Washington DC may not sound like the most exciting holiday travel destination for a teen and tween who have spent most of their lives traveling (and visiting far too many museums). “DC will be boring” my two daughters protested when I told them we were taking our annual holiday season trip this year to the nation’s capital. With my teen & tween in front of the Abraham Lincoln Memorial So, I appointed myself the difficult task of making a memorable Washington DC vacation for all members of our family. And I’m very happy to say, “Mission accomplished.” Both of our girls loved their trip to D ..read more

We have seen plenty of stalagmites and stalactites in caverns and caves all over the world, so I was uncertain as to just how good the Luray Caverns in Virginia would be. They are the largest and most popular caverns in the Eastern USA, so I was worried how its popularity may have diminished their value. I did not need to worry. It’s popular for a reason. The Luray Caverns are possibly the best I’ve ever seen. I was stunned by the pristine condition and the abundance of stalagmites and stalactites formations, full-length draperies, huge columns, and dazzling mirror pools that this ancient cav ..read more

Have you ever walked an alpaca before? It’s probably not something you’ve thought was possible, especially if traveling outside the high altitudes of Peru. Point of View Alpaca Farm, Virginia However, we recently visited an Alpaca farm in Virginia and walking an alpaca is starting to become a popular thing to do in many places around the world, and on our recent family road trip to the Shenandoah Valley we discovered why. Alpacas are delightful animals with unique, gentle personalities. They are known as one of the most beautiful camelids in South America, the alpacas are indigenous to the Per ..read more

We’ve just discovered a new mountain region to love in the Southeast: Shenandoah Valley, Virginia, home of Shenandoah National Park, the famous Skyline Drive, the spectacular Luray Caverns, and cute small Virginia towns. Stunning views along Skyline Drive This richly fertile region lends itself to getaways that encompass outdoor adventures, scenic viewpoints, farm to table experiences, family-owned wineries and breweries, and U-Pick farms. It’s the 2021 unplug-to-reconnect experience you now seek. We recently took a five-day family road trip here to kick off our summer and discover many of the ..read more

The Skyline Drive in Virginia is known as one of the best scenic drives in the USA and offers many of the most scenic vistas in the Eastern United States. We finally got to experience this National Scenic Byway on a recent summer road trip to the Shenandoah Valley; the Skyline Drive and Shenandoah National Park being a highlight of a visit to this region in Virginia. Where is the Skyline Drive? The Skyline Drive catches the baton at the end of the Blue Ridge Parkway and runs through the entire 105-mile length of the Shenandoah Valley National Park on the crest of the Virginia Blue Ridge Mount ..read more

Looking for tips on fun things to do in Williamsburg VA? From theme parks, to living-history museums, to outdoor adventures, Greater Williamsburg Virginia is bursting with fun attractions and memory making opportunities. Its location makes it quite accessible to many people living on the East Coast and an excellent location for a family getaway. And it’s an easy three-hour drive from our home base in Raleigh, NC. We spent five days in the region in partnership with Visit Williamsburg, exploring all the fun things to do in Williamsburg VA and the Greater Williamsburg area with kids. Here’s wha ..read more

Greater Williamsburg is most known for its incredible live history experiences in Colonial Williamsburg, Jamestown and Yorktown. However, there are plenty of thrills and adventurous activities in Williamsburg VA waiting for you, and most in the beautiful outdoors.  Busch Gardens Take your pick from ziplining, segway tours, thrilling roller coasters or even a touch of ghostly shivers. We partnered with Visit Williamsburg to bring you seven of our favorite adventures in the Greater Williamsburg area.  What do in Williamsburg VA 1. Go Ape Zip Line and Treetop Adventure Park We’re not a ..read more

History can be difficult to learn, or teach, especially to children. It’s a past filled with people, beliefs and lifestyles that seems to bear no significance on the present moment. As a previous teacher, I know learning history from textbooks can be a boring a jumble of dates, battle names, a jigsaw puzzle of people and events, and meaningless facts to learn. Children are so in tune with their imagination and present moment flow, that it’s hard to pull them into the past and understand something they can’t relate to. Unless of course, you give them opportunities to live it in the present mom ..read more