 Have you ever considered an e-bike tour? When I saw a social media post for the Shenandoah Valley Winery Tour with Burg E-Bike Tours, I knew it would be a fun place to take my first e-bike ride. I had never ridden an electric bike, so what better place to start than Shenandoah County on a warm October day? It might even get me closer to my dream of going on an e-bike tour in Europe, lazily pedaling through the beautiful countryside. We hit the road for our Sunday afternoon tour, driving 80 miles from Northern Virginia to Edinburg, Virginia, at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Come along for the ride as we take you on a Shenandoah Valley Winery Tour!
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Why do you travel? There are so many ways people answer this question—to relax with family and friends, enjoy natural wonders, dive into history and architecture, try traditional foods, and experience the local culture in small towns and big cities. More and more, we find ourselves seeking guided tours, whether on a day trip, weekend getaway, or family vacation. How do you know if you should book a tour or try the “do-it-yourself” method? Based on our experiences, here is a short list of benefits and drawbacks to consider, along with tips that might come in handy before you book a guided tour.
It’s been a few years since I wrote 5 Cities in the USA with Fascinating Street Art. Since then I’ve embraced the chance to search for interesting murals in cities all around the country, with 3 more cities standing out for their sheer volume of art—Philadelphia, Denver, and Long Beach. While searching for street art may not be the first thing you think of when visiting a place like Philadelphia or Denver, it’s worth planning time to see the amazing works of art scattered throughout these cities. And, year after year, week-long festivals have brought new murals to Long Beach, California. Artists are being commissioned in each of these cities as part of larger art initiatives to not only revitalize neighborhoods but to share messages of hope or detail the history of a community. Here are more details of what to expect when it comes to street art in these 3 cities. You can make your own decision about which city should be crowned the mural capital of the USA!
Alaska is a big place and certainly overwhelming when planning a first visit. When we started putting together our first, big empty-nester Alaska trip back in late 2019, I decided to reach out to Alaska Tour & Travel for assistance. It made sense to turn to a local company to put together our Alaska vacation package given the vast size of the state. The trip was all mapped out by January 2020, before travel came to a screeching halt. Fast forward to August 2022, and we finally got to take our Alaska trip. It was an amazing 10-day adventure that began and ended in Anchorage and included Seward, Kenai Fjords National Park, and Talkeetna in Southcentral, Alaska, and Denali National Park in the Interior region. I am confident this trip will be the first of several to see more of Alaska.
 When you visit Joshua Tree National Park, you’ll find more than just hiking, rock climbing, star gazing, and viewing the iconic Joshua trees. The park is home to Keys Ranch, a place where you feel like you have stepped back in time, surrounded by artifacts from an old movie set in the middle of the desert. In fact, since 1975, this spot in Joshua Tree National Park has been listed on the National Historic Register. The artifacts at Keys Ranch set the scene for a story of grit and determination of Bill Keys and his family. I wasn’t sure initially if this 90 minute ranger-led tour would fit in with our two day itinerary for Joshua Tree National Park, but it was actually a nice break after a few hikes in the morning and lunch. Here’s 3 reasons to book the Keys Ranch Tour on your visit to Joshua Tree National Park, plus a few favorite photos.
 Have you ever considered taking a cooking class while on vacation? While making a meal with the locals in a picturesque town in Italy is still on my bucket list, I hadn’t really thought about it when we were planning our November trip to New Orleans. It was hard enough trying to decide where to eat, with so many amazing restaurants to choose from. In a place where the local cuisine has made a name for itself, taking a class at the New Orleans School of Cooking was the perfect way to learn the history behind some of the city’s iconic dishes. Each class combines the hospitality and history of New Orleans cuisine in a fun and engaging way. Chef instructors guide you through the steps for classic dishes like Crawfish Étouffée, Jambalaya, and Bread Pudding, weaving in the layers of global influence to the local cuisine and culture. So as you make your list of things to do in New Orleans, don’t miss adding a cooking class at the New Orleans School of Cooking.
One of the best things about living in the suburbs of Washington, DC is the ability to make repeat visits to the stirring memorials and monuments around the National Mall. If you have ever walked the path at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial or read the 24 bronze panels on the World War II Memorial, you can understand how design elements play a powerful role in evoking emotions and sharing history. It is this same sense of reverence that you feel upon approach to the beach tableau that is part of the 88 acre National D-Day Memorial in Bedford, Virginia. The memorial was brought to life based on the vision of D-Day Veteran, John Robert “Bob” Slaughter. Just 19 years old when he stepped foot on the beach as part of the D-Day Allied invasion during World War II, he had the opportunity to return to Normandy several times over the years. In 1989, he began working with other veterans to fulfill his vision of creating a memorial to honor those who did not make it off the beaches June 6, 1944. The National D-Day Memorial in Bedford, Virginia was officially opened and dedicated by President George W. Bush on June 6, 2001.
*This post was updated June, 2024 
Did you know that there is a place in Washington DC where you can find incredible stained glass windows, Gothic architecture, and intricately carved gargoyles? Just a few miles up the road from the popular National Mall and museums sits the massive Washington National Cathedral. Not far from the Smithsonian’s National Zoo, the cathedral, considered to be the 6th largest in the world, is an amazing place to tour. Visitors can spend time searching for gargoyles and grotesques
around the exterior of the cathedral, then explore details of the magnificent stained glass windows and beautiful chapels. If you are lucky, you might hear the ringing of the bells. These photos will allow you to experience some of its beauty and interesting features we found on the Behind the Scenes Tour and hopefully inspire a visit. Read on to see what else we learned during our guided tour at Washington National Cathedral, and see why the Washington National Cathedral is included in our 20 Things to Add to Your Washington DC Bucket List. 
Is it just me, or does February often feel like the longest month of the year? No matter the month, a day trip is a great way to take a break from the daily routine. Recently we decided to take advantage of the unseasonably warm winter weather and make the drive to Richmond, Virginia. It’s just over 100 miles from the DC area—roughly a two hour drive on a weekend. The city is a funky combination of history, art, and a thriving food and beer scene. Then top if off with miles of hiking and biking trails, the 100 acre family-friendly Maymont, and seasonal water activities on the James River. With that in mind, my husband and I had simple goals for our recent day trip to Richmond—try a few new restaurants, find unique street art, and take advantage of a sunny, winter day to connect to nature. To make the most of our day trip to Richmond, we started with breakfast, strolled the nearby neighborhood for street art, explored the grounds at Maymont, took a 3 hour food tour in Carytown, and found more street art. By the time we left the city around 6:30 p.m., our stomachs were full and we managed to log around 18,000 steps!
I recently got back from a fall girls trip to the Seattle area. It had been quite a few years since our Pacific Northwest family road trip, so I was excited when my friend invited me to tag along on her visit to see family in the area. We stayed in a house on the water in Bremerton, with amazing views of Mount Rainier. Given what I knew about Seattle weather, I was prepared for cold, rainy weather. It was definitely a pleasant surprise to have sunshine the entire time! Our plans included my friend sharing a few of her favorite places around Seattle and Bainbridge Island, along with a food tour at Pike Place market. We took advantage of both the Bremerton and Bainbridge Island ferries to get back and forth to Seattle on foot. Read on to learn about 4 fun things to do in the Seattle area and bookmark this page for your next visit to Seattle.
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