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Spooktacular Williamsburg, VA

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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.

 

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

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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.

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Mcleod’s go to Washington..Part 1

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National Zoo

We were lucky to stay in an Airbnb just a 15 minute walk to the Smithsonian’s National Zoo.  Colette’s favorite animal is a panda and she has been so excited for our stop in DC so she could meet her spirit animal.  Bei Bei did not disappoint her, she actually gave us quite a show.  She climbed up a tree, out on a branch which I was afraid would break with her weight, then did some type of flip roll on the branch before settling then getting down.  So fun!  She stole the show at the zoo but there were many great things such as the Zoo is FREE, it’s also a beautiful place to walk through  (an Arborist’s paradise) and of course the animals are amazing.  We were lucky to be here just before Halloween so we were able to see decorations for Boo at the Zoo.

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The National Museum African American History and Culture

We weren’t able to secure tickets for this museum before our stay in DC so we tried the 6:30 am same day tickets, the type fast and cross your fingers method, and it was successful!!!!  The tickets are for a specific time so at 2:00 we were able to enter this amazing building after staring in awe from the outside.  It is one of the most beautiful buildings I’ve ever seen.  The architectural scale and lines themselves are brilliant on their own but when you see the iron texture, so ornate yet modern it makes a perfect package.  Once in the museum you make your way to an elevator/time machine that slowly lowers you below the ground. The ride down is meant to take you on a journey back in time to the beginning of slavery.  The ride down also sets the tone, which is decidedly heavy. But as you start to walk up and out of the basement, you move forward in time, to a more positive future. To say this is a solemn heavy exhibit does not do this part of the museum justice, it is a heartwrenching journey and slowly you walk the path through time and progress.  I will say it was not easy to take the time and appreciate as much of this part of the museum with 3 kids along.  We were here in the afternoon, which means we had probably already walked 4 miles.  The kids don’t understand the enormity of this time in history and I was really conscious of not wanting to interrupt the experience of others.  All in all we did the best to give the kids the basis of history while taking in what we could but I will definitely plan another adult only visit in the future.  When you came above ground to the other levels of the museum you were embraced by African American art, music, culture, sports, community and so much more.  Amazing exhibits and experiences, we only scratched the surface, imagine everything from Chuck Berry’s Cherry Red Cadillac to Jesse Owen’s track shoes.  Overall, this museum is truly an incredible journey and a must see if in DC.

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The National Mall

Colette had a different vision of “The Mall” but I hope she ended up loving this one even more.  We made our way to as many memorials/monuments as we could manage and each one is amazing in its own right.  All possess such grandeur while also being welcoming and accessible to all which is remarkable.  To wander through history and glimpse at the icons and events that molded our country is a moving experience.  My favorite was the FDR (Franklin Delano Roosevelt) Memorial, such a beautiful natural space which told the story of Roosevelt and his 12 years of the presidency from the Great Depression to World War II and Elenor’s contributions to human rights.  The dog even has a statue!  We also were able to tour the Capital building. The rotunda at the Capital takes your breath away, such a beautiful space.  At the Washington Monument, which is closed for renovation, the kids were sworn in as Junior Rangers which is always a cool experience for them and a proud moment for us.  The program is amazing and I think I learn as much as they do doing the workbooks.  One thing about visiting Washington DC is take great walking shoes,  I think we averaged about 7 miles a day!  That makes a good nights sleep especially for the little ones.

Thomas Jefferson Memorial

Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial

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Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial

Lincoln Memorial

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White House

US Capitol

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World War II Memorial

Korean War Memorial

Vietnam War Memorial

Washington Monument

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Arlington National Cemetary

 

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Sweet Escape

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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!!

 

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A Whale of Tale: Cape Stories

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Salem, Massachusetts

We had to swing through Salem on our way to the Cape, apparently, everyone else in Massachusetts did the same.  The line to get tickets was half-way around the block!  It was worth learning more about this very bizarre piece of history.  The kids were a bit terrified by the show and we had lots of questions like “why is there a rope around her neck?” or “why did they put all the stones on that man until he couldn’t breathe?” Hmmmm… I guess they learned their witchhunt history a little early, it is still hard for me to imagine there was this much hysteria around witches at that time.

