10/19/08, 06/20/20
Bus Tours of October 18 & October 25, 2008 - Page EE

On this one day tour with Crosby Tours *, we had a buffet lunch at
The Painted Pony Restaurant (in Bethlehem, Connecticut).  We then visited
The New England Carousel and Fire History Museums (both in Bristol,
Connecticut and in the same building), the town of Litchfield, CT and
made a quick stop at the White Flower Farm (also in Litchfield).
On the way to get the bus I took these two photos.  You can see what will become
Rego Park's second mall.  It will house Kohl's, Century 21 and Home Depot.  
It is located on Junction Boulevard and Horace Harding Exp.  
Also see bottom of Page G.  Update 2013 - Instead of Home Depot we have Costco. **
Following photos taken at the rest stop we made on the way to The Painted Pony Restaurant!

The lunch at The Painted Restaurant was buffet style.  Nothing spectacular but tasty enough to be satisfying!
Elton outside the restaurant
Inside the restaurant
The bus waiting for us outside the restaurant.  Most of the trees in Connecticut were
dressed in beautiful fall colors!

The New England Carousel Museum, located in Bristol, Connecticut
Display showing how the horses were made.  Original
horses were made from wood.  Today, fiber glass
and/or plastic is used.
The animals on display are made of wood, plastic
and/or fiber glass
Front and back of the amusement park music player.  A complete band!

Displays at the Fire History Museum, second floor of 95 Riverside Ave., Bristol.
Fire trucks throughout the years!

All the businesses in "downtown" Litchfield were on one side of the street in about 2 to 3 city blocks!
View
of
the
FC
Church
from
inside
the
bus.

The stained glass windows in the United
Methodist Church are incredible.  Though we
did not go inside, the beauty of the windows
could be seen from outside.
United Methodist Church, side view.





To the left - The opposite
side of the street.  
On this side of the street
are mostly homes.  

I cannot believe that I did
not take a photo
of the few businesses!  
I was more impressed
by the churches!


During our ride through
the countryside,
I noticed an abundance
of antique stores!
One of the many flowers being sold at the
White Flower Farm
Across the street from the White Flower Farm

On October 25th, we visited the Penn-Dutch area.  Lots of rain and lots of wind!  We were not able to do
much outside exploration but we still enjoyed being in the area.  Below are the few photos I took.
Decorations outside Good 'N Plenty Restaurant
At the Riehl's Farm.  Mules enjoying the rain?
A farm across the Countryside Road Stand store (also
called Eli's or the Amish Wal*Mart, & no longer a stand!).
View across the street from
Bird-in-Hand Bake Shop!

*  Crosby Tours stopped doing business in November 2009.

**  Update, June 20, 2020 - Kohls, Toys/Babies R Us, Staples, Pier 1, Payless and Sears in the
Rego Center Mall closed.   They did NOT all close at the same time!!

Where Staples was located became a Petco, Payless became a jewelry store and where Sears
was will become a "hybrid" Ikea.  The Ikea will be a lot smaller than the warehouse type.