fox squirrels, red fox...and SOO many more.

You may also be intereted in the nearby Blackwater Refuge.


In DC there are free evening concerts at the National Zoo and in the Nat'l Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden. Moonlit monument tours are a great way to stay cool(er) as it's quite hot and humid in DC in the summer. And, free movie screenings on the national mall monday nights. Visit Adams Morgan for trendy shops and fun history. Cleveland Park/Woodley for the National Zoo (Free!!), Hillwood Gardens, the National Cathedral, and Rock Creek Park. DuPont Circle and Embassy Row are also neat to visit with trendy shops and gorgeous buildings. And of course, Downtown DC has Chinatown, Ford's Theatre, the Spy Museum, and lots more shops.

They recently moved "the Awakening" and AWESOME, HUGE sculpture to the National Harbor, which may be a little out of your way, but would still make a nice stop.

I have Amish down here in Southern Maryland, so I can't help with the Amish in Pa...but I hear the ice cream in Lancaster is great!

wholenewlight

I live in the heart of Amish country in Lancaster PA!

Here are a few things to see, where and when:

• Travel east of Lancaster PA on Hwy 340 (Old Philadelphia Pike). East on this road through the towns of Bird-in-Hand and Intercourse (real town names!). This is a touristy area but that is not necessarily a bad thing. In Intercourse, visit Kitchen Kettle Village. Park at this small tourist shopping area and walk around to the quilt shops and little eateries - try shoo-fly-pie (once, anyway). Lots of Amish (and the similar, "Old Order Menonites) will be in the area with their buggies for transportation.
• Get off the main roads and travel any of the side roads from Blue Ball in the north to Quarryville in the south. Get a map or GPS and start wandering. Lots of tiny shops run by the Amish and locals.
• Strasburg (slightly to the south has a great train museum).
• Consider visiting a local farmer's market. Certainly not a tourist destination. It's where us locals buy our weekly fresh produce and meats. Dozens and dozens of small stands and vendors - some Amish and some not. Here's a link to the local Farmer's markets (we visit "Roots" and the "Central Market"), http://www.welcome-to-lancaster-county.com/farmers-markets.html
• Can you say Covered Bridges?? There are 29 in the area. Here's a link to the locations: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Lancaster_County_covered_bridges
• The visitor's bureau in downtown Lancaster City has some great historic walking tours
• Not Amish and not in our county but Hershey PA, is only 20 minutes away. Chocolate heaven. Great visitor's center and great amusement park. On weekdays the town actually smells like chocolate . . .Mmmmnn!

One note: The Amish people do not appreciate having their picture taken. It's actually against their religious belief (from their very literal translation of the Bible verse, Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath). I have photographed the Amish only in a couple of situations. First, from a distance and with their faces not visible, and second, I once shot at a very public Amish sales event called a "Mud Sale" (and even then being stealthy and shooting from a distance).

Here's a few shots of what you can see in my part of the world - come and visit!!!:

Unbrok3n

Awesome! Thanks so much guys so far. And thank you wholenewlight for the in-depth coverage of lancaster! INCREDIBLY helpful! Ill definitely be there in a couple weeks

jziegler

Another place near Lancaster county is to get to the small mountain town of Mt. Gretna (which is actually in southern Lebanon county). It's a former camp meeting town, an old resort of sorts. There's a nice lake there. A great ice cream parlor (The Jigger Shop) open memorial day to labor day only. A huge craft show one weekend in August (really crowded then). Also the next town is Cornwall, which was an old iron town and has an iron museum, as well as many old quarries.

The Landis Valley Museum north of Lancaster has exhibits about the early farming life in the area. Not only did the Amish settle there, but other german groups did as well. The museum has displays about the history of the area.

I lived in that area early in my life, and still get there to visit relatives. I don't know it as well as wholenewlight, but hopefully could add a few new things.

wholenewlight

James Z has some great ideas. The Mt. Gretna Art Show is the 16th & 17th of August. It's a wonderful art show. Mt Gretna is really close to Hershey PA also.

Also jziegler's has a great idea to visit the Landis Valley Museum. Here's a link to a wedding I shot at this farm museum. I'm not publicizing my wedding shots - but you can see some of the surroundings in some of these shots.

Landis Valley Wedding

Also, Lititz PA (just minutes north of Lancaster) is a fun place to spend 2 or 3 hours. Founded by John Sutter (of the California Gold Rush fame), it has a main street with unique shops. Particularly the John Sturgis Pretzel Bakery:

The Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery, established in 1861, is the first commercial pretzel bakery in America. As of August 2007, the site is under new ownership. The bakery and store have been completely renovated and are now operated once again by the Sturgis family. Visitors can tour the original pretzel bakery, see soft pretzels being made by hand, and find pretzels baked by the oldest pretzel baking family in the United States.

Let me know when you coming and I'll meet you somewhere for a few shots!

