With all the road trips we take, especially here in the Carolinas, we’ve found some pretty unusual places. These best kept secrets are quirky — intriguing to kids and tweens. Breaking up a long drive with a quick stop to check out strange attractions seems to help the mood all around. I asked my official […]
10 reasons to vacation at Gulf State Park (+ a bonus!)
Between the popular vacation towns of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach in Alabama, sits the region’s shining jewel, Gulf State Park. This 6,200+ acre park is home to three fresh water lakes, a golf course, campground, cabins, a fishing pier and 2 1/2 miles of incredible beach. It’s a dog friendly park, and pets are […]
Take a trip back in time with Strasburg Railroad
In the heart of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Strasburg Railroad takes families back in time on rides through the rolling countryside. Enjoy the serene farmland on this 9-mile roundtrip journey to Paradise (yes, that’s a real place). Riders can choose from a number of experiences. The cheapest fare is standard “coach,” where guests ride in a […]
Hiking the Tuscarora Trail to Eagle Rock Overlook
In Western Virginia, a short drive from Winchester or Woodstock, the Tuscarora Trail offers a number of hiking trails for the avid adventurer or casual day hiker. The trail includes the Eagle Rock overlook which provides some of the best views of the Great North Mountain Range. The longer hike is a 7.2 out and […]
7 non-beachy things to do in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach
When you think about beach vacations, the sun, sand and surf might be the first things that come to mind. Maybe your mind fills with thoughts of fresh seafood and long walks at sunset and palm trees. I enjoy all those things. But, in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, there is so much more to […]
Visiting the 9/11 Memorial: What you need to know
Those of us over age 25 remember the horrific attacks on the World Trade Center like it was yesterday. The Twin Towers, the explosions, the towers collapsing and the devastation left behind — all left imprints in our minds we can not erase. For many (myself included), visiting the 9/11 Memorial and Museum is on […]
5 reasons Gulf Shores is better in the fall
Summer beach vacations aren’t bad. The hot sun and cool ocean waters complement each other nicely. But, summer beach vacations also mean hot, sticky, humidity. And crowds — have you been to a major beach in July? It’s bumper to bumper traffic on the roads, and bum to bum bodies on the beach. It can […]
How great was the Great American Eclipse?
We live just a few hours from Columbia, SC, so when the Great American Eclipse came across my radar (see what I did there?), I knew we had to go. HAD. TO. GO. How does one live near an eclipse and skip out on it? At the same time, I wondered if it would be […]
Keep on summering at Alabama’s beaches
Growing up in Ohio, we considered ourselves lucky to wear shorts after Labor Day. Fall was one long, cold, rainy season that dribbled into dreary winters. But that was before the internet (I’m really old). And before air travel was so affordable. And before I moved south where summer fights with school schedules well into […]
What to do in NYC: A beginner’s guide
So, you’ve made the big decision — a vacation to the Big Apple. But, what to do in NYC? How do you ever begin? I know the feeling. For years, I said I’d never go to New York, specifically the island of Manhattan, because it’s just so overwhelming. But when my son marched in the […]