Glacier National Park

October 7, 2018October 7, 2018 / ontheroadtogether16 / Leave a comment

View from the boat ride across Lake Josephine

As we planned this trip, I did plenty of research to decide which places we would visit. I ordered a book about national parks, visited countless websites, and read online reviews. Glacier National Park came up repeatedly as one of the most beautiful places in the country. We debated whether or not we should add the six hour drive to make the trip from Yellowstone to northern Montana so we could explore Glacier National Park, and we finally decided that it would be worth the extra milage. And I’m SO GLAD that we did! This is how we spent our time.

Going to the Sun Road

A section of Going to the Sun Road

You can’t visit Glacier without a drive on the beautiful, winding, 50 mile Going to the Sun Road that connects the eastern and western part of the park. It crosses the Continental Divide at Logan Pass, at an altitude of 6,646 feet, and there are dozens of scenic turnouts and trail heads along the way. As we drove we saw glacial lakes, cedar forests, alpine tundra, and breathtaking vistas. Many of the parking areas fill up very early (as we discovered at 8:15 at Logan Pass one morning), but a free shuttle is available that runs continuously throughout the day. However you travel it, GTTSR cannot be missed!

Hidden Lake Overlook Trail

Hidden Lake Overlook Trail

This hike is one of the most popular trails at Glacier, and for good reason. Its just under three miles round-trip, and the views along the entire path are amazing. The hike starts at Logan Pass with a paved trail, and then transitions into a wooden boardwalk with quite a few steps. As we passed through the alpine meadows, with the mountains
looming above us, we saw small streams of glacial run-off. There were wildflowers, pika, and weasels along the way. There were even mountain goats! Once the boardwalk ended and the trail became a dirt path, we could look down to see the valley below, and Hidden Lake came into view. Such a beautiful way to spend a late afternoon in Glacier National Park.

Hike to Grinnell Glacier

: View of glacial lake from the trail

From the time that we added Glacier National Park to our summer road trip itinerary, I knew that I had to get up close to a glacier. The most highly recommended way to do that is to hike the Grinnell Glacier trail. This actually takes quite a bit of planning. First off, the trailhead is located in Many Glacier, one of the more remote areas of the park. In Many Glacier there is a lodge, a motel with cabins, and one of the most sought-after campgrounds in the entire country: Many Glacier Campground. There are 103 campsites in Many Glacier Campground, with 41 available for advance reservations. The sites are available six months before the arrival date, and are gone the minute they become available. I was pretty bummed that we didn’t get a site initially, but I kept checking the website for cancellations and got lucky. We reserved our site and were one step closer to seeing a glacier.

The next step was to secure the boat ride. The trail to Grinnell Glacier is over 11 miles long, but you can cut about three and a half miles from that by reserving a boat ride across Swiftcurrent Lake and Lake Josephine. There are a limited number of tickets, so its important to reserve as early as possible. We bought boat tickets that included a ranger-led hike, which helped ease some of our fears about bears since this would ensure that we were part of a group.

Jack and Liam trying out their packs before the big hike

The last think we needed to worry about was Liam. He’s only five years old, and and eight mile, steep hike is definitely a challenge for him. I knew he could physically do it, but I was worried that it wouldn’t be enjoyable for any of us. But Ryan and I really, really wanted to experience the hike and seeing the glacier, so we decided to go for it.

The hike started out steep, but as with everything in Glacier National Park, it was absolutely gorgeous. As we climbed in altitude, we could see the glacial lakes below, so blue. There were wildflowers growing along the path, and we climbed steadily for several hours. The only issue that Liam had was passing under a waterfall that goes right across the trail. There’s no way around it, and it was scary to him to have all that cold water falling on him with slippery rocks below his feet and a cliff off to the side. We made it through, but there were a few minutes of howling after that. As we continued, the ranger paused several times to point out interesting rocks and plants, and we stopped for lunch with just about a half mile from the glacier. The final push to the summit was steep and rocky, but once we made it to the top we could look down on the glacier and the lake with icebergs floating

The ranger led us down to the edge of the lake, and the kids were able to feel the cold water. The walk down was much easier, and both boys were such troopers. I was so proud of them both. We ended up logging over 10 miles of walking for the day, but it was so worth it. It was one of my favorite days of the entire summer.

