Anton Plaza and Roth Hall at Anton Plaza and Roth Hall of the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York

    Touring the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York.

    I just returned from a wonderful weekend in Hyde Park, New York, home of former US President Franklin D. Roosevelt. I have been to the area before with my family (we published a whole City Guide to Dutchess County with tons of family friendly activities), but this trip was focused on catching up with old…

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    inside the ICE! exhibit at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor Maryland

    Celebrating the Holidays at the Gaylord National Resort in National Harbor, Maryland

    Last December, on our travels home during the Christmas holiday, we stopped for one more holiday themed adventure at the Gaylord National Resort in National Harbor, Maryland. The resort complex is massive with plenty of activities the whole family will enjoy, including the popular holiday ICE! experience. 

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    standing in front of the replica gingerbread deli at Disney's Boardwalk resort in Florida

    Nine Tips for Seeing the Gingerbread Houses at Disney World

    Last December, we had the opportunity to cross an experience off my “bucket list”: seeing the gingerbread houses at Walt Disney World in Florida! Spoiler alert: The gingerbread houses and holiday decorations lived up to the hype and exceeded my expectations. We encourage everyone to make a pilgrimage to the Disney World resort area sometime…

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    our family at Winter Lights at the NC Arboretum in Asheville, NC

    10 Ways to Enjoy Winter Lights at the NC Arboretum in Asheville, NC

    Now in its 12th year, the Winter Lights festival at the NC Arboretum in Asheville, North Carolina is a must see and a great way to get into the holiday spirit. We spent Christmas 2024 in Asheville, and even though the city was still recovering from Hurricane Helene in September 2024, there were plenty of…

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    posing on the property of the Duke Homestead State Historic Site in Durham North Carolina

    Exploring the Duke Homestead State Historic Site in Durham, NC

    This summer, we enjoyed a wonderful weekend in Durham, North Carolina exploring many historic sites. One highlight was our visit to the Duke Homestead State Historic Site, former home of Washington Duke and his family. The site is open year round for visitors to explore the museum and property with several preserved structures.  Washington Duke,…

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    Playing “I Spy” While Touring the Virginia State Capitol in Richmond, VA

    Whenever our family visits a capital city, we always make time to tour the State Capitol. We love learning about a state’s history, its involvement in American history, and learning fun state trivia and what makes each state unique. This summer, we stopped in Richmond for a second tour (we originally visited in 2014 before…

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