Animal Kingdom Lodge at Walt Disney World Resort, Orlando, Florida 2023 Jambo House- Resort Layout & Rooms With Frontier Airlines flights for $50/per person direct from Norfolk, we couldn’t resist a trip to Walt Disney World in Orland for our late November 3-day weekend. We booked two nights at the moderate-level Coronado Resort followed by… Continue reading 24 Hours at Walt Disney World’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, 2023
Coronado Springs Resort at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, 2023 Gran Destino Tower, Coronado Springs Resort at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, 2023 Resort Layout & Rooms From Coronado it is a short bus ride to Animal Kingdom, Epcot and Hollywood Studios. Magic Kingdom sometimes feels like a bit of a hike by… Continue reading Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
With Frontier Airlines flights for less than $50/per person roundtrip and direct from Norfolk, we couldn’t resist a trip to Walt Disney World in Orland for our late November 3-day weekend. We booked two nights at the moderate level Coronado Resort followed by one night at the deluxe tier Animal Kingdom Lodge. On Saturday, October… Continue reading Epcot in a Day- The International Food & Wine Festival Edition, 2023
Universal orlandoresortaugust 2023 To do everything in our itinerary at Universal Studios park (especially during August) three things were essential.....We Stayed at a Universal ResortThis was our first family trip to Universal Orlando Resorts since May of 2021. To maximize our short time, we spent three nights total on Universal property, two at Universal's Aventura… Continue reading How We Did All the Things In 8 Hours at Universal Studios Orlando
Islands of adventureSummer 2023 August 2023 HogsmeadeIslands for FamiliesAdvanced AdventureFaraway Lands This was our first family trip to Universal Orlando since May of 2021. To maximize our short time, we spent three nights total on Universal property, two at Universal's Aventura Hotel and one at Loews Royal Pacific Resort. By changing to a Premier resort… Continue reading Universal Orlando’s Islands of Adventure
Lowes Royal Pacific A premier resort UNIVERSAL STUDIOS FLORIDA During our stays in 2019 and 2023, Loews Royal Pacific was in the Premier category of Universal Orlando Resorts. There were three resorts in this tier, and the biggest benefit (aside from being walking distance to CityWalk and all three Universal Orlando Parks) is that each… Continue reading Loews Royal Pacific Resort at Universal Studios Florida
UNIVERASAL STUDIOS FLORIDA Aventura hotel august 2023 Universal's Aventura Hotel, Orlando, Florida, 2023 As one of the newest hotels on the property, the resort and rooms integrate technology into the stay. The proximity to Sapphire Falls and Cabana Bay Resort is also a plus, especially because Universal Orlando allows you to pool hop as long… Continue reading Universal’s Aventura Hotel
Disney Wonder Day 4: Skagway June 2023 Exploring TownWhite Pass RailwayLiarsville Gold Rush Camp gateway to the gold rush There were multiple options for excursions in Skagway from the Disney Wonder. With a long day in port (6:45am-8:00pm), passengers were able to get out into the wilderness on a hiking trip, see sled dogs, whale/wildlife… Continue reading Port of Call: Skagway, Alaska
day 1: Botanical gardens & granville island June 2023 botanical gardensgranville islandGastown Gardens of Vancouver VanDusen Botanical Garden VanDusen Botanical Garden, Vancouver, Canada, June 2023 The draw for us to visit VanDusen Botanical Garden was to see a collection unique to the Pacific Northwest and other temperate rainforests. We also enjoyed seeing how the climate… Continue reading Disney Wonder Departure Port: Vancouver, Canada, Day 1
day 2: seawall & stanley park June 2023 seawallstanley parkvancouver aquariumdowntown Visiting Stanley Park could easily have been a full day affair if we weren’t jet lagged. We walked one mile from the Hilton Vancouver Downtown along the Harbor front, pausing often to look into the water for starfish and other aquatic creatures. We also… Continue reading Disney Wonder Departure Port: Vancouver, Canada Day 2