Boat Ride on St. Mary Lake

The weather while we were in Glacier National Park was absolutely beautiful. It was warm and sunny, and cool enough at night to enjoy a fire. Before leaving the eastern part of the park, we booked a boat tour of Saint Mary Lake. We had already driven Going to the Sun Road and hiked several trails. We wanted to experience the beauty of this park from the water.

The guide was young and personable. She talked about the science and history of the area, pointing out parts of the landscape as we passed. It was a little tough to get good photos, so I decided to just relax and enjoy the ride. We stopped at a spot where we could get off the boat and take a very short five minute walk to a pretty impressive waterfall. While we were there we saw a marmot sunning itself on a rock. It was a peaceful, relaxing morning, and the boys had blast splashing in the water along the shoreline when we docked.

After spending five days in Glacier I definitely have a new favorite national park! The scenery, wildlife, and hiking were top notch. Glacier also has more ranger-led programs and educational opportunities than any other park that we’ve visited. There’s no cell service in most of the park, making it easier to disconnect and fully embrace the experience. I know I’ll never forget our time there. But if you have any desire to visit, don’t wait long. Due to climate change, it is predicted that all glaciers in Glacier National Park will be gone by the year 2030.

Yellowstone National Park

August 20, 2018 / ontheroadtogether16 / Leave a comment

Grand Prismatic Spring, as seen from the Fairy Falls Trail

It’s not like any other place on the planet. After visiting, I realize why this is the first plot of land that the government decided to protect as a National Park. The uniqueness of the geothermal features, the diversity of the wildlife, and the varied landscapes make Yellowstone National Park the quintessential road trip destination. And it did not disappoint. Our four days in Yellowstone were chock full of adventure. Here are the highlights!

Geysers

The Grand Geyser

When people most people think about Yellowstone, visions of Old Faithful come to mind. Old Faithful is one of the most famous geysers in the world, mostly because its erupts so regularly. However, Yellowstone is home to over 500 geysers, some of which are even larger and more impressive. And when you just happen to be in the right place at the right time to see one of the more unpredictable geysers erupt, it makes for a pretty memorable experience. We were able to see Grand Geyser this way, and we felt like we won the lottery!

As for seeing Old Faithful, we decided to climb up the Observation Point Trail to watch an arial view of the eruption. The trail was short and very steep, but watching Old Faithful without the crowds was awesome. And by the time we climbed down and cooled off with some cold drinks, we were able to see it erupt from the ground level as well.

View of Old Faithful from the Observation Point Trail

Hot Springs

There is something about heat and water that make for some incredible sights. We saw hot springs throughout Yellowstone, but none can beat the Grand Prismatic Spring found in the Midway Geyser Basin. The colors, formed by bacteria living in the cooler water along the edges, make the Grand Prismatic Spring a favorite place for photographers. As we struggled to get a good shot from the boardwalk, someone suggested that we walk the Fairy Falls Trail, which leads to an overlook of the Grand Prismatic Spring. It was there that I got my favorite photograph in Yellowstone. (See above – its the featured photo!)

We saw hot springs throughout Yellowstone. The steam rising up from the ground, especially in the cool morning hours before the crowds arrived, made us feel like we were visiting another planet.

View of Grand Prismatic Spring from the boardwalk

One of the hot springs in the West Thumb Geyser Basin

A steamy hot spring on a cool morning

View near the Artist Paint pots

View from the top of the trail near Artist Paintpots

Wildlife

Maybe its because we’re from New York. Maybe its because they’re such huge, majestic creatures. Whatever it is, we never get tired of seeing bison! We saw a single male bison on our way through Hayden Valley, sitting right by the side of the road. But when we drove out to Lamar Valley, they were everywhere. I’m not exaggerating when I say we probably saw over a thousand bison, hanging out in herds of 50 to 300. The drive was so scenic, with rolling hills and views of the river. We spent a whole morning with our eyes in the binoculars, watching the bison and looking for a glimpse of a bear or wolf.

While in Yellowstone, we also saw a coyote, bighorn sheep, deer, and elk. We even saw a female moose walking through the West Thumb Geyser Basin. There were signs everywhere saying “Keep Off, Fragile Ground”. I just kept waiting for the poor cow to fall through, but she just grazed on the grass then walked off into the woods.

