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Liki Tiki Village by Hilton Grand Vacations is a wonderful family hotel with a Polynesian theme. Centrally located in Orlando, you can have a piece of Hawaii without leaving the mainland! It is the perfect spot to stay while you’re having fun at the theme …
Universal Studios Florida™ and Universal’s Islands of Adventure™ is not just for children, it is a grown-ups playground. With so many things to see and do, you will not be bored for a minute. This theme park brings the movies and TV to life! There are many …
We recently took a road trip to Virginia where we quickly learned that Virginia is not “only” for lovers. The state offers so much rich history and fun stuff for a family to do. With our sons now of teenage age, our road trip to Virginia’s historical sites was the perfect opportunity to not only learn more about our country but to actually see and experience it in real life.
Our family has traveled extensively abroad, but we have not spent much time traveling within the United States. My husband is a history buff, so we decided to take our boys on an epic road trip from Florida to Virginia to visit Virginia’s amazing historical sites.
Located in Charleston, South Carolina, our first stop was to pay a visit to the “world’s first successful combat submarine,” the Hunley. Our tour guide was extremely informative and we enjoyed the experience.
Next stop was at a fun town located literally on the border of North and South Carolina. What a fun place South of the Border is! Vibrant colors surround this mini-Mexico, and it was a fun road trip break to get out and stretch our legs. My boys loved the attractions and sights and we all enjoyed the opportunity to dine and shop a little.
After 12+ hours in the car, we finally arrived in Virginia! We decided to head straight to our hotel, the Historic Powhatan Resort, which is owned by Diamond Resorts.
Our goal was to rest and refresh in time to begin exploring Virginia’s historical sites. We stayed at this resort for the entire time we were in Virginia, so it was nice to have a place to come “home” to at the end of each day. We were able to make use of the swimming pool and hot tub on days we had extra time in the evenings.
While there was so much to see and do in Virginia, here are our top five fun family activities:
Mount Vernon was George Washington’s plantation home. This lush and well-manicured estate is situated next to the Potomac River. It is not far from Washington, D.C. which makes it an easy day trip. With school aged children, this was a really great opportunity to make history come to life! My teenage boys were amazed to experience first-hand what Colonial America in Washington’s time was like rather than reading about this era in a history book.
Mount Vernon Estate is made up of many different components. The mansion is the actual living quarters of our first President and General, George Washington. The first two floors are available for general touring (there is a third floor, which requires an additional admission fee). The mansion is well-preserved with period furniture so it looks just like it would have looked during Washington’s time, but photos are not allowed inside the mansion.
The outdoors, or the grounds of the Estate, are just as beautiful as the indoor mansion. There were several small buildings that comprised, among others, George Washington’s barn, carriage, tools, meat curing, spinning, and laundry facilities. The intricate gardens are also presently maintained and open for visitors to stroll through.
The icehouse is located along the Potomac River and although the icehouse is not available for touring because of its 22 foot drop, it was amazing to see its proximity to the Potomac River and to read about how it was used to make ice for the family. The Potomac River runs along the base of the Estate and, although Mount Vernon is located on the Virginia side, the other side is Maryland! My boys got a kick out of pointing to the other side. There are also special tours available to cruise on the Potomac River by boat.
Washington’s Tomb is also located on the Estate and it is a quiet place of reflection. George Washington lays on the right, and on his left, lays his wife, Martha Washington.
Kid Facts: Mount Vernon offers a special behind-the-scenes tour that takes visitors through a number of locations that were featured in National Treasure: Book of Secrets featuring Nicholas Cage. The Potomac River and the back of the Mansion are some of those scenes and while we were in the Mansion’s basement, we took this photo, not knowing it was not allowed – oops! When we got home, we watched the movie and paused at the point in the movie where the basement was shown so we could compare with our own photo.
Virginia’s Historic Triangle is comprised of Williamsburg, Jamestown, and Yorktown, which were all important stops on our nation’s journey from English settlement to a new, independent nation. Connected by 23 scenic miles, the three towns are jointly administered by the National Park Service and The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. Tickets to all three sites can be booked via this website.
Tickets to experience the Historic Triangle can be expensive, but we really wanted to experience first-hand Colonial America, so we decided in advance to spend one full day at each location.