Wizarding World of Harry Potter2023 August 2023 Hogsmeadediagon alleydiningattractions This was our first family trip to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando since May of 2021. To maximize our short time, we spent three nights total on Universal property, two at Universal's Aventura Hotel and one at Lowes Royal Pacific. By changing… Continue reading Universal Orlando’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter
Disney Wonder 2023Day 6: Ketchikan June 2023 Exploring TownSaxman Village tourlumberjack show Fishing town Ketchikan, our final port on the 7-day Disney Wonder Alaskan cruise, was smaller than Juneau but larger than Skagway (our first port further north).Our excursions didn’t start until 1pm, so in the morning Alex and I were able to spend some… Continue reading Port of Call: Ketchikan, Alaska
Disney Wonder 2023Day 5: juneau June 2023 Exploring TownRainforestglacier alaska state capital Mendenhall Glacier & Nugget Falls, Juneau, Disney Wonder Alaskan Cruise, June 2023 Fun Fact: there are no roads to Alaska’s State Capital, Juneau. Residents and visitors can only get there by boat or plane. There were a ton of excursion options, and we… Continue reading Port of Call: Juneau, Alaska
The Disney wonder June 2023 State roomspools & spaDining & loungesactivitiesphoto package In June of 2023 we set sail for a 7-day cruise to Alaska on the Disney Wonder. This blog entry primarily focuses on our time onboard the ship. To learn more about our daily itinerary and ports of call, check out the Disney… Continue reading On Board the Disney Wonder, 2023
Disney WonderAlaska Cruise June 2023 Vancouver, BCOnBoard The WONDERSkagway, AKJuneAU, AKKetchikan, ak Day 1: Departure from Vancouver, BC Departure from Vancouver, Canada on the Disney Wonder Cruise to Alaska, June 2023 We stayed at the Hilton Vancouver Downtown for three nights before the cruise. The port was within walking distance, but with bags we decided… Continue reading
We were late in planning our Spring Break 2023 trip. With just two of us traveling, an Amtrak trip across the country was an easy choice. We had enjoyed our winter 2021 trip from Denver to San Francisco, and a few other journeys were on our list. Seattle and Chicago aren’t beach destinations, so… Continue reading Seattle to Chicago: 48 Hours on the Amtrak Empire Builder
Seattle’s iconic Space Needle turned out to be one of our favorite activities, even on a rainy and cloudy day. Tickets were included with our pre-purchased Seattle Pass. Walking into the lobby immediately felt like we were entering an episode of the Jestsons. This made sense, because the Space Needle was built during the 1962… Continue reading Space Needle- Seattle Spring Break 2023
Seattle Center, WA 2023 Public transportation is always intimidating in a new city, and it’s nearly always easier (and far more expensive) to get a ride share with a few taps on my phone. But there’s a special satisfaction that comes with successfully navigating a city by bus or train, and Seattle made it relatively… Continue reading Exploring Seattle by Light Rail & Monorail- Spring Break 2023
I have seen Dale Chihuly’s works at many exhibitions throughout the country, including the Franklin Park Conservatory, where many of his works are part of the private collection. But none compared to the Chihuly Garden and Glass. The artist graduated from the University of Washington and the collection in Seattle Center is considered a long-term… Continue reading Chihuly Garden and Glass- Seattle Spring Break 2023
We started Spring Break 2023 with a girl's weekend trip to Seattle. Over three days in downtown Seattle we found ourselves lured to Pike Place Market four times. Stacked over five floors, it was easy to lose time. On our first morning, we arrived while the fish were still frozen and before any of the… Continue reading Pike Place Market- Seattle Spring Break 2023
In just one afternoon we were able to take a deep dive (figuratively) into learning about Puget Sound and the land around it. We started at the Seattle Aquarium, then walked to the nearby Pier 55 for a Harbor tour with Argosy Cruises. We enjoyed being on the water so much that we followed the… Continue reading Puget Sound by Boat- Seattle Spring Break 2023
Primarily Pacific Puget Sound Sea Life The Seattle Aquarium is located on the waterfront downhill from the Pikes Place Market. In just over an hour we were able to experience all of the museum exhibits, but families with younger children would likely spend more time enjoying the shows and play spaces. I could have also… Continue reading The Seattle Aquarium- Spring Break 2023
