Boldly Go Solo

Red Bank, New Jersey - retro, but contemporary too

Ever heard of Red Bank, New Jersey? I hadn't. But I went to visit for a travel story and ended up loving the place for a variety of reasons, nostalgia being no small part of it.

Red Bank calls itself a "cool little town" and I agree. It's the kind of place with few chain stores, where teens walk from homes nearby to wander around on their own, hanging out at the yogurt shop, grabbing a slice of pizza, playing some pinball at a pinball and video arcade.

I wrote about Red Bank for today's Washington Post travel section. 

If you're a shopper, you'll like the many stores selling high-end clothes or the consignment stores offering the hand-me-down version. (Hey, I'm all about a deal.)

The town is a draw for antiques lovers too. If you're into pinball, which I remembered I was when I got there, or classic video games, you'll have a great time at YESTERcades.

New Oxford, Pennsylvania, antiquing story in The Washington Post

A few weeks ago I wrote about antiquing in New Oxford, Pennsylvania. Well, the story is out in The Washington Post today. It's called,"Welcome to Antiquing." Which is what my friend Paula said to me when I commented about a musty smell in one of the antiques malls we were in.  

And rather than about solo travel, it's about my education on why people spend so much money for rusty and cracked stuff.

Anyway, take a read. It's a different story from the one I wrote here. Enjoy! 

Antiquing for solo travelers in New Oxford, Pennsylvania

If you're an antiques freak, I highly recommend a trip to New Oxford, Pennsylvania, to get your fill of Victorian, Civil-War era and other antique furnishings, toys and kitchenware.

I don't see it as an ideal place to travel solo if you don't love antiques because it's not exactly a hoppin' town, but for a couple of days it would be absolutely fine as a place to relax too.

New Oxford is a one-horse town in rural Pennsylvania that, as I said, doesn't have the bustle of an urban center. However, considering you could spend HOURS perusing goods from hundreds of dealers you would be quite the busy shopper/browser.

I went with a friend because I'm writing a story for The Washington Post on learning to like, or at least understand, antiques. So I took along a friend who has furnished her house in solid-wood oak pieces, green Depression glass and Watt pottery. (If you don't know what these are you're in the same boat that I started out in. I, at least, have begun to learn how to paddle.)