Lifestyle – Page 3 – Brightside Nomads

Adventure

Sweet Home Alabama…..

By mamawanderer February 21, 2018

Welcome to Sweet Home Alabama

After nearly a month in Florida we were excited to move on to new states and of course, start our westward journey. There is something so exciting about heading west, maybe it’s because Matt and I met each other on the west coast. Whatever the attraction we were ready to point our compass toward the big W. The Florida Panhandle is long, our travel time from Hutchinson Island to Fairhope was over 9 hours but the kids did great back in the McLeod mobile and we were happy to raise our feet as Alabama welcomed us. Our Airbnb was in Fairhope, Alabama which is a small town on Mobile Bay. Between beautiful horse farms, an eclectic downtown and the most amazing sunsets I think we choose a great place to explore for a week.

Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge

Our first day-trip was to check out the Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge. We headed south to the Gulf Shore and found a great hike through the marshlands. We discovered it is a feeding area for migratory birds, I believe 360 bird species have been identified here. The kids were much more intrigued by the “Beware of Alligators” signs along the trail and it made me a little nervous I will admit. We didn’t spot any gators and few birds for that matter, but we had a great hike in the sunshine. We did discover Lennox’s hiking limit is not as far as we wish and the level of whining increases dramatically once you hit the 2-mile mark. We either need to figure out a good way to carry a 40 lb kid, strengthen his legs, quiet his whine, or take short hikes… haha, too much to contemplate.

Cant beat this view

This guy!

more beautiful views

Lennox smiling before his legs were tired

gator land

Strike a pose

The clan

Smiling beauty

Homes on the waters edge

white sand beach

skimming waves washing over the shore

tiny shells

so nice to play by the ocean

USS Alabama

In stark contrast to our nature hike, we climbed aboard a massive steel battleship, the USS Alabama. Our fogged-in day made the experience eerie but perfect. As amazing as it is to be on such a massive ship, to walk between the walls and imagine the life of the soldiers, it is also heavy to realize the reality of war fought on these decks. The guns are massive and plenty, this ship was in the Pacific during WWII. I was an exchange student in Okinawa, Japan for a year and seeing this ship was also there was a strange realization. We watched a movie with stories from the shipmates about the war and you realize how lucky you are to be traveling the United States with your kids. My gratitude to all those who have served our country grows each time I encounter experiences which show insight into military life, sacrifice, and loss.

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Dauphin Island

After seeing how amazing the white sand along Gulf Shores was we had to travel to the other side of the bay to check out the western entrance to Mobile Bay, Dauphin Island. Our first stop was the Dauphin Island Sea Lab which we knew the kids would love, anytime a touch pool is available they are ecstatic. The lab had great exhibits as well as many hands-on displays including the touch pool, sting ray pool and preserved sea creatures for handling. There were Octopi, skate, squid and various fish all preserved in formaldehyde. I was startled at my first touch but Sienna examined them with no hesitation, she may prove to be the scientist of the family. After our undersea exploration, we headed to the beach for a picnic lunch. We were nearly the only people at this pure white sand desert-like beach which seemed to stretch for miles. The ripples of the fine sand create beautiful patterns and the water is deep blue with smooth rolling waves. The environment takes your breath away and we enjoyed each moment. One thing you can’t miss is the off-shore oil rigs. As we drive our vehicle across the country we are more guilty than most of guzzling gas but something about seeing oil rigs in the middle of the pristine ocean still seems odd.

Horseshoe crab

Hermit crab in a glass shell

Mr. Eel says hi!

and this unhappy guy

rock or fish?

Underwater

Blub… Blub… Blub

huge smile for this diver

Sea Turtle ride

beach time

Always smiling at the beach

beautiful shore

taking in the sun

true lines in the sand

It’s almost like a desert here

white sand for miles

Lennox – king of the dune mountain

a little life exists

More pictures from our time in Fairhope, Alabama

Part of our time here was decompressing from our epic adventures in Florida and Fairhope was the perfect place for this. It is a super cute town and we had fun wandering, exploring and also just living life in our country home. Here are a few more photos from our stay.

porch swing smiles

not sure what he is up to with the knife

everyone is getting ready for Mardi Gras

Beads.beads.beads

more Mardi Gras decor

Mural of lovely colors

Mississippi – The Shed

Some friends mentioned The Shed to us and when we were passing through Mississippi we happened to land here around lunchtime. When I first looked at the website it said it was closed due to cold weather (which was in the low 40’s) but that must have been the day before because it was open. Holy sensory overload!!! It seemed like every inch of every wall, ceiling, door…. was covered with something, or more like many things. The ceiling had hundreds of dollar bills stuck to it with forks, we added ours as you can see below. Although the building is a site to see the food was the star. I think they are BBQ Champions of the World! Best I think we’ve ever tasted. So if you find yourself in Ocean Springs, Mississippi stop here for some good food and just to see this crazy place.

Adventure

Slow Start to a Long Journey – Part 2 – It’s Pronounced Universaaaaal

By PapaWanderer February 5, 2018

Non-stop Amusement

So now we are to visit a set of parks I’ve never been to, Universal. We also get to celebrate a special day as my oldest is shedding her single digit age becoming a tenner! We booked a cool hotel that had a 50’s vibe called Cabana Bay. Katie loved the retro vibe. We had three days to explore all the cool experiences Universal had to offer. The most anticipated for us was the Harry Potter worlds of Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley.

