The Day Trip-

I recently looked back on a fun day trip destination to Cabela’s Hamburg PA. We had the crazy idea to pile everyone including the family dog, in the car and go on a three-hour road trip. We returned on the same day. FYI this location is doggy friendly!

From the Hudson Valley in New York, GPS gives several options on routes to take. I always recommend the scenic route if you have time. Highways are boring and tolls just stink. However, if you do go a toll road, I highly recommend EZ Pass. We used to have one. Here is a link for you New Yorkers for EZ Pass. New Jersey, here is yours. Pennsylvania, here is a link for your EZ Pass.

The Route to Cabela’s

We typed in the address to Cabela’s in Hamburg PA. On this day trip, this was our ultimate goal. Anything else we did was bonus stuff.

Our route took us on 84 for a short while until we connected with route 209. This route takes you through the scenic park for miles. I became really agitated because every trailhead for miles had the exact same name. For some reason, this drove me crazy. Twenty miles down the road and still seeing trailheads with the same name.

This route also takes you past signs for waterfalls. We didn’t stop this trip. However, I made a mental note for another time, of several places I want to stop.

Stop 1-Gas Station-

When you finally get back into civilization, you might really have to pee. So, the first stop on the family trip was the gas station. My child had been asleep most of to this point because we put her in the car in her pajamas, a couple hours before her wake-up time. So, I took the opportunity to make sure we both used the bathroom and I changed her clothes. Then dad and our furry daughter used the bathroom. Don’t worry, dad didn’t pee in the grass with the furry child. I got an ice tea and we were off again.

*awesome parenting tip when traveling with little ones. Travel during their sleep time. Give them a blanket, little pillow, stuffed animal and don’t attempt to change their clothes. You can do that when they wake up. It gives parents time to get some road behind them and have a couple hours of silence.

And More Winding Road-

GPS has you continue to wind and weave. My husband asked me several times, “why did we take this route?” It honestly, wasn’t very interesting. Going through the wilderness was definitely the highlight. Otherwise, a lot of non-scenic areas, very rural or trucker destinations. Perhaps, we could have stopped at a truck stop and gotten some novelty item. Is it wrong that the first thing that popped in my mind was an “I’m with stupid” shirt?

Destination Cabelas-

We finally arrived at Cabela’s after a couple of quick wrong turns. It is beyond amazing to be able to stretch your legs after a long road trip.

We walked passed the giant statue in front of the store and entered with dog and child in the cart. Yes, everyone at this point took another pee break.

• Staff and Store-

The staff at Cabela’s is so extremely friendly. We loved how they would just approach us and carry on a conversation. Abby was even given a free present and they asked if she was joining the children’s fishing event they were doing outside that afternoon. It’s the little things that make a trip. One high up on the list, is friendly staff. It’s right next to cleanliness. The store is very clean.

• The Deals-

The deals are great. We took advantage of one of their specials and got a new tent. Brian got himself a pair of Keens. Abby got a new hat. She tried on many with Noodles until she found the perfect one and wears it everywhere.

At checkout, we used our new Cabela’s credit cards. We both got twenty dollars off our purchases. So the total for everything was approx. $150 on credit. Not too bad. Especially if paid off on time and fast. Also, using the credit card in-store also carries a very low interest rate. Win-Win

• Exhibits and bonuses-

There is a lot to look at in Cabela’s. It isn’t just shopping. There are a couple conservation areas with taxidermy animals depicting very real to life, graphic scenes. Right down to the expressions on the animals, is just unreal.

There is also an aquarium with a tunnel you can go into and of course, the tunnel will lead you to or away from the fishing department.

There is shooting gallery. We didn’t try this with a dog and small child and also didn’t go in the fudge shop. Fur and fudge don’t mix.

There’s a man cave with big comfy chairs and really expensive stuff on the walls. Luckily, we only told her once not to touch anything. So she sat in the big, comfy chair instead.

There’s a general store where there are lots and lots of child friendly items. We are so blessed we managed to escape there without a purchase.

Also dining is available cafeteria-style. This is great because we were starving by this point. It’s cafeteria-style and we were allowed to sit all the way at one of the far ends so Noodles was still in the store, not the eating area. We had cheeseburgers and Abby had Macaroni and Cheese. Noodles obviously had a little too. It was alright. Tasted like cafeteria food to me. Don’t expect a giant burger made medium-rare. It would have been much better with raw onion.

• Final Thoughts on Store-

Look at their Website as they have a lot of events and specials going on. I really liked the atmosphere of this store compared to the one we went to in Hartford Connecticut. Both are great, but the staff definitely brought it at this store.

The Drive Home from Hamburg PA-

We decided on toll roads on the ride home. We made a stop at a smokehouse we saw on the way down called Dietrich’s Meat Market. They had a lot of tasty meats and cheeses in the store. I was horrified by the pig parts you could get your dog. Call me a city person, but I did not need to see a full pigs head staring back at me. They also have Rocky Mountain Oysters if you are in the mood for some bull’s balls too. I’m actually not sure what type of balls. But balls are balls and not for eating. Sorry.

Brian got our snacks for the way home. Our usual, snack sticks and cheese curds and we were off.

We made two last stops. One at Turkey Hill gas station. Lost two dollars on scratch offs here. Last stop at a New Jersey rest stop. It was absolutely disgusting. They also said they had chocolate chip cookies at Burger King and after, my husband checked out and went to retrieve them, they said no, not on menu. Took a couple days to get money back on card. The bathrooms were also very nasty.

*Travel tip: Pack your own cooler and a bag with the non-melty snacks. It saves stops and is much more wallet-friendly.

*Travel tip: The big people usually need to stop to go to the bathroom. However, for the tinier bladder, roadside stops might happen. Not noted above, but we did stop on the side of a highway for Abby. I forgot the travel potty! Luckily, we were able to coordinate and no clothes were harmed. Always take your dirty toilet paper, potty bag etc with you when you are done. Leave no trace.

After that, it was straight home. We had an awesome trip and can’t wait for the next Higgs family road trip.