Grand Canyon of Yellowstone

Grand Canyon of Yellowstone

Yellowstone is really really crowded in the summer. When we first drove up to Canyon Campground where we stayed all four nights, we saw long lines of cars waiting to get into both the North Rim and South Rim drives. I don’t have patience for that kind of traffic in a national park, so we decided that the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, including views of upper and lower falls, would be done first thing in the morning. And it worked out perfectly. We beat the crowds and pretty much had the trails to ourselves. We were able to walk down to the brink of Upper Falls and I took the steep walk down to the brink of Lower Falls. Gorgeous scenery in every direction.

We should all be thankful that there were people in history who had the foresight to protect this land from development. There is so much to learn and experience in Yellowstone National Park. From the geysers and hot springs to the countless hikes and walks, to the valleys where wildlife can be seen, its a magical place. Check out the slideshow below for some more photos from our time in Yellowstone!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Custer State Park

August 12, 2018 / ontheroadtogether16 / Leave a comment

View of the hills in Custer State Park – with evidence of the December 2017 fire that burned over 50,000 acres

State parks often get overlooked because people assume they’re less impressive than the national parks, but Custer State Park has it all – beautiful scenic drives, wildlife everywhere, and plenty of activities for the whole family to enjoy. It is located about two hours west of Badlands National Park, not far from Rapid City. We spent a few days in this corner of South Dakota, enjoying the tourist attractions of Rapid City and looking for wildlife in Custer State Park. Here are the highlights!

Mount Rushmore

It’s iconic. We’ve all seen the photos of the faces carved into the side of a mountain, but driving up and seeing the massive scale and beautiful surroundings makes Mount Rushmore even more impressive. Jack, with his love of American History, was especially excited to visit and learn about how this national monument came to exist. We watched the video in the Visitors Center, browsed the exhibits in the museum, walked a portion of the Presidential Trail, and the boys completed their Junior Ranger badges. We visited at the end of a long day, so getting both boys to stand for a nice picture was nearly impossible, but we made it through without a full-blown Liam meltdown, so it was a good visit!

Liam finally posed for a picture!

Jack and Ryan on the Presidential Trail

Checking out the exhibits

Junior Rangers!

View of George Washington through the cave

Crazy Horse Memorial

The Crazy Horse Memorial (and yes, those are trucks up there!)

The Crazy Horse Memorial is a lesser-known monument, created in memory of a Native American named Crazy Horse who was killed by the United States government in 1877 while defending the land occupied by the Lakota people. This memorial is still under construction, and once completed it will be the largest sculpture in the world. Progress is slow because the non-profit foundation in charge of the Crazy Horse Memorial refuses to accept federal funds. Ryan and I had visited back in 2009, and it was interesting to see how the monument had changed over the past nine years.

Bear Country USA

I love bears. They are such interesting and impressive animals, but it’s difficult to see them in the wild. And even if you’re lucky enough to catch a glimpse of one, it’s far too dangerous to get close enough to capture a great photo. Bear Country USA is a drive-through wildlife park where bears, bighorn sheep, bison, wolves, and dozens of other animals are allowed to roam (somewhat) free. Of course, you’re required to keep the windows rolled up and stay in the car, but driving through and seeing these amazing animals up close was awesome. A black bear walked right by our car, close enough to reach out and touch it! As our car slowly moved through, we were able to watch the bears splash around in their pool, run around and play with each other, and sleep in the shade. It was worth every penny! At the end, there’s a section where you park the car and walk around, seeing some of the smaller animals, including bear cubs!

Wildlife

Bison herd along Fisherman Flats

We chose to visit Custer because I read that it was one of the best places in the country to see bison. We had actually booked a Buffalo Safari, but after seeing so many bison in the Badlands, we decided to cancel and take our chances at finding them on our own. We stopped at the Wildlife Station Visitor Center and asked where we should go to see bison. They directed us down an unpaved road called Fisherman Flats. The scenery was beautiful, but we didn’t see much. Until we got to the end of the road. There was a huge herd of bison right by the road, lounging, grazing, and even a mother nursing her calf. It was better than we could have imagined.

In addition to bison, there are wild burros that roam around the park. They are very tame, and Liam especially loved trying to pet them. Many people were feeding them, though it isn’t allowed by park rules.