The Battle of Yorktown ended on October 19, 1781 and marked a decisive victory by the American and French armies over British troops led by General Cornwallis. The battle not only boosted faltering American morale and revived French enthusiasm for the American Revolutionary War, but it helped undermine popular support for the conflict in England. During our tour of the battlefield, a National Park employee explained the battle, sights, and surrender flags situated throughout the battlefield. We loved being able to spatially orient ourselves and imagine the 18th century scene.
The American Revolution Museum is an outdoor living museum with people dressed in period costumes, illustrating how people in that time period would have lived from day to day. Officially dedicated on April 1, 2017, the museum boasts 22,000 square feet of exhibition space with films, interactive galleries, and artifacts.
Just outside the main museum building is the Revolution-era farm site, complete with log kitchens and attached brick chimneys.
The museum posted procession times and we decided to hang around outside so we could catch it live. The fife and drums procession was absolutely amazing to hear live!
Like the American Revolution Museum, Jamestown Settlement is a living history museum that visitors can walk through and get a first-hand feeling of what life was like during the time of the Revolution. It is a preserved piece of history situated in the heart of Virginia and consists of an expansive gallery, three re-created ships that visitors may climb aboard and explore, and numerous cafes and shops. The Jamestown settlement ships were the highlight of this stop and we loved being able to climb aboard and experience the small, but efficient ships.
We also enjoyed visiting Powhatan Indian Village, a re-created Indian village featuring reed-covered houses, crops, and a ceremonial circle of carved wooden posts.
The Jamestown Settlement also contains the re-created James Fort, a recreation of the Virginia Company of London’s 1610-14 outpost.
Colonial Williamsburg was the highlight of our Virginia’s Historic Triangle experience. It was like nothing I have ever seen! One minute, I was in modern day 21st century and the next minute, I had time traveled and stepped into the past. Visiting Colonial Williamsburg is an amazing teaching experience for children! It is definitely worth setting aside a full day for the experience and favoring Colonial Williamsburg over Yorktown and Jamestown. Make sure to wear good walking shoes as there is a lot of ground to cover!
Colonial Williamsburg is a re-created 18th century city and is the world’s largest living history museum. There are over 40 sites and trades, four historic taverns, and two world-class museums on site.
The Colonial Williamsburg website is a critical resource in planning any visit. There are suggested interest-based itineraries, a full events calendar, and even a list of must do activities for first timers.
We particularly enjoyed the opportunity to go on a horse carriage ride and we also sat in on a mock trial session that my kids were able to participate in. If I had more time, I would have liked to have participated in a wool spinning class, but even with dedicating a full day to the experience, there was so much to do that I did not have time to work it in.
Located in Richmond, the White House of the Confederacy was the Executive Mansion of the Confederacy from 1861-1865, when Richmond was the capital of the Confederacy. During the Civil War, the President of the Confederacy, Jefferson Davis, lived in this home. It is from here that he fled just before the surrender of Robert E. Lee’s Army at Appomattox.
The White House houses a collection of objects associated with the Confederacy and President Davis. A contemporary museum in the building houses many other Confederate artifacts, including Robert E. Lee’s field tent and Stonewall Jackson’s sword and cap.
The Naval Station Norfolk is located in Norfolk, Virginia, the southeastern corner of the state. It is home to the world’s largest naval base. We were able to tour the base and see many ships, aircraft carriers, and destroyers. The tours are conducted by naval personnel and last 45 minutes and cost (cash only) $10 for adults and $5 for children 3-11, senior citizens over the age of 60. Although we could not get up close to the ships, it was a good opportunity to get a feel for what it is like to live on base. The entire experience took about three hours.
Although not a historical site, we decided to indulge in a visit to Busch Gardens and Water Country near the end of our trip. Living in Florida, we are no stranger to water parks. Even though we have Busch Gardens and Adventure Island, Busch Gardens in Williamsburg had a much different vibe. We enjoyed the expansion of countries represented throughout the park. Water Country was also much bigger than we expected and overall, we had a great day experiencing the parks.
As we neared the end of our trip, we could not have imagined it going any better than it did. We had a wonderful time learning about our country together. Our 10-day road trip turned into a full semester of historical learning. For families with school-aged children, I highly recommend taking a trip to experience Virginia’s vibrant history!
