Category: Travel

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A Christmas Visit to Savannah

Posted on by Joy

Last year, we spent a few days in Savannah, Georgia, between Christmas and New Year’s Day. My husband and I had visited many years ago and loved it then, so we decided it would be fun to take the kids. Savannah is the perfect winter getaway for us because it’s an easy, two-hour drive from Charleston and doesn’t require any winter clothing! It’s a charming city with a rich history, a vibrant art scene, and a taste for deliciously innovative restaurants. Day One: Saturday When we arrived in Savannah, we began at Forsyth Park so we could check out the Read more…

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Four-Day Family-Friendly Washington D.C. Itinerary

Posted on by Joy

For spring break, we decided to take our kids to Washington D.C. for the first time. We stayed in an Airbnb (another first for us) in Columbia Heights and used the Metro to get around the city. We packed four days with incredible sites, fascinating museums, and plenty of delicious food! (Note: The itinerary below was our planned itinerary, but we actually swapped Day One and Day Four due to weather concerns.) Day One We began with breakfast at The Coupe in Columbia Heights. I had their Coconut French Toast with a vanilla latte and it was heavenly! Then we Read more…

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Charleston Visitors Guide

Posted on by Joy

Welcome to Charleston, South Carolina! Here in the lowcountry, we truly have something for everyone. In my family, we have four distinct viewpoints on what vacation should look like, but we all enjoy the Charleston area (so much that we choose to call it home). When I’m in a new city, I like to hit the streets, see the sights, and take in the culture. My oldest son likes to learn about the area’s history, while my youngest enjoys kid-friendly outdoor activities. My husband just wants directions to the nearest golf course! Below is a list of our favorite lowcountry Read more…

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Adirondack Vacation: The Wild Center

Posted on by Joy

Every summer, our family vacations in the Adirondack Mountains of New York. We enjoy hiking, kayaking, and exploring quiet towns nestled around cool, blue lakes that reflect the splendor of the mountains. This year, we ventured from our home base for a few day trips, including whitewater rafting, the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, and The Wild Center in Tupper Lake. The Wild Center is a museum with both indoor and outdoor exhibits, including their famous Wild Walk, an elevated trail among the treetops. The trail allows you to see nature from a new perspective as if you were Read more…

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A Family Weekend in Boston

Posted on by Joy

I was thrilled to visit Boston with my family this summer because this city has it all – incredible sights, friendly people, and delicious food. We focused our itinerary on Boston’s North End and the surrounding historic sites, because my 6th-grader is a huge history buff, and I never wanted to be more than a few blocks from an Italian bakery. Priorities, right? On our way into the city on Thursday afternoon, we stopped for a quick tour of Fenway Park. We didn’t have time to see a game on this trip, but if we could go back for one, Read more…

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Visiting Kennedy Space Center

Posted on by Joy

Ever since I was a kid, I’ve wanted to visit Kennedy Space Center. I remember watching the space shuttle launches on TV years ago and thinking how exciting it would be to watch in person from the shores of Cape Canaveral, Florida. Now that I have two boys in elementary school, this year’s spring break seemed like the perfect time for us to go and learn about NASA’s endeavors of the past, present, and future. The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is huge. You could easily spend the whole day there and not even see every exhibit. Many of the attractions Read more…

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Ten Things To Do with Kids in Norfolk, VA

Posted on by Joy

My family called Norfolk, VA, home for six years and we loved it! I’m so glad we lived there during our kids’ preschool and early elementary years. There are so many fun things to do with kids in and around Norfolk. Here are a few of my favorites: The Virginia Zoo & Lafayette Park – Norfolk, VA Tigers, elephants, kangaroos, and much, much more! The zoo also has a farm animal area and reptile building. Children love to ride the zoo’s Norfolk Southern Express. (The train ride is an additional $2.00 per person.) In the summer, kids can play on Read more…

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Three Days in Charlotte with the Kids

Posted on by Joy

One of the things I love about living in Charleston is its proximity to several other amazing southern cities. Charlotte, NC, is a place our family loves to visit. With a population of nearly 850,000, Charlotte is a large city with many neighborhoods to discover. We like to stay at a hotel south of downtown, near Myers Park and the SouthPark Mall. (I might be known to sneak off to the mall by myself in the evening.) I recently planned this three-day itinerary that’s full of fun activities for the whole family. Day One: The Billy Graham Library is an Read more…

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Three Charleston Art Galleries for Finding Local Art

Posted on by Joy

One of my favorite things to do in Charleston is stroll through the many impressive art galleries. Charleston’s vibrant and diverse art scene rivals those of much larger cities. If you’re visiting the holy city, taking a piece of local art home is a great way to remember your time in the lowcountry. If you’re not an experienced art collector, some of the Charleston art galleries can be a bit intimidating (not to mention expensive), so let me tell you about three places where you’ll find friendly artists and beautiful local art. These are all within easy walking distance of Read more…

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A Fun Family Weekend in Gatlinburg

Posted on by Joy

I’ve wanted to visit Gatlinburg, Tennessee, for years. I decided the kids’ fall break would be the perfect time to go. Living in Charleston has many charms, but fall foliage just isn’t one of them. I grew up in New England, so I really miss the foliage, and hoped to show my kids what the trees look like dressed in orange, yellow, and red. Due to an unusually hot October in the southeast, we didn’t see quite as much color as I’d hoped, but the scenery was splendid nonetheless. For this trip, we decided to skip most of the typical Read more…