We Go With Kids!

Category: fall getaway

  • Fall Getaway: Visiting Shenandoah National Park With Kids

    Fall Getaway: Visiting Shenandoah National Park With Kids

    Guest Blogger: Sandra Kozera is a Pittsburgh native who backpacked around Europe with Catherine ages ago.  She is a lawyer and member of the North Hills School Board.

    Almost every fall, our family travels to Shenandoah National Park in Virginia with some family friends.  It’s a beautiful area all year round, but it’s especially amazing when the leaves are changing.  Now, obviously a National-Park-destination trip has the capacity to be a pretty fun outdoorsy sort of adventure for the right sort of people (such as my friend who went on her honeymoon there last year).  However, we are not very outdoorsy, and our children are still relatively young (currently 8 and 5), but we’ve still enjoyed going almost annually since before the eight year old was born. Because we’ve done this trip so many times, we have some pretty good hacks for how to enjoy the park and enjoy nature without needing to even consider whether we should tie our food up in a tree so that bears don’t get it.  We love visiting Shenandoah National Park with kids.

    On the Way to Shenandoah National Park

    We live in Pittsburgh, and we drive to the park – it’s about a five hour trip for us.   Because car travel with small children can often be fraught with disaster, one year I decided to see if there was a farm where we could stop on the way, and we discovered Orr’s Farm Market in Martinsburg, West Virginia.  This is now my favorite farmer’s market. What I look for in a good farmer’s market: interesting things to do, minimal crowds, lots of produce. There are hayrides, animals, tons of apples, tons of pumpkins, and a whole area where kids can play, which is super important after hours of driving.  I’ve definitely thought about going to Orr’s just on a random Saturday even though it’s a three hour drive.

    We also always stop at Buffalo Wild Wings while we are in Martinsburg.  I like to take small children to loud restaurants, and this one definitely fits the bill.

    Visiting the Shenandoah National Park Area

    Shenandoah National Park is located entirely in Virginia, and it is long, stretching from near Front Royal to Staunton.  We typically stay in the Harrisonburg/Luray area, which is about at the midway point. There are lodges and campsites in the park, but we usually stay outside the park.  We really enjoy the Mountainside Villas at Massanutten, which is practically a destination itself – there is a pool, a golf course, miniature golf, hiking trails, and a variety of other seasonal activities.  

    We have also stayed at the Shenandoah Valley KOA Kampground, which is lovely if you want to be slightly more outdoorsy but don’t want to deal with staying in the actual park.  KOA has cabins as well as tent camping, so we could enjoy a campfire and s’mores when we stayed here.

    Harrisonburg is home to James Madison University, and it is a great, walkable little town.  Bella Luna Wood-Fired Pizza has a delightful pizza menu and thorough beer selection, and nearby Bella Gelato & Pastries features inventive ice cream selections.  There are also a number of chain restaurants, big-box stores, various grocery stores – so you can basically replace everything you accidentally left at home all within a short drive of where you are staying.  And there’s a large Barnes & Noble in case you need a book.

    Visiting the Shenandoah National Park – Skyline Drive

    In order to see the park, you’re going to need to spend some time in your car.  Driving at least part of the 105-mile-long Skyline Drive is an amazingly beautiful journey.  There are a number of scenic overlooks. Some are spectacular, so definitely be prepared to pull over at a moment’s notice to take in the view.

    Shenandoah National Park Best Hikes

    There are a ton of hiking trails, but it’s hard (for me, anyway) to tell from maps which ones will be appropriate or interesting for children.  I recommend two – the Limberlost Trail, which is an easy, flat hike of about 1.3 miles, and the Dark Hollow Falls Trail, which is an out-and-back waterfall destination hike.  Dark Hollow is hilly and may not be appropriate for the littlest legs, but the waterfall views are amazing. There are some flat trails in the Skyland area, but the scenery in that area is somewhat stark – still, it’s a nice easy place to stretch your legs.

