Should you find yourself outside of Harrisburg, the Keystone State capital, on its north side, you’ll find a very well-meaning Cracker Barrel parking lot that is pitched well above the fairly busy beltway that is otherwise known as Highway 81 that encircles Harrisburg awaiting your arrival. The best part, aside from the elevation, which means a heavy dose of peace & quiet, is that this area is fairly well-heeled, meaning that the safety & security you’ll feel here is at an all-time high, as are both the WiFi and cell signals you’ll receive, coupled with the amazing high-end amenities you’ll encounter being parked in the Shoppes (and if there’s an ‘e’ in Shoppes, that must mean it’s special or expensive or both, right?) with retailers and shoppes like Athleta, Eddie Bauer, J.Jill, Loft, Plum Bottom, Pure Barre, Sephora, Talbots and Williams Sonoma.
But I digress, let’s chat about the parking lot, which is nothing short of a well-poured paved parking paradise for your overnighting pleasure with ample space in front, but especially behind as well as even, if need be, on both sides. The location of this restaurant sequesters you from the rest of the retail fanfare that you’ll experience here and so provides a bit of an segregated experience from the other mall traffic. Obviously given its close proximity to I81, this location is fairly conveniently located right off a major highway artery, but again, it’s raised, so this adds to the peace and silence you’ll experience as well as a really good dose of space and fairly easy maneuvering once you get to the top of this Acropolis-like shopping mecca.
Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) Should you need to load up on anything, to be honest, there’s not a whole lot other than what you would find in this particular mall complex, but slightly further afield you’ll come across an Aldie’s, Giant, Save-A-Lot, Costco and Home Depot; (2) In the event that you might be RVing with your four-legged friends, then you’ll be incredibly grateful to know that just due southwest of this location you’ll discover a nice slice of nature called Benjamin Olewine III Nature Center that has a sweet little spot of fresh water called Wildwood Lake as well as nearby Wildwood Park, which is great for birding and seeing local wildlife as well as offering up some decent bike trails and hiking paths for you and your pet to stretch your legs; (3) One of my biggest tips would be in the event that you want to give up on trying to make a meal from what remains inside your cooler or on-board fridge, head on over to ANOTHER restaurant other than the one who’s parking lot you find yourself in and instead walk into Harvest Seasonal Grill, which I dined at and was treated to a most amazing asparagus soup followed by a spectacular Peruvian-style half chicken (and trust me, having visited Lima more times than I care to recount, this was indeed a very authentic dish) all washed down with a few glasses of sauvignon blanc from Marlborough; and (4) Should you be on the look out for something incredibly unique in these parts, then I would STRONGLY urge you to check out Susquehanna Art Museum where there’s some really amazing modern art along with creative exhibits, classes and even champagne-infused happy hours while you can stroll the myriad exhibitions while attempting to meet some of the very interesting locals you’ll undoubtedly have the chance to get to know.
While scoring criteria may vary from one person to the next, here are the 5 most important criteria that informed my rating of this overnight location: convenience (EZ on- and off-access), safety & security, quality (of facilities), peace & quiet and amenities (either on-site or nearby). Here’s how I ranked this particular overnight spot:
Convenience: 5
Safety & Security: 5
Quality: 5
Peace & Quiet: 4
Amenities: 4
Overall, I scored this location a 5
Happy Overnighting!
