The Smithsonian offers eleven museums and galleries on the National Mall and six other museums and the National Zoo in the Washington, DC area. The iconic — and original — Smithsonian building, known as the Castle, is a helpful information center — and therefore should be your first stop if you’re new to the Smithsonian […]
Eastern State Penitentiary Photo Safari
Refining the revolutionary system of separate incarceration first pioneered at the Walnut Street Jail, Eastern State Penitentiary emphasized principles of reform rather than punishment and was operational from 1829 to 1971. Eastern State finally closed its doors in 1971, after 142 years in use, and has since been named a National Historic Landmark. The former […]
Boal Mansion and Columbus Chapel
What’s an authentic medieval European chapel doing in the middle of Pennsylvania? You’ll have to daytrip to the Boal Mansion, in Boalsburg, to find out! The Boal Estate has been the Boal family home for more than 200 years. During a tour, you learn the story of America as seen through eight generations of one […]
Fort Monroe’s Casemate Museum
Fort Monroe, the largest stone fort in America, is a decommissioned military installation in Hampton, VA on Old Point Comfort, the southern tip of the Virginia Peninsula. For at least 400 years, the point of land that now includes Fort Monroe has served as the key defensive site at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay. […]
Making Soap and Keeping Clean
In York on Beaver Street there’s the home of the Sunrise Soap Company. More than a boutique, it’s a factory. And of course, it’s more than a factory, it’s also a day trip destination in its own right, right in the heart of downtown York. As you enter you are embraced by the scents of […]
Swimming in History on the Miss Hampton II Harbor Tour
A great way to introduce yourself to the Hampton Roads area is to take a harbor tour out of historic downtown Hampton, VA, on the Miss Hampton II. Hampton is swimming in history, which the harbor tour brings to life. Four hundred years of European settlement is highlighted, from the earliest arrival of European ships […]
Biking on the David Ammerman Trail
As a first biking trip after a long winter of cold, snowy or rainy and dreary weather, hitting the David Ammerman Trail was a delight. Once known as the Clearfield and Grampian Trail, in 2011, the name was changed to the David S. Ammerman Trail, honoring the man who championed turning the abandoned rail corridor […]
Killens Pond State Park
Killens Pond State Park, established in 1965, was the first state park in Kent County. In addition to its central location, the park’s attractions such as year-round camping, the Killens Pond Water Park, disc golf course and ball fields make Killens Pond a popular travel destination. The centerpiece of the park is the 66-acre millpond, […]
From Boutiques to Antiques in York PA
There are a number of interesting boutiques, from Redeux Market, an antiques and collectibles store, to Memory Lane Sweets, a candy store specializing in nostalgic candies. Although not technically a boutique but continuing the theme of harking back to earlier, simpler times, is Timeline Arcade, which specializes in arcade games of the preceding decades. There […]
A Month of Summer Daytrips for Kids
It’s that time again — when school ends for the year and kids cheer and parents groan (just a little, because, you know, we really love our kids). If you’re looking for some great ideas for day trips with your little cherubs — the kind of daytrips that will keep their imaginations active and expand […]
Lovely Discoveries at the “New” Penn State Arboretum
The only constant is change, and that’s never more apparent than when you revisit a place you lived and loved for four years. I graduated from Penn State 30 years ago, and although the bones are all still there, new buildings and new features jar the walk down memory lane. The field hockey fields and […]
Good Eats in York PA
Downtown York offers a number of interesting restaurants, from coffee shops to food markets to finer dining, with more restaurants opening. York will feed you well if you decide to explore the culinary side of York! Consider checking out some of the places below! I-ron-ic Art and Thrift Boutique and Coffee House This coffee shop […]
Kayaking the West Susqehanna River
Once the weather gets warm, it’s time to start kayaking again! For the first trip of the season, we were introduced to an 11-mile segment of the West Branch Susquehanna River, which spanns some 243 miles, almost entirely within Pennsylvania. Almost half — 102 miles — are within just one county: Clearfield County, in central […]
Milford River Walk on the Mispillion River
The mile-long Mispillion River Walk Park in Milford, DE threads its way through the heart of downtown, offering numerous recreational opportunities to both visitors and residents alike. In addition to simply being a nice place to enjoy a relaxing stroll, the River Walk has revitalized Milford’s downtown. Along this stretch of the river once were […]
Antique and Classic Cars Galore and More at Grice Museum
Beginning in March, I started a series of posts about Clearfield County, PA. This is the fifth of this series. To see others in this series, click on the label “Clearfield County” at the bottom of this post. Looking for something to do with dad? How about a visit to one of the most unique […]