One thing we've tried to do on our big out-of-state trips is visit friends and family we haven't seen for a while. On our trip to Virginia, we reached out to some friends who we hadn't seen since college. We'd kept in contact through Christmas cards and Facebook, but that isn't the same as actually getting to visit with them in person. They had lived in various parts of the country as well as in Europe for several years before returning to the U.S. and buying a home in Virginia near Washington D.C. They kindly invited us to stay at their home for a few nights while we visited the D.C. area, and showed us where to catch the metrolink so that we didn't have to worry about parking in the city. They also had some great advice on visiting a site we'd never even heard of. Not only were we able to renew our friendship with them, our oldest daughter struck up a friendship with one of their daughters. Also, one of our youngest daughter's favorite activities was chasing fireflies in their backyard.
Once again, on our recent trip to Texas, I was able to see a high school buddy that I hadn't seen since the summer after we graduated. We had lost track of each other for many years, but reconnected on Facebook. When we visited San Antonio, we made plans to meet him and his family at a restaurant. We had never met each others' families, so it was fun to meet them, catch up on what was going on in our lives, and reminisce about fond memories from our teenage years.
So, next time you are planning a trip, take a moment to peruse your address book and see if you can reconnect with someone. Not only can you get some good advice regarding places to visit, places to eat, and places to avoid, it can strengthen your friendship and provide some of the best memories once the trip is over.
Sunday, February 26, 2017
Monday, February 20, 2017
Spotlight: Virginia - Mount Vernon
Spotlight: In the antebellum south, plantation owners lovingly gave names to their beautiful plantations. Although George Washington is more famous for his roles as general of the Colonial Army and first President of the United States, he was also a plantation owner. His plantation was named Mount Vernon by its previous owner, his brother Lawrence who named it after his commanding officer. The mansion began as a modest one and one-half story farmhouse built in 1735 by Augustine Washington, George's father. It was later inherited by George's half-brother Lawrence. When Lawrence died, ownership of the plantation eventually passed on to George, who began residing there in 1754. Over the next 45 years, George slowly added on the Mansion, supervising each renovation and eventually expanding it to 21 rooms.
Following Washington's death in 1799, the estate began to deteriorate due to decreased revenues. It was saved from ruin by The Mount Vernon Ladies' Association who acquired and restored the historic buildings. It was designated a National Historic Monument in 1960.
Location: Mount Vernon is located at 3200 Mount Vernon Highway, Mt. Vernon, VA on the shores of the Potomac River, just south of Washington D.C.
Cost: Adults (12+): $20, Seniors (62+): $19, Youth (6-11): $10, Children (0-5): free
Time: Open from 9:00-4:00 (November-March), 9:00-5:00 (April-October); we planned on only staying for 2-3 hours, but ended up staying 6 1/2 hours. You could easily spend a full day here.
Description: After the death of his brother, Lawrence, George took up residence in the Mansion at Mount Vernon. The 21 rooms are painted in vibrant colors and adorned with elegant furnishings from the era. Visitors can walk through the first and second floors and listen to guides who give interesting details about the house and its residents. The distinctive cupola on top of the mansion not only provided a fabulous view of the estate and river, it also served as a natural air conditioning by siphoning hot air out through the open windows. The shaded piazza was also unique for that era, allowing the family to take tea outside on hot summer days.
Many of the essential household operations took place in the many outbuildings located around the Mansion, including: the Kitchen, the Blacksmith Shop, the Spinning House, the Greenhouse, the Smokehouse, the Stables, and more.
Surrounding the Mansion and outbuildings are several fabulous gardens. Some of the gardens were to add beauty to the grounds. Others served different purposes including growing fruits, vegetables, herbs and spices. They also allowed Washington to test out the viability of new species of plants in the humid Virginia climate. Visitors can also explore the wooded landscape of the 1/4 mile forest trail.
Around the property, visitors can see the various animals that Washington raised on his grounds: horses, donkeys, cows, hogs, sheep, turkeys, chickens, mules and oxen.
