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Monday, December 5, 2016

Harpers Ferry, WV

I'm pushing off my Weekend Wrap Up a day so I can share our quick little getaway to Harpers Ferry with you! We went there this weekend and it was an experience we will never forget. You'll see why...

Harpers Ferry is just an 80 minute drive from our place in Camp Hill, PA. I had seen pictures of the town from when Paul went with his parents a couple weeks ago, but it was even more cute and old time-y in person. And I didn't realize it was a National Historic Park!


The first thing we did when we got to the little town was walk down to The Point where the Shenendoah and Potomac Rivers meet. We walked halfway across the bridge. It was cold! The bridge is actually part of the Appalachian Trail.



The reason we went was because the town was celebrating their Olde Tyme Christmas, and tonight was the first day of celebrating! You know something is really old fashioned when they spell old with an "e" and time with a "y"!




All the cute little houses and inns were decorated to celebrate the season!


We walked around the cute little town and did some Christmas shopping. I wish I could show you what we bought, but some of the gift recipients may be reading this right now!


We had dinner at a cute little place that reminded us of Colorado.


I had a burger that was out of this world and Paul had a grown up grilled cheese sandwich.




Then we headed down to the heated tent where there were people dressed in old fashioned clothes passing out cookies and cider. We took a seat and listened to the opening ceremonies of the Olde Tyme Christmas. A park ranger and town leader gave us a little bit of history, then a musicologist (which I don't think is a real thing, just a self appointed title!) acted as the tour guide for the crowd of at least 100.



He led us out of the tent and across the street, where he lit a yule log. Then we sang Deck the Halls. Next, the musicologist led us down the main street where we would stop at the different shops and sing a carol. Each shop owner would come out and light a candle. The musicologist told us stories and history throughout our walk.



We sang so many of the most beautiful carols... God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, Hark the Herald Angels Sing, Oh Come All Ye Faithful, Here We Come A Caroling...

The whole time we were walking and singing, I couldn't get over how beautiful it was. I'm not religious, but even so, I appreciate any group of people that come together in peace and harmony to wish peace and goodwill to all!

I whispered to Paul, "Do you think we're the only atheists here???" He laughed.

Our caroling ended at St. Peter's Catholic Church- a beautiful church at the stop of a hill.



The priest came out and said a prayer, then they lit the Christmas tree outside the church. We sang Silent Night.



Next, we all squeezed into the church to watch a live nativity scene. I thought a live nativity scene was where people dressed in costumes and stood still at a manger scene. Those are the live nativity scenes I am accustomed to. This one was more like a show and it was really going slow... and I was feeling really tired... so we sneaked out somewhere sometime after the angel Gabriel was done.


On our way back to our hotel, we talked about how we never envisioned we would have so much fun and would get to go CHRISTMAS CAROLING in Harpers Ferry. But we missed the cats, so instead of staying the night, we drove home!

I know, we are so weird!

If you have the chance to go to Harpers Ferry, I really recommend it! And if you are someone that really loves the Christmas season, you would love the Olde Tyme Christmas celebration!

That was our short little 5 hour trip to Harpers Ferry! It really felt like we were there for longer than that because it was as if we were in another world!
Have you ever been to Harpers Ferry?
Do you like Christmas caroling?
What do you expect from a live nativity scene?

21 comments:

  1. It is so beautiful, Megan. What a fun evening for you guys! I hope the rest of your weekend was amazing as well.

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    1. Thanks girl! Sorry I didn't get back to you. Even though we went home early, we were BUSY!

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  2. Aww this is so neat. I didn't realize it was so close to Camp hill. Now you can cross this off your Holiday Bucket list.

    I probably would have drove home too if my pets were home alone!

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    1. I know! I am glad I actually did something I said I was going to do. :)

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  3. That looks like a lot of fun! Was there any food vendors? Caroling always sounds like such a fun experience!

    What else happens in a Live nativity scene? I used to hate going to the live Nativity scene in Mexico, because they were long, and there was a lot of praying.

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    1. There were not food vendors but the restaurants and cafes were open. I think the Nativity scene you are describing is the kind this one was. I just pictured people posing in the manger because that's what I have seen before outside churches.

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  4. Everything is so cute there and it looks like you had a great time! I have never been Christmas Caroling and didn't know that was a thing people really did? I guess I thought it was something people did a long time ago but maybe it's just not popular down here? I have been to a live nativity scene though when I was younger and that was really neat. Definitely a must see if you like animals too!

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    1. People really do it around here but it is not popular. But I love it!

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  5. I've been to Harper's Ferry, but not during Christmas. It was summer, it was pretty quiet, and the weather was dreary. I went because I'm a Civil War nut.

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    1. That's a great place for a Civil War buff to go. Have you been to Gettysburg? I grew up about 1.5 hours from it and have lived 45 minutes away from it for the past 12 years but I have only been there twice!

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    2. Yes I have, I actually looked at the college as a potential school.

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  6. I've heard so many great things about Harper's Ferry. It looks so cute!

    It was fun snapchatting with you on Saturday... :p

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    1. You girls looked like you were having such a great time! You should get on snap chat so we can snap each other and you could snap Karen. She sends the funniest snaps!

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  7. I grew up in a super Christian family where we'd always always go to church, and I was in kids choir and in every single production at our church that ever existed, and then we'd also get dragged to all the other bigger churches' Christmas productions and GAH. I know every single word to every single Christmas carol. So, while I wouldn't choose to go sit in a church and watch a live nativity scene, I still appreciate the magic of it all and I love the warm fuzzies that accompany Christmas.

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    1. Freaking A, my own blog ate my own comment! Well I was saying that Christmas gives so many warm fuzzies. :) And it seemed like I only knew the first and third verses of the carols. I think some carols you can switch the verses around. But the musicologist liked it when we didn't know the words because he got to hear the sound of his own voice. He was that type of guy. ;)

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  8. When you mentioned "atheist" I was waiting for you to tell us that you were struck down by God and the town caught on fire! (see, you'd never forget that!!). (Thank God that didn't happen. LOL) That is such a beautiful town and experience. Must add it to your annual Christmas traditions! Live nativity scenes are so cool too. I get excited just to see little baby farm animals in them :)

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    1. HAHAHA!!!!!!!!!! No we didn't burst into flames leading the charge in the Christmas carols OR in the church! :) I do think it is funny that I am an atheist yet I love Christmas so much. I hope that doesn't offend Christians, to celebrate a holiday of a religion I am not a part of. I just have so many good memories of Christmas and I believe in the message: peace, love, joy, family, goodwill to all. Any decent person can get behind that!

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  9. Ahhhh this looks gorgeous! I've been wanting to visit Harpers Ferry and do some hiking forever and I've just never gotten around to it. Especially since it's so close to Baltimore. Thanks for sharing the pics!

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    1. Well since you are so close I urge you to do it! I think you would have a wonderful time hiking and then maybe grabbing lunch in the cute little town. :)

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  10. I read your post this morning and I thought I commented already. I came back to see if you replied hahaha. Losing my mind on a Monday! :D

    This looks like it was such a fun day trip. It honestly just LOOKS so christmassy. I can feel the chilly weather through the pics!

    I love that you and Paul decided to skip the hotel and drive home to the cats. You guys are such good parents!!! Adam and I probably would have done the same thing. When we were planning a staycation for our anniversary we looked at hotels that allow pets :).

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    1. Ooh cool! Cecil gets to go on the anniversary trip! I have an idea, how about instead Paul and I come down and house/Cecil sit!

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