In our latest review, we took a weekend trip out to PA where we stayed at the Holiday Inn Express Lancaster – Mount Joy and toured The Turkey Hill Experience. In today’s second part we’ll be focusing on the restaurants we ate at during the trip. So without further ado, let’s dive into today’s reviews!
Metro Diner – Bensalem, PA
Customer Service – 5/5
From the very moment I entered to the time I left, all the staff I encountered were very pleasant and on the ball. I think if you’re working at a diner or lunchent you need to have the personality and right people skills for it.
The waitress I had definitely had superb service skills, was very friendly and attentive. If I were a local to this area, I would definitely return here. Another important part of a restaurant is its food and beverage. Speaking of that, let’s dive in!
Food & Beverage (F&B) – 5/5
Overall the menu had a lot of variety and unique items on it such as chicken and waffles with ice cream on top! I’ve seen lots of variations with chicken and waffles but this one had a very interesting spin to it. Their variation was as follows: Half a fried chicken and a Belgian waffle, topped with powdered sugar and sweet, strawberry butter. Served with our signature sweet and spicy sauce.
I honestly have never seen a plate of chicken & waffles with strawberry butter. This picture doesn’t do justice! The portions are huge but well worth every bite!
As much as I wanted to order this amazing dish, It was a little too much for me since it was early in the morning when I stopped in for breakfast. I ended up ordering a short stack of pancakes and bacon. Remember how I mentioned before how portions are very large? Well… these pancakes were so big they barely fit on the plate! When I went to put butter and syrup on one of the pancakes it was partially flooding off the plate. Definitely worth it though! I even had some leftovers I was able to enjoy later on in the day.
Today’s Pizza & Mamma Rita Italian Restaurant – Mount Joy, PA
There honestly isn’t too much to say about this restaurant being it is just like any other normal pizzeria you would go to. This review is going to be a little brief and not as in depth but nonetheless, we’ll still rate it like we normally do.
Customer Service – 5/5
The staff working the counter/restaurant were very friendly, professional and helpful. I really honestly don’t have much more to comment on since the service was excellent.
Food & Beverage (F&B) – 5/5
I honestly didn’t know what to expect from the restaurant. I just googled it and saw it was just a short distance from the hotel. I’ve been to many pizza places while on vacation, most were good and some were not. I honestly have to say the pizza here was pretty good and I would definitely recommend it.
As someone who has worked in the restaurant business before making pizzas, I know the science to a good pizza. When making a pizza the two most important factors that affect your dough are time and temperature. You need to make sure the dough proofs up, but don’t over proof and you also need to make sure it is the perfect temperature. The pizza I had was excellent! The dough was not too thick and also wasn’t too thin to the point where the pizza fell apart. There was just the right amount of sauce and cheese and the pizza was cooked perfectly!
Taylor Chip Cookie Co. – Lancaster, PA
This by far was one of the best parts of the weekend gateway and well worth the stop. For those that know me personally, they know I love my cookies! I’m literally always eating cookies all the time. This stop was like a no-brainer for me.
Taylor Chip Cookie Company is a local cookie store that bakes a variety of gourmet cookies from scratch using the freshest and highest quality ingredients. (That’s their secret to a great cookie!) They currently own and operate two locations in PA and offer nationwide delivery through their website.
Customer Service – 5/5
Overall, the store had very friendly and helpful associates. Once again, I really honestly don’t have much more to comment on since the service was excellent.
Food & Beverage (F&B) – 6/5
These cookies are just too good so they break our rating scale! There are so many options for cookies to choose from including: Chocolate Chip, P.B. Fudge, M&M, Brookie and so many more! For a full list of their cookies, check out their website: https://www.taylorchip.com/.
I purchased half a dozen cookies in order to take home as many cookies as I could in order to try most of them. I purchased M&M, Chocolate chip, Brookie, Double Choco Brownie, Snickerdoodle, and Loaded P.B.
Out of all the cookies I tried, I personally liked the M&M cookie the best. But all the cookies I got were amazing. I definitely recommend trying them all.
Pro Tip: If you heat the cookies in the oven at 300 degrees for 3 to 5 minutes. They actually will taste better if you do this, especially if you eat them the next day.
Welcome back to our Blog! Today, I will be reviewing my experience upon the Great Smokey Mountains Railroad Polar Express Train Ride! In this review, I will go over the history behind the Polar Express, the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad, and my ratings of the experience. So grab your tickets, a cup of hot chocolate, and relax. All Aboard the Polar Express!
History of The Polar Express
The Polar Express is a children’s book written and illustrated by Chris Van Allsburg. It was published by Houghton Mills in 1985. The book would go on to become considered a classic Christmas story for young Children, alongside Dr. Seuss’s How The Grinch Stole Christmas. The book received great praise for its detailed illustrations and calm, relaxing storyline. Van Allsburg won the annual Caldecott Medal for his work on the book. If you have never read the story, I highly suggest you do so. To avoid any spoilers, I am going to avoid telling you the plot. That is a journey you will have to take yourself.