Washington was originally buried in the Old Tomb near the Mansion. However, prior to his death, he had chosen a site for the New Tomb to be constructed. Once it was completed, the remains of George, his wife Martha, and other family members were moved to the new site. Near the New Tomb is a Slave Memorial and Burial Ground for the unmarked graves of the many slaves and free blacks that lived, worked, and died at Mount Vernon.
From April to October, visitors can explore the reconstructed Pioneer Farm where Washington experimented with new agricultural ideas such as crop rotation, fertilizers, plowing practices, etc. You can visit the replica 16-sided Treading Barn and the reconstructed slave cabin and watch workers in period dress perform labors that were common during the late 1700's.
One of Washington's most successful enterprises was his fishery. Visitors can walk onto the reconstructed wharf where they can access the sightseeing cruise from April to October.
The Donald W. Reynolds Museum and Education Center traces Washington's life through a variety of multimedia presentations that explore his childhood, his adventures on the American frontier, his role in the Revolutionary War, his presidency, and of course his family life at Mount Vernon. The museum displays more than 500 objects that were part of the Washingtons' daily lives.
The Robert H. and Clarice Smith Auditorium shows four different movies included in the price of admission: The Winter Patriots, Yorktown: Now or Never, Saving Mount Vernon, and Mount Vernon in Virginia.
Your general admission ticket also gives you access to the nearby Distillery and Gristmill, both of which are still functioning just as they did at the end of the 18th century.
The Mount Vernon Inn Restaurant serves classic American dishes common during the late 18th century, and served by waiters in period dress in a colonial setting. There is also a food court with quicker, modern options. We tried the Mount Vernon Inn Restaurant and enjoyed it immensely.
Rating: 5 stars (out of 5)
Things You Should Know: - Parking is free. You can also come by rail from Washington DC. Take Metrorail's Yellow Line to Huntington Station. Exit at the lower level of the station (Huntington Avenue) to catch a Fairfax Connector bus to Mount Vernon. Board the Fairfax Connector Bus #101, the Fort Hunt Line, for a 20-minute trip to Mount Vernon's entrance gate.
- Timed tickets to the Mansion tour are available on a first-come, first-serve basis.
- Daily add-on tours include: the Sightseeing Cruise ($11), National Treasure Tour ($7), Gardens & Groves Tour ($4), the Enslaved People of Mt. Vernon Tour ($4), and the Audio Tour ($6). To engage our daughters more, we did the National Treasure Tour (based on the Hollywood movie) and loved it! It is the only tour that takes you under the mansion to the subterranean cellar.
- On the tour we learned that although there is no secret passage in the cellar; there was one from the bottom of the Ice House to the river at the base of the hill. When the script writers learned this, they got so excited, they modified the script to include a secret passage.
- Weekend add-on tours include: Dinner for the Washingtons ($7), Through My Eyes Character Tour ($7), and the All the President's Pups Walking Tour ($7)
- You get a 10% discount on online ticket purchases from the Mt. Vernon website.
- If you come with kids, download the Agent 711 Spy Adventure app which allows them to use their spy skills as they explore the grounds.
Nearby: Piscataway Park, Fort Washington Park, Woodlawn & Frank Lloyd Wright's Pope-Leighey House, Gunston Hall
Location: Mount Vernon is located at 3200 Mount Vernon Highway, Mt. Vernon, VA on the shores of the Potomac River, just south of Washington D.C.
Cost: Adults (12+): $20, Seniors (62+): $19, Youth (6-11): $10, Children (0-5): free
Time: Open from 9:00-4:00 (November-March), 9:00-5:00 (April-October); we planned on only staying for 2-3 hours, but ended up staying 6 1/2 hours. You could easily spend a full day here.
Description: After the death of his brother, Lawrence, George took up residence in the Mansion at Mount Vernon. The 21 rooms are painted in vibrant colors and adorned with elegant furnishings from the era. Visitors can walk through the first and second floors and listen to guides who give interesting details about the house and its residents. The distinctive cupola on top of the mansion not only provided a fabulous view of the estate and river, it also served as a natural air conditioning by siphoning hot air out through the open windows. The shaded piazza was also unique for that era, allowing the family to take tea outside on hot summer days.