If you’re looking for unique places to visit on the Big Island of Hawaii, especially if you’re traveling as a couple, you’re at the right place. This is our story of our paradise vacation without our children. We decided to visit the Big Island of …
Sea Mountain Resort on The Big Island of Hawaii is a place where you can unwind from it all. If you’re looking for a quieter secluded resort, this is the place where you want to stay. This would be the perfect place, especially for couples! On our …
Welcome to Royal Kona Resort located in Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii! This resort will leave you breathless as you marvel at its beauty inside and out. It has everything you would want for an oceanside escape.
You’ll easily spot the Royal Kona Resort. It has a unique design and you can spot it easily from the water or while strolling down the sidewalks of Kailua Village. Kailua Village is a historic district and there are many convenience stores, souvenir shops, artisan shops, restaurants, and wonderful snowcones all within walking distance of the resort. If anything, you need to try the snowcones. They are delicious!
As you arrive to check in at the resort, or if you’re not staying here and just want to take a sneak peek, you’ll notice the beautiful layout and grounds. You can get anymore Hawaiian than this! Beautiful lush tropical plants adorn the entryway along with a koi pond and tiki sculpture.
The pool and hot tub are a nice size, clean, and, of course, you get the beach view while you’re lounging or swimming.
However, if you’d rather snorkel, you can check out the lagoon next door! That’s right. I said next door! The lagoon is actually perfect for first-time snorkelers like me. You get the full experience of snorkeling without being in the open ocean.
When you’re finished after a day of snorkeling, beach, or pool, you can get ready for the evening entertainment! The Voyagers of the Pacific is Royal Kona Resort’s top-notch authentic luau! However, you need to make reservations here. Aside from an awesome luau (Big Island of Hawaii | A Couples Paradise Vacation), the in-ground smoked whole pig meal is delicious! And don’t get me started with the free Mai Tais!
The resort went above and beyond in welcoming us. We had mentioned at booking time that we were celebrating our 20th wedding anniversary. Lo and behold, when we arrived at our room we were greeted with this lovely note and champagne!
Although we did not have a full oceanfront room, we still had a great view of the ocean (partial view).
What a better way to end the night with a gorgeous sunset accompanied with the one you love.
For more check out my post “Big Island of Hawaii | A Couples Paradise Vacation.”
Make my surprise Christmas gift take you and your loved one on a weekend getaway to the big apple. Here is a list of everything you can do in two short days as a couple! In addition, it is not hard to explore NYC like …
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I have to say, that Copa Airlines is one of the BEST airlines when it comes to service! We were all pleasantly surprised when we received food and with REAL utensils! What? Who gets that nowadays? The food was very good, too!
This will be short. We made a layover into Panama’s airport. I took this shot from the plane. I loved the scenery of the coast and was amazed at how many tall buildings there are!
Costa Rica is a great country to visit with a family, as a couple or solo. There is no shortage of activities here. We visited during the summer and, of course, it’s the busiest travel time. However, we did not think it was very populated given the fact that summer time is also the rainy season. The ticos (that’s what they call themselves) know that and run the majority of their errands before lunchtime. When it rains there, it is not your typical shower. It is a heavy rainfall and usually happens after noon. Sometimes it’s like clockwork.
Trek 1 – Volcan Irazú
Volcan Irazú is one of 6 active volcano’s in Costa Rica. There are about 61 dormant or extinct ones. It is also the tallest one reaching over 11,000 ft. If you visit here, make sure to take a sweater. You can get up real close to the sulfur crater. The black ash can be walked on, but only to a certain point. Please, please hold on to your camera, respect the signs and hold your little one’s hands.
When you visit this national park, there is a resting area. Costa Rica is home to the “pizotes.” It is an animal that resembles a mix between a racoon, anteater and a fox. They are thieves! While we were there, a woman had purchased something at a convenient store on site and it stole her bag and took it to their home where there were many more waiting!
Trek 2 – Cathedrals
The Catedral Metropolitana (Metropolitan Church) is located in the capital of San José. It is a beautiful church that was once destroyed by an earthquake; something Costa Rica has a lot of. It is worth a quick stop while you’re visiting the downtown markets and souvenir shops.
Have you ever seen the movie “Edward Scissorhands?” Well, this park located in front of the church will remind you of that movie! Zarcero Catedral and park is located in the city of Alajuela. Alajuela is such a quaint city in Costa Rica. The park is so much fun for kids to see and makes for great photos!