Universal has two theme parks, Universal Studios, and Islands of Adventure. Both offer some awesome roller coasters, cool 3d rides and awesome theme areas like Dr. Seuss, The Simpsons and of course Harry Potter. Since we are on the road and space is a serious premium we decided to forgo any major physical birthday gifts. Instead, we promised the kids experiences for their birthdays. Colette’s choice was Harry Potter and she couldn’t have been more excited. In truth, I think we were all pretty excited for the experience. Harry Potter has two major areas, one in each park. Each of the areas is immaculately true to form in recreating the feeling of being in the wizarding world. The rides are exhilarating and feature all your favorite characters. The shops a fun and whimsical and all the workers (or cast members) stay in character as you interact with them. It’s a super fun experience that we highly recommend to any fan of the books. Of course, while we were there Colette and Sienna had to get wands at Ollivander’s. After watching a cool live performance of a young girl from the crowd getting a new wand from the man himself we moved into the store to pick our own. I won’t lie, the place was shoulder to shoulder packed so if you have a fear of tight spaces maybe nominate someone else to brave the crowd. Colette and Sienna got special wands that let them cast spells at locations throughout the two areas. There may have been a third wand purchased for a much older child in our group, but that will remain a mystery. Colette also got to get a robe and scarf to complete her birthday experience. She was in heaven! We cast spells, drank Butter Beer, and ate at the leaky cauldron smiles plastered to our faces.

More Harry Potter Memories

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The rest of the Story

There are a ton of cool rides at Universal and we got to ride some great ones. Two standouts for me and the girls were the roller coasters, The Incredible Hulk and Hollywood Rip Ride Rocket. The Hollywood coaster was my favorite because it starts by slowly taking you up vertically to the first drop and goes nuts from there on out. There’s a lot of 3D rides and tons of characters walking around the parks. We ate, rode and got pics with some of our favorites. We really liked Universal and we plan to go back someday.

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The Great Space Coast

After all the parks and on the way to our next destination we decided to take a detour to the Kennedy Space Center. Being a bit of a space nerd I was really excited about this stop and it didn’t’ disappoint. One note here, it is pretty expensive to take the whole family to this experience. I had a bit of sticker shock but the exhibits more than made up for that. The day was spent learning about the great men and women who pioneered our journey to space. We got to get up close and personal with the old rockets and even got to see a full-scale replica of the solid rocket boosters that launched the shuttle fleet. The highlight of the visit is seeing the space shuttle Atlantis, which is one of only three left and our second we’ve seen on this adventure. There was a full schedule of rockets preparing for liftoff, including the Space X Falcon Heavy. Unfortunately, our plans didn’t line up with them but it was great to see that our mission to explore space is alive and well.

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A Great Ending

To end our marathon run in Florida we spent a week with my parents who get a place in Stuart. It was so very nice to spend a week relaxing, walking on the beach, swimming and laughing. Pete and Judy are a great couple and we enjoy having one on one time with them and the kids. We’ve been coming down to see them for a number of years and plan to continue as long as they have a place. We also made our yearly pilgrimage to Benihana. Always a great treat with food sizzling and flying through the sky. After a great week, we packed up the car to hit the road again. We were heading to the Alabama coast and uncharted territory, it was as exciting to get back on the road as it was to leave the first time. Great adventures await.

Adventure

Slow Start to a Long Journey – Part 1 – D to the isney

By PapaWanderer February 2, 2018

Travel is sometimes no fun

So getting back on the road after a month-long holiday break has been a bit of a challenge. But we did it! After an awesome break back home in Michigan seeing family and friends the time had come to head back out on the road. January was looking to be a busy month of travel for us. From Atlanta to Key West to Disney/Universal and finally to my folks rental on the Atlantic coast of Florida. Our first stop was my friend’s house outside of Atlanta for New Years. Mother nature had other plans and tried to throw a wrench in ours. 10″ of snow in 5 hours and a closed airport in Traverse City threatened to stop us before we started.

Delay after delay forced us to miss our connection in Chicago. We had to adjust on the fly and find a new destination to fly to get back to our car in Atlanta. It all hinged on us getting to Chicago, and finally, after 8 hours at the airport, a pinhole in the storm opened and we escaped. We were off on the second leg of the journey.

To the Keys or Bust

We finally got to Atlanta day late and got our stuff ready to head back out on the road. It was great to see our friends Randy and Betsy and hang at their beautiful home for a few more days, even greater to be out of the white fluff. On the second of January, we headed off for Key West. It was a very quick visit to the Keys as we had to be back for a wedding in Miami on the 6th. We stayed with Katie’s Aunt Jan and Uncle Bill at their home in the city. We had a great, albeit quick visit.

Welcome to Miami

Saying goodbye, we headed out of the keys for an overnight in Miami. We got to see some family and enjoying a fun wedding of our friends with lots of dancing and laughter.

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The next day we headed out to Disney and Universal. The week would be spent with Katie’s Parents, sister and our nieces and nephew.