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| Spinning House |
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| Blacksmith Shop |
Washington was originally buried in the Old Tomb near the Mansion. However, prior to his death, he had chosen a site for the New Tomb to be constructed. Once it was completed, the remains of George, his wife Martha, and other family members were moved to the new site. Near the New Tomb is a Slave Memorial and Burial Ground for the unmarked graves of the many slaves and free blacks that lived, worked, and died at Mount Vernon.
One of Washington's most successful enterprises was his fishery. Visitors can walk onto the reconstructed wharf where they can access the sightseeing cruise from April to October.
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| Photographic proof of the Cherry Tree incident |
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| Washington's sword |
Your general admission ticket also gives you access to the nearby Distillery and Gristmill, both of which are still functioning just as they did at the end of the 18th century.
The Mount Vernon Inn Restaurant serves classic American dishes common during the late 18th century, and served by waiters in period dress in a colonial setting. There is also a food court with quicker, modern options. We tried the Mount Vernon Inn Restaurant and enjoyed it immensely.
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| our waiter at the Mount Vernon Inn Restaurant |
Things You Should Know: - Parking is free. You can also come by rail from Washington DC. Take Metrorail's Yellow Line to Huntington Station. Exit at the lower level of the station (Huntington Avenue) to catch a Fairfax Connector bus to Mount Vernon. Board the Fairfax Connector Bus #101, the Fort Hunt Line, for a 20-minute trip to Mount Vernon's entrance gate.
- Timed tickets to the Mansion tour are available on a first-come, first-serve basis.
- Daily add-on tours include: the Sightseeing Cruise ($11), National Treasure Tour ($7), Gardens & Groves Tour ($4), the Enslaved People of Mt. Vernon Tour ($4), and the Audio Tour ($6). To engage our daughters more, we did the National Treasure Tour (based on the Hollywood movie) and loved it! It is the only tour that takes you under the mansion to the subterranean cellar.
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| Cellar door entrance |
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| Ice House entrance |
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| Erika hiding where Ben Gates entered the party |
- Weekend add-on tours include: Dinner for the Washingtons ($7), Through My Eyes Character Tour ($7), and the All the President's Pups Walking Tour ($7)
- You get a 10% discount on online ticket purchases from the Mt. Vernon website.
- If you come with kids, download the Agent 711 Spy Adventure app which allows them to use their spy skills as they explore the grounds.
Nearby: Piscataway Park, Fort Washington Park, Woodlawn & Frank Lloyd Wright's Pope-Leighey House, Gunston Hall
Sunday, February 12, 2017
Spotlight: Virginia - Historic Yorktown
Spotlight: In the fall of 1781, a combined army of colonial troops, led by General George Washington, and French troops under the command of General Comte de Rochambeau laid siege to British troops under the command of Lord General Charles Cornwallis at the small town of Yorktown. General Cornwallis had led his troops to the Yorktown peninsula in hopes of getting some much needed rest. Meanwhile Gen. Washington and his troops were preparing for a major offensive against New York when word reached him that the French fleet was headed to Virginia. Recognizing the opportunity to catch the British unawares, Washington led every available soldier down to Virginia, where he and his troops penned the British troops in by land while the French fleet prevented their escape by sea. Cornwallis requested help from the British forces in New York, but the fleet sent under the command of Admiral Graves was both outnumbered and outmaneuvered by French Admiral De Grasse. The two day naval battle ended with the British fleeing back to New York. In the meantime, Washington and his troops encircled the 9,000 British troops at Yorktown. For three weeks, the Colonial army, fortified by heavy French cannon, bombarded the British troops. However, British Redoubts #9 and #10 were keeping the cannons out of range of the city. On the moonless night of Oct. 14, the American army attacked Redoubt #10 while tasking the French with taking Redoubt #9. Both attacks succeeded, allowing the Colonial army to move in the heavy artillery. A British counterattack on Oct. 15 succeeded in spiking 6 guns, but failed to break through. Next, Cornwallis attempted to sneak off the peninsula by crossing the river in boats; but they were scattered in a storm. Finally, on Oct. 17, 1781, Lord Cornwallis waved the white flag of surrender. After two days of negotiations, Cornwallis reluctantly signed the surrender documents. Too embarrassed to deliver his sword to General Washington in person, he sent his second-in-command. Rather than accept the proffered offering, Washington sent the man to his second-in-command to accept it. Although the battle didn't officially end the war, it was the last major engagement of the American Revolution, successfully paving the way for the creation of a new country, the United States of America.
