East Coast, USA, Family Travel, Jen Stays Home, Most Recent Travel, Virginia

Historic Jamestown, Virginia

I have an extremely long history of visiting the Historic Triangle of Jamestown, Williamsburg and Yorktown, dating back to a "field trip" from Ohio in 1992. (I remember I was reading Silence of the Lambs at the time, as every "normal" sixth grader was at the time.) My second trip was as a high school… Continue reading Historic Jamestown, Virginia

Family Travel, Most Recent Travel, Orlando Theme Parks, Universal Orlando

Volcano Bay- Universal Orlando, May 2021

We were a bit disoriented on our first visit to Volcano Bay, so two long afternoons in the park ended up being perfect for feeling like we had really experienced all the park has to offer. Getting acquainted with the TapuTapu system was our first step, and we quickly caught on to choosing a ride,… Continue reading Volcano Bay- Universal Orlando, May 2021

Family Travel, Orlando Theme Parks, Walt Disney World

Animal Kingdom Lodge & Kidani Village at Walt Disney World Resort

Animal Kingdom Lodge- Rooms & Activities Animal Kingdom Lodge is the resort that our family could visit for a week, never leave, and never get bored. With two sections, Animal Kingdom Lodge and the Disney Vacation Club's Kidani Village, guests have access to two pools and multiple onsite family activities.Disney has taken great care to… Continue reading Animal Kingdom Lodge & Kidani Village at Walt Disney World Resort

Family Travel, Orlando Theme Parks, Universal Orlando

Universal Orlando- The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, May 2021

It's been two years since our first visit to Universal Orlando. Little has changed in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, with the exception of one GIANT addition, Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure. Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure The queue for Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure starts just behind Hogsmeade village. During our visit we… Continue reading Universal Orlando- The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, May 2021

East Coast, USA, Family Travel, Jen Stays Home, Most Recent Travel, Virginia

The Virginia Living Museum, May 2021

Indoor Animal Exhibits The bulk of The Living Museum's collection is made of of live animals (hence the name), highlighting the animals that live in Virginia (and its coast and waterways). Galleries are divided into ocean, nocturnal, western piedmont, and underground habitats. The exhibits all connect to atriums that each have a canopy walkaway and… Continue reading The Virginia Living Museum, May 2021

Family Travel, National Parks

Yellowstone National Park, September 2013

Geothermic Activity With home base as Grand Teton National Park, we tackled Yellowstone National Park as a Day Trip. Old Faithful was an hour and a half drive from our Lodge. We arrived just after breakfast, caught the required famous geyser eruption (short volcano, unscientifically speaking), then had a cafeteria lunch in the Old Faithful… Continue reading Yellowstone National Park, September 2013

East Coast, USA, Family Travel, Orlando Theme Parks, Universal Orlando

Universal Orlando- Cabana Bay Beach Resort, May 2021

Cabana Bay Beach Resort is a prime-value level resort located directly next to Volcano Bay Waterpark (you even get a dedicated entrance)! The retro mid-century modern themed lobby and central spaces make it fun for both kids and grown-ups alike. Details like VO5 brand “cream rinse” in your room and pay phones transport you to… Continue reading Universal Orlando- Cabana Bay Beach Resort, May 2021

Family Travel, Orlando Theme Parks, Universal Orlando

Universal Orlando- Lowe’s Portofino Bay Resort, May 2021

Resort Grounds Lowe’s Portofino Bay Universal Resort is a world away from the busy Universal Theme Parks. (I mean this figuratively; the location is actually conveniently close to City Walk & Park Entrances.) It is modeled after a real Italian waterfront town, with scooters for photo ops and colorful sailboats moored in the harbor. The… Continue reading Universal Orlando- Lowe’s Portofino Bay Resort, May 2021

East Coast, USA, Family Travel, Most Recent Travel, National Parks, Outer Banks, North Carolina

OBX, May 2021

The Salt Box Cafe, Colington in Kill Devil Hills Salt Box Cafe & Dessert Salt Box Cafe, hidden in the Colington section of Kill Devil Hills has been our take-out option for the last year. This trip we dined in person. The restaurant is small, so reservations fill quickly, but the screened in patio takes… Continue reading OBX, May 2021

Art Museums, Family Travel, Jen Stays Home, Museums, Norfolk, Virginia

Barry Art Museum, May, 2021

The Barry Art Museum is on the campus of Old Dominion University in Norfolk. Admittedly, despite living within walking distance, this was our first visit as a family. With just an hour we only had time to dive into three of the four galleries. Orchids: Attraction & Deception ODU and Norfolk Botanical Garden partner to… Continue reading Barry Art Museum, May, 2021

Family Travel, Jen Stays Home, Most Recent Travel, Norfolk, Virginia

The Chrysler Museum of Art, May 2021

The Chrysler Museum of Art offers free admission with timed tickets. I've always considered the collection at the museum to be disproportionally large for a city the size of Norfolk. It wouldn't do it much justice to cover in just one post. The glass collection is the most prominent, so we will start there with… Continue reading The Chrysler Museum of Art, May 2021

Family Travel, Jen Stays Home, Most Recent Travel, Norfolk

Norfolk Botanical Garden- The Azaleas & Roses Edition

To be fair, I'm fairly biased about this venue. I was married at Norfolk Botanical Garden in 2009 and I've worked in the Youth Education department there for over fifteen years. This is one of what will be many look-backs at the gardens through all the seasons. Azaleas If you lurk by the front desk… Continue reading Norfolk Botanical Garden- The Azaleas & Roses Edition

