The Old City Cemetery is a historic cemetery in Lynchburg, Virginia. It is the oldest municipal cemetery still in use today in the state of Virginia, and one of the oldest such burial grounds in the United States. Between 15 and 20 thousand individuals are thought to be interred in Old City Cemetery. Unusual for […]
Year: 2020
Five Little Known Must-See Civil War Battle Sites
The midAtlantic states offer a plethora of great Civil War battlefields and sites to explore, from the obscure (Balls Bluff) to the famous Gettysburg, Manassas and Antietam national battlefields. Although many of these battlefields’ visitors centers are currently closed due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the need for social distancing, add these to your […]
Gadsby’s Tavern, a Gathering Place for our Nation’s Rich and Famous
Gadsby’s Tavern was a central part of the social, economic, political and educational life of Alexandria between 1785 and the mid-1800s. Here, the likes of George Washington, the Lee family, Dolly Madison, and Thomas Jefferson conversed, dined, and danced. Founded in 1785, Gadsby’s Tavern consisted of two buildings — the older tavern building and the […]
12 Urban Oases To Escape To!
When the urban jungle becomes too much for us, we naturally seek an oasis of peace and calm amidst the asphalt and pandemonium. I’ve found twelve surprising urban oases offering us the promise of lovely vistas, green relief, or a pleasant walk. These are all near or in major cities in the mid-Atlantic region: Pittsburgh, […]
Boating up the Broadkill River
The Broadkill River flows for its entire length in eastern Sussex County, DE. From Milton, the Broadkill River flows generally eastward, although it snakes through the landscape with lazy S curves that change the view constantly. The river passes through the wetlands and salt marshes of the Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge and skirts the […]
Three Great Hikes in Patapsco Valley State Park
Some of these hikes are really popular — so social distancing might be a bit difficult. But if you haven’t been on these hikes, these are three good ones to add to your bucket list! Patapsco Valley State Park extends along 32 miles of the Patapsco River, encompassing 16,043 acres and eight developed recreational areas. […]
Roar with the Wild Ones at Salisbury Zoo
If you’re looking for a few hours of fun or something fun to do with your kid, check out the Salisbury Zoo! Situated along a tributary to the Wicomico River, the 12-acre zoo focuses on species native to the Americas and Australia. You can see bison, Amazon macaws, white-tail deer, greater rhea, alpaca, black-tailed prairie […]
Release Your Inner Pirate Aboard Urban Pirates Cruise around Baltimore’s Inner Harbor!
There is so much to do in Baltimore for kids — from the serious (touring Fort McHenry) to the almost ridiculous (Ripley’s Believe It or Not Odditorium) — and Urban Pirates fits in, more in the latter category, offering an hour of crazy fun for families. Think Pirates of the Caribbean rather than Blackbeard — […]
Lazy L at Willow Creek — A Relaxing, Dog-Friendly Retreat
Options are limited when you travel with your pooch, but one incredible bed and breakfast inn in Lewes, DE, provides both a relaxing retreat and a hearty welcome for your four-legged best friend. Many bed and breakfasts will welcome well-behaved dogs to just one room of theirs. The Lazy L at Willow Creek welcomes dogs […]
Scotchtown: An Exploration of Patrick Henry’s Revolutionary Values
There aren’t many places you can go that are so closely associated with Patrick Henry, patriot, revolutionary, first governor of Virginia, and noted orator, but Scotchtown is one of them. He lived there with his wife Sarah, and their children. He trod these floors. (I’m always fascinated by such proximity to historical legends.) Although he […]
Travel the World with Live Cams — When You Can’t Go Yourself
Daytripping in a time of social distancing might be best done virtually. That doesn’t mean you can’t explore this great world. It just means that for a few weeks (or months), you should consider exploring it through your computer. Technology allows us to visit museums, see performances online, and peak into the private world of […]
Discovering an American Hero at the Clara Barton National Historic Site
So many ways to consider Clara Barton: a teacher, a nurse, a daughter, a sister, a patent clerk, an average woman whose vision of care and compassion led her to became a great humanitarian and hero, who founded the American Red Cross, but only after she spent years caring for Americans on both sides of […]
Discovering the Beauty of Nature at the Ward Museum of Wildfowl
Red-Breasted Merganser Pair, date unknown, A. Elmer Crowell, East Harwich, MA The story of how the Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art got started is really cool, actually, and started with two brothers, who began carving in their childhood in the early 1900s. Flying Canvasback Pair, 1963, Lem Ward, Crisfield, MD Lemuel T. Ward (1897–1984) and […]
Missing Soldiers Office: Clara Barton’s Mission in Washington DC
The Clara Barton Missing Soldier Office Museum all started with a ghostly tap on the shoulder in 1996. Clara Barton was an amazing woman, and the more I learn about her, the more impressed I am. She is most well known for founding the America Red Cross, but she devoted most of her adult life […]
Murder Mystery Aboard the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad
It was a dinner and the “Late, Late, Late Show” while riding our favorite scenic railroad through the mountains of Western Maryland, filled with comedic improvisation and interactive murder mystery fun! The conductor welcomes us aboard. We were seated at our table in one of the two “heritage” dining cars for the evening’s journey. The performance […]