Location: The Yorktown Battlefield Visitor Center is located at 1000 Colonial Parkway, Yorktown.
Cost: $7 per adult; A 4-site ticket to Historic Jamestowne, Jamestown Settlement, Yorktown Battlefield and Yorktown Victory Center: $37/adult, $25/youth (13-15), and $14/child (6-12) can be purchased in Jamestown.
Time: The Visitor Center is open from 9:00 am - 5:00 pm. Park grounds are closed at sunset. Plan on spending between 2-5 hours exploring the Visitor Center and battlefield.
Description: Yorktown Battlefield is part of Colonial National Historical Park, run by the National Parks Service. The Visitor Center has an orientation film "Siege at Yorktown," a museum with artifacts from the battlefield, and a bookstore, as well as information on tours. On the battlefield, visitors can take a ranger-led tour of the earthworks, fields and historic buildings that played a part in the battle. Other points of interest include:
- Cornwallis' Cave - While legend places Cornwallis’ headquarters here, he was actually located in a bunker near Tobacco Road.
- Moore House - Site of negotiations that led to the British surrender at Yorktown on October 19, 1781.
- Nelson House - Restored mansion of Thomas Nelson Jr., a signer of the Declaration of Independence, Governor of Virginia, and commander of the Virginia Militia during the Siege of Yorktown.
- Poor Potter Archaeological Site - Described as a “poor potter” by Royal Governor William Gooch in 1732, William Rogers actually operated a large-scale pottery in Yorktown from 1720-1745 in violation of English trade laws.
- Yorktown Victory Monument - Commissioned by the Continental Congress in 1781 to commemorate the great victory at Yorktown, this monument was constructed between 1881 and 1884.
Rating: 4 stars (out of 5)
Things You Should Know: - The battlefield park is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas & New Years Day.
- The ticket to Colonial National Park sold at the Yorktown Visitor Center is only good for designated National Park sites at Yorktown and Jamestown. The 4-site ticket is not sold at Yorktown Visitor Center.
Nearby: Riverwalk Landing Marina, American Revolution Museum at Yorktown, Colonial Williamsburg, Historic Jamestown
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| Yorktown today |
Cost: $7 per adult; A 4-site ticket to Historic Jamestowne, Jamestown Settlement, Yorktown Battlefield and Yorktown Victory Center: $37/adult, $25/youth (13-15), and $14/child (6-12) can be purchased in Jamestown.
Time: The Visitor Center is open from 9:00 am - 5:00 pm. Park grounds are closed at sunset. Plan on spending between 2-5 hours exploring the Visitor Center and battlefield.
Description: Yorktown Battlefield is part of Colonial National Historical Park, run by the National Parks Service. The Visitor Center has an orientation film "Siege at Yorktown," a museum with artifacts from the battlefield, and a bookstore, as well as information on tours. On the battlefield, visitors can take a ranger-led tour of the earthworks, fields and historic buildings that played a part in the battle. Other points of interest include:
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| Replica cannon deck |
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| battlefield dioramas |
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| General Washington's command tent |
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| battlefield artillery |
- Moore House - Site of negotiations that led to the British surrender at Yorktown on October 19, 1781.
- Nelson House - Restored mansion of Thomas Nelson Jr., a signer of the Declaration of Independence, Governor of Virginia, and commander of the Virginia Militia during the Siege of Yorktown.
- Poor Potter Archaeological Site - Described as a “poor potter” by Royal Governor William Gooch in 1732, William Rogers actually operated a large-scale pottery in Yorktown from 1720-1745 in violation of English trade laws.