By 1989, The Polar Express would sell over 1 million copies and make the best-seller list four years in a row. It earned the “Teachers’ Top 100 Books for Children” vote in 2007 and “Top 100 Picture Books” in a 2012 poll. In 2004, Castle Rock Entertainment would produce a computer- animated Christmas musical fantasy film by the same name. Directed by Robert Zemeckis, the movie would go on to release on November 10th 2004 and grossed $286 million worldwide in ticket sales. Shortly after the movie release, a video game was released purely based off the movie during the same year. The train model company of Lionel would start releasing model trains of the Polar Express due to its popularity. The movie would also inspire train rides to pop up all over the United States, Canada, and the UK! Even some theme parks would include a Polar Express experience during their holiday season. The Polar Express would be nominated for 3 Academy Awards, A Golden Globe Award, and Visual Effects Society Award. They would win the Grammy for ‘Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media’ in 2006.
The Great Smoky Mountains Railroad
The Great Smoky Mountains Railroad (or GSMR) is a freight and heritage railroad located in Bryson City, North Carolina. As of 1999, they are operated by American Heritage Railways, Inc. Today, the railroad has excursions along the former Southern Railway branch between Bryson City and Dillsboro. As of right now, the GSMR has two steam locomotives (with one currently operational) and soon-to-be seven diesel locomotives. The GSMR owns 53 miles ( or 85 kilometers) of the Murphy Branch that used to be part of the Southern Railway that went from Dillsboro, North Carolina to Andrews, North Carolina. The line was completed in Dillsboro in 1883 and reached Andrews in 1890. GSMR would start operations in 1988 via lease from NCDOT (or North Carolina Department of Transportation). The GSMR route uses a route which passes through ‘fertile valleys, a tunnel and across river gorges’ in the Great Smoky Mountains of Western North Carolina. In December 1999, GSMR was sold to American Heritage Railways and debuted as Great Smoky Mountains Railroad. In addition to running tourist excursions year-round, GSMR has also moved freight via interchange with the Blue Ridge Southern Railroad in Sylva. GSMR runs nearly 1,000 excursions each year! In 2004, GSMR debuted its Polar Express train ride, based on the newly released movie and licensed through Warner Bros. The ride has annually been a major economic boost for the railroad and town of Bryson City. In 2019 alone, GSMR broke all attendance records with over 91,000 people riding the Polar Express excursion alone. In 2008, as a result of recession, GSMR closed their Dillsboro Depot and focused solely on the Bryson City operations. Bryson City would become the new hometown for the railroad with the move of the Administration Offices, though excursions were still running between Dillsboro and Bryson City. Due to COVID outbreak in 2020, GSMR had to suspend operations for a short 3 months before re-opening in June 2020. GSMR also owns and operates the Smoky Mountain Trains Museum located adjacent to the Bryson City depot. The museum features a collection of over 7,000 Lionel model engines, cars and accessories!
The Polar Express Experience
Tickets And Sales: Rating – N/A
Our Tickets were pre-ordered by my grandparents as part of our Christmas present. According to the website: Prices range for $43 to $93 per person depending on which class car you book. We had received the Crown class tickets, which is the 2nd cheapest above Coach class. Upon arrival, there were signs stating that GSMR required all passengers to wear masks to prevent any outbreaks. GSMR only allows one person per family to claim pre-ordered tickets located in a tent set up by the depot. You will receive your seat ticket and a golden ticket, just like you see in the film. Depending on your boarding time, they tell you to arrive 15-30 minutes ahead of scheduled time. During this time, you are free to explore Bryson City. Once it is time, you are told to stand in a numbered station, going from 1 (by the train depot) to at most 7 or 8 possibly. During the wait for the train, the GSMR would pump music via speakers and use programmed lights to get you into the holiday spirit and keep your mind off the cold. Once the train is close, the staff ask you to stay behind a safety line before asking you to have your tickets ready and present. When the train has stopped and the last ride is fully off, they will allow boarding to start.
Boarding & Unboarding: Rating – 3 out of 5
Okay, major gripe here. I don’t have a major fear of tight spaces or anything. However, the space between the bathroom and the wall going into the actual train cart is quite a squeeze. You can imagine how you can form a slight fear of claustrophobia with everyone piling in at the same time. Also, taking into consideration the COVID situation at the moment, I feel that they could have done the boarding a bit more smoothly and controlled. Once seated and all were aboard, the train started its journey.
Coming back to the station, I wish they would have done better with the unboarding situation. The major letdown is the tight squeeze to the exit with the huge crowd heading out. Again, a major case of claustrophobia waiting to happen.