We’ve been to Disney a few times and we really enjoy our time there. Even though it’s crazy expensive we feel it’s worth the effort for the memories. We had three days at Disney and planned to hit the Magical Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, and Hollywood studios. One thing we’ve realized in our visits is that Disney does not cater well to the off the cuff, spur of the moment traveler. With that in mind, we had carefully set our dinner and ride plans many months in advance. Now I’m not saying you can’t go and just wing it, you can, but you may spend a large portion of your time waiting for the popular rides and not get the most out of the parks. Since we only had three days, the more scheduled approach allowed us to see and ride a ton of stuff.

Animal Kingdom

The Animal Kingdom was up first and the new Avatar area of Pandora was open to explore. Colette was sick and Katie decided a day off was in order, so Sienna, Lennox and I headed off for a day in the park with Katie’s sister and husband (Suzi and Clif) their kids (Piper, Scarlett, and Quinn) and her Parents (Fred and Barb). We got to the park before the others and entered right when it opened. I witnessed something I’d never seen at the parks to this day….a mad scramble of people running, hobbling and darting to get to the new Pandora area. They were running to get to one of the new rides which had you fly on the back of a Banshee. In less than a half hour, the wait time for that ride was over three hours. We passed on that one and walked around the new area instead. It’s awesome and the attention to detail is pretty cool. We finally met up with the others and spent the rest of the day taking a safari, watching shows and riding Expedition Everest. The weather was beautiful and a great time was had. Colette was feeling better by the end of the day so she was able to join us the rest of the trip.

The Magic Kingdom

Day two was at the Magic Kingdom and the whole family was up and ready to go. I think this park is my favorite as there is a great mix of classic and new rides. We started with Big Thunder Mountain where we learned Lennox was not yet a fan of roller coasters. Sienna and Colette, on the other hand, could not get enough. We saw a few of the musical shows which most of our group enjoyed. The kids love the animatronics. (even the more dated ones) The kids saw a ton of their favorite characters and got photos. I selfishly tried to get Lennox to like coasters by taking him on the 7 Dwarfs Mine Ride. ( he was not happy with papa) What’s weird is that later in the day he wanted to go again. /shrug We spent the remainder of the day hitting the rides, enjoying the weather and the magic that is Disney.

Magic Kingdom Memories

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Polynesian Playtime

Disney has some awesome dining options, but one of our favorites is the Spirit of Aloha Dinner. It’s a family style experience with everyone sharing large heaping plates of Polynesian delicacies. While you eat you’re treated to traditional music and dancing from many of the islands of the South Pacific. They all culminate in an incredible fire spinning dance. This time the guy spinning fire absolutely blew our minds. Colette also got some early Birthday love from her extended family. I highly recommend this show. I even did the hula much to my families horror.

Holywood…What’s your Dream

We ended our Disney visit at my least favorite park Hollywood Studios. Now when I say that you must understand that I love all the parks, just this one least of the three. There are some cool rides at this park and a ton of good shows. In the near future, this may become my favorite park when the new Star Wars area opens. They have up’ed the ante on Star Wars activities at this park with a number of shows and demonstrations. We also went to the Indiana Jones Stunt show which was totally awesome. This park seemed a bit less packed the day we went so we had a more chill day exploring. Alas, the time had come for us to leave our family and Disney for our next adventure. An adventure involving a birthday, a wand and a trip to platform 9 3/4.

Colette and Katie snuck to Epcot for the morning before we left.

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Road Trip

Savannah on my Mind

By mamawanderer January 9, 2018

Catching up

We headed home for the holidays and it was so busy our blogging world escaped us for a moment so we’re playing catch-up. Better late than never though and Savannah was one of my favorite stops so we can’t pass up the opportunity to share with you this amazing place and all our adventures in the city of bearded trees!

Sandfly BBQ

A few blocks away from our Airbnb was this little gem, Sandfly BBQ. Dining in a railcar is cool enough but the bbq was legit which made it even better. Sienna, our brisket connoisseur, was in heaven and despite Lennox crawling on the floor and melting down, which happens at 1/3 of our dining experiences, it was worth the stop.

Georgia Queen

We were drawn in by this majestic boat and lucky to get tickets to their Christmas lunch. The boat was decked out and Santa was onboard so the kids were pretty excited. We were happy to spend a few hours on the water taking in the Savannah River and all its history.

Bonaventure Cemetery

Sometimes the most obscure sites are the most interesting. Spending a morning wandering through a cemetery definitely qualifies as a weird stop on the family trip but it was well worth it. The grounds are incredible, my kids would say “bearded trees” were everywhere making it as enchanting as spooky. Some of the gravestones were so intricately designed I think it could be considered a sculpture garden as well. Beauty, history, art, and death combined in such a perfect way.

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Cathedral of St John the Baptist

We were passing by and saw people walking into the church so we decided to take a peek ourselves, when we opened the doors our mouths dropped. It is one of the most beautiful churches. Everything from the ceiling to the stained glass is magnificent. Lennox had to have his picture with the statue, I thought it was because he has a clover in his hand but later he told us it was because he is holding “that thing” which he probably thought was a lightsaber (our true Star Wars fan!)

Yep…Rolled Ice Cream

This is truly the art of making ice cream. Each dish is handcrafted, poured, flattened, frozen then rolled. If that’s not enough you choose toppings making it even more amazing. Colette had a toasted marshmallow on her smore ice cream. Pretty incredible and worth a visit.