- Yorktown Victory Monument - Commissioned by the Continental Congress in 1781 to commemorate the great victory at Yorktown, this monument was constructed between 1881 and 1884.
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| Victory Monument |
Things You Should Know: - The battlefield park is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas & New Years Day.
- The ticket to Colonial National Park sold at the Yorktown Visitor Center is only good for designated National Park sites at Yorktown and Jamestown. The 4-site ticket is not sold at Yorktown Visitor Center.
Nearby: Riverwalk Landing Marina, American Revolution Museum at Yorktown, Colonial Williamsburg, Historic Jamestown
Monday, February 6, 2017
Spotlight: Virginia - Historic Jamestowne
Spotlight: Jamestown was the first permanent English colony in the Americas. It was established on May 14, 1607 as James Fort by the Virginia Company of London. Although the Paspahegh Tribe initially welcomed the settlers and saved the colony from starvation, relations soon deteriorated into warfare. During the "Starving Time" (1609-1610), about 80% of the colonists perished, which led to the temporary abandonment of the settlement. It was quickly resettled after the arrival of a relief fleet on June 10, 1610 - celebrated as the Day of Providence. However, the arrival of the fleet led to renewed conflict between the settlers and the natives. It wasn't until the English captured Chief Wahunsenacawh's daughter, Pocahontas, that a peace treaty was finally signed. Pocahontas eventually married one of the English settlers, John Rolfe, helping solidify the uneasy peace between the settlers and the natives. Unfortunately, Pocahontas became sick on a goodwill trip to England, and died soon after. When her father also passed away, leadership of the tribe fell upon her brother, Chief Opechancanough. For more than two decades, he sought to expel the English from the Powhatan lands. He was eventually captured and killed, leading the the decline and eventual demise of the Powhatan Nation. Jamestown served as the capital of Virginia from 1616-1699, at which time the capital was transferred to Williamsburg.
Today, Jamestown forms one corner of what is known as the Historical Triangle (together with Williamsburg and Yorktown) and is comprised of two parts. Historic Jamestowne is an archaeological site on the island where the settlement actually existed, and is co-run by the National Parks System as part of the Colonial National Historical Park. Jamestown Settlement is a living history interpretive site operated by the Jamestown Yorktown Foundation.
Location: Historic Jamestowne is located at 1368 Colonial Pkwy on Jamestown Island on the shores of the James River about 50+ miles southeast of Richmond.
Cost: Historic Jamestowne: $14/adult (only $5 for NPS/PV passholders); active military, access pass holders, and children under 15 are free. A 4-site ticket to Historic Jamestowne, Jamestown Settlement, Yorktown Battlefield and Yorktown Victory Center: $37/adult, $25/youth (13-15), and $14/child (6-12).
Time: Historic Jamestowne is open from 8:30 am - 5:00 pm daily.
Description: Historic Jamestowne is principally an ongoing archaeological site. The Visitor Center shows an immersive “theater in the round” orientation film and exhibits galleries highlighting the history of Jamestown Island from prehistoric times to the present, stretching back 15,000 years. A giant map features “The Atlantic World in 1607.” Of the nearly 2 million artifacts uncovered by National Park Service archaeologists working at Jamestown since 1930's, over 1,000 are on display in the Visitor Center. The artifacts and accompanying exhibit texts relate information about the contributions made by the three major cultures that created the Jamestown story: Virginia Indian, European, and African. This gallery helps tell the story of Jamestown’s growth into James City in the decades after the fort was dismantled.
The Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities conducted archaeology around the old church foundations and reconstructed a church in time for the 300th anniversary of the settlement. The 1907 Memorial Church was designed by Boston architects Edmund Wheelwright and Ralph Adams Cram. The church was modeled after St. Luke’s Church in Smithfield and used bricks from two old buildings in Hampton, VA. Glass panels in the floor allow visitors to see the brick foundations of the 17th-century churches, including the one in which the colonists met in 1619 for the first representative assembly in English North America. The Memorial Church is adjacent to but not directly connected to the 17th-century tower. It was officially dedicated on May 13, 1908.