Museum of Pop Culture, Seattle, WA 2023 Staying in downtown Seattle was the perfect jumping off point for most of the major family-oriented attractions. Reliable and affordable public transportation made car travel unnecessary also. We used the monorail system for less than $5/each round trip to get to Seattle Park. The Chihuly Garden and Museum,… Continue reading The Museum of Pop Culture- Seattle Spring Break 2023
Pacific Science Center, Seattle, WA 2023 Staying in downtown Seattle was the perfect jumping off point for most of the major family-oriented sites. Reliable and affordable public transportation made car travel unnecessary also. We used the monorail system for less than $5/each round trip to get to Seattle Park. The Chihuly Garden and Museum, the… Continue reading The Pacific Science Center- Seattle Spring Break 2023
The two resorts are connected physically but distinct in theming. The Yacht Club is more “sailor sporty” and it sometimes hosts conventions. This can make it feel a little less kid-oriented than some other resorts, but on our trip we liked the break from the chaos when we returned in the evenings. Both resorts have… Continue reading Yacht & Beach Club Resorts at Walt Disney World in Florida (Featuring the Famous “Kitchen Sink”)
The American Museum of Natural History was scheduled for Sunday morning on our long weekend itinerary, and we used our New York Pass by GoCity for admission. We arrived at 9:45am for the 10am opening, and the entry line had started to wrap around the museum along Central Park. For an hour we were able… Continue reading American Museum of Natural History, NYC
With just three days to visit parks on this trip, we spent less time at Animal Kingdom than other trips. We were able to experience nearly all of the major attractions in just half a day, but with more time we would have watched the shows and spent some time at Conservation Station. 7am- We… Continue reading Animal Kingdom with Disney Genie+, 2023
Is Times Square a tourist trap filled with unorganized chaos? Absolutely. It's best to just embrace the insanity while you dodge sketchy Spidnermen (Spidermans?) and try your best not to be in the street performer's TikTok videos. We found that visiting at night during even slightest drizzle will deter some of the sightseers. In this… Continue reading New York City with Kids: Times Square
Edge NYC, New York City, 2023 Over two trips to NYC in 2022 and 2023, we have seen the city from the three major mid-town Manhattan observation towers.In 2023 we used the New York Pass by Go City. For a high upfront fee, we were able to visit all of the observation attractions. Although the… Continue reading Midtown NYC Observatories- 3 Views from the Top
Blizzard Beach Waterpark, Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, 2023 Blizzard Beach Water Park, Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, 2023 We arrived at opening, and by the end of the first hour there were still more Cast Members than visitors in the park. All of the slides had little to no wait the entire… Continue reading One Day in Blizzard Beach Waterpark, 2023
Port Orleans French Quarter, Walt Disney World, 2022 Port Orleans French Quarter is the smallest of the Moderate WDW resorts, and the size is the biggest benefit. Bus transportation only includes one stop, so getting to the parks can be a much shorter trip. The pool is slightly smaller than the other moderate resorts, but… Continue reading Walt Disney World Resort: Port Orleans French Quarter
Caribbean Beach Resort, Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, 2023 We chose Caribbean Beach Resort for our January 2023 vacation for a few reasons. Because we intended to spend most of the trip in the park, a moderate level hotel felt like the best value. Often on these types of trips we have opted for… Continue reading Caribbean Beach Resort at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, 2023
Star Wars Galaxy's Edge, Hollywood Studios, Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, 2023 Day 1: Sunday, January 29 Hollywood Studios, Walt Disney World Resort, 2023 With Park Hopper we divided our visit over two days; the first on a Sunday evening. Because Passholders cannot go to the parks on weekends, we found this one to… Continue reading Hollywood Studios with Disney Genie+, 2023
