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Passing Through the Big Easy

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New Orleans, Louisiana

Two years ago we brought the kids to New Orleans for spring break during the French Quarter Jazz Fest.  We fell in love with our time here, staying in the French Quarter, great music, swamp tour, cool museums, and yummy food.   One of my clearest memories was Lennox, then 2, licking a lamp post on Royal Street, he is still alive!  We were all super excited to return and explore a little more of New Orleans.  This time we stayed in the Garden District, it was a bit cooler in February, less busy, but just as much fun.  The cool thing is everyone was getting ready for Mardi Gras, it was such a treat to see all the houses decorated, the spirit of Mardi Gras coming to life and get to know the traditions of this event a bit better.  Far more than my prior notions of Mardi Gras in New Orleans.

Mardi Gras World

We decided it would be a great time to check out Mardi Gras World thinking all the floats would be getting ready for their big day.  To our amazement, we discovered they were already working on floats for 2019 Mardi Gras!!! Yes, it takes an entire year of planning and creating.  From the moment you step in the door, you are surrounded by larger than life creations, each as spectacular as the next.  Artists are sculpting, painting, drawing and they even have a robotic CNC machine who sculpts foam figures for the floats as well.  It is a busy place full of color and creativity.  We learned a lot about the history of Mardi Gras, the first parade actually took place in 1703 in Mobile, Alabama, to how it has turned into an over the top 2-week celebration in New Orleans.  Parade after parade is put on by Krewes throughout New Orleans in the weeks leading up to Fat Tuesday and the celebrations are spectacular.

Mardi Gras Parade

We were lucky to be in New Orleans on the day of the first Mardi Gras parades.  We were heading out the next morning but packed up early so not to miss this happening.  We really didn’t know what to expect but what was in store for us was more than any of us could’ve anticipated.  We lined up on the street for the Krewe of Oshun followed by the Krew of Cleopatra, since the parade route is so long we ended up waiting quite some time before the parade start.  Oshun began with dance school after dance school of little girls probably from 5 years old to teenagers.  It was cold and all the girls wore dance outfits but they didn’t seem to mind.   Their moves had more rhythm and movement than I could dream of, and I know our girls probably learned a move or two by watching.  Such a fun, energetic atmosphere.  Dancers were followed by bands, (amazing marching bands playing pop music) with flags, batons, the whole nine yards.  Horses followed the bands and then came the floats.  Oh the floats, they were huge and elaborate and filled with people throwing everything from candy to beads to hula hoops to full-sized stuffed animals towards all the stretched out arms and screaming people.  It was insane, and this lasted for hours.  We left with bags full of beads, candy, toys and I don’t think we will ever top this parade experience.  It was a highlight for all of us and special to join the local New Orleans scene on this big day.

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Jackson Square

One of our favorite things to do in New Orleans is wandering through the streets, listening to music, viewing art and enjoying the atmosphere of this unique city.  Today was Colette’s lucky day as she was called on to be the “assistant” to this juggling comedian.  She successfully tossed the bowling pins to this gentleman as he stood on a ladder, and was pretty excited to be a part of the show!

Cafe du Monde

Well, this really doesn’t even need an explanation, but if you don’t know, chicory coffee and the most delicious beignets are served here as they have been since 1862!  Expect to wait in line which is absolutely worth it, then use your hawk eyes to sweep up a table.  Enjoy your time and don’t worry, you are guaranteed to leave covered in powdered sugar.

French Quarter

Strolling through the streets checking out the Mardi Gras decorations, music and eating  King’s Cake makes for a perfect day.

On our way to Lafayette – Oak Alley Plantation

We left New Orleans and headed to Cajun country, Lafayette, LA.  On our way, we decided to tour Oak Alley Plantation, it was a sugarcane plantation along the Great River Road, sitting on the west bank of the Mississippi River.  The spectacular 800 ft. alley of live oak trees leading up to the Greek Revival style mansion is beautiful and a great spot for a photo shoot.  We toured the Mansion, learning about the history of the area and the family who owned the plantation.  It is always interesting and humbling to step back in time and imagine the way life would’ve been and give thanks for the life we have today.  One interesting fact is from the Mansion you couldn’t see the Mississippi River, this is due to the fact that the levee which once stood 5 feet tall is now over 20 feet!

Avery Island – the land of Tabasco

I’m not even a hot sauce fan but this place was intriguing and we heard it was worth the trek to visit.  The history here is deep, Tabasco was first produced in 1868 and remains a family business headquartered on Avery Island, which is pretty much in the middle of nowhere.  The story of the deep red pepper and the creation of the sauce which became an essential condiment worldwide is complex and intriguing.  I love to see how things are made and the self-guided tour takes you through the 3-year process of growing the peppers, fermenting the mash, to turning it into the beloved hot sauce.  There was a tasting section full of Tabasco products including ice cream and soda.  This was fun for all of us and too hot for most, besides Matt, and it seems Sienna is developing a fondness for heat as well.  Overall, it was a fun day and I may have even become a fan of the spicy sauce.

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Jungle Gardens

Also on Avery Island is a 170-acre botanical garden and bird sanctuary called Jungle Gardens.  The gardens are home to migrating snowy egrets along with a multitude of beautiful plants, trees, and flowers.  It is especially known for its camellia collection, beautiful flowering trees.  For us, it was a peaceful drive and although it is winter and everything is slightly dull and not in bloom it was still beautiful scenery and we were excited to see an alligator.

 

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Sweet Home Alabama…..

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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.

 

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

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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.

