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Presque Isle, Pennsylvania

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Sunset on Lake Erie

Presque Isle is a peninsula that juts out into Lake Erie that has been designated as a state park. With 13 miles of roads, 21 miles of trails, and 13 public beaches, it is the perfect place to relax and enjoy a few days of summer!

Presque Isle location



Sara’s Campground on the Beach

There is no campground located inside Presque Isle State Park, but Sara’s Campground is located right outside the entrance. The coolest thing about this campground (and one of our deciding factors in visiting Presque Isle) is that you can camp right on the beach! Our campsite was about six feet from the water’s edge on a sandy beach. We spent a much-needed couple of days swimming, lounging, and finishing each night with a campfire, smores, and stargazing. This truly is a beautiful place!

Beach bums!


Highlights: It was all about the beach for us! The boys spent hours in the water each day, barely coming out for a break. The water wasn’t too cold, and the bottom was nice and sandy once you got out past the rocks. 

The boys swam for hours!


Travel Tip: You can’t book a site on the beach, and they fill up fast on the weekends. If you have your heart set on setting up your tent on the sand, plan to arrive early on Sunday – Wednesday. We got there at noon on a Sunday and had our pick of waterfront sites. 

Making smores (and memories!)

Our campsite on the beach


For Kids: The weather can greatly impact the size of the waves on Lake Erie. The water was very calm on the day we arrived. Liam could swim freely, and I was comfortable watching from the shore. There was a quick storm in the morning of the second day and the waves got huge. It felt like a freshwater ocean. The older kids on the beach were having a blast body surfing and using boogie boards. The experience was very different each day, so it’s something to keep in mind when planning a trip.

The calm waters of Day 1


Liam playing with his new floatie

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Presque Isle State Park

We only peeled ourselves off the beach for about a half day of exploring Presque Isle State Park, and I would love to go back some day to do more. They have nature trails, bike rentals, free pontoon boat rides, 13 beaches and more that we’ll have to check out next time. Here are the things we enjoyed during our short visit.

View of Perry Monument from the boat



Highlights:

  • Lady Kate Cruise:  This is a scenic boat tour of Lake Erie that includes views of several lighthouses, the skyline of Erie, and views of Presque Isle from the water. It was a pleasant ride, even as a storm was brewing.

    The Lady Kate

    One of the lighthouses seen on the boat tour

  • Lighthouse Tour: There are three lighthouses on Presque Isle, but only one is open for public viewing. For $6 a tour guide will bring you to the top, sharing the history of the area and interesting stories about the lighthouse.

    The Presque Isle Lighthouse

    The view of Lake Erie from the top of the lighthouse

Travel Tip: Pack a lunch if you plan to spend the day in Presque Isle State Park. I didn’t notice any concessions, but there are dozens of great picnic spots!

A section of park road


For Kids: There are 13 public beaches with lifeguards! If you need a break from the water, the park offers free pontoon not rides through the lagoons daily, and 11 miles of paved bike trails (bike rentals available). There’s plenty to keep children of all ages happy!

Sand castles!!



I wish we had planned more time in Presque Isle! It is a great place for inexpensive family fun and we had a great time relaxing on the beach after a very busy few weeks of travel. And the sunsets are breathtaking!


Hocking Hills, Ohio

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When planning our trip, we tried to keep the driving times between places under five hours in order to maintain our sanity. As a result, we needed a stop or two between Mammoth Cave and Niagara Falls. We thought about Cincinatti, but cities aren’t really our thing since we live in arguably the best one in the world. So I googled “most beautiful place in Ohio” and Hocking Hills came up. It was a perfect location for a stop over, and it is a great place for hiking, photography, and enjoying nature. These were the beauties that we explored during our short visit.

Old Man’s Cave

Resting up for a hike


Old Man’s Cave isn’t actually a cave, but rather an area in a gorge where the rock was carved out by water. It created a recessed area where a hermit once lived in the late 1700’s, giving it the name Old Man’s Cave. The entire gorge is breathtaking with bridges, exposed rock walls, and even a waterfall. We spent several hours wandering the trails and taking photos. 

One of the many footbridges along the path


Highlights: The entire gorge area is stunning, but the magnitude of the cave makes it the star of this hike.

Ryan and Liam in Old Man’s Cave


Travel Tip:  The trails can get busy on a sunny weekend, so try to visit early morning, evening, or week days. This is especially true if you’re trying to photograph the area.

Part of the hiking trail


For Kids: Kids love a walk that includes a waterfall, although it was little more than a trickle during our visit. Climbing the rocky stairs and crossing the moss covered bridges is fun too. And if you need to bribe them, there’s a place with 24 flavors of soft ice cream a couple miles away.

Family photo in front of Lower Falls


Jack enjoying the trail


Rock House

Rock House is huge tunnel along the middle of a 150 foot cliff. It is 25 feet high and about 200 feet long, with many large holes that give the feeling of windows. It’s actually the only true cave in Hocking Hills State Park!

A portion of Rock House



Highlights: It’s a huge rock that you can walk through with lots of “windows”. Awesome.