Wild burro roaming the grassland

A baby burro!

On our drives we also saw pronghorn deer, white-tailed deer, prairie dogs, and lots of birds. It was a great park for seeing animals in their natural habitat!

Peter Norbeck Outdoor Education Center

We spent so much time at this gem inside Custer State Park, that had to include it! It’s a new facility, designed for children to learn, explore, and play. Everything is hands-on, from the museum exhibits to the outdoor play spaces. They have programs for kids throughout the day, grouping them by age so that everyone can enjoy the activities. Ryan and I took full advantage of the little lounge room, relaxing while the boys were off learning about weather and bison and everything in between. Kids can earn a Junior Naturalist badge too!

Liam the prairie dog!

Where Ryan and I hung out

Jack exploring the cave outside

So much more!

Jack has a new found love of rocks and gems, so he was excited to visit the Big Thunder Gold Mine. The boys were able to pan for gold, which is a lot more difficult than I expected, but we did leave with some tiny pieces. I thought the boys would be disappointed that they didn’t have a big chunk of pyrite at the end of it, but they both left with smiles.

Big Thunder Gold Mine!

Panning for gold with the help of an expert

While in Custer, we also took a drive up the Needles Highway. This is a scenic drive that is off limits to RVs and other larger vehicle. And for good reason. It was a nail biting, winding road up through the hills, with hairpin turns, big drop-offs, oneway tunnels, and amazing views. I was glad that Ryan was driving!

View from Needles Highway

Rock formations

One way tunnel!

There are two amazing caves in the area, Wind Cave National Park and Jewel Cave National Monument. We visited Jewel Cave and took the Scenic Tour, which the whole family enjoyed. And two more Junior Ranger badges were earned there as well.

We packed so much into our three days in the Custer State Park area of South Dakota. You could easily spend a week here, and you would have PLENTY to do! There is a great mix of tourist attractions and untouched wilderness, making it a wonderful place to spend time with the family.

Badlands National Park

August 4, 2018 / ontheroadtogether16 / Leave a comment

Driving into Badlands National Park is like entering another world. After hours of driving through the grasslands with nothing much to look at except for the billboards for Wall Drug, the rock formations of the Badlands seemed to come out nowhere. Jack and Liam were in awe. Up until this point, the places that they have visited haven’t varied all that much from the hardwood forests of the northeast. This was their first glimpse of the variety that exists within this beautiful country, and I don’t think they’ll ever forget that first drive into the Badlands National Park. Our time there was full of scenic drives, amazing hikes, and plenty of wildlife sightings!

Yellow Mounds

Scenic Drive

Most people who visit Badlands National Park just spend a couple of hours driving through the main road that runs from east to west in the park. There are many places to pull off and take in the unbelievable views. We drove this route several times as we traveled around the park, and each time we would make different stops. No two views were quite alike, and we never tired of hopping out of the car to check out the scenery at that stop. The boys fought over the camera every single time!

ers seat on the way in

Hiking

On our first morning in the park, we woke up to a bright sunny morning. This is a good time to mention that the previous evening, we experienced an insane storm with relentless winds, thunder and lightning. It really helped us see how the Badlands got its name. The winds were so bad that our tent poles buckled, collapsing a side of the tent while we were in it. I fled to the car with the kids in the middle of the night while Ryan held the tent up until the storm passed. It was a storm we won’t soon forget.

The boys along the Door Trail

The next morning dawned without a cloud in the sky. After some coffee, we headed out to hike the Notch trail. It was an awesome hike! One section required us to climb a three-story ladder on the side of the rocks. After maneuvering along the edge of a cliff (and keeping the kids close), we made it to the overlook. The views of the valley below were stunning and well worth the stressful moments of the climb.

Another trail that we enjoyed was the Door Trail. It was pretty short, starting on a boardwalk and then wandering off into the formations. Instead of looking down at the views, we were right among them. The boys loved climbing up the rocks and exploring all the pathways. It can be easy to get lost here, but we kept an eye on the numbered trail markers as we made our way through this section of the landscape.