Chocolate Art

The most enchanting shop and fascinating chocolates. From there appearance to the flavor profile and taste, it was perfection. Although I love chocolate the unique space and displays captured me the most. What an experience choosing a morsel of goodness. Chocolat by Adam Turoni

Candy! Candy! Candy!

I call this the most irresistible candy shop. It sucks you in from the first site with candy seemingly piled to the ceiling. Anything you can imagine I’m sure is here. Of course, letting the girls pick out a few pieces leads to nearly a half hour of contemplating which of the sweet treats to choose. Eventually, we escaped! Rocket Fizz

Girl Scout Madness – The Birthplace of Juliette Gordon Low

Colette and Sienna have been Girl Scouts for years so it was pretty cool to get to tour the birthplace of Juliette Gordon Low and hear the stories of how it all started. The girls loved hearing about how Juliette used to slide down the banister and were a little bummed they couldn’t try this for themselves. The power of girls to make a difference in the world is stronger than ever!

Thanksgiving

We love to cook and were not going to skimp on a feast on the road so we made sure we found an Airbnb with a great kitchen and cooked away. So much fun in the kitchen and great to give thanks for all we have even if it was a smaller than usual gathering.

More Savannah

We fell in love with this city. Our Airbnb was close to Forsyth Park which is amazing, and just a short walk to town. The weather was beautiful and we walked from square to square adorned with beautiful trees, fountains, sculptures and more. A perfect balance of history, fun and relaxation while enjoying Thanksgiving and a break from school was just what everyone needed. We also loved SCAD and fell in love with a painting which will always remind us of our time here.

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Road Trip

Mountain Mama – Asheville, NC

By mamawanderer November 22, 2017

More Cousins!!!! in Liberty, North Carolina

East Jordan tends to be home base for family reunions and visits from cousins so our kids thought it was pretty awesome that they would get to see their cousins in their hometown of Liberty, North Carolina. It was even better they could sleep over and be part of Maggie and Mitchell’s 11th birthday party. We all got our fill of family, friends, and fun and loved every second. Believe it or not our kids can be pretty shy but it didn’t take long for them to be running around with their cousins, making messes and playing with a house full of toys. They didn’t want to leave the next day and talked about their cousins the whole way to Asheville. I know these memories will stick with them a long time and we are so thankful for family and Southern hospitality.

Home away – Airbnb style

So far we have mostly stayed at Airbnb on our travels. I don’t post about many but this was a mountain home, with a glorious view which is pretty much all we needed for the week. It had a fire red maple which greeted us every day and was like living in a warm hug. We enjoyed the ever-changing mountain views, fresh air and relaxation oh so much.

Biscuit Head

I’ve heard of places like this, but honestly didn’t really believe there were places where no matter what time you go there is a line out the door. Well, folks, this is the spot. Literally, any time of day we passed by, the line was out the door. I’m not a huge fan of waiting for food but my husband is so we joined the crowd. I didn’t even know I liked biscuits but this must have come directly from the gods. It was amazing, along with everything else you can add to it, such as a flight of gravy! What?! Yep that’s real.

Lexington Glassworks

I’ve always been fascinated with glass blowing. It is such an amazing art form, working with a molten material, blowing and spinning to get the right shape, not seeing the color properly until it cools I’m guessing it is extremely difficult. Somehow these guys do all this and talk to an audience of on-lookers at the same time with smiles on their faces. Lexington Glass has taken the art of glass blowing and made it a super cool experience for the public, they even have a bar here! Their work is incredible, check them out.

Graffiti

If graffiti makes you drool head to Asheville, NC. There are so many amazing pieces of street art hiding in alleys and really everywhere. Then there is the river arts district which has entire buildings transformed with color. Big props to all the talented artists using buildings as their canvasses.

Craggy Gardens Trail – Blue Ridge Parkway

Thick fog covered the mountains, we couldn’t see more than 20 feet in front of our car while driving and as you wind through the mountains it is pretty surreal and disorienting. As eerie as it was it was also beautiful. Matt and the girls were able to get outside for a short hike while I stayed in the car with the sleeping little guy. A little wet and chilly but no complaints as it was still a beautiful hike.

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Sierra Nevada Brewery

We didn’t know Sierra Nevada had a factory near Asheville until we were talking to a local and he said we had to go check it out. He described it as the “Disney World of beer,” haha. So off we went to see what this beer haven was all about and to grab some dinner, which was great. The building and factory are Platinum LEED certified which is pretty incredible. It also had one of the most beautiful live walls I have seen anywhere, including in magazines. This would be my dream someday if I can get my green thumb working. The building, restaurant, and factory are all magnificent and there was a self-guided tour which took us through the history the art of beer making. We learned the company is still family owned as well which we always give cheers to.

The Biltmore Estate

It is impossible to comprehend just how large a 178,926 square foot house is, enormous is an understatement. We saw a portion of this house and it took us a few hours. The Biltmore is the largest privately owned house in the United States, aside from its impressive size it is intricately designed in both its structure and furnishings. What made it extraordinary for us were the Christmas decorations strewn throughout the home. I believe there were over 50 decorated trees and countless wreaths, bows, and garland, it was spectacular. We didn’t stay long enough to see the lights at night but I’m guessing they would take your breath away.

