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 […]
heritage tourism
Biking in White Haven and Wicomico County
We were staying at the Whitehaven Hotel, a bed and breakfast inn in the sleepy village of Whitehaven, on the banks of the Wicomico River. The land is flat in and around Whitehaven, the roads surrounded by farm fields and marsh flats. In such a rural place, there’re few vehicles and the drivers all courteous, […]
Ghost Hunting in York PA
York Ghost Tours offer 12-hour ghost hunts across three locations: the speakeasy, an abandoned morgue, and a row-house on Princess Street. Or, you can opt to form a small group of your own and go on a 24-hour ghost hunt at the Princess Street location. We’ve already decided we’ll be returning to Princess Street for […]
Lynchburg’s Link to the Harlem Renaissance: The Anne Spencer House
There is a house on Pierce Street in Lynchburg. A two-story modified Queen Anne style shingle residence, it’s cute, but like most middle-class homes, not a home you’d look at more than once, if passing along the street. What makes this house so cool, and worth your second and third glance, is that Anne Bethel […]
Discover Baltimore with the MidAtlantic DayTrip 24-in-24 Challenge
While so many travel articles recommend seeing a place like a native, I’ve always believed we should see a place like a tourist, filled with interest for the wonders that surround us. Baltimore can be a fun city that offers a lot to see and do for natives and tourists alike — there’s a lot […]
Rooms and What a View! at the Iris Inn Bed and Breakfast
The Iris Inn, in Waynesboro,VA, is a low-key gem of a bed and breakfast inn offering travelers plenty of places to hang out and simply enjoy the views of the Blueridge Mountains — it’s a place to relax and unwind after a busy day of sight-seeing, or just because! The inn offers individual rooms in […]
A Home for Brave Ideas — Lincoln’s Summer Cottage
The tour of the Lincoln Summer Cottage is more than a house tour, although you do see the dining room, the parlor, the Lincoln’s bedroom, and such. It’s also a tour of the ideas and the space that allowed Lincoln to navigate the Civil War and lead our country through that devastating period for our […]
Hampton’s Hidden History: Examining the African American History of Hampton VA
As with many American cities (Annapolis, MD and Alexandria, VA come to mind), the history of African Americans and their community often remains hidden, unless you’re intent on trying to peel back the layers of dust and time. Hampton, VA in particular has a deep and rich history that deserves to be told. Hampton’s history […]
Gaining Insight into our Fifth POTUS at the James Monroe Museum
There’s a curious little museum in Fredericksburg dedicated to the fifth President, and the last Virginia president. James Monroe, who was born in 1758 and lived until 1831, served in the Continental Army and as a governor of Virginia; he also was a statesman, lawyer, diplomat, and Founding Father. He is perhaps best known for […]
Adventure Awaits in Clearfield County!
Gaining in popularity as a weekend getaway, Clearfield County has a lot to offer folks seeking lovely scenery and outdoor adventures such as hiking, biking and kayaking. There’s also an historic car museum, local wineries, and plenty of places to enjoy some tasty meals. There’s more to do than meets the eye in Clearfield County, […]
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 […]
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 […]
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, […]
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 […]
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 […]