My top reason for this visiting Epcot his year was to ride Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind for the first time, and I splurged for individual Lightning Lane instead of chancing it with the Virtual Queue. "With a three-day ticket, we used our park hopper to divide our Epcot visits over two days. This… Continue reading Epcot: Park Itinerary, Festival of the Arts & Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, 2023
Where We Stayed Hilton Lake Las Vegas Resort Because we arrived at the New Year, we chose to stay outside of the strip, at the Hilton Lake Las Vegas Resort. The resort is adjacent to a shopping and dining center which was largely deserted, outside of the fireworks show on NYE. We did have a… Continue reading Kid-friendly Las Vegas, Nevada
How to see (and not see) the Grand Canyon El Tovar Lodge, Grand Canyon National Park, South Rim, Arizona 2022 Since our visit was during the busy winter holiday season, we were happy to find a detailed "Know Before You Go" on the Grand Canyon National Park website. We wished we had looked at it… Continue reading Winter in Grand Canyon National Park
Did you know it snows in northern Arizona? I didn't. In my mind the entire state was a year-round warm, arid, desert landscape with occasional tumbleweeds blowing along in the wind. We somehow missed the fact that Flagstaff and the Grand Canyon are at a 7000 foot elevation, and were shocked to see over a… Continue reading Western US Family Road Trips: Sedona to Flagstaff Arizona
Desert Botanic Garden Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix, AZ 2022 The Desert Botanical Garden and Phoenix Zoo are both located in Papago park. When we arrived at the garden (entry was free for two adults through the American Horticultural Society Reciprocal benefit provided by our Norfolk Botanical Garden Membership). Even with the pollinator garden walk closed… Continue reading Family Fun in & around Phoenix, Arizona- The Great Outdoors
Biosphere 2 Steps to Dome, Pinal County, AZ, 2022 Biosphere 2 received widespread publicity/notoriety in the late 1990s due to a two-year mission that locked eight “biospherians” inside the structure to attempt to replicate earth’s atmosphere, living only on the available resources. Unfortunately, the data collected during the experiment was never accepted by the scientific… Continue reading The Arizona Desert: Biosphere 2
Arizona-Sonora Desert MuseumSaguaro National Park WestThe Gym @ El Conquistador ResortKing Canyon TrailheadSignal Hill RoadRed Hills Visitor CenterMission San Xavier del Bac Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum The Desert Museum has elements of a zoo, botanical garden, and natural history museum, and was open on Christmas day and was an excellent introduction to the Sonoran Desert. Because… Continue reading Tucson, Arizona: Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Saguaro National Park & San Xavier del Bac Mission
Pamlico Sound Sunsets Waterfront Retreat for Families The Inn offers a small beach on the sound, a perfect launching point for the provided kayaks and stand-up paddle boards. Rooms range in size, and many have waterfront views and balconies. We opted for the 'Camelia' room, which included a king-size bed, pull-out couch, and sizable balcony… Continue reading Where to stay in OBX: Inn on Pamlico Sound
Pea Island Visitor CenterFirst Colony InnCorolla BeachDuckKitty Hawk BeachAvonLighthouse RoadHatteras-Ocracoke Ferry: Ocracoke TerminalLifeguard Beach In 2021 I committed myself to a new goal; walk the entire beach stretch of the Outer Banks of North Carolina over one year. I've heard that other people are much more dedicated than me have done it all at once.… Continue reading Walking OBX 2021
Cruising to Bermuda We sailed to Bermuda from NYC on the Disney Magic, docking at 10am and boarding to leave at 4pm the following day. Much of our planning revolved around considerations for weather and the fact that we arrived on a Sunday. Bermuda was sunny with a high in the mid-80s during our first… Continue reading 24 hours in Bermuda
Departure from NYC The Manhattan Cruise Terminal was a breeze for us compared to Port Miami, although the size of the ship may have accounted for that also. We arrived at the tail end of our 11:30am-12pm boarding time and walked through security/check-in and onto the ship with no lines. We spent the afternoon on… Continue reading Cruising on the Disney Magic NYC-Bermuda