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Biltmore Farms

We were able to get our fall fix at the Biltmore Farm. Lots of giant leaves to toss around, animals to pet, space for gymnastics and old school games. The land here is beautiful and chances to run free are much welcomed. We love our travels but the East Coast has been pretty city heavy so finding open spaces are sometimes as much of a treat as anything.

Blue Ridge Parkway – Make time for the Mountains

Before our four-hour drive to our next destination Charleston, we decided we needed one more drive through the Blue Ridge Parkway before heading out. The past few days had been a bit overcast but this morning, although the temperature was brisk, the sun was shining and the skies were clear, a perfect calling to the mountains. Mid-morning we came upon a hike and with our big drive ahead debated if we should do it or not. Our advice, always choose the hike! I guarantee it will be worth it and you will never sit in the car and say, “I really wish we wouldn’t have done that hike,” unless of course, you injure yourself or something of the sort. The hike was spectacular, incredible clear blue views of miles and miles of mountains, and as a bonus, the kids were tired and more calm for our car ride. Now that’s a win for everyone!

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Road Trip

Spooktacular Williamsburg, VA

By PapaWanderer November 18, 2017

A Little Fiesta to Kickoff our Visit

The drive from DC to Williamsburg was an easy one and we got a late start after visiting the final resting place of the space shuttle Discovery. We arrived at our lodging a bit later in the evening and didn’t want to go shopping for food so we went to the local Mexican eatery Jose Tequila. I only mention this place as it will have some significance later in the visit. For now, I will leave you with this photo to ponder.

We spent a week in the Historic Triangle area. This area consists of Williamsburg, Jamestown, and Yorktown. From a historical perspective, this was a great stop for our lessons as this area sees the end of the American Revolution and the birth of America. We started in Jamestown, which was the first English settlement in North America. It’s amazing to think that the first explorers to North America choose these very shores on which to make landfall. It’s nice to see these sites being preserved if only to acknowledge the feats and follies of our every evolving nation.

Jamestown

The actual historic site for Jamestown is an actual archeological site. Archaeologists are still excavating and finding remnants of the settlement. We were able to view some of the work in the old chapel on the site. (Cool in a nerdy sort of way) After hanging at the historical site for a bit we ventured over to the much more kid-friendly Jamestown Village. The kids loved this part. The settlement is an interactive experience which features a recreated Native American Village, a working Jamestown village, and replicas of the three ships that brought the first settlers. People were dressed in historically accurate garb and spoke with a bit of the ole’ brogue from that age. We got to speak with all the characters and learn how the old villages worked and what the villagers daily life was like. We loved it, cool experience for the family.

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Colonial Williamsburg

Colonial Williamsburg is a fun place for the family. It’s built on the foundations of many of the historic buildings from the late 1700’s the people are dressed in period garb and there are many shops and historical reenactments to make you feel like you’ve gone back in time. We went in the off season so there weren’t many people there. I also think this is the reason only about half the shops were open. They have a schedule of events everyday which tells you what’s open and closed. Maybe it’s the season or a bit of a game to sell more tickets, but you would need to spend at least two days in the park to see everything open. We felt that one day was enough for us. We saw cabinet makers, blacksmiths, an apothecary, a weaver and much more. Ther wig shop was closed, which our friends said was a highlight for their kids. My oldest could have spent more time here but we knew our 7 and 4-year old didn’t have the stamina. The good news is that there is so much to see doing another trip would not be out of the question. I’m trying a new idea with this post in that I’m letting the pictures tell most of our story and trying to have less of a wall of text. We’ll see how it pans out.

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Yorktown

Yorktown marks the last battle fo the American revolution. A fitting capstone to our historical journey that started all the way in Boston. There are two sites in Yorktown. A car tour of the battlefields and a really nice museum with movies, interactive displays, and some replica outdoor experiences. What amazes me most about this journey through history is the enormity of the distances and the communities that were affected. You really get a sense for how the American Revolution and the Civil War just turned life on its head for much of the population of the time. Katie and I have such a deeper appreciation of the sacrifices and impossible decisions that were made to create the nation we have today. I think that the kids have retained some of this great knowledge as well which we hope will serve to make them inquisitive about our country, the world and people around them. E Pluribus Unum – From Many One.

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All Hallow’s Eve

Such a good Halloween this year! We were worried that being on the road would be tough for the kids, but our reservations were unfounded. Katie did amazing makeup work, Halloween Express provided the outfits and we found an awesome neighborhood in which to trick or treat. Remember the image from the top of the post? Well, enjoy our sugar skull vamp Sienna!

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Southern Vice

This trip wouldn’t be complete without sharing one of my many southern vices. Chicken and Waffles!!! So good…a little salty..a little sweet and add some spice!!! Just kill me now. (the globs of fat will get me later…haha) I also found that my girls and Lennox had a vice of there own…and it came with sprinkles!!

Fun in the sun to top it off

Most of the Airbnb’s we stay at are apartments or small homes but this was actually a part of a resort. Our 80-degree weather combined with pools and mini golf spoiled us. We enjoyed some relaxation, fun and lots of water time. Golf can be a little challenging with our ultra-competitive family as you can see from the photo below. If you’re looking for a great vacation Airbnb we recommend Kingsgate, Williamsburg.

