Summer Road Trip 2016

Williamsburg, Virginia

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Governor’s Palace in Colonial Williamsburg

Williamsburg is a great place for an action-packed family getaway! There is something for everyone here. We focused on the historical sites, but we could have easily spent a week here and found something amazing to do each day! Here’s the rundown of the sites that we visited.

Jamestown Settlement

After the lackluster experience in Washington D.C., it was awesome to visit a historical location that is designed to engage young learners.  Jamestown Settlement is  a re-creation of where settlers first landed, and it so much more than a traditional museum. It brings history back to life through costumed characters and hands-on exhibits!

Highlights:

  • The outdoor Indian Village was a great interactive space. There were homes and people dressed as Native Americans. Children could grind corn, work to dig out a log canoe, play Indian games, and learn to weave a basket. 

    Grinding corn

    Playing an Indian game

  • The other outdoor living area was the English settlers fort. Here the children could try on armor, watch a blacksmith work, and explore the many buildings. 

    Trying on armor

  • There are full-sized replicas of the three ships that landed in Jamestown. We were able to get on board and explore. The boys even laid down in the beds!

Travel Tip: Most people start with the film and indoor museum, so I suggest heading to the outdoor areas first, while its cooler and they are less crowded. The air conditioned areas will feel great after a couple of hours outside!

For Kids: There is an exhibit about trade between the Indians and the settlers. Children start by completing a series of activities inside, including sitting in a canoe, learning Indian words, and creating a peace medal. They are then given a small empty bag to take out to the Indian Village, where it is filled with corn. They then take the bag of corn to the English fort where they show the peace medal and trade the corn for a bracelet! 

Trading corn for a bracelet


Historic Jamestowne


After visiting Jamestown Settlement, we went to see the actual location of the original settlement, Historic Jamestowne, just a few miles away. This site is run by the National Park Service, with a small museum and theater, as well as many trails to visit the ruins.

Highlights:

  • I would highly recommend the Archeology Tour. The guide was excellent, and she explained how the site was uncovered in the 1990’s. She shared artifacts that were found as well as what they tell us about how the settlers lived. It wasn’t a tour designed for children (Liam watched my phone for most of it), but Ryan and I were fascinated by the fusion of history and science.

    An active dig site in Historic Jamestowne

Travel Tip: Be sure to get a free guided tour. Without someone to explain everything, it just looks like several holes in the ground.

For Kids: Children under 14 are free! There is also a Junior Ranger booklet for this location.

The boys with a statue of Pocahontas


Colonial Williamsburg


Colonial Williamsburg is a full city set up as it would have appeared in the 1700’s. There is a Governor’s Palace, a courthouse and jail, a marketplace, family homes, shops for the various trades, and so much more. There are many tours and activities offered throughout the day, many of which are interactive and hands-on. Perfect for children of all ages.


Highlights:

  • In the military encampment we all became recruits and practiced drills, learned to load a musket, and heard about how soldiers lived in Colonial Williamsburg.
  • The boys became part of the Bucket Brigade and learned how fires were fought before fire trucks.​
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  • Who knew you make bricks by mixing with your feet?! Messy but fun!

    Mixing up the bricks

  • The puppet show had the kids roaring with laughter. 

Travel Tip: As soon as you arrive, check which activities on the require a reservation. All tours and activities are included with admission, but some require a reservation and they fill up fast! Also, a tip for my fellow teachers: the educator discount is a full 50% off of your admission!

For Kids: The kids get their own list of the activities that are especially for children. If they complete five things from the list, they receive a free souvenir pin! There is also an interactive tour of the Governor’s Palace that is designed for Pre-K to 6th graders.


Monticello


Monticello is about 90 minutes from Williamsburg in the city of Charlottesville, Virginia.  We stopped on our way from Washington D.C. to Williamsburg. Monticello is the home of Thomas Jefferson, his family, and his many slaves. Monticello means “little mountain” in Italian, and the house is located high up on a hill, with a beautiful view of the surrounding countryside. At the base of the hill is a visitors center with a film, gallery, cafe, bookstore, and children’s discovery center.

Highlights:

  • We bought tickets for the Family Friendly tour of the house. It was especially designed to engage the children, and the tour guide was very enthusiastic. The children were asked to sit on the floor in each room, and she passed various artifacts around for them to hold while telling stories. This allowed the parents to relax and examine the room on their own.
  • There was a station set up for children to write with ink and quill. Jack loves Harry Potter, so this was the highlight of his day!
  • Just walking through the beautiful gardens and enjoying the landscape was one of my favorite things.