Family Travel, Orlando Theme Parks, Walt Disney World

Animal Kingdom’s Pandora: The World of Avatar

When they announced that Disney World's next expansion would be based on a more than a decade old R-rated movie, I think we were all a little skeptical. It doesn't hurt to watch the movie in advance and to show the milder scenes to your kids. However, you can also have an immersive experience on… Continue reading Animal Kingdom’s Pandora: The World of Avatar

Family Travel, Orlando Theme Parks

Old Time Adventures at Magic Kingdom

Sure, you could wait in line for two hours for a 2-minute ride on 7 Dwarfs Mine Train. Or, you can explore three classic attractions in that time. An easy walk between Frontierland and Liberty Square gets you to the raft to Tom Sawyer Island, the Liberty Bell Steamboat Cruise, and the Country Bear Jamboree.… Continue reading Old Time Adventures at Magic Kingdom

East Coast, USA, Family Travel, Most Recent Travel, National Parks, Outer Banks, North Carolina

Walking OBX, April 2021

Hatteras Village- Frisco Our jumping off point for Hatteras has always been Hatteras Landing by Kees Vacations. The small "resort" is a series of small condos, each individually owned and decorated. Our most recent accommodation was completely updated. The resort is a quick walk across the road to a public access beach. If you have… Continue reading Walking OBX, April 2021

East Coast, USA, Family Travel, Most Recent Travel, National Parks, Outer Banks, North Carolina

Portsmouth Island, North Carolina

Portsmouth Village Portsmouth Village has been abandoned since 1971, and the remaining buildings are managed by the National Park Service. There were no volunteers or staff during our visit, but many of the the structures have been turned into museums and were open to tour. The Theodore and Annie Salter House and Visitor Center features… Continue reading Portsmouth Island, North Carolina

Family Travel, Most Recent Travel, National Parks, Virginia

Appalachian Foothills, Virginia- March, 2021

airbnb Prior to 2020, we stayed almost exclusively in hotels and at resorts. With social distancing we began using AirBNB. This weekend, severe storms thwarted our trip to OBX, so we decided to look elsewhere. Phenix, Virginia, in the Blue Ridge foothills, would never have been on our travel list if it weren’t for AirBNB.… Continue reading Appalachian Foothills, Virginia- March, 2021

Overseas Travel

Cancun, Mexico, Spring Break 2000

The year was 2000. The internet had just progressed from dial-up to broadband. Cell phones weren’t widespread. My rural Ohio alma mater, Muskingum College, still had a card catalogue in the library. So, it was at the beginning of the digital age that twenty Muskies booked a spring break trip to Cancun with estudenttravel.com. We… Continue reading Cancun, Mexico, Spring Break 2000

Family Travel, Orlando Theme Parks, Walt Disney World

Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, Hollywood Studios

Star Wars Galaxy's Edge, Hollywood Studios, Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, 2023 Instead of lining up for character meet and greets, Cast Members act out the story; Rey and Chewie work on their spacecrafts and the Stormtroopers try to keep law and order. Shopping Galaxy's Edge, Hollywood Studios, Walt Disney World 2022 Galaxy's Edge… Continue reading Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, Hollywood Studios

Family Travel, Orlando Theme Parks, Walt Disney World

Coronado Resort at Walt Disney World

Coronado Resort holds a special place in our hearts as the very first Disney property we ever visited. We've stayed at the resort on five of our trips, most recently in the new Gran Destino tower. Coronado Resort at Walt Disney World From Coronado it is a short bus ride to Animal Kingdom, Epcot and… Continue reading Coronado Resort at Walt Disney World

Family Travel, Orlando Theme Parks, Universal Orlando

THE WIZARDING WORLD OF HARRY POTTER, Universal Orlando Resort, 2019

In May of 2019, we met a fellow Muggle Family from Ohio at Universal Orlando Resort for a three-day trip. Alice played hooky, and we visited on weekdays in May when the park was less crowded. We also stayed a a Premier Resort, the Lowe's Royal Pacific, located within easy walking distance to the parks.… Continue reading THE WIZARDING WORLD OF HARRY POTTER, Universal Orlando Resort, 2019

Family Travel, Maine, USA, National Parks

Acadia National Park, Maine, USA

Our family has visited Acadia National Park (almost) every summer since 2014. Acadia National Park is on Mount Desert Island, which consists mostly of the Park and the town of Bar Harbor. It was originally home to the Wabanaki people before the large-scale arrival of Europeans in the 1600s. Sand Beach You haven't tested your resilience… Continue reading Acadia National Park, Maine, USA

East Coast, USA, Family Travel, Most Recent Travel

Okracoke Island for the Holidays

November & December, 2020 & 2021 Ocracoke Island is at the southern tip of the Outer Banks of North Carolina and can only accessed by ferry. A Beach (Mostly) to Yourself In 2020, I set the lofty goal of walking 20.20 miles in one day by the end of the year. I accomplished my goal… Continue reading Okracoke Island for the Holidays

Family Travel, Most Recent Travel, Orlando Theme Parks

Epcot at Walt Disney World- Festivals

International Festival of the Arts International Festival of the Arts is held in the late winter months. They brought Broadway stars to the stage to perform songs from the stage productions.We spent a large portion of our time searching for Figment, cleverly hidden in famous works of art in each country. (There is a photo… Continue reading Epcot at Walt Disney World- Festivals

Family Travel, Most Recent Travel

New Orleans, Louisiana USA

The French Quarter Don't let Bourbon Street's reputation (while well-earned after sunset) deter you from thinking the French Quarter can't be a destination when you are traveling with kids.Family-friendly options abound. Because many of the tourists are awake until the late hours, getting up early gave us a nearly empty French Quarter. Alice loved shopping… Continue reading New Orleans, Louisiana USA