Wildlife

Bison seen near Sage Creek Campground

If you ask Jack and Liam, the highlight of the Badlands was the wildlife sightings that we had. We drove to Sage Creek Road one afternoon, basking in the air conditioning, and hoping to see some bison. We came across a small herd very far from the road. We looked at them through binoculars, tried to take some pictures (they looked like brown dots), and thought that might be the best we could do. We were actually just excited to see them. We continued down the road and turned into Sage Creek Campground. There was an amazing herd of well over 100, with several wandering in the field near our car so that we could get a close look and some amazing photographs. We sat there for the better part of an hour, just watching the amazing animals. We were the only car there. It was awesome!

In addition to watching the bison, we visited the prairie dog town along Sage Creek Road as well. Liam especially loved these little creatures, watching them run around and pop up all over. On our way back, we stopped at an overlook, and right next to the path was a little rattlesnake all curled up. He wasn’t too happy to have people around, and we could hear him rattling, so we decided to retreat to the car and try to visit that spot another day. I’ve never seen a rattlesnake, so that was an interesting event!

Wall Drug

Sitting on the Jackelope at Wall Drug

No trip to this part of South Dakota is complete without a trip to Wall Drug. There are billboards for this tourist stop for hundreds of miles in every direction, advertising free ice water and five-cent coffee. Wall Drug is actually a huge complex with a restaurant, ice cream shop, and dozens of different stores selling all kinds of western merchandise, clothing, artwork, and more. You have to visit to truly experience it! I used their free WiFi to update the blog while the boys wandered around, sitting on the huge jackelope, looking through the rock and gem shops (Jack’s obsession this summer), and begging for toys and souveniers. They ended up getting authentic miniature Native American tone hammers, with feathers and horsehair adorning then. Perfect for their collection boxes. We finished out the afternoon with ice cream and several cups of five-cent coffee for Ryan and myself. It was a fun way to beat the heat of South Dakota.

Both boys had to drive the covered wagon!

Liam liked this bison hat

The Badlands left a strong impression on our family. It is a beautiful, yet inhospitable land that is starkly different from what we’re used to. We enjoyed learning about the climate and culture of the area and coming to the understanding that natural forces make this area of the country so difficult to live in, yet it’s these same natural forces that worked over millions of years to create the breathtaking landscapes found in Badlands National Park.

View from our campsite

Twin Cities Area, Minnesota

July 27, 2018 / ontheroadtogether16 / Leave a comment

Sunrise over the St. Croix River after driving 900 miles from Pennsylvania

When you have two little hockey players in the family, the summer road trip has to include a stop in Minnesota. They call Minnesota “The State of Hockey”, so we enrolled both boys in the Top Dog week long hockey camp. While they spent their days on ice, Ryan and I were free to roam St. Paul and explore the state park where we were camping. Here’s how our family spent the week in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota.

Hockey

This was Liam’s first hockey camp, and Ryan and I weren’t sure how he would handle eight hours of hockey each day. The staff at Top Dog made the experience so much fun. There was a great mix of skating and off-ice activities that made the days fly by. Jack was like a shark on the ice, playing a mix of offense and defense, and working hard to stand out. I was proud of both of them for their hard work all week! And of course we had to visit Bauer Hockey Experience, a flagship store for Bauer with an ice rink inside, a knee hockey area for kids, and all the hockey equipment you could ever wish for.

Trying out a shooting pad at Bauer Hockey Experience

Had to visit!

On Wabasha St. in St. Paul

State of Hockey!

Liam receiving his award for completing the week

St. Paul

View of Raspberry Island from the Wabash Bridge

While the boys were at hockey camp, Ryan and I explored the city of St. Paul. We especially enjoyed the area around the Capitol Building, with several memorials and monuments, a big open area with beautiful flowers, and a whole line of food trucks for lunch. We spent one afternoon wandering around the city, walking over the Wabasha Bridge to Raspberry Island, and exploring some of the historic area, filled with beautiful homes.

Although we enjoyed the city, St. Paul definitely needs to address their problems with homelessness, mental illness, and drug addiction. We couldn’t walk down a block without being approached for money, and we witnessed several unsettling incidents involving unstable individuals in our time there. I hope that Minnesota finds a way to get help for their residents that need it.

