family posing in front of fireplace decorated for the holidays in the Pabst Mansion in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

    Playing “I Spy” While Touring the Pabst Mansion in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

    Last December, we visited Milwaukee, Wisconsin just before the Christmas holiday; when planning our visit, the locals’ top recommendation for a “must do” festive activity was a tour of the Pabst Mansion. The Milwaukee holiday tradition Christmas at the Pabst Mansion dates back to 1978 but is reimagined every year with unique and original decorations.

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    entrance to the Hamilton Grange National Monument in New York City

    Playing “I Spy” While Touring the Hamilton Grange National Monument in New York City

    The island of Manhattan has a dozen National Park sites that hold historical significance and one of the most popular sites (thanks to the Broadway show Hamilton) is Alexander Hamilton’s Grange National Monument, the only home Hamilton owned, located in uptown Manhattan. We recently spent the morning touring the property and learning all about Alexander…

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    Pendleton Lighthouse in St. Andrews in New Brunswick, Canada

    10 Ways to Explore St Andrews in New Brunswick, Canada

    We just returned from a few days in St. Andrews, one of Canada’s first seaside resort areas. We originally were using the stop as a layover before another destination, but ended up spending three days enjoying all of the historical sites, attractions, and beautiful beaches and parks.   One of the most popular maritime communities in…

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    family on the Roberto Clemente Bridge in Pittsburgh PA

    13 Ways to Have Fun in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania this Summer

    We just returned from a wonderful visit to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, home to almost three dozen colleges and universities, popular athletic teams, historical sites dating back to the French and Indian War, almost 100 distinct neighborhoods, a thriving food scene with distinct specialities, and tons of family friendly attractions, special events, and annual traditions.

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    inside the hall of Eagle's Nest at the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Mansion and Planetarium on Long Island, NY

    Playing “I Spy” While Touring Eagle’s Nest at the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Mansion and Planetarium on Long Island

    Eagle’s Nest is the Long Island summer home of William K. Vanderbilt II, the great grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt, and his wife Rosamond. What began as a small, seven room “English Cottage” on 43 acres in the early 1900s grew into a 24 room Spanish Revival mansion with several additional museum galleries filled with the…

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    front lawn of Vanderbilt Museum on Long Island, New York

    11 Ways to Explore the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum on Long Island

    One of the only remaining “Gilded Age Gold Coast” mansions on Long Island in New York, the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum is the former estate of William K. Vanderbilt and his third wife, Rosamond. The great-great grandson of shipping and railroad tycoon Cornelius Vanderbilt, William purchased the 43 acre property in Centerport on Long Island…

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