    Shenandoah National Park Restaurants

    Food is available at Big Meadows and at Skyland.  Skyland’s Pollock Dining Room has a nice sit-down restaurant with lovely views, but they open at 12 for lunch, and there is often a line, so plan for that accordingly.  There’s also a gas station in Big Meadows if you happen to blow out your tire and need someone to help you put on your spare (just theoretically).

    Visiting Shenandoah National Park in Fall

    The temperature in the park is usually 5-10 degrees colder than it is outside the park in the fall, and in Skyland, it can be even colder.  We go in mid to late October, and the park temperature has been everything from 80 degrees to 40 degrees, depending on the year. Basically pack all your clothes.

    We are not going to Shenandoah this year, and we are going to miss it, but we will definitely be back.  This is a great family trip.

  • Fall Getaway: A Fall Tour of Burlington, Vermont With Kids!

    Fall Getaway: A Fall Tour of Burlington, Vermont With Kids!

    Guest Blogger:  David, his wife, and their five year old son, B, have lived all around the United States, but are currently stationed in Okinawa where David enjoys producing movies and eating pancakes in his spare time. You can find David’s videos of their Okinawa adventures on YouTube. 

    New England weather is tricky, and it can get cold very quickly, but fall leaf peeping is truly something to see. I took my wife and then four-year-old to Burlington, Vermont to experience something other than Florida’s seasons, which range from hot to hotter, to extremely hot.  We flew into Bradley International Airport in Connecticut, which is a small and relatively inexpensive airport to fly through and, as an added bonus, it is only a short three hour drive up Interstate-91 North to Burlington. The plan was to journey along the back country roads and enjoy the fall leaves, while snaking our way back down to Connecticut for our flight home.

    Enjoying fall foliage in Burlington

    Where to Stay:

    Hotel Vermont Lobby

    If you’re coming from a place like New York City where open spaces and grass is a luxury, Vermont will blow you away. We chose to stay at the Hotel Vermont, located smack down in the middle of Burlington and offering a small boutique hotel experience for not a lot of money. The rooms are spacious with views of the lake and they also support the local economy, using only locally made blankets, coffees, food, and soaps. It’s a really comfy modern hotel with a throwback to the luxurious lodges of yesteryear. The hotel also supplied a few toys for kids and really seemed to celebrate our choice to bring our family to stay with them. I can think of no other boutique hotel I have stayed at that offered this much luxury for such little money.

    Where to Eat:

    Everywhere! If there is a chain restaurant in Burlington, I didn’t find it. In fact, there was a really great culinary scene, all of which take into consideration the smaller guests in town. Vermont is a real “farm-to-table” state, with most restaurants serving local fare and ingredients that are seemingly sourced from the nearest farm. A few notable places we dined at:

    Penny Cluse Cafe – The Hotel Vermont has a great restaurant, but we decided to venture out one morning for a more “local breakfast,” and we scored big time! We had to wait a few minutes to be seated at this amazing place, but the Penny Cluse Cafe was definitely a hidden gem among the other eateries located in Burlington’s main drag. Once we were seated, I glanced over the menu, looked at my four year old and said, “buddy, we are lucky to be here.” Gingerbread pancakes were staring me in the face and daring me to order them and boy, they were amazing! My son and I wasted little time scarfing them down. My wife enjoyed the sourdough french toast with strawberry jam, again all made fresh with ingredients from local farms. Although the cafe was a little bit noisy, it had a great busy New England vibe and we enjoyed our experience.