Longwood Gardens is essentially a spectacular amusement park for garden people. Even with a significant portion of the conservatory under construction until 2024, we easily spent six hours on the campus. We enjoyed a late lunch in The Terrace café, then started our tour with an overview of the history of the property in the… Continue reading Longwood Gardens, Pennsylvania, 2022
We have no rocks (literally, no natural rocks) in our area of Coastal Virginia. So, when we find our way to the mountains, it is like entering an entirely different world. The White Mountains of New Hampshire are a particular treat because of the variation in activities, from amusement parks to waterfall hikes. In our… Continue reading Family Road Trips in the White Mountains, New Hampshire, 2020-2023
July 2022 We have visited the museums DC countless times, but have not been there as a family since the fall of 2019. For this three-day trip, we concentrated on seeing new installations and temporary exhibitions at the Smithsonian Museums. It was also our first trip during the summer, so it was fun to see… Continue reading Washington DC with Kids: What’s New in ’22
June 2022 InterContinental Miami, an IHG Hotel, Florida, June 2022 Staying in Downtown Miami The evening temperatures were far more manageable than I expected in southern Florida in the summer, with low humidity and a cool breeze as long as we were on the water. From our downtown hotel, the Intercontinental by IGH, we had… Continue reading Miami, Florida
June 2022 Kimpton Angler's Hotel in Miami Beach, Florida, June 2022 Staying in South Beach The Kimpton Angler’s Hotel was a perfect location for a family with young children. Despite Miami Beach's rightfully earned reputation as a party destination, we were able to escape into our quiet room and enjoy the lush and shady gardens.… Continue reading Miami Beach, Florida
Disney Cruise Line's Castaway Cay in the Bahamas, June 2022 Castaway CayBahamas We spent our second full cruise day at Castaway Cay, Disney Cruise Line’s private island in the Bahamas. As we got off the ship we were given towels. Disney Characters and other photo options along the way made the ¼ mile walk to… Continue reading Excursions on the 5-night Disney Dream Cruise from Miami
Atrium Lobby on the Disney Dream, June 2022 Inside the Disney Dream Our port arrival window at Miami Cruise Terminal was 11:15am, and within an hour we had boarded the ship through the Atrium Lobby. We were required to check in on deck four and watch a video about emergency procedures. A few locations were… Continue reading The Disney Dream, June 2022
My last trip to Universal Orlando Resort was in May of 2021. My return this year was part girls' weekend and part theme-park research trip. Cloudy with a Chance of a Tropical Storm Because people weren’t sure of the impact of Tropical Storm Alex, many resort and park reservations had been cancelled or postponed. Islands… Continue reading Universal Orlando Resort, June 2022
Eastern Shore of Virginia Barrier Islands Center Barrier Islands Center in Machipango The trek to the Eastern Shore from Norfolk includes traveling over the 17.6-mile Chesapeake-Bay Bridge Tunnel. Nearly every Memorial Day weekend since 2015 we’ve traveled just north of Cape Charles to attend Art and Music on the Farm at the Barrier Islands Center… Continue reading Camping in Cape Charles, Virginia May, 2022
2020 & 2021 Ocracoke Island is at the southern tip of the Outer Banks of North Carolina and can only accessed by ferry. Ocracoke Island became our home away from home in 2020 & 2021. Our goal was to find a vacation destination that provided opportunities to be mostly outdoors and stay in somewhat private… Continue reading Okracoke Island, OBX, North Carolina
Spring Break 2022- Day 2 Savannah, GA 2022 Savannah, Georgia to Fernandina Beach, Florida Juliette Gordon Low Historic DistrictForsyth Park Spring Break 2022- Day 3 The Dali Museum in St. Petersburg, Florida, 2022 St. Petersburg to Treasure Island, Florida Imagine MuseumDali MuseumFort Desoto Park https://videopress.com/v/dmM0aGpT?resizeToParent=true&cover=true&preloadContent=metadata&useAverageColor=true Spring Break 2022- Day 4 Sand Key Beach, Clearwater Clearwater,… Continue reading Spring Break 2022- East Coast from Tampa, Florida to NYC