Travel Tip: The cafe is very reasonably priced and offered a nice selection of freshmade sandwiches and bakery items.

For Kids: The Discovey Room is full of hand-on activities for children. They had blocks for building your own Monticello, a loom and string to weave cloth, a play home with a kitchen, and much more. Liam gave his five star review by crying when it was time to leave!

Building his own Monticello

Deciphering a code


I would highly recommend a trip to Williamsburg! We will definitely be back!


Washington, D.C.

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One of our most anticipated stops of the summer was the nation’s capital. It didn’t quite live up to our high expectations, due in part to the oppressive heat and lack of child-friendly tours. However, it still had some high points. Here’s the good, the bad, and the suggestions for maximizing your own trip to Washington D.C.

Arlington National Cemetery


Maybe we should have known that a 3 and 6 year old wouldn’t have the proper appreciation of the significance of Arlington National Cemetery, but because my husband had never visited we decided to make the stop. 

Highlights:

  • The Memorial Amphitheater is a beautiful structure, and the boys enjoyed climbing the various staircases and sitting in different locations throughout the amphitheater. And there wasn’t an expectation of silence, which was a huge bonus.
  • The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the Changing of the Guards is a can’t miss stop on any trip to Arlington. Unfortunately, Liam and I sat that out due to the silence requirement, but it was probably Jack’s favorite part of the visit.

Travel Tip: Be ready to walk, and be sure to bring a water bottle if it’s hot. There are water fountains throughout the cemetery, but we were wishing we had a water bottle to refill.

For Kids: Arlington National Cemetery is a beautiful, solemn reminder of the price that this nation continues to pay for our freedom. It is not designed to be a fun place for children. Consider the age and maturity level of children and be sure to discuss appropriate conduct prior to visiting.

National Mall & Memorial Parks

No trip to Washington D.C. is complete without visiting the iconic structures that surround the National Mall. One of our favorite parts of the trip!

Highlights:

  • The Washington Monument is such a distinct structure, and our trip to the top provided 360 degrees of amazing views of the city. 

    View from the top of the Washington Monument

  • Ryan and I both work at Abraham Lincoln High School, so our family has a special connection with anything Lincoln related. His memorial is another awe-inspiring tribute to a great president.

    Jack’s favorite president

    Liam trying on hats in the gift shop

Travel Tip: We are an active family, but this was ALOT of walking, and despite the fact that it was still morning, it was very hot. Consider one of the many bus tours that provide transportation and invaluable air conditioning!

For Kids: My children enjoyed watching the ducks in the pond next to the reflecting pool as much as they enjoyed any of the monuments or memorials. There is also a Junior Ranger badge that can be earned at the National Mall.

Building Tours

We visited the White House, the Capitol Building, and the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. Seeing the inside of the White House was something I have always wanted to do. We requested the tour through our local senator back in February and we all celebrated when we were approved. However, the “tour” was disappointing. We merely walked through a few rooms. It wasn’t a guided tour, and we left feeling underwhelmed. Maybe my expectations were too high. 


We thought that the Bureau of Engraving and Printing would be so interesting. We get to see how money is made! After our visit, I wouldn’t suggest that tour to anyone with small children. The group was huge, and my boys couldn’t follow the process. Another disappointing hour. 


Highlights:

  •  After the lack-luster tours of our first day, we started the second day with a visit to the Capitol Building. Because there are several tour groups in each room, headphones are provided in order to hear your tour guide. The kids liked this because it was something new, and it also meant that we didn’t need to keep them absolutely silent. The opening video was great, and it was really interesting to discover which individuals were honored on the state statues.

    All ready for the tour!

Travel Tip: In order to go into the White House, you need to request a tour through your local Congressman up to six months in advance. Tours fill up quickly, so the earlier the better!

For Kids: The Capitol Building has activity books for children based on their age.

Smithsonian Museums

You could spend a week exploring the various Smithsonian museums, but we only had time (and energy!) to check out the National Air and Space Museum and the National Museum of the American Indian. 

Highlights:

  • Seeing the airplanes and rocketships at the Air and Space Museum was fun for the whole family. They even had several models to get on board and explore.

