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 […]
budget-friendly day trip
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 […]
Percival Island Rail Trail — Biking a Portion of the James River Heritage Rail Trail
Lynchburg offers more than 40 miles of bike and walking trails. which visit various parts of the town’s historic neighborhoods and parks. We didn’t have our bikes on this ride — the first day of a seven-day whirl-wind of daytrips, so we rented bikes — very comfortable Townies — at Bikes Unlimited, before heading off […]
Take the 24 in 24 Clearfield Challenge: Can You Do Them All?
I’ve visited Clearfield County three times now, and I’m impressed by how much there is to see and do there! From dinosaurs to cars to Civil War history, cute b&bs, some fab food, a bloody cabin, and hiking, biking and kayaking! You’ll find plenty there to keep you busy! Take the “24 in 24 Challenge,” […]
Poplar Hill Mansion
Poplar Hill Mansion is the oldest house in Salisbury. The federal-style house was built in 1795 and was home to Dr. Huston and his wife Sarah and later, the Waller family, who lived in the mansion from 1882 to 1945. The City of Salisbury has owned the property since 1974 as a house museum in […]
Largest Collection of Matisse Paintings at the Baltimore Museum of Art
Interior with Dog, Henri Matisse, 1934, oil on canvas There’s a hidden gem in Baltimore that we either take for granted or tend to overlook: the Baltimore Museum of Art (BMA). With more than 95,000 works of art, the BMA has a massive collection. Madonna Adoring the Child with Five Angels, Sandro Botticelli and Studio, […]
A Mural Surprise in Strasburg VA
More and more towns are creatively enlivening their outdoor spaces with murals — and what a wonderful trend! Strasburg VA, a sleepy but quaint town tucked into the Shenandoah Valley, about 75 miles west of Washington DC, offers eight lovely murals around town. Rich in beautiful views and history, Strasburg was founded in 1761 and was […]
Kayaking Lake Laura
Lake Laura is a mile-long, man-made lake near the border of the Virginia, West Virginia state line, in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley. The lake is surrounded by mountains, homes hidden in the trees high up on the shore. We’d intended to launch our own kayak… Literally up a creek without a paddle but […]
Losing Yourself in Lost River State Park
White Oak to Cranny Crow Overlook Hike We didn’t get lost in Lost River State Park — the trails are well marked. The White Oak Trail to Cranny Crow Overlook is a 6 mile total (out and back) trail in Lost River State Park, a lovely park that was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps […]
Battle of Fredericksburg
Innis House, which witnessed the Battle of Fredericksburg. We first noticed the signs as we drove in along River Road, adjacent to the Rappahannock River: we were traveling through the battlefield of the Battle of Fredericksburg, which was fought December 11 -15, 1862, in and around Fredericksburg. The Union forces, led by Maj. Gen. Ambrose […]
PVSP: Hiking the Cascade Falls Trail
Newt enjoyed playing in the stream. A beautiful June Sunday brought us out to a Maryland state park for an afternoon of hiking and exploring the Cascade Falls Trail, which is just a few miles away from my home in the Orange Grove Area of the Patapsco Valley State Park. In the heart of suburban […]
Biking with the Hound at Edwards Ferry
The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal (more commonly known as the C&O Canal) runs 184+ miles in Maryland, stretching from DC to Cumberland along the Potomac River, passing many points of interest. With a variety of aqueducts, lock houses, and other buildings, sweeping views of the river in many places, and an almost entirely shaded towpath, […]
Biking the Lehigh Gorge Rail-Trail
The 26-mile Lehigh Gorge Rail-Trail is a popular rail trail that winds along the Lehigh River between White Haven and Jim Thorpe, PA. A good portion of the trail brings you through the Lehigh Gorge State Park and is notable for its gorgeous mountain and river scenery as well as the numerous tumbling waterfalls. The […]
Cape Henlopen State Park
Cape Henlopen State Park offers lovely stretches of beaches, perfect for whiling away the afternoon or weekend! But if you’re like me, you start to get a bit restless after a bit, just sitting on the beach. That’s why Cape Henlopen State Park is such a great park to visit. There are bike trails, hiking […]
PVSP: Marriottsville Road to McKeldin Rapids Hike
This hike takes you along the Patapsco River, up some slight elevation gains (nothing strenuous) that offer pretty views of the river below, and then along the river to see the falls and the rapids that come just after the falls. You won’t encounter much solitude — lots of other hikers and quite a few […]