    The Farmhouse Tap & Grill – The long wait for a table at Farmhouse Tap & Grill and the dropping temperatures were a bit harsh for our Florida blood, making us wonder whether it was worth the wait. But the aroma that was coming out of this restaurant was like a siren song for us! It smelled delicious! A server saw that we were there, waiting with our young son, and pointed to a slightly hidden side entrance that I had spotted, but just assumed was a shortcut to the restroom or a side alley selling black market moose antlers. It was not! We walked over to the side entrance and ended up in the back of the restaurant, which had an enclosed “Beer & Wine Garden.” Complete with old school games, wooden tables and chairs, sofas, and heat lamps, this was the perfect cozy space for my family to hang out while we waited for a table. My wife and I enjoyed a few local beers, and my son was given farm fresh apple juice. After about 20 minutes, we were seated in a gorgeous dining room where I shared the meatloaf with my son. The food was amazing, and I also enjoyed a local root beer. For dessert, we had pumpkin cheesecake. We walked the two blocks back to the hotel that night, fat and happy.

    Whetstone Station Restaurant and Brewery – Our drive back to Bradley airport had us cutting through small new England towns. Along the way, we stopped at the Whetsone, which borders Vermont and New Hampshire. I’m not kidding: the border goes right through the restaurant.

    We sat on the Vermont side!

    What to Do With Kids:

    Admittedly, leaf peeping is probably not the best thing for keeping a toddler entertained, and it was a four hour long drive from Burlington back to the airport in Connecticut, albeit with amazing scenery. Along the way, my wife and I decided to stop at Shelburne Farms, which I like to think of as Disney in Vermont except that instead of rides, you have animals. The brochure describes Shelburne Farms as:

    a nonprofit education center for sustainability, 1,400 acres working farm, and National Historic Landmark on the shores of Lake Champlain in Shelburne, Vermont.

    My personal description is:

    Sherburne Farms is the most beautiful farm I have seen, it goes on for-e-ver! My son did not want to leave, and I don’t blame him. They had animals; all kinds that you could pet, play with, feed etc. They had food, and they showed you how that food was made, on their farm! (Except the steaks, c’mon there are kids here).

    The Children’s Farmyard is the place to be and you get there from the main entrance via tractor, of course! Just some of the wonderful things to see and do: goat milking, sheep brushing, horse grooming, milking a cow, feeding various animals, and there is even a chicken parade. A. Chicken. Parade. Forget the four year old, I want to see a chicken parade! Admittedly, Shelburne Falls is only really worth visiting between May and mid-October. Once old man winter hits, the animals are tucked away inside weatherproof barns. If you happen to be in the area, definitely take advantage of this farm and visit with your children. I still gaze at the pictures and am amazed at the memories that come flooding back…especially the chicken parade. Note: There is an Inn at Shelburne Falls, so you can stay on property too.

    You can’t go wrong visiting Vermont in the fall, just be sure to plan ahead as the Hotel Vermont gets booked up quickly. Also, plan on stopping to take pictures as I did. You never know what you’re going to find, like a gorilla holding a Volkswagen!

    A New England native, David feels strongly about leaf peeping and has written previously about fall getaway activities in Connecticut.  If you enjoy reading this post, please be sure to check out David’s other posts on WGWK! Fall also happens to be our favorite season here at WGWK, so be sure to check out our more expansive Fall Getaway series.

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  • Fall Getaway: Long Weekend in Connecticut With Kids!

    Fall Getaway: Long Weekend in Connecticut With Kids!

    Guest Blogger:  David, his wife, and their five year old son, B, have lived all around the United States, but are currently stationed in Okinawa where David enjoys producing movies and eating pancakes in his spare time. You can find David’s videos of their Okinawa adventures on YouTube.

    Some say that the best thing to see in Connecticut is either New York City or Boston. Having grown up in Hartford, Connecticut, I can tell you they are wrong – sort of.  As a child, fall in New England meant raking up leaves and slipping on those said leaves – not fun. Although the foliage was always bright and colorful, I just never paid much attention to it, taking it for granted as just part of regular life. After eight years living in Tampa, however, I started getting homesick. Palm trees are nice and all, but it’s just way too green all the time. Green and hot.