The sun rises and sets with your soul wrapped up in its beauty – Cape Cod

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Thar be WHALES!

Matt was a big advocate for a whale excursion, the last time I was in a boat on the ocean I was puking overboard, but with positive thoughts, I agreed to give it a go.  I imagined we might see a few whales off in the distance but had no idea what kind of show we were in for.   As we cruised across the blue waters we saw spouts in the distance, we approached the activity and soon were surrounded by humpback whales.  When these monstrous creatures surfaced the entire boat was screaming with excitement and the thrill didn’t stop.  Whale after whale surfaced, they were feeding, making bubble nets and emerging with their huge mouths wide open.  It was thrilling to watch these majestic creatures blow rainbows of water into the sky, flap their fins against the water as if they were waving at us, and dive into the water as their tails glided below the surface.  An experience we will never forget, it felt like we were offered the privilege to peer into a world so unknown.  The guides said it was the most whales they had seen in weeks, they believed we saw 24 in total, what a day!  One sad fact we were told is 70% of the whales here have damage from humans, most are from debris and others are from boats.  It is a devastating reality of the impact humans can have on nature.  I will never forget this amazing experience and the beauty of these magnificent creatures, and luckily with all the excitement, I didn’t even get seasick.

On the hunt for crabs

When the kids heard our Airbnb host say, “You can go down to the river and catch some crabs.”  their eyes lit up.  Then it was like the non-stop Mom! Mom! Mom! but followed by “When can we go crabbing?”, “When can we go crabbing?”, “When can we go crabbing?”  So we went to our trusted research source Madame Google and started figuring things out.  Soon we were at the hardware store searching for a net, asking for advice and heading out into the brackish water to catch a bucketful of blue crab.  The vision was too good, a little chicken on a string, a relaxing wade in a river and soon these little creatures would surround you.  With frigid air, our first day in the 50’s, Matt and Sienna braved the waters and put in a valiant effort but we came up with nothing.  We returned for a second go in the afternoon and still nothing.  Sienna also discovered small shrimp-like creatures would eat the dead skin off her feet if she kept them still.  I’m pretty sure people pay big money for a similar experience at a spa! haha  Although we didn’t  have a blue crab cookout it was a fun adventure and if we have the chance again we will find those little creatures!

Martha’s Vineyard

We had to check out Martha’s Vineyard while on the Cape.  We boarded a ferry, which transported cars and people, and 45 minutes later we were at Martha’s Vineyard.  The weather was a little brisk and we found out many things were closed for the season but we had fun wandering around regardless.  We explored the Gingerbread Cottages which were incredible.  So intricate, whimsical and colorful the cottages were full of surprises and we couldn’t stop ourselves from taking hundreds of photos.  We enjoyed wandering the beach which had the most beautiful stones and somehow I found a small piece of RED sea glass!!!  It is the most rare color so I was pretty excited.  It would be interesting to see this place come to life in the summer.  I can imagine it would be a completely different experience.

Strolling through the Gingerbread village
The Tabernacle
Vineyard Vines
America’s Oldest Carousel – too bad it was closed
Shoreline rocks
Ferry to Martha’s Vineyard
always discovering places to do gymnastics
Matt on the pier
The beach
beautiful stones
Black Dog

Gingerbread Cottages – up close

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Potatoes and Putt Putt

There are so many cool factories and its amazing how many offer tours. I found this website factorytourusa.com which is super helpful in finding what’s around you.   Cape Cod Potato Chips – we’ve probably all had these super crunchy delicious indulgences.  We couldn’t take photos, other than in the entry way, but we watched the potatoes get peeled, sliced, fried, seasoned and packaged up.  Super fun and the bonus was some tasty chips.   Cape Cod Potato Chips

Putt Putt…. need I say more.  I don’t think you can visit Cape Cod without a round of “golf”.   We escaped the pirates and there were no smashed clubs so good all around.