St. Paul’s Cathedral

A fountain in the historic area

Capitol Building

Mall of America

Celebrating after a long week of hockey camp

You can’t visit the Minneapolis/St. Paul area without at least one visit to the Mall of America. I do most of my shopping online and try to avoid a busy mall at all costs, but the best things about the Mall of America aren’t the stores for shopping. There is a full-blown amusement park smack dab in the center of the mall with roller coasters, thrill rides, and rides for little ones. On our first visit to the mall, the boys begged to ride, but we told them they had to do a good job a hockey camp and we’d take them on Friday night. They earned their visit, and they stayed at Nickelodean Universe until the mall closed.

While there, we also visited the aquarium. We went on a weekday evening, and it felt like we had the place to ourselves. The shark tanks were amazing, the boys fed the stingrays, and they even had a section where you could touch the marine life.

Shark tank

Nemos

Jack at the touch tank

Feeding the stingrays

Liam in a bubble

We had been to the Crayola Experience in Easton, Pennsylvania a few years ago, but Liam doesn’t remember it at all and was REALLY into the idea of visiting the Crayola Experience in the Mall of America. After one failed attempt at a visit (it closes at 6pm

Crayola Experience

some days, leading to a Liam meltdown) we finally made it there. They have a show explaining how crayons are made, plenty of opportunities to create your own artwork in really unique and engaging ways, and a whole play area for kids. The boys had a great time!

Lake Elmo State Park

Our campsite (#13)

We camped at Lake Elmo State Park because it was a very short drive to St. Paul. Most campground near cities aren’t great, so I was pleasantly surprised when we arrived. It was one of the cleanest and quietest campsites we’ve been at (and we’ve been to a lot!). Our campsite was large and shady, with a great spot to hang the hammock.

Wildflowers along the hiking trail

The park also had beautiful wildflowers growing everywhere, and plenty of well-marked hiking trails. Ryan and I took a long walk one afternoon, enjoying our break from the boys. It was nice to hike without hearing complaints about someone being tired or hungry or their feet hurt. The scenery was beautiful

One of the best things about Lake Elmo State Park was their man-made lake for swimming with a sand bottom and filtered water. The water was so clear that I joked I could drop my engagement ring and find it right away. Ryan didn’t encourage me to try. We spent an afternoon lounging in the sun, reading, and eating a picnic lunch. It was a much-needed low-key week for us.

Minnehaha Park

Waterfall in Minnehaha Park

If you’re in the Minneapolis area, be sure to visit Minnehaha Park. I’m used to having to hike for miles to see a waterfall this big and beautiful. The park has picnic areas, a seafood restaurant, and hiking trails. We also saw bike rentals and playgrounds. The area is a peaceful way to spend a couple of hours relaxing from the craziness of the Mall of America.

Our week in Minnesota was fun for the whole family. The boys got their hockey fix, Ryan and I got some freedom to explore on our own, and then we had some great family fun at the Mall of America!

Champion, Pennsylvania

July 22, 2018July 22, 2018 / ontheroadtogether16 / Leave a comment

Finding a house to fit the Drake family clan without breaking the bank isn’t easy. When we found the Verlies property in Champion, Pennsylvania, it fit all of our requirements: plenty of bedrooms, a nice outdoor space, a firepit, and a reasonable driving distance for everyone. That’s how we ended up in Champion, Pennsylvania for a family reunion week, and I was pleasantly surprised how many fun things there are to do in the area. We had a great time enjoying the perfect summer weather while exploring this area of southwestern Pennsylvania.

Exploring Ohiopyle State Park

A portion of the natural waterslide in Ohiopyle State Park

When we heard there were natural rock waterslides, the whole family was on board for a trip to Ohiopyle State Park. I really wasn’t expecting the fast-moving water and sharp rocks, and as we watched others go down it looked like a painful ride. That didn’t stop most of our group from giving it a try. Even Jack (with the help of Jacob) and I tried the upper portion. Everyone who went down left with plenty of scrapes and bruises, but it was definitely a memorable experience!

Once the adrenaline rush of the rock slides wore off, we headed out on a three-mile loop hike to the Cascades. This was a beautiful section of the river, with little waterfalls, small pools for wading and rocks to lay out on. We had the entire spot to ourselves, and the cool water was refreshing after hiking the muddy hills to get there. The kids loved splashing in the water, and even sitting behind one of the waterfalls.

