Search Results for: Washington DC

Four East Coast Cities With Nearby Fun
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Four East Coast Cities With Nearby Fun

ByJennRecord

Large cities like Boston, New York City, Philadelphia, and DC are popular for good reason: There are historical sites dating back hundreds of years, tons of museums and galleries, and a seemingly endless variety of cultural events and ethnic food options. However, many of these large cities cast a bit of a “shadow” on nearby neighbors that can hold their own with visitors! We’ve spent some time over the past couple of years exploring some “smaller” cities within a short drive of well known metropolitans and we wanted to share many places to explore if you find yourself in town with an extra day or weekend.

10 Things to Do at Spyscape in New York City
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10 Things to Do at Spyscape in New York City

ByJennRecord

It’s one of our holiday traditions to make it into Manhattan for some holiday fun. We always enjoy seeing the lights, decorated windows and, of course, the trees. Each year, we also pick one new activity to do. This year, it was Spyscape. I can guarantee we’ll be going back.

Nine Ways to Have Fun at Winterthur in Wilmington, Delaware
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Nine Ways to Have Fun at Winterthur in Wilmington, Delaware

ByJennRecord

On a recent trip to Wilmington, Delaware (read our full City Guide here), we enjoyed an afternoon at one of the most beautiful estates, and property, in Wilmington, Delaware, Winterthur.

Built in 1839 for Jacques Antoine Bidermann and Evelina du Pont, descendants of the first du Ponts to arrive in the Wilmington area from France, Winterthur is a 1,000 acre estate that includes a 175 room home; museum and research library;  60 acres of gardens, rolling hills, and vistas; and the Enchanted Woods that kids of ALL ages will love.  Named after the ancestral Swiss home of Antoine Biderman, the home was sold to various generations of the family, who continued to add to the property. Great grandson Henry Francis du Pont, who was a prominent horticulturalist who also collected American decorative arts, took over the property in the early 1900s and expanded the house and gardens further. Over time, Henry Francis amassed the largest collection of decorative arts in the world- Winterthur has over 90,000 objects in its collection!

11 Ways to Have Fun in Wilmington, Delaware this Spring
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11 Ways to Have Fun in Wilmington, Delaware this Spring

ByJennRecord

Our family recently spent a wonderful weekend enjoying the historic sites, kid friendly attractions, beautiful parks, delicious food, and warm hospitality of Wilmington, Delaware. Spring is the perfect time to visit Wilmington, as many of the historic homes are opening for the season and the gardens are alive with vibrant flowers and plants.

10 Ways to Explore Hagley Museum and Library in Wilmington, Delaware
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10 Ways to Explore Hagley Museum and Library in Wilmington, Delaware

ByJennRecord

On a recent trip to beautiful Wilmington, Delaware, we had the opportunity to learn all about the history of the du Pont family and the DuPont Company, one of the first- and largest- supplier of black powder. One of the best ways to learn about the company and prominent Delaware family is to explore the property that includes both the home of the du Pont family and the gunpowder manufacturing site for the DuPont Company:  Hagley Museum and Library.

Touring the Maryland State House in Annapolis, Maryland
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Touring the Maryland State House in Annapolis, Maryland

ByJennRecord

On a recent visit to Annapolis, Maryland, we enjoyed learning all about the history of the state, and significant American history, while touring the State House in the heart of Annapolis.

Annapolis, Maryland was the capitol of America from November of 1783 through August of 1784, the first peacetime capitol and the only state house that served as America’s capitol. It is the oldest state house still in continuous legislative use and was the site of both George Washington’s resignation as Commander in Chief of the Continental Army in December of 1783 and the ratification of the Treaty of Paris, which ended the Revolutionary War in January of 1784.

The original State House was built in 1735 and renovated in 1876-1877, with an annex built in 1905, identified by the black strip of flooring on the first floor. There were significant update in 1940 and an additional, thorough restoration project in 2014. Today, construction continues at the front entrance, in the old Treasury Building, and across the street with the Department of Legislative Services building.  The first floor of the State House remains open to visitors for self guided tours, and several interactive exhibits are engaging for visitors of all ages!