Hornswagglers
Shiver me timbers
Arrr!!!
Scallywags eh
Now there’s a good powder monkey
Ahoy, matey
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No Sleep ‘Till Bahhhhston

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Boston

The unfortunate accident Matt’s parents were in has resulted in him going home for a few days while I fly solo with these three wild ones.  I’m good solo, I actually like it now and again but….we’re in Boston!  I have lived in and travelled through many big cities, I’ve navigated my way through Tokyo when I was 18, New York, Chicago, Mexico City, Milan and more….. but something about being responsible for three littles in the city made me a bit nervous.  Thoughts of locking myself out of the house, a child jumping into the subway tracks, getting lost, being abducted by an alien, all crossed my mind.  The good thing is I’m always up for a challenge so off we adventured.  1st stop the subway which may have been the most exciting part of our whole week in Boston. (for the kids not myself)  A train that travels underground at high speeds with soooo many people on it, despite the smell of urine, is like a dream for my country kids.  Jump on the Braintree express, first stop Park Street – Boston Commons bound.

a little unsure, a lot excited
On the subway
Boston Common Frog Pond
She loves the frogs
Boston Common

Freedom Trail – Day 1

I will admit I know so little about history its embarrassing.  You know the people who end up on late night shows, after having a mic shoved in their face, when they can’t answer the obvious question about something from history and everyone laughs for weeks?  That pretty much could be me!  I’ve often thought I should buy “History for Dummies” or something equivalent so I can at least converse with my children about history, yep I need to do that.  Well, that aside we decided to walk the Freedom Trail on day 1.  The kids became Junior Rangers in Acadia National Park and there is a Liberty Junior Ranger program through the Boston National Historic Park.  You can’t get a better opportunity for homeschooling, and anything resulting in an oath and badge is pure motivation for the kids, so off we went.  The Freedom Trail is a 2.5 mile path winding through Boston with stops at 16 historic landmarks.  It is amazing, you literally feel like you are traveling through time as you discover the roots of our country.  The trail is marked with red bricks which makes it incredibly easy to navigate.  Sienna made sure she walked the exact line like a balance beam, probably displacing many people along the way, but that’s pretty fitting.  Top stops were the Granary Burial Ground where Paul Revere, Samuel Adams and John Hancock are buried along with Benjamin Franklin’s parents.  The site of the Boston Massacre, the Old State House where the Declaration of Independence was read for the first time, and Quincy Market.  We stopped for the day after reaching Quincy Market where the kids had a choice of 50+ food stands for lunch.  The decision making was tough but we ended up with sushi for Colette, bacon mac and cheese for Sienna and watermelon for Lennox.

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Boston Children’s Museum

light table
reflection
wall of dots
bubble structure

We spent the entire day here!  It made me want to be a child more than ever and I was mesmerized by each exhibit.  Dinosaurs, bubbles, water, physics and gravity, Japanese culture, the world of Arthur, history, construction, building blocks, lights, an interactive dance pad, climbing wall…..this place seemed to have everything and more.  The only hard part was keeping the kids all in the same area of the museum at once, or at least on the same floor.

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Harvard

Today I get my partner in crime back!!!!  Yippee…no better place to meet up than Harvard.  But first… the Harvard Natural History Museum.  It is CRAZY!  A pretty drastic change from the Children’s Museum but the kids loved this museum.  My only regret is I didn’t take more photos, you might be happy not to see them though.  There were jars upon jars of things, specimens, creatures stuffed into glass, weird stuff it’s hard to believe exists.  Then you move to the walls and there are millions of creatures, birds, bugs, butterflies.  Moving on to mammals you encounter a silent stuffed zoo of wonder and floating above your head are skeletons of whales, huge bones dangling.  It is really something worth seeing and gives you a good idea of the brain power captured in the walls of Harvard.

Harvard Museum of Natural History
More Harvard Sites

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Freedom Trail – Day 2

We returned for a second day on the Freedom Trail.  This time we had Matt with us.   We started at Faneuil Hall, went to Paul Revere’s House which was built in 1680!  Checked out the Old North Church, where two lanterns were lit signaling the British were coming by sea, “One if by land, two if by sea.”  We ended at the Charleston Navy Yard which was closing for a party but the girls were excited to see a female soldier.   Since we had walked a lot and it was 75 degrees ice cream was well deserved to end the day.

