When people think of visiting Philadelphia, places like Independence Hall and the Philadelphia Museum of Art come to mind. But did you know that one of Tripadvisor’s top attractions in Philadelphia is a prison? Not just any prison, but the historic, fortress-like Eastern State Penitentiary. Located in the Fairmount neighborhood, it’s just a short 5 or 6 blocks from the famous Philadelphia Museum of Art. My daughter and I decided to visit Eastern State during our recent road trip to Philadelphia. Please note, it’s not recommended for kids under the age of 7. Admission includes a free audio tour, best for ages 12 and up. Here's 3 reasons why you should consider taking a tour, and why I included it in Unique Philadelphia - 5 Places to Add to Your List. Plus it's definitely a fun thing to do with teens in Philadelphia.
*This post was updated December, 2021
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Thinking about our travels through Washington and Oregon brings back so many special family memories. It was an area of the country my husband and I were eager to explore, even though it was not considered a hot vacation destination from the DC area. I planned an 1,800 mile loop from Seattle that was balanced between National Parks, big cities and small town attractions, with extra days spent in Seattle and Portland. It was easy to find awesome attractions that were unique to this part of the country, along with special activities that I knew would appeal to my kids. Here are 10 favorites in Washington and Oregon that are perfect for teens and tweens.
*This post was updated January, 2024  Amidst the dozens of museums in DC, you’ll find the National Geographic Museum quietly tucked away on 17th and M Street, NW. The museum hosts a wide array of traveling exhibits and live events, and when I heard an advertisement on the radio for Indiana Jones and the Adventure of Archaeology, I knew I had to take my family and go. I was excited to see how National Geographic would bring to life the popular movie series, so we headed into DC one recent afternoon. For all you Hollywood fans, explorers and adventurers, here are several reasons to check out this unique exhibit, and unleash your inner Indiana Jones.
 Is a houseboat vacation rental on your family travel bucket list? Houseboating was always something that caught my attention, with dreams of relaxing on the water and watching the sunset from the boat deck. In Virginia, there’s no better place for houseboating than beautiful Smith Mountain Lake. Often called the “Jewel of the Blue Ridge,” Smith Mountain Lake has over 500 miles of shoreline, and combines the best of lake life with the scenic backdrop of the Blue Ridge mountains. It’s the ultimate family bonding experience when you are all together on a 39’ boat for a few days! Here’s what I discovered during our 3-day houseboating adventure on Smith Mountain Lake, including 6 helpful tips for first-time houseboaters.
*This post was updated April, 2023  Summer is in full swing and as the days get hotter, it’s a wonderful time to visit what I consider to be some of DC’s most interesting attractions. As a bonus, they are all inside, so its perfect for those dog days of summer. Although the city is filled with the fabulous and free Smithsonian complex of museums, I think these three gems are worth the price of admission.
 I recently took my teenage daughter on a short mother/daughter road trip, stopping in Philadelphia and New York City. Since I hadn’t been a tourist in Philadelphia for many years, I thought it would be fun to take a group tour of this historic city. I was searching for something that would give us an up close look at all the wonderful sites Philadelphia has offer, while keeping a teenager engaged. After doing some quick research on the internet, I was able to book a “History in HD” tour with Urban Adventures. Here are 5 reasons you should consider an Urban Adventure tour on your next trip to Philly.
 Everyone knows that DC is a popular tourist town, filled with history and wonderful free museums. When the weather is nice, there are more options for outdoor enthusiasts or tourists looking for something a bit more adventurous. Next time you visit DC, consider adding one of these fun, outdoor activities for a different perspective of our nation’s capital.
*This post was updated April, 2021  The official start of winter is just around the corner, and there is no telling what Mother Nature has in store. But if you love winter activities like skiing and snowboarding and live in the Mid-Atlantic region of the country, there are a surprising number of family-friendly ski resorts within a 3-4.5 hour drive of the DC area. The mountains may not be as tall as the Rocky Mountains, and most operate with some combination of natural and man-made snow, but know that many of these places also offer other activities such as snow-tubing, ice skating, snowshoeing, and indoor swimming. When winter is in full force and the snow starts to fall, check out these five family-friendly places to ski within driving distance from DC, Maryland, and Virginia.
*This post was updated for the 24-25 ski season  My daughters and I are big fans of the movie “Titanic,” so of course when our family ended up renting a cabin in the mountains just outside of Pigeon Forge this summer, we had to visit the Titanic Museum. I ordered tickets by phone, and was able to purchase a family pass, which was a great price deal for a family of 5. Upon arrival at our scheduled “boarding time,” we were handed a boarding pass and took turns sharing our new passenger identities. We varied from 1st and 2nd class passengers to a quartermaster who was behind the wheel when the iceberg was spotted on that fateful night. The museum had over 20 galleries, with many interactive exhibits to help tell the story.
 Who would have guessed that the highlight of my summer was zip lining almost half a mile across a valley about 275 feet above the ground with nothing but air and mountain views around me. This is probably one of the most fun family outings we have taken on vacation, and I would highly recommend adding this to a family bucket list. We were at Wears Valley Zipline Adventures in the mountains of Tennessee not too far from Pigeon Forge and the Great Smoky Mountains. The original course has 4 lines that run over 3100 feet, and for many people, that is plenty. But it is the last 3 lines they recently added that are the most amazing, with some of the longest and highest in the region. Also, the guides were super friendly and helpful, and always there with encouraging words, especially for those of us who had never zip lined before. You can purchase a combo ticket which also included whitewater rafting, which we also did the day prior to zip lining. Tickets are a bit pricey but it was definitely worth it for creating some wonderful family memories.
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