Rockefeller CenterWashington Square ParkBryant ParkGrand Central TerminalSt. Patrick's CathedralLittle Italy Rockefeller Center, NYC 2022 Rockefeller Center Our hotel, the Hilton Club West was beyond perfect for our purpose of exploring the top tourist sites in midtown Manhattan. On the corner of 57th street and Sixth Ave. we were equal walking distance to Central Park and… Continue reading Manhattan, NYC, Spring Break 2022
Central Park CarouselBelvedere CastleBethesda TerraceCentral Park ZooThe Metropolitan Museum of Art Central Park, NYC, 2022 Sites Around Central Park We knocked out a few of the major sites on our first visit to Central Park in August of 2021, including the Central Park Lake. In spring of 2022 our hotel, the Hilton Club West, was… Continue reading Spring Break 2022: Central Park in NYC
When working out what we would see in the Tampa Bay area we decided that City Pass would be the most affordable option. For $129 per adult I was able to visit ZooTampa at Lowry Park, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, the Tropics Boat tour, and The Florida Aquarium. From St. Petersburg… Continue reading Spring Break 2022- Clearwater, Florida
Day 3 of our 10-night spring break VA-FL-NYC adventure took us to St. Petersburg, a city we knew very little about. However, I knew it must be “cool” because the area was heavily advertised on our local NPR station. The city center with the art museums is situated on the Tampa Bay side, with Gulf… Continue reading Spring Break 2022- St. Petersburg & Treasure Island, Florida
Tampa Zoo at Lowry Park, Florida, 2022 ZooTampa at Lowry Park Our animal-filled Tampa day started at the 9:30am opening of the Tampa Zoo in Lowry Park. We had watched season one of The Secrets of the Zoo Tampa, so we were familiar with many of the animals. The zoo has a strong breeding program… Continue reading Spring Break 2022- Tampa, Florida
Shedd Aquarium Shedd Aquarium is directly across from the Field Museum, on the Museum Campus near Chicago South Loop. There’s easy access from the L, and it’s a 20-30 minute walk from the canal. Because we are Members of the Virginia Zoo in Norfolk, we were able to receive ½ off Admission through the AZA… Continue reading Chicago with Kids: Shedd Aquarium & Lincoln Park Zoo
Art Institute of Chicago This was my second visit to the American Art Institute in Chicago; my first was on a 40th birthday trip with my high school friends. We were disappointed that the cafes had yet to reopen after covid (I’m always more introspective about art post-wine), and the museum was very crowded. We… Continue reading Chicago with Kids: Art & Architecture
The Field Museum I was beyond excited to see the Field Museum, considered one of the most historic but also innovative natural history museums in the world. It was massive, and we could have spent the entire day easily, but were limited by our timed afternoon tickets for the Shedd Aquarium. Our American Science Museum… Continue reading Chicago with Kids: Science & Natural History Museums
Our 2-week winter holiday started in the Colorado Rockies and ended in sunny San Diego. Learn more about each destination by clicking on the links in the timeline. The Amtrak California Zephyr took us from Denver to San Francisco. A series of road trips allowed us to see the California Coast and to Joshua Tree… Continue reading Winter Vacation 2021- Denver & Reno on The Amtrak Zephyr & The California Coast
San Diego Museum of Nature & Science Our last full day in California included brunch with friends, followed by a visit to Balboa Park. With more time, we would have spent a day at the San Diego Zoo. But on a busy Saturday on a holiday weekend, we opted for the Natural History Museum instead.… Continue reading San Diego, California Christmas 2021
The Living Desert Zoo & Botanical Garden Before heading to San Diego, we stopped at The Living Desert Zoo and Botanical Garden. The zoo’s central theme is a collection of plants animals from desert and savanna biomes around the world. The backdrop of the California desert made an excellent habitat for the giraffes and other… Continue reading Palm Desert to San Diego, California Christmas 2021