 Freedom Trail – Day 3

Bunker Hill Monument

They were excited to get daddy on the subway which ended up with all the kids piled on him in excitement.  Next stop for our final steps of the Freedom Trail, the site of the Battle of Bunker Hill.  You can climb to the top which we had to do, it was a workout with 294 steps, and a little claustrophobic near the top but we had a great view and it was well worth it.  I carried Lennox half way down but I couldn’t feel bad as we passed a man at least twice my age who was heading up for the second time and was doing this 6 times for his workout! What?!?

so excited to take daddy on the subway
Bunker Hill Monument
Dr. Joseph Warren
Bunker Hill Monument
statue and monument at Bunker Hill
We made it! 294 steps
This guy is ready for battle
The USS Constitution “Old Ironsides”

The oldest commissioned boat in the US Navy the USS Constitution must also be the most majestic.  It is amazing to look at and even more astonishing to stand on.  Lennox loved the cannons and you couldn’t help but imagine the places this ship had sailed.  The museum nearby was pretty great too. Apparently, this ship still sails on occasion which must be incredible to experience.  Guess we will have to return for that.  At the end of it all, the kids earned their Junior Ranger badges which took a lot of work and they were super excited to complete.  Does that mean they can now arrest their parents? USS Constitution Museum

All aboard!  Watch out for these sailors

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Duck Boat Mania

The Duck boat ride… what can I say, it was epic.  The first sign of luck was winning the lottery of a super garish pink and purple duck boat, it had to be a good one.  Then we met MEATBALL, our guide.  Not just any guide with a few jokes up his sleeve passing the day away, this guy was hilarious!  Soon he had us doing the Meatball salute, quacking like ducks and belly laughing as we rode a crazy vehicle through the city then directly into the Charles River, and a boat it becomes.  Way too much fun and even though it’s so touristy I would highly recommend hopping on board. Boston Duck Tours

Random Fun… Science Nerds… Ramen… Candlestick Bowling and Wild Encounters

The coolest thing about the Boston Science Museum was the Van de Graaff Generator.   It is the largest of its kind in the world I believe (it fills an entire room) and it creates lightning!  Loud – beautiful – bolts of energy.  Pretty spectacular to watch, very hard to photograph but the video below is pretty cool.  We also found our way to a lab in the basement which was actually holding a free Saturday science day.  They had various experiments and volunteers to help the kids, from painting with pipettes to creating chemical reactions it was a great experience.

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To end our Boston adventures we went candlestick bowling and ate delicious pizza.  Our friends showed us this gem called Flatbread and we ended up here on three different occasions, the first two visits we struck out (couldn’t resist) on bowling but we had success with number 3!  It looked so cool and intriguing we were super happy to finally try it out.  Way harder than it looks, the ball is super small, there are 10 pins and the pins are not reset after each turn.  The retro vibe and amazing pizza make this place a knock out.  Flatbread Company

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Road Trip

Unfortunate Events and Positive Outcomes

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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.

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Road Trip

From shaggy to smooth – Portland, Maine

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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

Momentum Barbershop
start with a buzz….
Lennox thinks it tickles
Look at that stylish boy
Now that was a lot of hair
Love this style
Even he is surprised!
pretending to be window mannequins
handsome guy
Everyone needs a photo with a pirate
Slab Sicilian Street Food
Unreal Pizza being made
yum
nerds
great to see family

 

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Road Trip

We’re coming straight oughta Camden…..

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Spring St. Homebase

…And time for a break. After moving every few days for the last few weeks, a much needed stoppage was in order for everyone. We booked an Airbnb in Camden, ME and settled in for the week. First off, the home we booked was awesome and very close to downtown. Camden is a quaint harbor town on the mid-coast of Maine. At this time of year, the crowds are not bad and it has been unseasonably warm. We aren’t complaining. Spending a week on the Maine coast with 70-80 degree weather is pretty awesome.

Welcome to the yellow house
always great to have a parking spot to fit our big ride
beautiful stained glass
decorated to perfection
comfy bed makes happy people

Sails and Views

From the edge of the harbor you can look out onto peaceful water and still sailboats sitting majestically in their beauty.  It is a site to be remembered and I could sit and stare off in absolute peace here for hours.  If you look up you will see Mt. Battie and from up top the completely opposite view is equally as breathtaking.  A beautiful slice of Maine from sea to sky.

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Library Love

Sometimes you need to get out of the house to study and we were so lucky to have the most amazing library a short walk away.   I wish I had more photos because it is the most beautiful space, but I suppose we were too busy with our nose in the books.  All the kids loved library time and I discovered much less whining happens while teaching in public spaces.