Road Trip

Cupcakes, Cousins and Crazy Flying Machines…..Washington DC take 2

By mamawanderer November 14, 2017

Cousins!!!!!!!!

No travel destination beats cousin time! The one thing about traveling is the people are the same every day, whether we like it or not we spend 99% of our time with each other. Of course, this is one of the great things about traveling but occasionally a familiar face other than your siblings or parents is much welcomed. Luckily we have cousins just outside of DC who invited us over for the night. I don’t think there could be a better group of smiles than these kids together. Their time spent wasn’t long but they had enough fun for an entire week. These girls were the highlight of Washington DC and that says a lot. The bird was also a highlight and the adults had a great time as well although no photos of our lovely snapshots together for evidence. Our kids are already asking when they will see their friends next, such sweet memories to make while on the road.

Cupcakes and the much-anticipated ZOMBIE frappuccino

Colette loves watching DC Cupcakes and specifically requested we make a visit. It was worth it. Very hard to decide on one flavor but the cupcakes were super yummy! We later learned this spot, Georgetown Cupcakes often has a line around the block seeking out these sweet morsels. On the gross side of sweets, the girls found out the Zombie frappuccino was coming for Halloween. We have a long story about missing the Unicorn frappuccino, and I have never been forgiven. I waited one too many days and by the time we tried to get one they were gone! Oh my! You would’ve thought the world ended! Well, it didn’t and we even survived to see the Zombie come to life. Commercialism at its finest right? I had one sip and that was enough for me, I think it was caramel apple, mixed with some blood-like concoction of chocolate. Two of the kids made it through the massive sugar intake and Lennox did not but this was probably a good thing. I wonder what the next limited edition holiday drink will be.

Zombie Frappuccino

Zombie time

Ahhhh…. will they turn into Zombies?

DC Cupcakes aka (Georgetown Cupcakes)

so hard to make a decision

Yum Yum!!!

where is the camera?

Dreams come true for Colette

Sienna saved her cupcake for later

National Air and Space Museum

It blows my mind that only a hundred and some years ago humans began to fly. It’s been a blink of the eye in time from wood flying machines to supersonic jets and space travel. Who could have imagined this progression? The Air and Space Museum is phenomenal, It takes you through the entire history of flight and the planes, rockets, and spacecraft on site are amazing to see. There was an entire room dedicated to the science behind flight and hands-on experiments. The kids also had an amazing lesson on the principals of flight which they still talk about (lift, gravity (or weight), thrust, and drag) Much better than anything I could teach. We are so lucky to have these beautiful museums to preserve our history and it is even more astonishing that they are free of admission.

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Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center

We discovered that there is not just one Air and Space Museum but a large annex as well! The annex is about 45 minutes outside of town and holds the Space Shuttle Discovery. Matt had to see it, so before heading to our next stop, we went. I have to say it is an incredible experience to see the enormity of the shuttle knowing it traveled out into space many times. When we were kids, space was everything, we remember watching the launches, they were a big deal, the Challenger disaster was a poignant moment in our adolescent lives. Discovery beyond our planet, the adventure, and exploration of space captivated the world. I like most other kids wanted at one point to be an astronaut and even convinced my parents to let me go to Space Camp! Needless to say, when you stand in front of this monster of a spacecraft all the memories from those times come back, it’s almost like I could feel each launch I viewed and the exhilaration of lift-off. Ok, maybe we’re just old space nerds but it was pretty cool. Of course, the museum had lots of other amazing aircrafts, including an SR-71 Blackbird and the Enola Gay, definitely worth the short drive and a visit.

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National Gallery of Art and Sculpture Garden

Art is everywhere and along our travels, the kids play games trying to spot the next piece of art. It makes me smile as I think they are learning to appreciate art and the stories it tells. In each city we visit there are usually multiple galleries, studios or museums I want to go to but I’m also realizing going with a four-year-old is sometimes more stressful than not going. So maybe this trip will be more about discovering cool street art I don’t have to worry about a little man with ninja moves destroying. Saying that we did make it into the National Gallery of Art East Wing, we had a good 30 minutes of enjoyment before I felt the million dollar paintings began to be at risk. It is a beautiful place filled with amazing art, I will return. The Hirshhorn Sculpture Garden was a better space for wild kids and had great pieces so we enjoyed this especially with the amazing weather we had in October.

Museum of Natural History

This is one of my favorites, and the kids as well. We had such a great day here I didn’t take many pictures. You can view prehistoric creatures, animals of today, mummies, and one of our favorites gems and geology. We watched a great movie about our evolutionary relatives, lead by one mammal everyone on earth is related to, a Juramaia (which was similar to a rodent). We were fascinated by how many colors and beautiful structures can be found in nature and I missed it but when Lennox went to see the Hope Diamond, in a crowded room of people oohing and ahhing he says loudly, “What? that’s not a very big diamond!” and everyone busted out in laughter.

and a few other shots to top off our trip

We loved Washington DC. I could’ve stayed here 2 weeks because there are so many amazing things to do. I already want to return. It is ironic because I really despise the politics of this city, but somehow when you are surrounded by the history of our nation and the great people who contributed to what we have today I have to look at our future with a positive regard and believe great things are to come and will continue.

