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 […]
Feel like a kid again at the Foley train museum
The City of Foley, Alabama was founded in 1905 by Chicago pharmacist, John Foley, planned from the get-go. The rich farmland drew and pleasant weather drew midwesterners to the area. The Bay Minette-Fort Morgan Railway was added in 1905 to make travel to Foley easier. Of course, Mr. Foley was the financial backer for that […]
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 […]
Ohio’s presidential libraries and museums: A historic vacation!
Did you know that seven U.S. presidents were born in Ohio? And eight claimed it as home! All those presidents means you’ll find lots of presidential libraries, museums and monuments in the Buckeye state. The National First Ladies Library is even located in Canton, Ohio. With so much presidential and United States history preserved here, Ohio is a […]