Crack anyone? (Oh I mean candy)

If there are tourist there is usually some sort of sweet indulgence but this straight out of Willy Wonka’s wonderland and I’m sure it’s no coincidence that the name of this gem is Uncle Willy’s Candy Shoppe.  The kids were literally screaming when they walked in, observers were laughing because every step lead to another exclamation of “oh my! They have this!” “Come look at this!” “I’m in heaven!” “Wow!” “Wow!” “Wow!”  Such joy followed by the extreme pain of having to decide on what to fill a small bag with when faced with 10 million options.  We made it out with happy children, who soon were hyper children on sugar OD.  It’s really bad stuff, (as I chomp on a delicious malt ball) Uncle Willy’s Candy Shoppe  57 Bay View St., Camden, Maine

Uncle Williy’s Candy Shop
Salt Water Taffy in barrels
sweeeeeeet
decisions, decisions…
Jelly bellies for miles
sugary sugar skulls
going old school
flavors anyone?

“Schooner Surprise”

It’s hard to believe growing up on the water I’ve never actually sailed on a boat bigger than a hobie cat.  Well, if you’re going to sail I’m guessing this is like starting in a dream.  The beautiful “Surprise” is a 99-year-old schooner that has been meticulously up-kept.  As we left the dock we experienced a close-up view of hundreds of amazing boats moored in Camden’s Harbor, WOW!  the most amazing treasures.    Soon we were raising the sails and letting the wind take us away into the Penobscot Bay.  The ocean waters made a warm day brisk but the air felt fresh and sailing was both calming and invigorating if that’s possible.  Our hosts Nicole and Ramiro were charming, full of stories about the boat, history and their lives sailing.  It took me away to the romance of sailing and for a brief moment I thought to myself, we should totally live and travel on a sailboat, that passed seconds later when I realized I would have no clue what I was doing.  Haha…  Schooner Surprise

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Owl’s Head Lighthouse

Maine lighthouses…. yes, although we have been in Maine for awhile we actually haven’t seen that many lighthouses.  It was exciting to venture out to Owl’s Head which overlooks the Penobscot Bay.  Whoa, do my Midwestern roots come out when faced with pronouncing these “east words” it makes me feel like I’m learning a new language or butchering the only one I truly have.  Back to the lighthouse, a few things which make it really cool is it is working and you get to climb up into it to see the prism light in action.  So neat to see the shape and the way it projects light.  Another amazing thing was what seemed like millions of lobster buoys dotting the ocean.  It is mesmerizing and hard to imagine how many lobsters must be crawling around down beneath.  What a beautiful view of Penobscot Bay from the lighthouse and after a short walk away was a great little beach.

up…up…up
Sienna in the sky
Owl’s Head Lighthouse
three and a half…Lennox isn’t a fan of photos
the prism light
Colette ready to climb
rare selfie
Power!
rock climbing man
Sienna perched
Matt always venturing onto something
walking sticks make everything better
snapshot of the personalities
it doesn’t take long before everyone is wet
beautiful ocean
balancing act
and this is my Maine

Adventures in Boothbay Harbor

Oh Yeah!
Look at this catch!
Wicked Whoopies!

Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens

I don’t know if the rest of my family was as excited as I was to go the botanical garden but I had heard it was amazing and something intrigued me about it, so off we went.  Let me tell you, the kids would surely return for an entire day.  The gardens were beautiful even in the early fall but the children’s area was as if you stepped into a fairytale.  Small houses full of wonders, boats, gardens, rope bridges, it was a small curated adventure land.

Exploring the ocean and wicked whoopie pies

The ocean is quickly becoming the place the kids love most, so much intrigue in what they will find next, from sea glass to small creatures.  The slippery craggy rocks offer even more adventure as we try to navigate a path and the warm fall days have made our time even more desirable.