The boys taking a break from climbing


Travel Tip: It’s very dark and damp inside the rock house, so be especially careful if you have bad knees or ankles. Also, watch children closely. There are lots of ledges and rocks with a long drop off.

Love these big rocks!


For Kids: Let them climb and play! As long as it was on the inside with no possibility of a long fall, we let them climb and explore. Jack was convinced he discovered a passageway to go deeper!

Jack crawling around on the rocks



Conkles Hollow Nature Preserve

Conkle’s Hollow State Nature Preserve is an awesome place to get out for a walk with the whole family. There is a 1 mile Gorge Trail that follows the river through the valley or a 2.5 mile Rim Trail that makes a loop around the entire top. Both provide opportunities for viewing the wildlife and plants of the area.


Highlights: If you haven’t figured it out by now, I’m a sucker for a scenic view so we opted for the  Conkles Hollow Rim Trail, a beautiful 2.5 mile hike around the top of the gorge, with plenty of lookouts to enjoy.

View from the Rim Trail


Travel Tip:  Free guided tours are offered here several times each week. Check in at Old Man’s Cave Visitors Center for a complete schedule. We missed it thanks to a bacon and egg breakfast at our campsite, but at least we weren’t hungry!

My boy and I at one of the lookouts



For Kids: Grab the area nature guide that is available at the trailhead, and then try to find the many plants and animals while you walk. 

We we both surprised at how much there was to see and do in Hocking Hills, Ohio. It really is a hidden gem!

Mammoth Cave, Kentucky

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Mammoth Cave National Park is the longest known cave system in the word, with 435 miles of caves. My photos cannot even begin to capture the experience of descending far beneath the earth and traveling through the various rooms and passageways. And there is plenty to see and do above ground too! These are our favorite parts of our visit:

Historic Tour

The historic tour enters from a trail near the Visitors Center and follows a 2 mile path through some of the most visited parts of the cave. It’s one of the most popular tours, so buy tickets in advance if you’re visiting during the summer months.

The entrance for the Historic Tour


Highlights: The guide did an excellent job telling us about the history of the cave and how it has been used in the past. One of the best parts was when she turned off all of the lights and we were able to experience just how dark and quiet the cave would have been to past explorers. She even showed us some graffiti made by candles in the 1800’s!

Cave graffiti from the 1800’s



Travel Tip: Wear good sneakers or hiking shoes. This tour includes 440 stairs, areas of uneven ground, and 2 miles of walking. You don’t want to do it in flip flops.


For Kids:  The kids loved watching all of the adults have to squeeze through a narrow part of the cave called Fat Man’s Misery. They also laughed at Dad for having to duck under so many rocks to keep from hitting his head.

Appropriately named narrow section of the cave



Domes and Dripstones Tour

This tour enters a different part of the cave system, and requires a short bus ride to the man-made entrance. This tour is very different from the Historic Tour, and includes some of the most beautiful cave formations that have been discovered in Mammoth Cave.

One of the larger rooms in this part of the cave


Highlights: No questions about it, seeing the dripstones was the highlight of this tour. It ends near a room called the drapery room that is full of beautiful formations. There is even one called the Frozen Niagara due to its resemblance to the great waterfall!

Part of the drapery room



Travel Tip: Bring a sweater or jacket. It was over 100 degrees outside on the day we visited, but the cave is 54 degrees all year round and can start to feel chilly.

Dripstone formations


For Kids: The tour moves right along, so there isn’t much time for kids to get bored, and there are several stops with benches for times when the guide is sharing a story. And plenty of chances for curious minds to ask questions!

How could a kid not love this?


Liam having fun on the tour


Extras

The tours were the best parts of our visit, but we found lots of other things to keep us busy!

  • Sand Cave Caravan: This is a ranger-led tour that tells the story of Floyd Collins, a man who was stuck in the cave for 2 weeks back in 1925. There are three stops on the tour, including the now closed entrance to Sand Cave, Floyd’s family home, and the graveyard where he is buried. The story was fascinating, and the guide brought several artifacts to share that brought the story to life.

    Natural entrance to Sand Cave

  • Amphitheater Programs: Each night a ranger gave a talk in the amphitheater. One night we learned about different caves around the world and other nights focused on people who have contributed to cave discovery and exploration. 
  • Russell Sims Aquatic Center: When it’s 100 degrees in Kentucky, you have to find a place to go swimming. Mammoth Cave doesn’t have any swimming spots, so we drove to Bowling Green and spent $25 for the whole family to spend the afternoon here. It was worth every penny!

    Russel Sims Aquatic Center


    Jack liked the water slides!

We loved Mammoth Cave National Park. I’m not kidding when I say that these photos don’t do it justice. It’s a must-see in my opinion!

Cumberland, Kentucky

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The natural beauty that exists in this country never ceases to amaze me, and Kentucky was no exception. There is so much untouched land with mountains and rivers, and the people are some of the friendliest that we’ve encountered. Here are the standouts from our few days in southeastern Kenucky.

Cumberland Gap National Historical Park


In the place where Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia meet is the passageway to the west. It’s a historically significant and beautiful place. We spent an afternoon exploring the visitor’s center and some of the surrounding areas of the park.