    A few years ago, after having lived in Florida for many years, I decided to take my Miami born and raised son “leaf peeping” and join the annual pilgrimage of thousands of people who visit New England every year for a glimpse of its magnificent fall foliage. I booked my family on a flight to Bradley International Airport in Hartford, Connecticut, which is centrally located to everything in New England and also, conveniently, close to my family.

    Having fun at the New England Air Museum

    Where to Stay:

    I will get some grief for this, but the Hartford area is full of outdated hotels, or absurdly expensive hotels. There is no need to sacrifice your wallet for a lame place to hang your hat. I always choose the Hyatt House in Windsor, which is only a short drive from the airport, recently built, and quiet. The location is great for exploring the state with your family, the rooms are big and clean, and they offer free breakfast in their cafeteria style eating area. Windsor is Connecticut’s first town, with many small shops and a fountain on the town green.

    Where to Eat:

    There are two places near the Hyatt that are great options for a quick bite to eat. For breakfast or lunch, Dom’s Broad Street Eatery, located in the heart of Windsor, has wonderful food, huge portions, and is where the locals like to eat.  Wilson Pizza Palace, is another place I would recommend and is located at the north end of the town of Windsor. The state of Connecticut has wonderful pizza and while New Haven gets the southern Connecticut glory, I think Greek owned Wilson Pizza Palace holds its own in representing the northern part of the state. Grab a meatball grinder or a large Wilson Special Pizza to go! The Hyatt House has a kitchen, dinnerware, and flatware in every room, so you can lounge in the comfort of your pajamas while eating the most memorable pizza of your life. Wilson is cash only and resides in an old McDonald’s. When you visit, tell them the Cuban sent you – it will make them smile and give you Wilson Pizza Palace street cred.

    Note the upside M’s – Yankee ingenuity!

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    Aside from Dom’s and Wilson Pizza Palace, I recommend checking out the local culinary scene near whatever activity you have planned.

    What to Do:

    Connecticut Trolley Museum:

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    The Connecticut Trolley Museum is just a 15 minute drive from the Hyatt (see Connecticut IS small) and is the oldest incorporated museum dedicated to electric railroading in the United States, founded in 1940. My five year old loves trains and riding on trains, so this was a must visit for us. In the fall, the Museum has offers a pumpkin patch and also an after dark spooky ride called “Rails to the Dark Side,” which is rated PG-13 and not recommended for young children. Just be sure to bundle up as it does get cold and have your cameras ready as the rides offer nice scenery and foliage views.

    New England Air Museum:

    The New England Air Museum has over 100 aircrafts located in a huge heated warehouse. There are numerous cool exhibits, including opportunities for your kids to sit in the cockpit of an actual fighter jet or an old helicopter. There is plenty of room for the kids to run around and explore, while learning a little bit of history and science. My son loved getting in and out of helicopters and jets and also exploring the toys in the gift shop. Volunteers are friendly and helpful and this is just an all out wonderful destination especially on a rainy day.

    Mystic Seaport:

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    In a town made famous in the 1980s by Julia Robert’s performance in the movie Mystic Pizza (yes, Mystic Pizza really does exist although the pizza is meh), Mystic Seaport or the Museum of America and The Sea is one of the nation’s oldest maritime museums and has a lot to offer. Per the website,

    The Museum’s grounds cover 19 acres on the Mystic River in Mystic, CT and include a recreated New England coastal village, a working shipyard, formal exhibit halls, and state-of-the-art artifact storage facilities. The Museum is home to more than 500 historic watercraft, including four National Historic Landmark vessels, most notably the 1841 whaleship Charles W. Morgan, America’s oldest commercial ship still in existence.

    Full disclosure: I hate this place. Growing up in Connecticut meant dozens of field trips here to learn about how the early settlers churned butter – just what a teenager with raging hormones want to spend the day seeing. Although I am jaded,  I can now appreciate what Mystic Seaport has to offer. In addition to the old New England exhibits, recent more modern exhibits have also been added. And, Mystic Aquarium is also just down the street. You can pre-purchase tickets to both the Seaport and the Aquarium online and save yourself the hassle of waiting in line.