John

Unbrok3n

Wow, once again, thank you!
Ill be there either the 14th or 15th. Im a 19 year old kid, and ill be with my family, so Im not sure if youd want to shoot with me; but if time permits, that would be awesome!
I went to lancaster like 10 years ago, but it sounds a lot more interesting now than it did then!
Thanks again.

schmoo

wholenewlight wrote:

I live in the heart of Amish country in Lancaster PA!

Here are a few things to see, where and when:

• Travel east of Lancaster PA on Hwy 340 (Old Philadelphia Pike). East on this road through the towns of Bird-in-Hand and Intercourse (real town names!). This is a touristy area but that is not necessarily a bad thing. In Intercourse, visit Kitchen Kettle Village. Park at this small tourist shopping area and walk around to the quilt shops and little eateries - try shoo-fly-pie (once, anyway). Lots of Amish (and the similar, "Old Order Menonites) will be in the area with their buggies for transportation.
• Get off the main roads and travel any of the side roads from Blue Ball in the north to Quarryville in the south. Get a map or GPS and start wandering. Lots of tiny shops run by the Amish and locals.
• Strasburg (slightly to the south has a great train museum).
• Consider visiting a local farmer's market. Certainly not a tourist destination. It's where us locals buy our weekly fresh produce and meats. Dozens and dozens of small stands and vendors - some Amish and some not. Here's a link to the local Farmer's markets (we visit "Roots" and the "Central Market"), http://www.welcome-to-lancaster-county.com/farmers-markets.html
• Can you say Covered Bridges?? There are 29 in the area. Here's a link to the locations: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Lancaster_County_covered_bridges
• The visitor's bureau in downtown Lancaster City has some great historic walking tours
• Not Amish and not in our county but Hershey PA, is only 20 minutes away. Chocolate heaven. Great visitor's center and great amusement park. On weekdays the town actually smells like chocolate . . .Mmmmnn!

One note: The Amish people do not appreciate having their picture taken. It's actually against their religious belief (from their very literal translation of the Bible verse, Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath). I have photographed the Amish only in a couple of situations. First, from a distance and with their faces not visible, and second, I once shot at a very public Amish sales event called a "Mud Sale" (and even then being stealthy and shooting from a distance).

Here's a few shots of what you can see in my part of the world - come and visit!!!:

John:

WOW! I know this isn't a shots forum but...... WOW!

I have never seen photos of the Amish although I've visited Lancaster several times throughout my life. Now I know why. And I think these shots are absolutely amazing cultural grabs.

Next time I'm in that part of PA I will look at it quite differently. I've really had my eyes opened seeing your take on it. thumb

Cygnus Studios

You have tons of options here on this trip.

In and around DC

Mount Vernon (Alexandria, VA.)
National Cemetery (Arlington)
Smithsonian Museums
Several monuments
The Pentagon
Old Town Alexandria
The Masonic Temple (Alexandria)
The Mormon Temple (Maryland)

In and around the Eastern Shore

The wild ponies
The little town of Berlin, MD
The Chesapeake Bay Bridge - Tunnel

grimace

wholenewlight wrote:

I live in the heart of Amish country in Lancaster PA!

Here are a few things to see, where and when:

• Travel east of Lancaster PA on Hwy 340 (Old Philadelphia Pike). East on this road through the towns of Bird-in-Hand and Intercourse (real town names!). This is a touristy area but that is not necessarily a bad thing. In Intercourse, visit Kitchen Kettle Village. Park at this small tourist shopping area and walk around to the quilt shops and little eateries - try shoo-fly-pie (once, anyway). Lots of Amish (and the similar, "Old Order Menonites) will be in the area with their buggies for transportation.
• Get off the main roads and travel any of the side roads from Blue Ball in the north to Quarryville in the south. Get a map or GPS and start wandering. Lots of tiny shops run by the Amish and locals.
• Strasburg (slightly to the south has a great train museum).
• Consider visiting a local farmer's market. Certainly not a tourist destination. It's where us locals buy our weekly fresh produce and meats. Dozens and dozens of small stands and vendors - some Amish and some not. Here's a link to the local Farmer's markets (we visit "Roots" and the "Central Market"), http://www.welcome-to-lancaster-county.com/farmers-markets.html
• Can you say Covered Bridges?? There are 29 in the area. Here's a link to the locations: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Lancaster_County_covered_bridges
• The visitor's bureau in downtown Lancaster City has some great historic walking tours
• Not Amish and not in our county but Hershey PA, is only 20 minutes away. Chocolate heaven. Great visitor's center and great amusement park. On weekdays the town actually smells like chocolate . . .Mmmmnn!

One note: The Amish people do not appreciate having their picture taken. It's actually against their religious belief (from their very literal translation of the Bible verse, Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath). I have photographed the Amish only in a couple of situations. First, from a distance and with their faces not visible, and second, I once shot at a very public Amish sales event called a "Mud Sale" (and even then being stealthy and shooting from a distance).

Here's a few shots of what you can see in my part of the world - come and visit!!!:

John,

These are some amazing shots!! Well done!!