Road Trip

Sweet Escape

By PapaWanderer November 3, 2017

On the Road Again

We had the great idea of shooting inland for a bit to visit a location that gave us great access to fun for the kids and some deep American history. The fun would be visiting a town that was literally created by chocolate and the history would be capped by visiting the location where Lincoln read the Emancipation Proclamation. Hersey, PA and Gettysburg. Now, I should have learned, having been traveling for a couple months, that long transition drives are brutal. This drive from the Cape to the Hersey, PA was no exception. 8 hours of congested and busy roads through 5 states. The kiddos did great. Mom and Dad however, had to make a sanity stop in New Haven, CT to gain some composure and have some world famous coal-fired pizza! Our good friend Clif suggested we stop at one of two pizza joints in New Haven. We chose Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana and let me tell you folks, it was the bomb. Thin, crispy and full of flavor. Pizzas were served on sheet trays and everyone just grabbed for some pie when it came. This is a must stop for anyone traveling through this area. We had some of the more basic pie’s and didn’t learn until we left that one of the real gems there was the white pizza with clam and bacon. Oh well….Just another reason to go back!

Pepe’s Pizza

Coal-fired Oven

Gettysburg National Military Park

After such a long drive we all slept well. Feeling refreshed the next morning we decided that this sunny day would be dedicated to learning about the Civil War at one of its most important locations. After about a 50 minute drive from Hersey, we pulled into the Gettysburg National Military Park visitor center.

If you’ve been following along with our posts you know that American history has been a big part of our experience. The kids, although young, have followed along very well and absorbed a surprising amount of information. They really got a lot out of this part of our journey, asking deep questions and attentively listening as Katie and I tried our best to do justice to the history around us. The visitor center had an excellent museum. There was a short movie that gave a detailed overview of the war and the what happened on the different days. After the movie, you go upstairs and view another presentation. This presentation highlights “Pickets Charge” and uses a 340 ft hand patined circular mural from the 1800’s to showcase it. The mural is mounted against the wall in a large circular room. It was very cool to see art and history so seamlessly blended to great impact.

Luckily we weren’t on our own in trying to relay the importance and accuracy of what happened during those three days to Colette, Sienna, and Lennox. Gettysburg has a Junior Ranger program! I can’t stress enough how cool these programs are. They are fun for the kids, make the history around them super accessible and give them a sense of pride and accomplishment once they finish. So after picking up the kids Jr. ranger packets at the visitor center we got back in the car and started our driving tour. This tour would take us through the three days of battle and immerse us in one of the most pivotal battles of the Civil War. There are over 1,300 monuments scattered around the battlefields. Some were simple plaques and others were ornate statues standing 20ft+ tall. What was impressed upon me most from this experience was how one battle, one moment in time born from thousands of decisions, set us on the course towards freedom and equality for generations to come. As you drove around the battlefields, you can’t help but feel the weight of the 10’s of thousands of souls lost during those three days. Powerful stuff to say the least. But, it was not all solemn during our tour. The kids found ways to bring happiness and we had a beautiful day to experience it all.

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After a full day of visiting monuments and finding answers hidden on the tour, we ended the day with all three kids getting sworn in as Jr. Rangers!

This just happened to be close to the location where Abraham Lincoln issued the Gettysburg Address which referenced that most famous of executive orders, the “Emancipation Proclamation”, signaling the end of slavery and a march towards freedom for all. We even got to spend some quality time with Abe!

Kind Abe

Grand pappy Abe

Hey Abe, it’s over there..

Hanging With Abe

Random Act of Disney

When we returned from the battlefields, Katie and I had a surprise waiting for the kids. It just so happened that in the town of Hersey there is a huge convention center. And at this convention center happened to be a performance of Disney on Ice featuring all the new characters from Frozen and Moana. The kids were super excited. Having seen the ads for this show all my life but never having been to a performance I didn’t know what to expect. It turned out to be great fun. The characters flew around the ice, dancing, and interacting with the audience. The costumes were top notch and the visual effects were spectacular. It was a great night for all and a good lead-in for our next adventure in the morning…..Chocolate World!!!

The Land of Milk and Cocoa

So I went into this Hersey idea thinking it was going to be a cheesy hyped up money sink. I’m happy to say I was wrong. Now it is still a place that will make your kids want you to spend some cash, but it wasn’t that cheesy. Hersey’s Chocolate World is a well thought out branded experience that brings out the inner kid in all of us. When you walk up to the building you’re greeted by an awesome facade of candy bar characters and historical Hersey models.

Upon entering the building your senses are assaulted (in a good way) by bright candy colors, pleasing upbeat music, and the scent of Hersey”s chocolate. (I’m fairly sure they pumped it in) We opted for the full gamut of five activities that the experience offered. It’s a great deal and filled our day with Hersey goodness. We participated in a chocolate tasting with an official Hersey Paletteer.

We took an automated tour that was like a carnival ride. A little cheese here but it did give you a great overview of how the chocolate is made from sourcing to the shelf at the store. Very accessible for the kiddos which was nice. Best of all you got an original Hersey bar to eat at the end. We then watched one of those 4D movies about a chocolate mystery at the factory. Colette, Sienna, and Lex loved as it was in 3D and things sprayed at them and popped out from the ceiling and screen. The coolest thing came next when we got to make our own Hersey chocolate bar! You could pick the type of chocolate, what things went inside and on top, and you got to design the package it was delivered in. This was by far the most bang for the buck. We all really enjoyed making the bars and we all got these awesome Hersey Tins as keepsakes. This is a MUST DO if you come to the experience.

