One hundred years ago, Jekyll Island Club was the beach island playground of America’s tycoons. The Vanderbilts, Rockefellers and Morgans — big names in banking and industry — escaped cold northern winters here where they hunted, fished and partied. Today, the island welcomes families, tycoon status not required, to play year-round. When we visited, we […]
Visiting the American Museum of Natural History
When Rob and I were in New York City for his birthday, we knew a visit to the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) was required. We’re both fans of the movie, Night at the Museum, so NOT visiting seemed wrong. The evening before our planned visit, we met a family at our hotel who told us […]
Get your geek on at the Atlanta History Center
First, a confession — Atlanta is usually a drive-through for me. So, when I got the chance to explore with #SITSum (a conference for travel and social media influencers), I jumped at it. Our trip kicked off at the Atlanta History Center, a place I’d never heard of before. When we arrived, I knew instantly […]
Lexington historic district
When George Washington and Robert E. Lee are part of your history, no doubt there’s more to discover too. In the Lexington historic district, in Rockbridge County, Virginia, there’s history on every corner — and often in between! Ellie and I met friends in Lexington this summer, a first visit for us all. Knowing this […]
5 must-see history museums
George Santayana said, “Those who do not remember the past are doomed to repeat it.” It doesn’t have to be hard to remember. Visit these 5 museums and be inspired! Valley Forge National Historic Park Valley Forge in King of Prussia, PA, brings history to life. Costumed re-enactors tell stories of revolutionary patriots stationed here and […]
Pirate Festival returns to Hampton, VA
Hampton, Virginia is one of my favorite historical destinations in the United States… or maybe you knew that already? Last summer, I got to take my husband to show him Fort Monroe and for the Blackbeard Pirate Festival. Luckily, he thought it was pretty cool, too. He wants to go back and take the kids. […]
Lewis & Clark State Historic Site
Near Alton, Illinois, the Lewis & Clark State Historic Site — an interactive museum — tells one of the most important stories in American History. If you know Thomas Jefferson, then you know his insatiable curiosity and love for country drove him. He was a thinker who understood that America needed to grow — in […]
Madison’s Montpelier: A family guide
**Special thanks to Montpelier for tickets provided for purposes of this review.** Growing up, I was fascinated with James and Dolley Madison. James Madison, the father of the US Constitution, was a deep thinker who took his role in early America quite seriously. Dolley, a regular subject of my school papers, was his political “right hand.” […]
Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello
**We received free admission to Monticello for purposes of this review. All opinions are mine.** I’ve gotten to visit Monticello twice in the past year. The first visit gave me a strong sense of Thomas Jefferson: his values, his sense of place in this world and his incredible intellect. My second visit, armed with Jeffersonian knowledge, […]
Monuments by Moonlight: See DC after dark
**Thanks to Destination, DC for providing tickets for purposes of this review.** I live only 5 hours from Washington, DC and know there are lots of things to do in DC. We’ve made many treks up I-95 to enjoy the Smithsonian, Library of Congress and great food that the city offers. I had never heard […]