Pemberton Park is an historic park, just outside of Salisbury MD; the site of the former Pemberton Plantation, the historic house, built in 1741, still stands and is open for tours most weekends. But what really drew us to the park was the opportunity to explore its trail system, which takes you through a variety […]
Year: 2019
Shenandoah Valley 24-in-24 Challenge
There is so much to see and do in the Shenandoah Valley! The valley is bounded to the east by the Blue Ridge Mountains, to the west by the eastern front of the Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians (excluding Massanutten Mountain), to the north by the Potomac River and to the south by the James River. Within its […]
A Wintery Regatta Lights Up Frederick’s Carrol Creek All Winter!
Every year, a wintery flotilla sails through the solstice on Frederick’s Carroll Creek. This year, 18 boats, ranging from a viking boat to other brightly lit ketches, yawls, and even a three mast schooner adorn Carroll Creek between Market Street and Carroll Street. The boats were “launched” on November 23. Over the years, the regatta […]
Longwood Gardens Bedazzles Itself in Holiday Lights
At Christmas, Longwood Gardens gleefully bedazzles itself with colored lights and whimsy. Adults can become kids again and kids may simply just be, living in the moment and delighting in the wonder of it all. Whether you’re in the Conservatory or walking outside in one of the many gardens, colorful arrangements of lights and trees […]
Learn about Baltmore’s Industrial Past at the Baltimore Museum of Industry
Baltimore was never a one-industry town. If you think of Pittsburgh, you naturally think of steel. If you think Detroit, cars. But Baltimore? Think straw hats and umbrellas. And boots, space capsules, and schooners. And Linotype machines. And cigars, seaplanes, and refined sugar. And radios and sail cloth and toilets…. the list goes on. Baltimore […]
How Kids Can Science at the Maryland Science Center!
I kinda wished I was a kid again. Or had young kids again (my kids are all grown). Because the Maryland Science Center is all about kids and science and teaching kids things by simply making it fun to explore ideas and concepts. Yes, I visited the Maryland Science Center as an adult. And without […]
Where History Runs Deep — Exploring Grand Caverns
Grand Caverns, formerly known as Weyer’s Cave, is located in the central Shenandoah Valley in the town of Grottoes, VA and is America’s oldest “show cave.” Open to the public since 1806, there’s a lot of history in the cave, as former presidents and Confederate and Union soldiers have visited it over the years. Today, […]
Holiday Lights at Annmarie Sculpture Garden
Just one month of every year the Annmarie Sculpture Garden transforms into a Garden of Lights. As you stroll the quarter-mile, wheel-chair accessible (and stroller accessible) walk, you get to discover a cool light show… wild animals… a magical ocean… wintery wonderlands… aliens… and dragons. In addition, some of the sculptures are incorporated into the […]
The Simple Joy of a Christmas Train Garden
Trains and Christmas seem to go together. The first model trains appeared in 1891 and 13 years later, a group of English hobbyists began building little worlds to go along with these wonderful trains. Electric model trains appeared just before WWI, and the 1920s saw an explosion of these as toys for the wealthy. By […]
Kayaking in the Great Marsh Preserve
Just north of Lewes is an amazing place, where bird song and tranquility dominate your senses. I’m talking about the Great Marsh Preserve — 17 thousand acres of coastal wetland near the mouth of the Delaware Bay at Broadkill River. The preserve is adjacent to Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge. We visited in mid-October, after […]
Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth with a Chocolate Truffle Experience
A chocolate truffle is a type of chocolate confectionery, traditionally made with a chocolate ganache — a mixture of melted chocolate and warmed cream — cooled until firm, rolled, and coated with chocolate, cocoa powder or chopped toasted nuts, usually in a spherical, conical, or curved shape. Their name derives from their resemblance to truffles, […]
Going Wild at the Virginia Safari Park
I’ve enjoyed drive-through animal “safari” zoos several times, always delighting in seeing (and usually getting to feed) the animals. Kids will love it, but so will any but the most cynical of adults. And believe it or not, this makes a great winter daytrip! The Virginia Safari Park was no different, and cool — it’s open […]
The National Zoo Can Be Daytripped on a Budget!
Visiting the National Zoo’s 1,800 animals from 300 different species can be a great way to spend a happy day. I challenge you to visit them all! Where a trip to the National Zoo starts to break the bank is for food. So simple solution: pack a healthy picnic — there are several places where you […]
Paddling James — A Kayak Adventure on the James River
The James River begins in the Appalachian Mountains and flows 348 miles to the Chesapeake Bay, past Richmond, Williamsburg, and Jamestown — all former or present state capitals of Virginia. It’s been a river vital to the state of Virginia and remains so today. It’s easy to see why. The river is a major recreational […]
Covered Bridges Tour of Lehigh Valley
Geigers Covered Bridge There used to be thousands of covered bridges across the mid-Atlantic region and New England. Now there’s just 200 left in Pennsylvania, and just 7 in the Lehigh Valley region. The inside of Bogert’s Bridge Communities learned that they could exponentially increase the life of a bridge by covering it with a […]