Where was I? (Allentown, Harrisburg, State College: houses, new construction, college)

[mrpeterborough]

On a trip from Binghamton to Atlantic City, I was driven through the middle of PA to Philly and then down to AC. I would say about 45-1hr from Philly (could have been 1.5 hr also), I saw a stretch of rolling hills with magnificent homes that were up on hills basically overlooking the highway. It was one of the prettiest things I ever saw. So pretty that 10 years later, I am still trying to find out the town or area that I was looking at. All that I recall was that things started to get hilly and very picturesque and all of a sudden there were large homes within and on the hilltops and near to the highway. I could've been on 476 interstate - possibly on 76 or maybe not on either. Hope someone can help identify what I saw. It was amazing. Was it an outskirt of Allentown, Bethlem or was it Gladwynne? Please help!

[ElijahAstin]

Originally Posted by mrpeterborough

On a trip from Binghamton to Atlantic City, I was driven through the middle of PA to Philly and then down to AC. I would say about 45-1hr from Philly (could have been 1.5 hr also), I saw a stretch of rolling hills with magnificent homes that were up on hills basically overlooking the highway. It was one of the prettiest things I ever saw. So pretty that 10 years later, I am still trying to find out the town or area that I was looking at. All that I recall was that things started to get hilly and very picturesque and all of a sudden there were large homes within and on the hilltops and near to the highway. I could've been on 476 interstate - possibly on 76 or maybe not on either. Hope someone can help identify what I saw. It was amazing. Was it an outskirt of Allentown, Bethlem or was it Gladwynne? Please help!

If it was 45-60 minutes away from Philly, you weren't in Gladwyne (unless it was bumper-to-bumper rush hour traffic and you slogged it all the way there on the Schuylkill). There are a lot of fabulous homes clustered in the hills above the highway, but they're obscured by vegetation for the most part. If by 45-60 minutes you mean 45-60 miles, you were somewhere in the Lehigh Valley (where, I do not know).

[mcguirk]

If you have your timing very off then you may have been in Delco. There are homes on huge hills right off the Route 1 exit on 476 SB. And there are many in Conshohocken right south of the Midcounty toll plaza.

But more than likely you were in the southern tip of Lehigh Valley. The stretch between the Allentown exit and the tunnel is one of my favorite. (My first being the ride from Harrisburg to State College on 322 via my Ducati motorcycle :-). The mountains and the river are simply amazing.)

[ElijahAstin]

Originally Posted by mcguirk

If you have your timing very off then you may have been in Delco. There are homes on huge hills right off the Route 1 exit on 476 SB. And there are many in Conshohocken right south of the Midcounty toll plaza.

But more than likely you were in the southern tip of Lehigh Valley. The stretch between the Allentown exit and the tunnel is one of my favorite. (My first being the ride from Harrisburg to State College on 322 via my Ducati motorcycle :-). The mountains and the river are simply amazing.)

If he was driving back to Binghamton, I doubt he cut through Delco.

[mullligan150]

Those homes are on overlook lane in conshohocken. Im 99% sure that is what you are talking about.

[mrpeterborough]

Thank you. Just to confirm, you can see these homes from the highway, correct? And the highway is a winding one through beautiful hills. The scene is a bit surreal in fact because it is VERY usual to see ANY large old beautiful homes from a highway (!), let alone so many in a couple mile stretch, so beautiful. I guess that the highway had to be built after the homes? Very unusual. Anyone know how this happened?

[mrpeterborough]

With regard to overlook lane in conshocken, I just want to say that theses home stretched for about 3 miles worth from the highway and were positioned willy nilly above the highway on large plots of land within the hills. I see overlook lane on the google map and it looks like just a streets worth. These houses went on for about 2 - 3 miles..

[otters21]

Could that be Manayunk? Did you see a gorgeous old Catholic Church standing out among the homes?

[ElijahAstin]

Originally Posted by mrpeterborough

With regard to overlook lane in conshocken, I just want to say that theses home stretched for about 3 miles worth from the highway and were positioned willy nilly above the highway on large plots of land within the hills. I see overlook lane on the google map and it looks like just a streets worth. These houses went on for about 2 - 3 miles..

The homes on Overlook Lane are also relatively new construction (late 80s/early 90s) and on tiny plots of land.

[2e1m5a]

Originally Posted by otters21

Could that be Manayunk? Did you see a gorgeous old Catholic Church standing out among the homes?

Manayunk is very picturesque from I 76 but there aren't many large magnificent homes there.