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The final experience we had at Hersey was a trolly tour. This was a haunted tour so the kids got to dress up in their Halloween costumes early. The tour was fun. A couple of young men led the tour from the front of the trolly, They were actors and told jokes along with the history of Milton Snavely Hersey…and yes his middle name is Snavely! They passed out candy and we even sang songs. The kids laughed and had a blast. One very cool take away was that the Hersey’s could not have children of their own. Becuase of this they created a school for orphans and paid their tuition, room, and board. The school still exists today as the Milton Hersey Shcool. Since it began in 1909 each student from the school has been given a brand new $100 dollar bill upon graduation. Also, a certain percentage of the proceeds from every piece of Hersey candy sold goes to funding this school and numerous grants and scholarships. Old uncle Mitly was a pretty good guy it seems.

Our trip to Hersey and Gettysburg was a ton of fun and we probably could have spent a couple more days there. We didn’t even touch the amusement park so I guess we’ll have to come back for another visit. I know that the girls and Lex will be up for it. And nothing could more fitting to cap this post off than three kids getting whacked out on giant Hersey Syrup jugs!!

Road Trip

Unfortunate Events and Positive Outcomes

By PapaWanderer October 8, 2017

Even during the most epic and happy journeys “life” happens. On September the 26th, the darker side of life happened for my family and I. On an unassuming evening, while my kids were having a blast at an elephant rescue turned gymnastics/ninja warrior studio, I received a call from my brother telling me that my parents had been involved in a single car multi-rollover accident. It was serious. My mom was unconscious and my dad was very shaken and confused. They were both in the ER and tests were being run to check on the extent of their injuries. You will never have a more helpless feeling than being 1000’s of miles away and having no way to help. I couldn’t even get much information from the nurses since everything was happening so quickly. Thank God my brother Pete was in the car and on his way from Chicago to help and be by their side. Details were sketchy, but in an effort to avoid debris in the road the car swerved into the median, caught the soft earth and rolled 3-4 times. And they were in a convertible! The gods must have been smiling on them since the car, after flipping over, landed on it wheels.

My parents are in awesome shape, but they are almost 80 years old. They exercise regularly and eat well. I’m a huge believer that this has led to a great quality of life for both of them. I believe in this even more after the accident, as their recovery has been nothing short of miraculous. Much of this speedy recovery can be attributed to the lifestyle they were living before this happened.

My brother Pete was there first, My oldest brother Andy came a couple days later and I was able to fly back soon after. By the time I came back to see them, they had been moved from ICU to a rehabilitation wing of the hospital. Seeing my mom and dad for the first time after all this happened was gut-wrenching. Even though I knew they were on the road to recovery the visual of the two of them in beds, badly bruised, swollen, stitches and in pain, was too much for me. I cried. (Tears of sorrow that they were in pain and suffering and tears of joy that they were both still alive.) Much hugging and kissing commenced. Over the time I was there I saw them get better and better each hour. I have to give credit to the wonderful nurses, doctors and medical staff at Genesys Regional Medical Center. They gave excellent care to my parents, almost loving care one could call it. They really took the time to work gently with them, reassure them and give them the confidence to recover. I know my brothers and I are forever grateful for the love and care they showed my parents.

Flash forward to October 13th. (Friday the thirteenth to be exact.) 18 days after my parents were taken to the hospital in an ambulance, they were able to walk out the front doors and return home. What a blessed day. They still have quite a road to full recovery. Wounds need to continue to heal, confidence needs to grow and normalcy needs to be found. They are now at the home they’ve lived in for 40+ years. Hearing their voices now that they are home I can tell things will end alright. This whole ordeal has reinforced my belief that you need to seize opportunities presented to you and live life on your own terms every single day. So at the end of this horrible event, we have found a ray of light. Thank you to everyone that sent prayers and love our way. It meant the world to our family and helped us get through this time.

Road Trip

From shaggy to smooth – Portland, Maine

By mamawanderer October 8, 2017

Before we get to Portland the L.L. Bean store lured us to its doors

This place is no joke. It is like the Disney World of retail. Store after store, parking lots marked so you can recall what lot you parked in. Serious business I didn’t expect in Freeport, Maine. It was worth the stop just to get a photo with the duck boot truck! L.L. Bean Flagship Store 95 Main St., Freeport, Me

Passing through Portland

What a cool city! We were only here for two days but I would definitely return to check out more. It is a big small city, enough going on to satisfy your metro fix but small enough to explore and get places quickly. Our stay consisted of visiting relatives, eating yummy food and taking advantage of the swimming pool at our hotel. The biggest deal (besides the enormous pizza you will see pictures of) was Lennox had his hair not only cut but styled into an amazing fade by undoubtedly the best barber in town. He looks about 2 years older but we all love his smooth do. He said he feels like a teddy bear because his hair is soooooo soft. Momentum Barbershop

As for the pizza, I have never in my entire life seen such enormous pizza and it’s actually light, fluffy, crispy, everything great about pizza giganticized! Soooooo yummy! Slab Sicilian Street Food