Safe travels up I-81. BTW, yes the roads are always that bad in Pennsylvania.
A few things about my area I grew up in:
The food is great in CNY. A few dishes to try: Chicken Riggies, Utica Greens, Salt Potatoes, Fried Haddock, Hofmann Snappy Grillers and German Franks.
A few towns and areas to visit with the family: Skaneateles, Cooperstown, Cazenovia, Thousand Islands, Finger Lakes and Lake Ontario.
Green Lakes State Park is a special place really close by for a quick trip with the kids. Walk the trails around the two lakes.