    My boys checking out the cockpit

  • Admission to all Smithsonian Museums is free! They don’t even ask for a donation, which took away the pressure to stay long enough to get our money’s worth. We spent about two hours in each museum.

Travel Tip: Do a little research on the museum options and what is available in each one. We happened to stumble on the activity room in the American Indian Museum, and it was one of our favorite things in D.C.

For Kids: 

The Museum of the American Indian had an awesome discovery room for children of all ages. They could make necklaces, practice balancing a canoe, enter a life-sized teepee, and so much more. It was a relief to let the boys play after so many days of working to keep them quiet and behaved.

Inside the teepee

Practicing balance

Washington D.C. was an exhausting few days, and we were glad to move on when it was time. The silver lining is that we stayed for just $16 a night at Greenbelt National Park and almost everything in DC is free, so at least we didn’t pay an arm and a leg for our mediocre (at best) visit. But wait for the next post, because Virginia is great!

Gettysburg, Pennsylania

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Gettysburg was an amazing place to spend the 4th of July weekend. We were immersed in history and patriotism, and there was so much to do that we couldn’t possibly fit in everything. Here’s how we spent our time.

Museum & Spangler’s Farm


The Gettysburg National Military Park Museum & Visitors Center is the perfect first stop on a trip to Gettysburg and we spent about 5 hours there, including our trip to Spangler Farm Civil War Hospital. 

Highlights:

  • The short film is included in museum admission and did a great job providing an overview of the Civil War. The kids even sat still for it!
  • The cyclorama really brings an amazing piece of artwork to life, complete with lighting and sound effects. Included in admission!
  • The Hands-On History experienced encouraged the kids to handle artifacts from the Civil War and even to try on clothing. A perfect way to make history come alive for children of all ages!
  • Our visit to Spangler’s Farm Civil War Hospital was a nice little fieldtrip. The tour was interactive and provided a background into the types of  medical care available during the Civil War. Jack was even assigned the part of a soldier who had been wounded.

Travel Tip: Get there early! We pretty much had the place to ourselves around opening, but long lines had formed by the time we were leaving.

For Kids: There is a Junior Ranger Program for children ages 6-13. By completing an activity booklet while visiting Gettysburg, they can earn a Junior Ranger certificate and badge!

Audio-Guided Auto Tour of Battlefields

There are plenty of options for getting out and seeing the landscape where the battles took place. Depending on your preferences, there are bus tours, personal guides, horseback tours, and self-guided tours. We purchased The Gettysburg Story Battlefield Auto Tour from the Visitor Center Book Store. It came with maps, a book with information and diagrams, and 3 CDs that explained the historical relevance of each stop. We spent about four hours driving the well-marked battlefields, stopping regularly to climb the observation towers and examine the landmarks. 

Highlights:

  • The view from Little Round Top was easily my favorite part of the tour. The landscape was beautiful, and the audio helped to transport us back to the Civil War times.
  • The Soldiers National Cemetery was a somber, yet fitting last stop after hearing the details of the bloody battles. 

Travel Tip: Take the time to get out and explore the stops. It extends the tour time, but you can’t truly experience Gettysburg from inside the car.


For Kids: My boys loved the observation towers. Climbing the stairs and being able to see for miles was their favorite part of their day.


Battle Reenactments

Battle reenactments only happen once a year in Gettysburg, and we were lucky enough to be visiting at just the right time. The event is so much more than just the re-creation of a battle. It’s an opportunity to be immersed in the time period. From the clothing and weapons to the health care and food preparation, it is a chance to see and experience life in the 1800’s. 

Highlights:

  • The battles were amazing. We saw a calvalry fight, complete with the use of cannons and infantry. It was loud and smoky and awesome to watch.
  • In the living history village, so many passionate and knowledgable people were eager to share information. And they dressed and acted the part. We held rifles, learned how to fire a cannon, played with toys from the time period, and met the horses that fought in the reenactment battles. 

Travel Tip: Instead of paying extra for the grandstand seats, you can bring your own chairs. Just arrive early and set them up. No one will touch them as you walk around enjoying the activities, and you’ll have a front-row seat for the action!

For Kids: This place is so hands-on that almost everything is great for kids, but they also had a tent with activities just for children. They provided materials for children to make their own dolls and marbles, and even offered coloring contests. 


One more thing – if you have little ones that might scare easily, bring some cotton to put in their ears to lessen the noise during the battle.