The Journey To North Pole: Rating – 5 out of 5
What is there to say on this? If you ever watch or have read the book, you can feel the spirit of the Polar Express during the whole journey. You are first introduced to your server which would have a holiday themed name (for example: Ours was named Mistletoe!). After everyone shouts their name to be introduced, a small clip from the movie would start going over the intercom and speakers. This would be the “Hot Chocolate” scene , which would be introducing the delicious hot chocolate presented to you by your server. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPWYu94mzhE&feature=emb_logo)
As well as the Hot Chocolate, which is served in a small souvenir coffee cup, you are served some cookies wrapped in a plastic bag. This cookie is about the size of your palm , probably a bit smaller but I swear it is big! I believe the cookie to be a sugar cookie or something that was dusted with cinnamon possibly. Out of my family, I would be the only one who would finish the cookie. The journey would continue forward and include cute tidbits from the movie (for example, the “Hey, you forgot your ticket” scene after the Conductors punch the tickets or the howling of the wolves as you pass over the bridge). I do need to warn that a portion of the journey will be during a time where the lights would ‘shut off due to the cold’ as we got closer to the North Pole section of the ride. The major part of the trip to the North Pole area would be taken up by the reading of the Polar Express book, so make sure to bring your own with you!
The North Pole – Rating: 5 out of 5
As you approach the North Pole, you would pass through a wall of ice and enter a small town all decked out as the North Pole. The server will give you a small tour of the town, showing you the houses of the characters from the North Pole and a few points of interest. As you go along, you pass the Town Center where Santa is atop his sleigh waving at the kids. Do note that during this time, the train will stop and pick up Santa before continuing on its journey backwards. (Oh… did I forget to mention that the train travels backwards for the journey to the North Pole, then forward back to Bryson City). The train will suddenly come to another pause where there seems to be caribou blocking the passage back. The train would switch gears and start pulling you forward once more. You may notice (if you were not in the front cars that is) that Santa is no longer on his sleigh. The server will go into a panic and run off to look for Santa. The server would come back in a short while and ask everyone if they were on the nice list. If you are on the naughty list, you get called out and told that to get on the Nice List you must do something. (I guess this can depend on the ride and person, but those naughty in our car had to do the chicken dance). WIth everyone now on the nice list and the kids chanting “Santa”, the jolly man walks in to be greeted with loud cheers. Santa will pass out bells to the kids, with some helpers handing out more bells to others.
The Journey Back To Bryson City- Rating : 4 out of 5
The journey back to Bryson City would continue after Santa’s visit. The server would have you guys play with your bells and sing some Christmas songs. They also like to tell jokes and will sometimes ask for people to share any! The journey back is not as exciting as the journey to the North Pole. You get to see the same scenery passing so I can’t really add that much here not already stated in the previous section. One thing that I can state is that I wish they had put more decorations along the train ride for us to see, as there are parts where you are passing bare spots with nothing to stare at outside the window.
Overall Experience – 17 out of 20 possible
I would definitely suggest you look into booking this incredible experience for your family! What a way to make wonderful Christmas memories! There is a dress code for the ride : pajamas!! Just like the movie, all who board the train are allowed to wear pajamas and robes as part of the experience. I have included the link to the GSMR website so that you may glance at the prices, the experience, and even more.
Welcome to Touristician, in today’s first ever post we will talk about who we are, the topics in which we will cover and finally, we will meet our team. So without further ado, let’s get started!
Tourisitican’s primary focus is on the Hospitality industry which encompasses hotels, restaurants, theme parks, travel & more!
Our blog will specifically focus on stories from our very own writers’ experiences in the industry, hotel reviews, hotel history, industry news, theme parks & more! We have so much planned we can’t even fit it in a single post or sentence!
Some of our topics are separated into categories and might be referred to as a series on the blog. Here are some examples of our series we have:
Touristician Reviews – Ever wonder if a hotel, theme park or attraction is really as good as they claim they are? Now you don’t have to! Our team of writers has got you covered.
The Vault Collection – Immerse your self in the past and revisit an era of Nostalgia where innovators and industry pioneers forever change the industry.
Area 51 Food – Unleash your inner Gordon Ramsey as you see some of the worst and most disgusting food ever from cafeterias and beyond.
And now let’s take a look at the voices behind Touristician and hear their stories;
Founder & Lead Writer – Blake
Hi, my name is Blake! I am currently studying Hospitality & Tourism Management in college. I am currently a Front Desk Agent and have been working in the industry for a little over half a year now. I’m excited to share my personal experiences so far with you all. Hope you all enjoy Touristician!
Co-Lead Writer – Hyrax
Hi! I am HyraxNixus, but you can call me Hyrax. I am currently a Front Desk Receptionist and have been working in the hospitality business for 3 years now.
Writer & Theme Park Enthusiast – Peter
Hi, I’m Peter but you can call me Silent as well. I’m a college student studying electrical, mechanical and construction engineering to make roller coasters down the line. So happy to bring my creativity and educate as well as learn more about theme parks. When I’m not fanboying over giga coaster and paying attention to B&M every move, you can see me playing on the volleyball team or working with kids. Hope to see you around!
We hope you all enjoyed our very first post where we introduced ourselves, discussed the topics in which we will cover and finally, meet our team. Be sure to follow us on our social medias for updates, previews & more!
*Please note we are not full time writers and we will release content as it is ready rather than a flood of content that is subpar. We will try our best to release at least one to two posts per week*
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