Y’all, I finally got to visit the National Museum of the Marine Corps — something I have long wanted to do. The Marine Corps Museum, Quantico, Virginia sits right next to I-95, just south of Washington, D.C. If you’ve ever driven I-95 through the area, you’ve seen the building with its steel beam jutting out […]
Prince William Forest Park: Spies, FDR and so much more!
Prince William Park in Northern Virginia might be one of the best kept secrets in the Washington, DC area. I drive through that area often and had no idea the park is right there, just a stone’s throw from I-95 at Exit 152B. This happens to be the same exit you take for the National […]
Complete Outer Banks Vacation Planner: Sun, sand, and sea (and more to explore!)
The Outer Banks of North Carolina is a popular vacation destination for families who want to enjoy sun, sand and sea. A successful vacation takes just a bit planning, though. This guide walks you through everything you need to plan a wonderful Outer Banks vacation. We’ll cover: Outer Banks accommodations, OBX attractions in each region […]
Lewis and Clark Exploratory Center at Darden Towe Park
Among the best indoor activities for families in Charlottesville, Virginia is visiting the Lewis and Clark Exploratory Center at Darden Towe Park. Though, there are some awesome outdoor activities here too! At this Lewis and Clark museum, families can explore and discover our early American explorers. Family activities throughout the center lead museum visitors to […]
What did presidents do before Twitter?
With Presidents’ Day coming up, kids will be learning about American history at school. No doubt, many will have the day off to celebrate our two most revered presidents, George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. But, what do we really know about the US presidents? What did presidents do before Twitter (and Facebook)? Over the past […]
Mount Vernon: A complete guide for visitors
A trip to George Washington’s Mount Vernon near Alexandria, Virginia, should be on every family’s “must see” list when visiting the nation’s capital. This family estate is located on the banks of the Potomac River, just 15 minutes south of Washington, DC. Washington considered the plantation to be among the most perfectly situated, and when […]
The Pentagon Memorial: Never forget
On first glance, the Pentagon Memorial in Arlington, Virginia hardly seems to make a statement, especially when compared to the profound impact these terrorist attacks had on our nation. Certainly, the 9/11 Memorial and Museum in New York City is more grand. The Pentagon Memorial doesn’t have a large footprint, yet… As I walked up […]
Pentagon tours: What you need to know
The Pentagon, the largest low-rise office building in the world, is actually located in Arlington, VA just outside of Washington. An imposing structure, the Pentagon is easily visible from the highway, Arlington National Cemetery and Washington, DC. Headquarters for the US Department of Defense, the Pentagon is so large that the Capitol Building could fit […]
Lancaster’s Longhouse: Discovering Native American culture
When visiting the Hans Herr House, admission also includes a tour of a Native American Longhouse. The longhouse was the heart of Native American culture for hundreds of years. Longhouses were common to the Eastern Woodland Indians between 1570 and 1770. The Lancaster Longhouse, as it’s known, is based on a Susquehannock longhouse that was […]
German architecture: Touring Lancaster’s Hans Herr House
Lancaster County, Pennsylvania is well known for its connection to the Amish community. People come by the bus load to see the large, plain homes on massive farms with plain blue and gray clothes hanging on clotheslines and buggies pulled by horses. Others come for the down-home Amish cooking (me, too!) If you go back […]