Most visitors to Virginia Beach visit over the summer for fun in the sun—lazy days on the beach listening to the crashing waves of the Atlantic Ocean or enjoying the calm waters of the Chesapeake Bay. The end of the day is time to enjoy a seafood dinner, a drink by the ocean, or a stroll along the three miles of boardwalk. While summer is the most popular season for this family-friendly beach destination in Virginia, moderate temperatures make it a great place to visit year-round. And no matter the season, when you are ready for a dose of nature head to First Landing State Park or the Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Between the two places, visitors will find wooded trails for hiking, seasonal camping options, and acres of preserve to connect with nature and wildlife. We had a chance to explore both First Landing State Park and Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge on a chilly weekend in February. Here are some things we learned to help plan your visit.
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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.
 Traveling by RV or van provides a kind of freedom that you won't get when driving by car. It offers the flexibility to stop and relax, with room to spread out, prepare a meal, or nap. But one question always lingers - where should I sleep at night? Campgrounds and RV parks are great options, with electric, water & sewage hookups, bathhouses, amenities, and opportunities to socialize with like-minded travelers. With more folks hitting the road with campers or RVs, it is often harder to find an overnight spot if you don't reserve in advance. Enter Harvest Hosts, an RV Camping Membership organization boasting locations at over 5,200 U.S. places, including wineries, breweries, farms, and more. With the addition of a fully outfitted and well-traveled Ford Transit van to our family, joining Harvest Hosts for the year seemed like a good idea. It opens up access to a host of unique, private places to spend the night from coast to coast. With 8 stays over the course of the first year, here are a few things to know based on our experiences traveling with a Class B sprinter-type vehicle.
The holiday season is fast approaching, and for many, it’s the time to start brainstorming about the best gifts for family and friends that won’t break the bank. Over the years, I’ve been making notes about items that would make great gifts to inspire travel for family members of all ages, or items that we have used on vacation. The gift guide includes books to inspire new adventures and exploration, practical items like packing cubes and totes we rely on when packing, a few ideas to keep the outdoor adventurer safe and warm, and games to throw in the car for road trips or family game nights. I’ve also included a few familyTravelsUSA custom-designed items inspired by places we have visited. Keep reading to find holiday gift ideas for travelers of all ages.
Have you been to Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley? It’s a beautiful part of Virginia for outdoor activities, roughly 150 miles long with mountains, national forests, quaint small towns, the Shenandoah River, state parks, and Shenandoah National Park. The national park has miles of hiking trails and dozens of scenic overlooks with far-reaching mountain views. During the warmer months, the Shenandoah River is a place for water adventures. Spend a lazy afternoon floating in a tube, or even explore the river by canoe or kayak. Fall brings colorful foliage for miles along Skyline Drive. Less than 2 hours from Northern Virginia, Shenandoah Valley is a great day or overnight destination. It was also the perfect place for my first overnight adventure in the latest addition to our family, a self-contained camper van.
The weather is turning colder, and ready or not, holiday music will soon be in the air. If you are looking for festive fun, Washington DC in December offers activities ranging from traditional holiday shows to outdoor shopping and seasonal displays. With temperatures generally in the 40’s and 50’s, it’s good weather for the many outdoor December events in DC, including holiday markets and the outdoor train exhibit at the United States Botanic Garden. For those who prefer to be warm and cozy, keep reading to explore indoor options for holiday fun. I have included a mix of free and ticketed events with this list of six ways to experience the holidays in Washington, DC.
Summer doesn’t officially end until the third week of September but it seems like as soon as August is over, all thoughts turn to fall. It’s one of my favorite times to travel and not just because of the colorful fall foliage. It’s a chance to enjoy outdoor activities like biking, hiking, and city strolls minus the blazing summer sun and often with less tourists. With more and more people planning fall getaways, now is a great time to get your next weekend getaway on the calendar. Explore these 7 ideas for active fall getaways up and down the east coast. Take a mountain adventure in Virginia or North Carolina, a beach weekend in Delaware, a bike ride on Maryland’s scenic Eastern Shore, discover waterfalls and wineries in New York, or explore cities like Washington, DC and Charleston, South Carolina. Read on for details.
It’s hard to describe the grandeur and beauty of Colorado’s Rocky Mountain National Park. Snow-capped mountain peaks, meadows, tundra, wildlife, and beautiful alpine lakes can be found within the over 265,000 acres that make up the park. Once you arrive, you will understand why this park typically ranks in the top five national parks for visitation, with well over 4 million visitors a year. We recently spent a few days enjoying the park as part of a Colorado family vacation. This gave us time to hike to beautiful alpine lakes, drive parts of Trail Ridge Road, and search for wildlife. You can see our three-day Rocky Mountain National Park Itinerary below to get a better sense of how we planned our days in the park.
When you think of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, you probably imagine it's all about the well-known Battle of Gettysburg and the Gettysburg Address. And rightly so, as Gettysburg National Military Park sees over one million visitors a year. Tours have blossomed in the area, expanding access to historical sites by car, foot, bike, segway, and horseback. But in addition to all the history, this vibrant small town is home to a growing food scene. Farm-to-table menus and historic restaurants give visitors plenty of dining choices. A favorite way to explore the local restaurant scene is via a food tour. Recently, we discovered that Savor Gettysburg Food Tours offers the perfect way to enjoy tasty foods, dished with a side of history, and something sweet for dessert!
 Have you heard of beautiful Estes Park, Colorado? Its proximity to Rocky Mountain National Park—just minutes down the road—makes it the perfect place to stay when visiting the park. Even if you don’t plan to enter Rocky Mountain National Park, there are plenty of things to do in Estes Park. Getting there from Denver is relatively easy, roughly 70 miles from downtown, and just under 90 minutes drive time. We spent four nights as part of a summer vacation in Colorado, with plenty of time to explore both downtown Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park. With an elevation of 7,522 feet in town, there are plenty of ways to enjoy the beautiful scenery no matter the season. Keep reading to learn more about what to do in Estes Park during the summer.
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