Washington, DC is a wonderful place to visit, and we are fortunate to live in the suburbs of this popular city. How many other towns can boast about such an amazing collection of galleries and museums with no admission fees? Over the years, we’ve learned about animals, airplanes, history, and art by visiting many of the Smithsonian museums. But we’ve also had the chance to enjoy some of the other unique museum offerings in DC. While some might not want to pay admission given all the free museums nearby, I think these 6 other museums in DC that aren’t part of the Smithsonian complex are worth considering. Many are popular with both tourists and locals for their unique exhibits, and we have enjoyed visiting them over the years. Always check online before you go, as you may find a discount for the museums that charge admission.
*This post was originally published in January, 2016 and updated January, 2024.
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We recently got back from a very relaxing family vacation on St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands, a Caribbean island filled with spectacular natural beauty. You may remember hearing that St. John was one of the islands hard hit during the devastating 2017 hurricane season. Since then, a great deal of hard work by locals and business owners has gone into bringing the island back to normal. If you aren't familiar with the island, St. John is the smallest of the 3 main islands that make up what's known as the USVI (along with St. Thomas and St. Croix), and over half of the island is protected as a part of Virgin Islands National Park. Although there are still some businesses across all 3 islands that have not reopened post-hurricane, St. John and its residents are hoping that tourism will continue to rebound, as it plays a crucial role in the island’s economy. So if you are looking for a special place to make vacation memories in the Caribbean, here are some things to know about taking a vacation on family-friendly St. John.
Growing up on the east coast, I always considered myself lucky that the ocean was just a few hours away. Like many families in the Mid-Atlantic area, our yearly ritual was taking a beach vacation to nearby Delaware, so it was easy for me to assume that the best water vacations had to be near the ocean. Then I found myself reading more and more about the many scenic lakes scattered throughout the USA. When this blog post was originally published back in 2015, I had been inspired by an article that highlighted some of the beautiful beaches on the Great Lakes. While we still haven’t taken that Great Lakes beach to beach road trip yet, over the years we’ve had the chance to explore a few other lakes. Here’s five places to consider for a summer lake vacation, including a few accessible by car from the DC area, and some that are still on my USA travel bucket list!
*This post was originally published in April, 2015; updated May, 2022 
Head east, less than 40 miles from DC, and you will find the charming town of Annapolis, Maryland. On warm, sunny days, locals and tourists alike fill the streets of this capital city, relaxing by City Dock and enjoying the small town ambiance. Filled with history, boats of every shape and size, and some of the best seafood in the area, there are plenty of things to do during a visit to Annapolis. But there is no easier way to get to know the city than to take a tour with a local guide. Keep reading to learn more about the Original Annapolis Seafood Crawl before you plan a visit to Annapolis.
If the first thought that comes to mind when road trip planning is where to begin, then you are not alone. Over the years, we have taken several longer family road trips, along with many shorter ones, and initially the planning was overwhelming. With so many cool places to visit in the USA, it’s hard to even know where to begin. Now with many miles under our belts, I can say that we definitely learned a few tricks along the way. Here’s 5 tips to use for planning your next family road trip.
*This post was originally published in 2015 and updated in 2024 
If I told you that winter is a perfect time of year to visit Virginia Beach, you might wonder why you would want to visit any beach during the winter that’s not in Florida or the Caribbean. Well for one, you might be surprised to find out that Virginia Beach is a popular place along the east coast for winter whale watching, as many humpback whales journey up the coast between the months of December and February. Besides whale watching, visitors can take advantage of the often mild winter temperatures and enjoy some of the natural beauty that Virginia Beach has to offer without the summer crowds. We were fortunate that during our recent January visit, we had a perfect blue sky day with temperatures in the upper 40’s. Read on to hear why I think it’s worth exploring Virginia Beach during the winter months.
As the new year begins and the coldest winter months set in, many of us will start daydreaming about a warm weekend escape. I don’t know about you, but a winter getaway to a destination like Arizona or Florida when it’s not 100 degrees in the shade sounds pretty appealing to me. So whether you need a short break from frigid temperatures, or just a quick recharge from everyday life, here’s 5 suggestions of places known for mild winter weather along with some ideas for things to do during a long weekend getaway.
*This post was updated January, 2024  When I think of covered bridges, New England often comes to mind. I picture a bright red wooden bridge against a backdrop of fiery orange and red leaves. After seeing a Maryland covered bridge photo recently on social media, I was pleasantly surprised to find out that the Maryland tourism office spotlights 6 historic bridges scattered throughout the state. Surprisingly, 3 of the covered bridges are located in Frederick County, Maryland, about 60 miles from downtown DC. With the timing of peak fall leaf color a bit inconsistent this year, we took advantage of a recent blue sky fall weekend to a check out the covered bridges. Although the trees had already shed some of their leaves, there were still plenty of photo opportunities with the bridges and surrounding area. The Frederick County location also happens to be close to popular Cunningham Falls State Park, which is a perfect place for a waterfall hike in any season. Keep reading to see some of my favorite photos from our day trip to see the a few of Maryland’s covered bridges plus the nearby Cunningham Falls.
Stepping into the wilderness, whether for one night or a month long adventure, opens up a world of new experiences. I’ll be the first to admit that, while I enjoy a good hike, I’m just not a sleep in the wilderness kind of person. My husband, on the other hand, recently returned from what has become his annual backpacking adventure with the guys, this time in North Cascades National Park in scenic Washington. Keep reading to see a few of his photos from this beautiful area. He’s been backpacking on and off for over 40 years, and has many wonderful memories of time spent in the wilderness. The peace of hiking in relative solitude, the joy of finding a pristine mountain lake, or the calm of watching a spectacular sunset or night sky are just some of the reasons he loves to head off into the backcountry. Whether you go with a hiking buddy or off for a family adventure, proper planning and preparation can go a long way to minimizing the challenges you are sure to find along the way. My husband has traveled with both kids and adults over the years, and offers these 5 backpacking tips along with some gear suggestions for beginner backpacking.
*This post was updated April, 2023 
When is the last time you took a road trip? Over the summer I decided that it was finally time to take a road trip to Niagara Falls, a 7 ½ hour drive primarily through Pennsylvania and into western New York. The trip was somewhat of a last minute idea with my youngest daughter, and I knew that it would also be a great opportunity to explore some new places along the way. With the help of the Roadtrippers trip planning tool, I was able to easily find several cool attractions including two state parks to explore and help break up our drive on both legs of the trip. We didn’t have time to check out everything that was on my list, but we did enjoy these 4 interesting places to stop on the way from the Northern Virginia area to Niagara Falls. And if you are looking for road trip itineraries and tips, check out other posts, including 5 Delicious Stops on the Road in Coastal Connecticut.
*This post was updated September, 2024 |
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