I’d read on the NY Haunted History Trail that the Laurel Grove Cemetery, in Port Jervis, was both beautiful and worth visiting. And haunted! Detail from the Cole family monument; the Cole monument is one of four rare metal (bronze, most likely) monuments within the cemetery. These are always cool monuments because they hold their […]
budget-friendly day trip
Wagner Ritter House and Garden
Part of understanding the Johnstown flood disaster is understanding how working-class families lived in and around Johnstown, PA in the late 1800s. Although many homes of the time were destroyed by the flood, what weren’t destroyed then, re-development since has destroyed. Even if you’re not interested in the Johnstown disaster, this home is fascinating because […]
Bear Town State Park — West Virginia’s Hidden Gem
Bear Town State Park is a relatively small state park in West Virginia, on the border of Pocahontas and Greenbrier counties. Its 110 acres encompass a really cool geological rock maze of deep crevices that form alleyways and rooms — all traversed by a boardwalk that leads you to cool vantage points in, among, and […]
Sojourner Truth Driving Tour
Sojourner Truth, an abolitionist and advocate for rights for women, endured slavery in New York from 1797 to 1828 when she was emancipated based on the law gradually ending slavery in New York. She lived almost her entire life in Ulster County, NY. She was a woman of determination, who pulled herself out of enslavement […]
Maryland’s Amazing Rock Maze
Get lost in Maryland’s very own rock maze! No, I’m kidding — you can’t get lost in Maryland’s rock maze, but you can definitely have a lot of fun exploring all the cracks and crevices. This short hike — not even a mile total there and back — is at first a lovely walk (slightly […]
Following in the Footsteps of a Virginia Pioneer Woman: The Ann Bailey Trail
The hike begins and ends with an outstanding view. With delight, we realized we were the only ones on the Ann Bailey Trail, which carries hikers 3 miles to a scenic view overlooking the Greenbrier River valley. This delightful trail in Watoga State Park almost guarantees you solitude as you follow an old roadbed across […]
Northern Carroll County Barn Quilt Driving Tour
This Sunflower quilt block is “set on point” on a small bank barn that dates to the mid 1800s.The owner chose this pattern because volunteer sunflowers will occasionally appear on the property. I love barns — and if you’re reading this, I bet you do too! A good barn tour will carry you through rolling […]
Blooms and Butterflies at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens
Despite its location in the heart of northern Virginian suburbs, few know about this wonderful garden oasis. Meadowlark Botanical Gardens is part botanical garden, part sculpture garden (there are a number of striking sculptures around the grounds, part arboretum. There are pretty little ponds with lotuses and waterlillies, and other water plants growing in and […]
Cranberry Glades Boardwalk, One of the Coolest Spots You’ll Encounter!
You should definitely check out the Cranberry Glades Botanical Area if you’re in Pocahontas County, WV. One of West Virginia’s largest wetlands, this 750-acre area features open bogs, with the surrounding moutains — Black, Cranberry and Kennison — creating a natural bowl. With an elevation of 3400 feet, the Glades resemble an Artic tundra, only […]
Kayaking Lake Marburg in Codorus State Park
Codorus State Park is a 3,500-acre Pennsylvania state park in southwestern York County, PA, with Lake Marburg as its center piece — and that’s where we headed to go kayaking. The waters are clear — you can see underwater grasses flourishing. The park was created around Lake Marburg, an artificial lake covering 1,275 acres, and […]
Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Site
The Walkway over the Hudson is a steel cantilever bridge spanning the Hudson River between Poughkeepsie on the east bank and Highland on the west bank. You’ll enjoy beautiful views 212 feet above the Hudson as you walk across the span. When the train bridge opened in 1889 it connected to a nationwide network of […]
Seven Fabulous Forts in the Mid-Atlantic States You Should Visit!
Everyone’s probably heard of famous Fort McHenry in Baltimore, which tells the story of the War of 1812 and is immortalized in Francis Scott Key’s “Star-Spangled Banner.” But seven other fabulous forts are worth exploring in the mid-Atlantic region: three in Maryland, and two each in Delaware and Pennsylvania. Each fort has a unique history […]
A Treasure of a Hike — the Harford Glen Loop Hike
Mysterious bridges leading over the river, waterfalls, the relaxing sound of rushing water — the Harford Glen Loop Hike has it all! Plus, with an approximate elevation gain of 800 feet, your heart will get pounding during the first half of the hike. During the second half, you get to cool down in deep shade […]
Three Budget-friendly Day Trips in Dover DE Sure to Please the Kids
An Airplane Petting Zoo Is Incredible Fun for Kids of All Ages! Even if you’re not an aviation geek, you’ll likely enjoy the Air Mobility Command Museum. This is a great place for kids and families to explore aviation history. The different shapes of the planes are impressive — a couple of them are bigger […]
Southern Carroll County Barn Quilt Driving Tour
This four patch quilt block on a bank barn in Westminster was popular in the early 1900s.This block was chosen by the farm owners to represent the soybeans and corn grown on their80 acre farm. Four generations of the Nelson family have farmed this land since the farm was established in 1868. If you love barns, […]