Highlights of 2017

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My 2017 was filled with lots of fun travels. My family and I stayed mainly in New England, but we still managed to cover over 5,000 miles from northern Maine to New York City, and many places in between. For all of my new readers and followers, I thought I would highlight some of my favorite places and my most liked (and shared) posts from 2017:

Favorite new places from 2017:

Acadia National Park in Maine– Checking out the first sunrise on the East Coast at the top of Cadillac Mountain, eating popovers at Jordan’s Pond, and hiking throughout the park, Acadia brings you back to nature in so many special ways you (and your children) will forget all about technology.

Fort Adams in Rhode Island- We’ve been racking up our “fort count”, visiting four forts during 2017 alone; however, Fort Adams was the most engaging tour we went on, and we learned so much American history.

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Fall traditions:

The Farmer’s Daughter in Rhode Island has so many beautiful plantings, pumpkins, and inside decor to decorate for fall, as well as dozens of activities to keep children busy while you shop.

The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze in Van Cortlandt Manor, New York displays thousands of pumpkins with tons of famous replicas (one of my favs was the Tappan Zee Bridge)

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Perennial favorite spots to visit:

Salem, Massachusetts may be known as the Halloween Capital, but you’ll want to visit this seaside town for more than just the ghosts and goblins.

Newport, Rhode Island may be known for the summer “cottages” of the Gilded Age, but be sure to leave time for other historical venues, as well as the beach and outdoor parks.

New York Botanical Garden is a massive property and the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory is the epicenter, filled with beautiful exhibits and collections. Hop on and off the tram tour to check out the library and Children’s Garden for additional exhibits.

Bryant Park in New York is busy with family activities all year. Whether it’s ice skating in the winter, Broadway in Bryant Park in the summer, or taking a class, playing a game or riding the carousel, it’s an entertaining park for everyone.

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Planning Ahead:

If you’re planning a trip to Disney, check out my tips for Disney Dining. Get all your character photo opts and autographs while you dine and save yourself the time waiting in lines.We’re headed there again in 2018, and I’ll be looking for new recommendations. Feel free to leave a post below. 

If you want to visit New York City during the holidays, plan early (like summertime early!) to get the best seats, timing, and pricing. Some of these suggested activities are once in a lifetime, and some should be an annual tradition.

Wherever you travel, check to see if there is a Presidential Library nearby. There are 13 in total, and each library and museum offers so many interactive exhibits, many tailored to children, and each museum and library offers an insider perspective to the lives of the presidents, his family, and America.

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Helpful Tips: Learn from my past experiences (and mistakes!)

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Best wishes for safe and fun travels in 2018! Sign up for my weekly posts so I can share my family’s adventures in 2018.

New England based, part high school English teacher, part non profit founder, part road tripper who LOVES hopping in the family SUV to explore America. Our bucket list includes National Parks, MLB stadiums, presidential libraries, and eating wherever the locals eat!

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