Holidays With Grandpa Page 4

Holidays with Grandpa  

During the mid summer of 1995, me, my brother Ed, and Grandpa took a road to Chattanooga Tennessee. 

Ruby Falls Brochure, Quasi Interesting

 

The Chattanooga Tennessee Road Trip

It was the summer of 1995,  my grandfather was not sleeping very well and got tired very quick.  I had to make several stops during this road trip including an overnight stop in Wapakoneta, Ohio.  

When I got to Chattanooga Tennessee, I did not stay at the same hotel for the entire duration of the trip.  Each day I had to pack up and change motels.  Each day we did some driving around Lookout Mountain and I remember stopping at a cave opening on Route US hwy 72 for a few minutes to for a quick pit stop.  Me and my brother went inside the opening and there was not much to see inside.  Most of sight seeing was primarly driving from place to place.  due to my grandfather's lack of sleep, we did not get visit the key attaractions, Ruby Falls and Rock City.

Kings Lodge Post Card. A former motel on East Ridge

After checking into the Kings Lodge and doing a load of laundry,  I wanted to go for an afternoon drive through the Bachman Tunnel.  After going through the tunnel, I stopped at a K-Mart store and discovered a crazy playground.  This playground features a castle like play structure with swings and slides.  

Pioneer Frontier Park, a fancy playground in Chattanooga Tennessee

 

 

After playing for 20 minutes, my grandfather honks the horn to call me back to the truck as it's time to go.  As we were leaving the park, my grandfather said "That's the best playground yet!"  We returned to the motel via the Bachman Tunnel and called it a day.

The Drive Home

The decision was made that we decided to go home because my grandfather has not been sleeping well.  Once on the highway, I realized I forgotten my sleeping bag at the motel.  My grandfather was willing to take me back to the motel and retrieve my sleeping bag from the room.  I had to make several pit stops along the way because my grandfather gotten tired.  One of the stops included an overnight stop in Wapakoneta, Ohio at some random motel off Interstate 75.  

 

The Infinity Tunnel, Neil Armstrong Museum, Dayton Daily News

The next morning, my grandfather took me to the Neil Armstrong Air and Space Museum.  I remember the infinity tunnel between the Metorite Exhibit and the Astro Theatre.  I was intrigued because of all the lights and the infinite reflection.  

 

Michigan Hwy 10 has two tunnels. Alps Roads

 

 This Highway takes you to the Tunnel to Canada.  Missed  out on cheap gas! Alps Roads

 

After visiting the museum, it was time to hit the highway and head back to Canada.  I wanted to take the Tunnel back to Canada.  The highway I took my grandfather on in Detroit MI had a couple of short tunnels.  Taking that highway made us miss the gas station and liquor store   My grandfather wanted to get gas since it was cheaper in the USA.  After a few more stops,  We made it back home.

Conclusion

This was my last major road trip into the USA with my grandfather before getting a truck camper.  I have made a few more shot trips into Niagara Falls, NY

Page Index

Holidays With Grandpa Page 1, 1986 - 1991

Holidays With Grandpa Page 2, 1991 - 1992

Holidays With Grandpa Page 3, 1992 - 1995

Return to Phil's Adventures and Holidays

Photo References

 

Highway Tunnel on M-10, Alps Roads, https://www.alpsroads.net/roads/mi/m-10/

Pioneer Frontier Park, East Ridge News Online, https://www.eastridgenewsonline.com/town-center-proposed-mcbrien-site/

The Infinity Tunnel, Neil Armstrong Museum, Dayton Daily News, https://www.daytondailynews.com/news/wapakoneta-museum-celebrates-neil-armstrong-most-famous-trip/qSOdRR3pfmvlLJZOgrHMMP/ 

Ruby Falls Brochure, Quasi Interesting, http://quasi-interestingparaphernaliainc.blogspot.com/2008/02/ruby-falls-brochure.html

 

The Hotels I stayed in Page III

Holidays with Grandpa Page 3

In 1993 - 1995, I stayed in a Red Roof Inn in Willimasville, NY, Econo Lodge in Williamsville, NY, Days INN, Niagara Falls,ON ,and Master Hosts Inn, Niagara Falls, ON  I have stayed in the Summit Motor INN and the Lockport INN a few more times.