Monarch Butterfly GroveEcho ParkThe Living Desert Zoo & Botanical GardensVenturaSanta Monica Mountains National Recreation Area Visitor CenterLos Padres National Forest Headquarters Pismo Beach, CA After staying in downtown San Francisco, the Oxford Suites Pismo Beach was a nice change, with large rooms and a garden courtyard.Our morning started in the Butterfly Sanctuary, where we immediately… Continue reading Pismo Beach to Palm Springs, California Christmas, 2021
Painted LadiesMethuselah TreeAlice's RestaurantGarrapata BeachBixby BridgeAndrew Molera State ParkPismo Beach San Francisco Our morning started with a plan to check a few last boxes for San Francisco. We started with the Painted Sisters (the iconic Victorian homes situated with a view of the city behind them). The next stop was Baker Beach for the obligatory… Continue reading San Francisco to Pismo Beach Road Trip, California Christmas 2021
Christmas Day in San Francisco We woke up on Christmas morning to our less-than-traditional tree and gifts from Santa. We were in San Francisco during an uncharacteristically rainy Christmas week, so we were especially happy to just enjoy the view of the city and Golden Gate Bridge as Karl (the affectionate name for the fog… Continue reading San Francisco Part 1, California Christmas 2021
There are benefits to visiting OBX in any season, but when choosing between busy touristy beaches and the much quieter towns from Corolla to Manteo, we have often opted for OBX. In 2017 we chose a long weekend for our OBX Spring Break and in 2021 we opted for an entire week during the public… Continue reading 5 Reasons We Chose OBX for a Beach Spring Break Vacation
The Ervings Return to WDW Day 4- Animal Kingdom Lightning Lane & Park Opening Park opening still had a line for Flight of Passage snaked all the way to the land’s entrance, and we were glad we had secured the paid Lighting Lane for later that day. We used our first Genie+… Continue reading Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World, January 2022
The Ervings Return to WDW- Epcot Epcot was divided over two days using our Park Hopper tickets. The first day was a short visit hop between Hollywood Studios via the Skyliner, with the main destination being Space 220. After dining we took some time to walk through the World Showcase. On this busy Saturday night… Continue reading Epcot at Walt Disney World, January 2022
The Ervings Return to WDW- Day 3 Lightning Lane & Park Opening Prior to 2020, I loved the challenge of securing as many attractions as possible in one day using the FastPass System (17 was my record), so I was anxious to give the new Genie+ a try. Jungle Cruise was our… Continue reading Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World, January 2022
Winter Holidays 2021Days 4-6: Reno-San Franciso Reno is nestled in a valley just west of the California Border. Our initial plan for Alex to ski near Lake Tahoe was thwarted by a blizzard, so we hopped off the train in Reno for two days in the city. Reno, Nevada Our Reno hosts were my High School… Continue reading Reno, Nevada to San Francisco, California
To visit Rocky Mountain National Park we booked a tour with Aspire Tours, and started at 9am at Denver Union Station. After most of our party arrived (one additional party of two in Denver and a family of four that we would pick up in Boulder), we boarded our Transit-style van and headed east toward… Continue reading Colorado Rockies National Park Tour
Winter Holidays 2021 Days 3-4: Denver-Reno I’ve traveled on Amtrak just along the East Coast, from Norfolk to Washington DC and Baltimore. I’ve traveled by overnight train both on Eurail and on the Indian-Pacific Rail across Australia. I looked forward to seeing how the California Zephyr between Denver and San Francisco would compare. Our first leg… Continue reading Amtrak California Zephyr from Colorado to Nevada
Winter Holidays 2021 Day 11- Los Angeles to Joshua Tree National Park, California After staying with friends in Los Angeles, we drove 2 ½ hours to Yucca Valley, where we grabbed a to-go lunch from Yucca Tree Eatery. There are no dining options once you enter Joshua Tree National Park, but there were many other… Continue reading Joshua Tree National Park, California Christmas 2021
Our 2021 two-week Winter Holiday Break started with one day to explore Denver. With just one day in the city (and a starting point of the Hilton Embassy Suites Convention Center), we decided to focus on the Denver Museum of Nature & Science (we receive free admission through our Membership with Virginia Living Museum and… Continue reading One December Day in Denver, 2021