    The Amazing World of Dr. Seuss:

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    The Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum is a 30 minute drive from the Hyatt. Although technically located in Massachusetts, this museum is not to be missed if you grew up reading Dr. Seuss books or if your kids adore them. The Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden is a small park outside with sculptures of his most famous characters and is a must visit, no matter what the weather is. The museum has been recently renovated so make sure to check the website for hours and tickets, which can also be purchased online.

    The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame:

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    While in Springfield visiting the Dr. Seuss museum, pop over to the Basketball Hall of Fame, where children under four are free. Basketball fans will enjoy the interactive exhibits and enjoy the court for shooting hoops. The museum is conveniently located in an area that houses some amazing restaurants, including Plan B Burger Bar and Max’s Tavern.

    Brown’s Harvest:

    Brown’s Harvest in Windsor is a special place for me, as this is where my parents took me as a child for our pumpkins and Christmas trees. Back then, it was just a stand, but Brown’s Harvest has evolved and now boasts a corn maze, haunted hay ride, and a small shop where you can buy cider and apple doughnuts. Apple doughnuts! If you have not tried them, book your trip now! Brown’s Harvest is only a 10 minute drive from the Hyatt and is located on the northern end of Windsor, headed towards the airport. I was thrilled to share the experience with my son, who had a blast running around the pumpkin patch and washing down apple doughnuts with hot apple cider.

    Drive!:

    One of the best things about Connecticut is that it is a small state. A drive through the lower Connecticut River Valley has a lot to offer. I always recommend that people consider taking the Ultimate Foliage Tour of Central Connecticut. I’ve done it and it was amazing. The foliage is constantly changing and varies depending on where you are. Make sure to consult the foliage tracker and remember to explore and drive as much as you can. There are numerous small towns off the beaten path, some great history to be experienced, and pumpkin patches galore!

    Final Thoughts: 

    As you can see, there’s plenty to do in Connecticut! If you absolutely must, New York City and Boston are easy day trips and are each only about a two hour drive in opposite directions from Windsor.

    We hope you enjoyed David’s thorough review of things to do in and around Hartford, Connecticut!If you find yourself inspired to visit New England, be sure to visit Catherine’s Fall Getaway: New England for more ideas. Fall also happens to be our favorite season here at WGWK, so be sure to check out our more expansive Fall Getaway series.

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  • Fall Getaway: Lydia Mountain Lodge & Log Cabins in Stanardsville, VA With Kids!

    Fall Getaway: Lydia Mountain Lodge & Log Cabins in Stanardsville, VA With Kids!

    Virginia is well-known as the birthplace of the nation, home to George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, to name a few. Many do not know that Virginia is also home to some of the most beautiful countryside. We are so fortunate to live only two hours away from Charlottesville and the surrounding area, which is one of my favorite places on earth.

    For four years counting, we have rented a cabin from Lydia Mountain Lodge & Log Cabins. I discovered Lydia’s many years ago while searching for a dog-friendly cabin rental in the Virginia country side. Having now stayed with Lydia a handful of times, I can truly say that our “fall weekend at the cabin” is one that I look forward to all year.

    Located approximately 20 miles north of Charlottesville and 100 miles from DC, Lydia Mountain is only a two hour drive from home, making it an ideal place to sneak away for a weekend getaway. Our preferred cabin to rent is the Dancing Bear cabin, which sits on a private road that holds only a few other rental cabins. The cabin is pet-friendly and has three bedrooms and three full baths + two sleeper futons if you really have a crowd!

    The Dancing Bear cabin.