Lunch on the rocks

Under Cucumber Falls

Chillin in the Cascades

Exploring the pools

Jack having a great day

Enjoying the House

The best part thing about reunion weeks with the family is having downtime together. The house was perfectly set up with plenty of areas and nooks to relax and enjoy each others’ company. The front porch was a regular gathering spot for people to enjoy the never-ending happy hour of the week. There was a table that was used for everything from jigsaw puzzles to card games to dinners. And then there were the corn hole tournaments (draw from a hat to get a partner). The kids spent a lot of time in the library, coloring and playing countless board games. There was a firepit and hot tub out back, and a game room with pingpong and fooseball. We can have fun pretty much anywhere, but this house definitely helped!

Dinner on the front porch

Katie’s favorite charcuterie plate

Games in the library

Nightly corn hole tournaments

These chairs are too comfy!

Rafting Down the Youghiogheny

While in town to visit Ohiopyle State Park, we several rafting companies advertising various trips on different parts of the Youghiogheny River. Our family decided to book a self-guided rafting trip with the Ohiopyle Trading Company for later in the week. On the morning of the trip the fourteen of us piled into a van to drive nine miles up the river to the drop off point, and then we split up between three rafts.

I was definitely imagining it as more of a float trip, but it actually required quite a bit of manpower to steer and maneuver the rafts, especially in the shallow areas of the river where we had to work to avoid hitting rocks. I would recommend a guided trip to anyone who doesn’t have canoeing, kayaking, or rafting experience. All three of our rafts got stuck a few times, but we got the hang of it. There was a sandy beach for swimming and a picnic spot to stop to eat the lunch that we packed. The river was so peaceful and the scenery was beautiful. We didn’t see another group for our entire four hours on the river. I would highly recommend a rafting trip for anyone visiting the area.

Stand up Paddle Boarding (SUP) in Laurel Hills State Park

Jack working hard to stay on the board 🙂

Just a few miles away from the house, Laurel State Park was an ideal to spot to spend an afternoon. I’ve always wanted to try stand-up paddle boarding, and my sisters were game to try it. We weren’t sure how tough it would be, but for only $10 for an hour the stakes were pretty low. Luckily it was MUCH easier than we expected. Jack took a few spills before he got the hang of it, but he didn’t get discouraged and I was proud of him. There were also boat rentals, a swimming area, and plenty of hiking trails.

My first time on a paddle board!

Katie practicing her yoga moves

Jack & Ashley at the scenic viewpoint

Touring Laurel Caverns

Our last outing of the week was to Laurel Caverns. The drive there was full of steep, winding hills, but the view from the top was amazing. They said that on a clear day you can see all the way to Pittsburgh! The caverns are privately owned, and tours go out regularly throughout the day. We’ve been on quite a few cave tours over the years. The thing that stood out about Laurel Caverns was their used of colored light to emphasize the various cave features. We went into several “rooms” and passages, and the guide gave a good overview of the history of the caves and the science behind their creation. And there was cave mini-golf, so of course we had to play!

When we booked the house, I was worried that there wasn’t much to do in the area. I couldn’t have been more wrong. Southwestern Pennsylvania was the perfect mix of relaxing surroundings and activities that the whole family could enjoy.

French Creek State Park

July 15, 2018July 16, 2018 / ontheroadtogether16 / 1 Comment

A beautiful section of the Big Woods trail seen from a Ranger-led sunset hike.

The themes for this summer are National Parks and hockey, so each of our locations was chosen with one of the two in mind. Our trip started out at French Creek State Park, just outside of Reading, Pennsylvania so that Jack could attend a nearby hockey camp. While he spent his days on the ice, Ryan, Liam, and I kicked off our summer by exploring the park and the surrounding area. There was plenty to keep us busy, and here are our favorites!

Valley Forge National Historical Park

The 4th of July was a scorcher, with the temperatures exceeding 100 degrees. Jack had a day off of the ice so we spent our day at Valley Forge National Historic Park. This is the place that the Continental Army spent the winter of 1777, any soldiers lost there lives there. Independence Day was a great time to visit because there were several special events happening, including hands-on activities for kids, a community BBQ, and people reenacting some aspects of life at that time.

We started our day with at the Visitor’s Center with a quick video about the history of the site before boarding a Trolley Tour that took us around to all of the key locations. The guide was awesome, providing interesting facts and dispelling many common misconceptions along the way. (spoiler alert: most soldiers didn’t die from harsh winter conditions!)