The Voorhees Archaearium Archaeology Museum displays more than 4,000 artifacts from the colony. Most of the displays focus on the colony's early years - particularly 1607-1624, but at least one display is dedicated to recent discoveries. Visitors learn how these artifacts were uncovered, including archaeological techniques and tools.
New Towne is the residential area that developed eastward of James Fort. It was the heart of the new colony and grew quickly, eventually becoming known as James Cittie. When the NPS took possession of the area, their archaeological efforts focused on this area. Brick walls mark the original foundations, and visitors can explore the ruins of the Ambler House which still remain centuries later.
Daily programs include "Archaeology in Action!" (ongoing - periodically during morning and afternoon hours) and the James Fort Education Walking Tour (11:00 am - noon daily & 2:00 - 3:00 on weekends). During the summer, they do a glassblowing exhibition which is absolutely fascinating.
Rating: 3 1/2 stars (out of 5)
Things You Should Know: - Historic Jamestowne and Jamestown Settlement are two different sites run by two different groups. Tickets to each site are sold separately, but joint tickets are available.
- Historic Jamestowne is closed for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years.
- The glassblowers have a shop where you can buy some of their products. My wife absolutely loves some of the pieces she purchased there.
Nearby: Colonial Williamsburg, Busch Gardens Williamsburg, Yorktown Battlefield, Yorktown Naval Weapons Station
Today, Jamestown forms one corner of what is known as the Historical Triangle (together with Williamsburg and Yorktown) and is comprised of two parts. Historic Jamestowne is an archaeological site on the island where the settlement actually existed, and is co-run by the National Parks System as part of the Colonial National Historical Park. Jamestown Settlement is a living history interpretive site operated by the Jamestown Yorktown Foundation.
Location: Historic Jamestowne is located at 1368 Colonial Pkwy on Jamestown Island on the shores of the James River about 50+ miles southeast of Richmond.
Cost: Historic Jamestowne: $14/adult (only $5 for NPS/PV passholders); active military, access pass holders, and children under 15 are free. A 4-site ticket to Historic Jamestowne, Jamestown Settlement, Yorktown Battlefield and Yorktown Victory Center: $37/adult, $25/youth (13-15), and $14/child (6-12).
Time: Historic Jamestowne is open from 8:30 am - 5:00 pm daily.
Description: Historic Jamestowne is principally an ongoing archaeological site. The Visitor Center shows an immersive “theater in the round” orientation film and exhibits galleries highlighting the history of Jamestown Island from prehistoric times to the present, stretching back 15,000 years. A giant map features “The Atlantic World in 1607.” Of the nearly 2 million artifacts uncovered by National Park Service archaeologists working at Jamestown since 1930's, over 1,000 are on display in the Visitor Center. The artifacts and accompanying exhibit texts relate information about the contributions made by the three major cultures that created the Jamestown story: Virginia Indian, European, and African. This gallery helps tell the story of Jamestown’s growth into James City in the decades after the fort was dismantled.
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| glassed view of original foundations |
New Towne is the residential area that developed eastward of James Fort. It was the heart of the new colony and grew quickly, eventually becoming known as James Cittie. When the NPS took possession of the area, their archaeological efforts focused on this area. Brick walls mark the original foundations, and visitors can explore the ruins of the Ambler House which still remain centuries later.
Daily programs include "Archaeology in Action!" (ongoing - periodically during morning and afternoon hours) and the James Fort Education Walking Tour (11:00 am - noon daily & 2:00 - 3:00 on weekends). During the summer, they do a glassblowing exhibition which is absolutely fascinating.
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| archeologists in action |
Things You Should Know: - Historic Jamestowne and Jamestown Settlement are two different sites run by two different groups. Tickets to each site are sold separately, but joint tickets are available.
- Historic Jamestowne is closed for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years.
- The glassblowers have a shop where you can buy some of their products. My wife absolutely loves some of the pieces she purchased there.
Nearby: Colonial Williamsburg, Busch Gardens Williamsburg, Yorktown Battlefield, Yorktown Naval Weapons Station
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