Trek 3 – La Paz Waterfall Gardens
La Paz is a MUST DO while you’re in Costa Rica. Everything you thought of as a rainforest, lush, tropical paradise is right here all in one place!
The waterfalls are amazing. There is a lot of walking and stairs, so bring good walking shoes.
The restroom at La Paz is even beautiful! The sinks are waterfalls! 
La Paz is not just a tourist spot, it is a lodge in which you can reserve for your stay. They have the best views here so make sure you check it out before booking a room in Costa Rica. Yes, that is me (wearing my colorful sneakers) relaxing by the waterfalls. I could have been there for a very long time!
You are really high, so take photos!
The animals were fantastic and our boys loved seeing & touching some of them!
Trek 4 – Movie Night!
One night we took a break from sightseeing because while we were there, the new movie premier of “Jurassic World” came out before it was out in the U.S.! Since we are big movie buffs and our boys really wanted to see it, we took advantage of the early release in Costa Rica. We loved seeing all the ads in Spanish for movies we recognize. “Jurassic World” was a great movie!
Trek 5 – National Museum
Costa Rica’s national museum houses many mysteries. Outside the museum are the mysterious stone spheres. They are mysterious because no one really knows what they were used for. There are currently two on display in the U.S. One is in Washington, D.C. and the other in Massachusetts. The museum is located in the heart of it’s capital city of San José. It contains an abundance of culture and artifacts. It is rich in history and if you want to know the depth of Costa Rica, this is a wonderful place to start your exploration of Costa Rica.
Trek 6 – The city of Sarchí
Sarchí is located in the province of Alajuela. It is an artisan town with unique and personalized artwork. You can request personal or customized artwork and make one of a kind souvenirs. This is where you can find many traditional painted oxcarts and secret puzzle compartment wood boxes which have become popular symbols and souvenirs for Costa Rica. They also have family-oriented businesses of woodworking and leather products.
Trek 7 – Hot Springs
Baldi Hot Springs is also a resort. It is a gorgeous place to spend a day and is considered the world’s largest hot spring! For children, they have a children’s water play area. For adults, you don’t even need to get of the pool for a drink because they have swim up bars. And when you’re hungry, there are 2 restaurants on site that serve delicious food! Relaxing in the warmth of the hot springs among the lush tropical atmosphere makes for a great day of pampering.
Excerpt taken by Baldi Hot Springs:
“25 THERMAL WATER POOLS.
Amidst the tropical rainforest, these 25 thermal water pools are filled by crystalline waterfalls, for the use and enjoyment of al visitors.
The purity of the water will make you feel like you are floating in a oasis of healing, with birds singing all around and the sound of falling water that invites you to relax and recover your wellness and quality of life.”
Trek 8 – Nighttime Zoo
The Arenal Eco Zoo is a great place especially for kids to learn all about the areas amphibian and reptile population. It is all hands on, or in my son’s case (see below) face on! Amazingly enough, the frogs that you think are normally poisonous are not poisonous at this zoo because what makes them poisonous is what they eat. These frogs do not eat anything that makes them poisonous here. The red-eyed tree frog Costa Rica’s iconic amphibian and is illustrated a lot like their mascot. While we were there, we took the adventurous route. We took the nighttime tour. This is the best time to tour this eco zoo because the animals are very active! If you have time, definitely go at night! For more information and reviews click here.
Trek 9 – Ziplining and Sky Tram
Ok. So I’m a big chicken and anything that involves heights or if I can’t touch the ocean floor is terrifying for me. Needless to say, I did not zip line. However, my husband and oldest son did. Our oldest son tried the mini zip line. My husband did the tallest zip line. Our youngest son and I were very comfortable on the sky tram.
We waited comfortably here and enjoyed the scenery. 🙂
My husband is a daredevil when it comes to zip lining, but strangely enough not roller coasters. Hmmm… Well, here he goes!
For more on ziplining in Costa Rica, check out my fellow travel blogger’s experience!
To sum it up, we had an awesome vacation in Costa Rica. It is family friendly and many people speak English. There is so much to enjoy in Costa Rica for all ages!
¡Adios!
Have you ever been to a place and your mouth just drops in amazement of how beautiful it is? There are many beautiful places in the world, but Arenal Observatory Lodge & Spa is truly the ultimate retreat in Costa Rica! During our trip to Costa …