When we stopped at the Mecklenburg Encampment, we were able to go into the huts (the boys tried out the beds), there was a musket demonstration, and period actors that helped Jack carry water like a soldier and Liam drill a hole with a tool that would have been used during that time period. Tickets for these tours are limited, so definitely reserve ahead of time if you’re visiting during a busy time of year.

Liam drilling

Jack carrying water

Liam trying out the bed in a hut.

Prepping for the musket demonstration

Just as we returned from the two hour tour, the boys were recruited to join the Continental Army. They were given wooden muskets and practiced the commands and marching orders. Then they made their own huts out of pool noodles using the same technique as the soldiers did in 1777. There was a spot set up to practice writing with a quill, a reading of the Declaration of Independence by a man dressed up as Benjamin Franklin, story telling benches from the Once Upon a Nation group, and much much more. We spent another couple of sweaty hours enjoying all of the activities.

Getting marching orders

Making a card to be sent to the troops.

Building a hut like the soldiers did in 1777

Final product!

Time for Junior Ranger badges!

My boys can’t visit a National Park or Historic Site without completing the Junior Ranger badge requirements. Valley Forge was no exception. They were sworn in and received their first badges of the summer!

We finished up our day at Valley Forge by driving back to Washington’s Headquarters. Both boys (but especially Jack) love the Hamilton story and were fascinated by the fact that he had actually slept in the house. They wanted to touch the banister that Alexander Hamilton, John Laurens, George Washington and so many other important historical figures had held as they climbed the stairs.

Washington’s Headquarters

There was a special program about spy techniques used during the Revolutionary War, and the boys participated while Ryan and I sat in the shade watching them write in invisible ink and get secret spy names. The only thing left to do was stop for ice cream on the way back to our campsite. It was a fun-filled hot and sticky summer day.

Hiking, Swimming, and Catching Fireflies

Liam hiking a portion of the Six Penny Trail.

Simplicity is underrated. A walk in the woods. A dip in the cool water on a hot day. Reading a book in a hammock. Some of my favorite things we did this week included little more than being outside and enjoying the company of my family.

On Monday, Liam and I took a hike. I was planning to do about 3 miles with him, but apparently my map reading skills need some work because that little boy trekked over FIVE miles through the woods. We saw some wildlife, pointed out interesting leaves, and stopped by a stream to eat our apples. Just me and my little guy.

Wildflowers and sunsets. What else can you ask for?

Jack couldn’t be outdone by his little brother, so he jumped at the chance to do a Ranger-led sunset hike on Friday after camp ended. We walked a portion of the Big Woods trail. This is a new trail that is ADA accessible and stroller-friendly. The entire walk was lined with wildflowers, and the sunset was picture perfect.

This week was hot. And I mean HOT. Camping is great, but you have to deal with what you get when it comes to the weather. Thank goodness French Creek State Park has a pool. At $7 per person it was a bit pricey as far as public pools at state parks go, but worth every. single. penny.

The pool at French Creek State Park on a crowded weekend day.

Liam is working hard for a catch.

Ranger-led programs are awesome. Some are more awesome than others, but they are almost always interesting, educational, kid-friendly, and free. We went to one hosted at campground called Fireflies: Fireworks of the Forest. There was a brief presentation about the various species of fireflies and how they produce the light, and then we headed outside to look at the patterns of their blinks. The kids were given nets to help them catch fireflies, and they loved it. The entire field was lit up and sparkling with the lights. This was an experience I don’t think my boys will soon forget.

Jack was the first to catch a firefly.

Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site

I had no idea what to expect visiting this site. It was five minutes from our campsite so we had to check it out, and it was free, so we figured, why not? But a furnace? It was actually much more interesting than I expected. The site is one of the best preserved early industrial plantations where iron was made. The self-guided tour takes visitors through the step-by-step process of making iron. There are many buildings to visit, including the collier’s hut, the cast house (which held the two story furnace, the barn, the store, the iron masters’ mansion and tenant houses.

On the weekends they activate the furnace and have iron-making demonstrations. We were able to see one. The boys even helped in part of the process. The grounds are beautiful and there were animals on the farm. It was a nice way to spend a few hours. Oh, and of course the boys had to get Junior Rangers badge #2!

Our week at French Creek State Park was a great way to start the summer!