    Our weekends at the cabin are not complicated – our goal is simply to unplug from our daily lives and take a minute to enjoy the outdoors and each other. The wood burning fireplace in the main living area is always on and the boys have free rein to run around outside and enjoy themselves, as all kids should do.

    the wood burning fireplace
    a glimpse of the dining room that leads in the master bedroom

    As with most cabins, there is no meal service, so meals are on your own. Luckily, the cabin is located only a short drive from Charlottesville, and we have had no problems purchasing groceries to cook at the cabin, or dining out if the mood strikes us.

    our first night at the cabin meal of homemade lasagna
    The boys always enjoy the evening ‘smores!

    My favorite way to start a day at the cabin is to take a morning walk up the private road it is located on. There’s a short uphill climb, past a few other rental cabins, before you reach the house at the top of the hill, from where there is a spectacular view.

    Spectacular view of the VA countryside at the end of the road.

     

    The walk “up the road” is quiet and full of beautiful leaves.

    One you reach the house at the top of the hill, you can venture further into the woods via two separate trails. Nestled amongst the trees is a disc golf course, which my kids love experimenting with.

    My little one trying his hand at disc golf.

    After our brisk morning walk, we usually venture out for lunch. Over the years, we have dined at a variety of restaurants in Charlottesville, grabbed sandwiches at the local Mennonite shop, or dined at a brewpub. After lunch, we typically mosey back to the cabin where we spend the afternoon enjoying the outdoor fire pit.

    View of the side of the cabin, leading down to the fire pit.

    Happily for us, the boys find plenty of ways to entertain themselves while at the cabin. From rolling down the hill, to learning how to start fires, to sneaking marshmallows before dinner. There is also a hot tub at the cabin, which my oldest has availed himself on occasion.

    The hillside provides hours of entertainment for the boys.
    sneaking marshmallows before dinner
    Enjoying the pizza pies we made on the fire.
    roasting marshmallows

    Having spent fall weekends in the area for a number of years, I can recommend a few great family-friendly activities.

    #1: Yoder’s Country Market

    No visit to the cabin is complete without at least one stop at Yoder’s! The shop is located approximately 20 minutes from the cabin and specializes in deli meats, prepared soups, bulk foods, and much, much more. We typically pick up light foods from Yoder’s to snack and munch on during our stay, and our kids enjoy the adjacent petting farm and playground!

    The outdoor play structure is a great way to burn off some energy.
    Kid meets goat.

    #2: Charlottesville Children’s Museum

    The Virginia Discovery Museum in Charlottesville isn’t a place I would recommend you go out of the way to visit, but a few years ago, our stay at the cabin happened to coincide with the government shut down and many, many days of rain. The national parks were closed and it was pouring rain, so we ventured into Charlottesville and spent a few hours at the museum to simply give the kids a change of scenery. My oldest was less than five years of age at the time and it held his attention for a few hours, but it’s not something I would envision holding his interest now, at the ripe old age of 8. Nevertheless, it’s an option for when all other options are unavailable.

    #3: Fishing

    Virginia is home to some incredible fly fishing and there are many streams in the Charlottesville area that provide a wonderful low key setting to introducing your little one to fly fishing. Years ago, my husband, in laws, and I took my young son to Swift Creek to practice casting in a gentle steam. There are a plethora of small streams and easy locations for little ones to be introduced to fly fishing, so if this is your cup of tea, I highly encourage you look around and explore your options.

    #4: Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park

    The Shenandoah National Park and Skyline Drive are less than 30 minutes from the cabin, so it’s a great option for hiking, enjoying the scenery, and/or fishing.

    Posing in front of an Appalachian Trail marker in the Shenandoah.

    #5: Charlottesville!

    Charlottesville is such an amazing city and full of great dining experiences. Our stops in Charlottesville usually involve picking up groceries and enjoying lunch or dinner somewhere. I encourage you to poke around and find your favorite dining experiences!

    My boys enjoying an afternoon snack along the waterfront in Charlottesville.