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Savannah on my Mind

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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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Let’s do the Charleston!

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A Sunny Saturday Stroll

After our spell in the mountains, we were eager to get back to the coast. We packed up the rig and headed out for the jewel of South Carolina, Charleston. (That’s what I’m calling it at least) One thing I’ve noticed, and it’s very apparent here in Charleston, is how kind everyone seems to be. I guess that southern hospitality is real. We have really enjoyed our trip south. The people and cities seem to become more and more inviting. Our first day in the city just happened to be the first Saturday of the month. On the first Saturday in Charleston they close down King St and open it to the public to walk around. King Street is the major shopping avenue in the city and all the vendors come out and set up pop-up shops and restaurants. Such a welcoming start for us.

Patriot’s Point

As a kid growing up I spent many vacations going to Kiawah Island. Kiawah is just 20 miles from Charleston so we would often head over for the day. We saw many sights, but the one I remember most is visiting the Yorktown aircraft carrier. The area is now called Patriot’s Point. (maybe it always was?!) We love seeing these old pieces of history open to exploring. After driving over the beautiful Arthur Ravenel Bridge, we got to see an aerial view of old Charleston and the Yorktown in the distance. At this location is a submarine, a frigate and of course the Yorktown. My little guy Lennox has developed a love for this military stuff so he was in heaven. Colette and Sienna would rather just get selfies from the captain’s chair. We explored the ship and learned about all the history it has experienced. From battling in the south pacific to picking up Apollo space capsules after their missions, this ship has seen some action. The flight deck and interior hanger are filled with old aircraft to see up close. This thing is crazy big…like a floating city! We also toured the USS Laffey which was kamikazied by multiple planes and had something like six bombs dropped on it. Amazingly it never sank! Both ships have cool interactive exhibits which make you feel like you’re experiencing a moment in their history. One last memory of the day was a large group of new American citizens were being naturalized on the deck of the Yorktown while we were there. Cool to see and I bet even more memorable for the participants. Definitely, a great place to spend the afternoon.

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Fort Sumter and a Little Horsin’ Around

No trip to Charleston would be complete without visiting the fort where the first shots of the Civil War were fired, Fort Sumter. The fort lies at the mouth of Charleston harbor and you need to take a ferry to get there. This site is part of the National Park system so….you guessed it Jr. Ranger Program!! The day was beautiful and we had an awesome ferry ride out to the fort. (We saw dolphins!) Once there, we disembarked to explore the site. The fort visit was another nice piece of history that fit well into the narrative we have been learning since the beginning of the trip. Since we were one of the last trips of the day we got to do something really cool. Colette, Sienna and I  participated in the ceremony of lowering the fort’s flag. Since both the girls are Girl Scouts they helped bring the flag down from the pole. I jumped in (with about 20 other people) to help fold the flag. A great experience to put an exclamation point on our patriotic visit. Lennox got to see a bunch of cannons so he was psyched. We wandered around the ruins learning and having a fine sunny November day.

We decided one of the best ways to see the city would be to take a horsedrawn carriage ride. If you’ve been following our blog then you know that Sienna was out of her mind excited. We chose Palmetto Carriage Works and we had a great driver. A young man who claimed to be 16th generation Charlestonian. Given the heavy southern drawl he could pull off we believed him. We saw some old beautiful homes, let a bride and groom get some pics in the carriage and learned some quirky local history. It was a great way to see the city and we all had fun. After the tour, we walked the streets for hours and took in even more of this beautiful city.

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Trees, Food and an Unexpected Namesake Tour

Sometimes we find some strange but cool things on our journey. One such thing was a visit to one of the biggest trees on the East coast, The Angel Oak Tree. Off the beaten path a bit but well worth the visit. This tree is a big mama jamma!

Every now and again Kaite and I get a moment to ourselves. So with a babysitter watching the kiddos we headed out for some fun. I always cherish the moments when it’s just the two of us. I love my family but we need our alone time as well. We strolled the streets, did a little shopping and had a fantastic dinner at Mcgrady’s Restaurant. The restaurant was amazing. Just 22 seats and you get to watch the chefs create magnificent dishes a few feet away. This is not a cheap dinner but well worth the money for the experience and a nice night out with my love.

So after a fantastic week, it was time for us to move on to our next destination. However, I had on last stop for us. I found this location by happenstance as I was out running one day.

The McLeod Plantation. Since it bore the same name as us(though no relation that we know of) we had to go visit. The property was beautiful even though the history it embodied was heavy. As a working plantation during the time of the civil war, slavery was prevalent. There’s the main mansion and a number of smaller structures still standing. A stunning Live Oak lined road leads up to the front door. As with most plantations in the area, the original cotton crops had long since died off but they had a small area that was cultivating an ancient strain of cotton local to the area. I’ve never actually seen cotton growing, but I’ve learned so much about the negative history of its beginning, that seeing it grow kind of made the history more tangible. It’s somewhat sobering when you stop and think of what horrible atrocities were perpetrated over such a simple plant. After the war, the plantation fell on hard times and was eventually turned over to the city of Charleston.  Now it’s a historical site managed by the city of Charleston. We appreciated our visit to this plantation though I think the kids are a bit burnt out on historical visits! ” uugghh! not another history place!”  was a phrase I heard uttered in one form or another from each of the kids. As this was our final stop we loaded up the car and headed off for one of our final destinations before ending the first leg of our year on the road.

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Random Charleston Memories

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Mountain Mama – Asheville, NC

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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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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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Road Trip

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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Road Trip

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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Road Trip

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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