Highlights: Although the visitor’s center was great, the best spot in the park is Pinnacle Overlook. It’s a steep drive up followed by a short walk, but the views are more than worth it. We were able to see all the way to the Great Smoky Mountains, almost 150 miles away.


Travel Tip: Camping is available here, but they don’t take reservations so it’s walk-ins only. We opted to stay at nearby Cumberland Falls State Park.

For Kids: Here’s another place to earn a Junior Ranger badge, and because they don’t get as many visitors as the bigger national parks they gave the badge and certificate along with tattoos, stickers and other goodies. 

Cumberland Falls

When we found out that Cumberland Gap didn’t take camping reservations, we decided to stay at Cumberland Falls State Resort Park as a way to break up the drive to Mammoth Cave. This little state park turned out to be a great couple of days in Kentucky.


Highlights: Cumberland Falls is famous for having the only moonbow in North America. A moonbow is a rainbow over a waterfall that only happens in the light of a full moon. We just happened to be visiting during the full moon, and the weather just happened to clear on the nights that we were there. We were able to witness the moonbow, and it was a really neat experience. It’s almost impossible to photograph, so this picture was borrowed from a postcard.


Travel Tip: Check your dates if you hope to see the moonbow. It can only be seen 3-4 days each month, and conditions have to be ideal.


For Kids: Jack liked the moonbow, but he had more fun hiking around the trails during the day. There are lots oflittle paths that perfect for small hikers.


Horseback Riding

Cumberland Falls State Park also offered horseback riding, and for $18 for a 45 minute trail ride, Jack and I decided to give it a try. We had a great time exploring the countryside on horseback!

Highlights: The highlight for me was doing something one-on-one with Jack. The horses were gentle, the scenery was beautiful, and it was something that him and I got to experience together. 



Travel Tip: Speak up if you want some extra safety measures. They didn’t offer a helmet for Jack, but they provided one upon request. 


For Kids: Children have to be six years old in order to ride. They horses were very calm and gentle, but of course anything can happen. Our guides were looking out for bears the entire time, and I can only imagine how a horse would react during a bear encounter!



This was just the beginning of our fun in Kentucky. From here we headed to Mammoth Cave National Park, the subject of my next post. We accidentally took the long way, and the drive through the countryside was amazing! 


Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

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The towns surrounding Great Smoky Mountains National Park are designed to accommodate and entertain the ten million visitors that come to the park each year. We spent three days in Pigeon Forge, enjoying this tourist town that is set up for family fun. There are hotels, cabins, campgrounds, and resorts. And the activities offered are endless. You could spend a whole day just browsing the brochure racks and planning which attractions and activities your family wants to visit. Here are the places that we chose:

Dollywood!


Dollywood is an amusement park owned by the country singer Dolly Parton. It has dozens of rides, fifteen shows, and even characters walking around. It’s fun for all ages!



Highlights:

  • My boys loved the stunt dog show where dogs performed amazing tricks.

    Meeting one of the dogs after the show

  • The rides were super fun and there were no lines! We rode one of the big roller coasters 3 times in 15 minutes!

    Roller coaster fun

  • Just when it started to get hot, we hit the family water rides! 

    Family water ride

Travel Tip: The park says that it opens at 10:00, but we arrived at about 9:15 (we thought the trolley would take a lot longer than it did) and the doors were open. Some rides were already running, and we more or less had the park to ourselves. 

Liam approves!



For Kids:  I don’t know a child who doesn’t love to take the wheel. Be sure to hit up the cars and let the little ones drive. Liam’s top pick!

Liam taking Daddy for a ride


Rafting on Pigeon River



The best part of visiting Tennessee is the natural beauty of area. After days of hiking and driving to scenic vistas, we decided to see it from the water and booked a floating raft trip down the lower part of Pigeon River.



Highlights: During our rafting trip it started raining. It was an absolute downpour, but it somehow made the whole trip seem like a big adventure. Jack loved getting soaked head to toe.


Travel Tip: Buy a waterproof phone case bag to take pictures during the trip. I got mine for $8 on Amazon: Waterproof Phone Case. The photos taken by the rafting company cost over $40.


For Kids: They stopped to let the kids swim in the rain!

Jack taking a swim in Pigeon River



WonderWorks


Its an upside down house!

WonderWorks caught the boys’ attention as we drove into town because it’s a huge upside down house. Inside is a combination of science museum, children’s museum, and amusement park. They have hands-on exhibits, a massive ropes course, and even roller coaster simulators. A great afternoon of fun!

Highlights: The entire family enjoyed the 6D movie experience with moving seats.

All ready for the movie!


Travel Tip: Ask about discounts. They offered lower ticket prices for miltary families, police officers, teachers, and more.

Trying out the rock wall


For Kids: Everything here is for kids! There are height requirements for several of the attractions so check before you go. Liam had to sit quite a few things out, but there was still plenty to keep him entertained.

Playing with bubbles

 
We were sad to say goodbye to Tennessee and the beautiful Great Smoky Mountains. This is a perfect place for a family getaway! 

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!