Across the Ohio River The occasion for my visit to the Cincinnati area was the wedding of a hometown friend and a long overdue reunion with my family and childhood friends. The wedding venue was actually in Covington, Kentucky, conveniently located across from the city and next to a pedestrian bridge that connected us to… Continue reading Cincinnati & Dayton, Ohio- Fall 2021
North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island North Carolina Aquariums have three campuses; Roanoke Island, Pine Knoll Shores, and Fort Fisher. The Roanoke Island museum features indoor exhibits and a large outdoor nature trail. The museum hosts the Sea Turtle Assistance and Rehabilitation Center, with each rescued turtle's information displayed. In the next space, children learn… Continue reading Roanoke Island, North Carolina
, Day 1- Norfolk, VA TO Philadelphia, PA via EAstern Shore Day 2- Philadelphia, PA TO Waterbury, CT via Winterthur Museum & Gardens, Philadelphia Botanical Garden & Cold Springs, NY Enchanted Woods, Winterthur Museum, Garden & LibraryEnchanted Woods, Winterthur Museum, Garden & LibraryEnchanted Woods, Winterthur Museum, Garden & LibraryEnchanted Woods, Winterthur Museum, Garden & LibraryEnchanted… Continue reading 1750 Miles, 14 Days, FROM Virginia to Maine- Summer 2021
The El Yunque Rainforest is the only tropical rainforest on US lands, and being there was like being in another world. Coqui frogs were the most vocal animals that we heard (males are the only ones that call and they are even more active at night.) The tree snails’ shells were the size of our palms.… Continue reading El Yunque Rainforest, Puerto RIco, July 2021
The Hyatt Grand Regency is on the western side of a peninsula on the coast of Rio Grande. Because it’s right at the end, we could see the sunset and sunrise from opposite ends of the beach. The mountains of the El Yunque rainforest make up the southern backdrop. The large property is spread out… Continue reading Hyatt Regency Grand Reserve Puerto Rico, July 2021
It can be hard to get to Vieques, but so very worth the trouble. We knew that the journey might be difficult in advance, and expected delays and stress at the ferry terminal at Ceiba. (We could have opted for a flight from San Juan, or a puddle jumper from Ceiba, but we chose the much… Continue reading Vieques, Puerto Rico, July 2021
Old San Juan dates back to the 16th Century and some of the buildings that remain are over 500 years old, and the two original Forts, the Castillo San Felipe del Morro and the fortified walls still surround this section of the city. Old San Juan would be roughly a 15-minute drive from the airport,… Continue reading Old San Juan, Puerto RIco, July 2021
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
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
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
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
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
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
Bath To Popham Beach Picking up where we left off in Harpswell, your Portland to Acadia trip takes you back to Brunswick to start your journey north on Route 1. Stop in historic Bath for local shops. As you continue on Route 1, look for a giant lobster on top of a roof and you've… Continue reading From Bath to Boothbay Harbor, Maine
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
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
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
The Outer Banks of North Carolina have been our primary escape for the last year. It is an easy (albeit boring) hour and a half drive from our house to Kitty Hawk. Mild winter weekends and affordable hotel and AirBNB rates make it hard not to run away any chance we get. 100 Miles of… Continue reading OBX, Winter 2021
We have somehow passed Occoquan countless times on our way to Washington, D.C. without knowing it existed. Alex was scheduled to travel to D.C. for a meeting (the first trip in almost a year of what was a regular occurrence prior to COVID). We used the short trip as an opportunity for Alice and I… Continue reading Occoquan, Virginia February 2021
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
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
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