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Bah Haba – otherwise known as Bar Harbor, Maine

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Don’t mess with these lobsters

Acadia National Park – where you step into a world and it becomes hard to believe the beauty around you exists on our planet

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I don’t know which turn it was but suddenly my breath was taken away.  Looking around I saw the most beautiful landscapes surrounding me, ocean waves splashing, rock formations floating on the horizon, glistening sun shining across the water.  Wow!  my desire to move within this spectacular landscape was only squashed slightly by my fear of a child falling over the cliffs into the ocean.  This was the time of balancing awe with anxiety both worthy of a moment.  Nature’s masterpiece before my eyes, pictures don’t do it justice, the amazement of this park is an experience everyone should place on their bucket list.  Beautiful nature, Maine at its finest.  In love!

Low tide…..LOVE

Who knew our days would be scheduled around low tide, and finding the prime spot for tide pooling.  Yes, as the tide goes out it leaves behind pools of water, big enough for your kids to get 100% soaked from head to toe, but safe enough they won’t get taken out to sea.  In these pools are creatures…. yes creatures of many kinds, anemones, sea stars, crabs, hermit crabs, the list goes on.  The kids love turning over every rock and searching for whatever life they can find.  I will admit I do as well.  The ocean is amazing and I’m so glad they can experience this and be fascinated by it.

Hike up Mt. Acadia

Finding a “family hike” can be challenging, steep cliffs and our four year old cause too much anxiety to make it worth while and our 9, 7 and 4 year old, although strong, don’t have the endurance for long hikes.

Mt. Acadia was perfect,  it was just the right amount of challenge with a spectacular reward at the top that even left the kids in awe.  A combination of trail and rock climbing led to spectacular ocean views.  We all felt accomplished on the summit and by the end of the trail the little legs were tired, which makes for a good nights rest!

Short but steep
taking in the view
Sienna a happy hiker
break for gymnastics
more gymnastics
working on her Junior Ranger Badge
keep it up hikers
Sisters
up and down the rocks
sliding on rocks = holes in pants
made it!!!
Rare full family photo
more mountain photos
king of the mountain
Making mom nervous near the edge
more nervous
3rd child must be held
summit smile
Down…Down…Down
and we have a tired guy

Sunrise….on Cadillic Mountain

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Supposedly the first ray of sunlight in the United States shows on Cadillac Mountain.  This creates a pilgrimage to the top every morning which of course requires very early rising.  Only a few mildly insane people would wake their sleeping children up at 5:30am and this is evidence we qualify.  Pajamas and all we ventured around and around the mountain curves to the top where we met many others seeking the same rays.  The anticipation abounded but fog crushed many morning dreams.  Although we waited on the slippery rock lit up in a eerie haze, the sun dispersed behind the thick blanket leaving a mountain full of disappointed people.  We did however enjoy a great game of hide and seek with our camouflaged creature and a early start to a great day in Acadia National Park.

Junior Ranger – MADNESS

We discovered the kids could earn a Junior Ranger badge while at Acadia National Park.  What a great way to supplement homeschooling!  We picked up the books and started working away.  Of course one requirement is to attend a specified program, which at this time of year were a bit limited.  Just before leaving the park for our next destination we made a mad dash up Beech Mountain to the Fire Station where the kids interviewed a ranger!!!  They summoned up their courage to climb 40 feet up into the fire station where they met Dusty the ranger who’s favorite thing about Acadia was meeting all the people who come to visit.  Such a great experience and with that they fulfilled all the requirements to become Junior Rangers.  We reported to ranger headquarters where Colette, Sienna and Lennox were sworn in as Junior Rangers!  So proud of their hard work.

Trenton Bridge Lobster Pound

Trenton Bridge Lobster Pound
Lobsters for all
boiling pots!
Tags making sure you get the lobster you grabbed
Yes, delicious
Ouch! it got him
Watch out for claws!

Maine is the land of the lobster!  Being from the Mid-West we think of lobster as a food you eat in an elegant fancy-pants restaurant only when you are choosing the most expensive item on the menu.  Well in Maine lobster is like a hot dog stand, shacks serving the finest catch are everywhere.  Fresh probably means caught earlier that day and you can tell.  Its a little weird to fish an animal from water knowing that 5 feet away steaming pots await its demise, but it’s also an experience not to be passed up.  Trenton Bridge Lobster Pound right outside of Acadia provided our lobster indulgence and it was nothing but sweet satisfaction.  Trenton Bridge Lobster Pound  1237 Bar Harbor Rd., Trenton, Maine 04605

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