Red Roof INN, Williamsville, NY

In the fall of 1992, my grandfather took me to the Red Roof Inn in Williamsville, NY.  This hotel is off Interstate 90 and Transit Road.  The room was the usual two bed room with a heater.  All of the Red Roof Inns I stayed in did not have a swimming pool to have fun in.  At these hotels, I just ran around the building on both floors.  I have stayed in this hotel twice.

Red Roof Inn, Richmond VA

In March of 1993, my Grandfather took me to another Red Roof Inn in Richmond, VA en-route to Myrtle Beach.  When I checked in, it was a late evening and we slept the night and headed to Myrtle Beach early the next morning

Poindexter Hotel, Myrtle Beach, SC

In March 1993, My Grandfather stayed in the Poindexter Hotel in Myrtle Beach.  When I arrived in Myrtle Beach, I was caught in the Storm of the Century. The entire week while I was at Myrtle Beach, the weather was cold that you would need a spring jacket.  I went to Treasure Island for a game of mini golf and visited Maze Mania.  This hotel had four buildings.  I was in the Dunes, that was the fourth building.  The building was the third Breezeway hotel I ever stayed in.

I enjoyed Maze Mania because it was the first life size maze I visited.  The object of the maze is to find the cheese and exit the maze within the time limit.  When you start the maze, you will punch your time card, enter the maze, find the Cheese and punch it, Find the exit of the maze, and Punch out.  If you beat the posted time, you will win a free T-shirt.  People can play the maze as many times through the day as you wish.  If you been to Maze Mania several times, the maze is changed daily.

Econo Lodge, Williamsville, NY



In 1993, I stayed in the Econo Lodge in Williamsville, NY.  This was the only hotel room that had three beds.  I was very happy about this hotel room rental because I had my own bed for the night. 

Days INN, Niagara Falls, ON


In 1994, my Grandfather decided to stay on the Canadian Side for a weekend excursion the the USA because of the Canadian Dollar was falling.  There are two Days inn hotels in Niagara Falls,  This hotel is located on Victoria Ave.  The hotel room was across the hall from the elevator and it featured floor to ceiling windows.  During this trip I went to Smokin Joes to get gas, and shopping on Military Road.

Master Hosts INN, Niagara Falls, ON, Victoria Ave

In March 1994, my grandfather took a March Break weekend to Niagara Falls.  The Master Hosts Inn was loctated on Clifton Hill and Oneida Lane.  The hotel room was on the second floor and it overlooked a giant Castle Dracula Sign

The hotel featured a cold swimming pool on the third floor and it overlooked Castle Dracula too.  The Castle Dracula sign was my favourite thing that I looked at during my three day stay at Master Hosts Inn.  The hotel offered free admission tickets to five Clifton Hill Attractions including the House of Frankenstein, Haunted House, Fun House, Adventure Dome, Genesis World Records Museum.  At the time, I did not want to go into House of Frankenstein, Haunted House, and the Fun House.  My Grandfather took me in to the Adventure Dome because it was not scary.  The Adventure Dome film takes you on a roller coaster, street car in San Francisco, and a freeway at Breakneck Speeds.  The film ends with a scary crash which scared the living daylights out of me.  On the second day, My grandfather took me to USA for some shopping along Military Road at Hills, Tops, and K Mart.  I did get to take a dip into the the third floor swimming pool and I complained that it was way too cold.

Days INN, Niagara Falls, ON, Stanley Ave

March 1995,  This was the last hotel trip my Grandfather took me on before getting a truck camper in the summer.  This is the second Days Inn in Niagara Falls I stayed in.  This hotel is located on Stanley Ave and Murray Hill.  The hotel was a 15 storey high-rise and I loved running up and down the stairs in this tall building.  My brother raced me up and down in the elevator while I was in the stairwell.  Over the weekend, I got a telephone call form the office because of the elevators were being tied up with my brother racing me in the stairway.  The swimming pool was warmer than the Master Hosts Pool and I was able to enjoy it.

On this trip I visited the Niagara Falls Museum, Minolota Tower Centre, and the Skylon Arcade.

The R 360 is a fully motion based video game cabinet

In the Skylon Arcade, I stumbled upon this game where the person is strapped in.  I only seen this game once.  I was attracted to this game because you are strapped in while it moves 360 degrees while you are playing.  This video game cabinet was built and manufactured by Sega. 

Conclusion

The Holidays my Grandfather took me on were quite memorable.  I enjoyed looking at a Castle Dracula sign at Master Hosts Inn, visiting Maze Mania in Myrtle Beach, and the good old driving around and visiting random places like Ohio Caverns.  The best hotel for a warm swimming pool is the Summit Motor Inn in Niagara Falls, NY.  I got to stay at the Summit Motor Inn Several times.  In January 1998, my grandfather passed away and these memories live forever.

Page Index

Holidays With Grandpa Page 1, 1986 - 1991

Holidays With Grandpa Page 2, 1991 - 1992

Holidays With Grandpa Page 4, The Chattanooga Road Trip 

Return to Phil's Adventures and Holidays

Hotels I have Stayed in Page II

Holidays with Grandpa Page II

In the Previous page of Hotels I stayed in, I stayed at Michaels Inn, Parkway INN, and many more.  In 1991 - 1995, I have stayed at hotels like the Red Roof Inn, Days Inn, Microtel, etc.

Drew's Esquire Motel

In 1991, my Grandfather took me to this motel twice.  This motel is located on Niagara Falls Blvd, in North Tonawanda, NY. I was very lucky because we got room #7 both times.  Inside the room, there were a pair of tickets that read" Free, To Heaven" on the top line.  This motel had an outdoor pool and the Wheatfield Animal Hospital is a short drive west of the motel.  On the second stay at this motel, my Grandfather picked up Mega Man 3 at K Mart.

Red Roof Inn, Dearborn MI

Red Roof Inn Sign

This is the second Red Roof Inn I stayed at with my Grandfather.  During this trip, My grandfather took me to Greenfield Village and the Henry Ford Museum.  In the Henry Ford Museum, there was an interesting chair that looked like a Dental Chair.  During this trip, I went for an elevator ride in a nearby department store.

Days Inn, Dayton OH

In July 1991, My grandfather took me on a roadtrip to Ohio and we landed at this Days Inn in the north end of Dayton Ohio.  The hotel is located off I 75.  During the stay at this hotel, I went to the US National Air Force Museum for the day.  In the evening, my grandfather took me north on I 75 to Tip City and Troy to do some shopping.  In Troy, OH, My grandfather took me to a Wal-Mart and I looked at some movies in the electronics section.  I found the movie Total Recall, a movie I dread to watch.  I looked at the left side of the video cover and my stomach cringed because of this picture below.

A freaky picture on the left side of the Total Recall VHS

After staying at the Days INN in Ohio, My grandfather took me to the Ohio Caverns.  The Ohio Caverns was my first cave trip I took with my grandfather.

Knights INN

Following the trip to Ohio Caverns, we stayed one more night in the USA at a Knight Inn in the north end of Detroit MI.  The hotel room featured fancy stained wood ceiling beams.  In this hotel room, I watched a Super Mario Bros 3 cartoon and Captian N for the first time.

Microtel INN, WIlliamsville, NY

In January 1992, my Grandfather took me to the Microtel in Cheektowaga, NY.  This hotel was quite unique with a bunk bed on the window sill.  The television in the hotel room was suspended from the ceiling by the window.  When I stayed in this hotel for the first time, I left behind a copy of Nintendo Power Magazine, Vol 32 in the room before returning to Canada. 

Family INN, Knoxville, TN

In March, 1992, My Grandfather stopped for the night at the Family Inn in Knoxville, TN  This was a standard  room with two beds and a bath.  There was not much to say about it.

Condo Rental, Orlando FL

In March, 1992, My Grandfather took me to Florida for March Break.  I was looking forward to this trip because I wanted to see Nickelodeon Studios at Universal Studios Florida.  I stayed for a week in a Condo that features a full kitchen, and two bedrooms.  The advantage of this place was that I did not have to worry about sleeping with the TV on.  The Condo rental was located off of Route 441 south of Interstate 4.  I visited places like the Florida Mall, Gatorland, and the Kennedy Space Centre.  Overall, this was the best place I ever stayed with my Grandfather.

Conclusion,

In 1992 - 1995, I stayed in the Summit Motor Inn, Lockport Inn, and the usual hotels during a typical trip to Niagara Falls, NY.  In March, 1993, I took one more trip to Myrtle Beach, SC and in July 1995, I took a trip to Chattanooga TN to see Ruby Falls and did lots of driving around.  These stories will be coming soon.

Keep your Ears to the Tracks

Page Index

Holidays With Grandpa Page 1, 1986 - 1991

Holidays With Grandpa Page 3, 1992- 1995

Holidays With Grandpa Page 4, The Chattanooga Road Trip 

Return to Phil's Adventures and Holidays