    #6: Virginia Wines, Breweries, Distilleries, and Cideries

    Virginia’s beautiful countryside lends itself to some gorgeous wineries. Although a far cry from the wines you can taste and experience on the West Coast, Virginia’s wineries are a beautiful place to spend an afternoon and, as an extra bonus, they are much less expensive and pretentious than the wineries on the West Coast and I have never had an issue bringing my kids along for an afternoon of tasting.

    Many of the wineries offer light meals or snacks for purchase and even those that don’t generally feature a large outside area for kids to run around without risk of knocking over glasses or decorations. This past weekend, we visited Stinson Vineyards for the first time and were pleased to discover not only the great outdoor space, but a basket of toys for children to discover.

    Basket of children’s toys at Stinson Vineyards.
    Outside tasting area at Stinson Vineyards.

    In addition to the vibrant wine scene, Virginia, in recent years, has seen an incredible growth in breweries, cideries, and distilleries.

    For the first time this weekend, we did a hard cider tasting at Blue Toad Hard Cider, located approximately 45 minutes from the cabin. For $13 each, my husband and I enjoyed 7 different hard ciders while our children played in view of the outside tasting area.

    Two sets of cider tastings at $13 each.
    The play area at Blue Toad Hard Cider.

    We also visited Blue Mountain Brewery, where we enjoyed lunch (complete with beer tastings), followed by a rousing round of hide and seek outside with the boys, while my husband and our friend finished up their beer tastings and paid the check.

    Cornhole at Blue Mountain Brewery.
    The outdoor fire pit at Blue Mountain Brewery.
    Toddler hide and seek fail.

    This being our first experience cider and beer tasting in Virginia, we were pleasantly surprised to discover not only how low key the environment was but also how child friendly the experience can be. We will most definitely be incorporating this into our fall getaway weekends in the future.

    Although we just returned from our fall getaway, I am already looking for our return to the cabin. My youngest, who is just now old enough to articulate his thoughts and feelings said, the morning of our departure, “can we stay at the cabin forever?” I think it’s safe to say that our boys love our fall weekends at the cabin as much as we do and I am so thankful we have been able to find this little bit of heaven for all of us to enjoy.

     

    All three of our boys love our fall weekends at the cabin.

    Fall happens to be our favorite season here at WGWK, so be sure to check out our more expansive Fall Getaway series.

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  • Fall Getaway: Eastern Shore of Maryland With Kids!

    Fall Getaway: Eastern Shore of Maryland With Kids!

    One of the mid-Atlantic’s unsung treasures is the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Located approximately two hours from downtown Washington, DC, the Eastern Shore lies along the Chesapeake Bay and provides an ideal opportunity to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

    The first time my family visited the Eastern Shore was in the summer of 2010, when we rented a home to celebrate my son’s first birthday. We rented a home via Eastern Shore Vacation Rentals, located down in Tilghman Island, a small island in the Chesapeake. To get to Tilghman Island, you have to cross a drawbridge and once you are in Tilghman, there’s very little by way of things to do.

    Drawbridge over Knapps Narrows to Tilghman Island

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    Our rental home for the week, the Choptalk Cottage, was located along the waterfront and provided an ideal setting for celebrating my son’s first birthday, complete with a Smith Island Cake, the state dessert of Maryland.

    amazing layers hidden inside the Smith Island Cake

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    A few years later, we decided to return to the Eastern Shore, but instead, visited in mid-October as our annual family fall getaway. It turns out, the Eastern Shore of Maryland is even more wonderful in the fall!

    For our return visit to the Eastern Shore, we again rented a home, Heron Point, through Eastern Shore Vacation Rentals. Both rentals were as described and when we had issues with the internet service during one of our stays, the company was happy to send someone out to help us reboot the modem and get connected even though it was a Saturday afternoon. We did not, however, rent the same house we rented the first time, choosing instead to rent a home closer to Easton, Maryland, the county seat and where our dining options would be less limited.

    Situated on three acres along the water, the view from our rental home was outstanding. Not only was there ample space for our family to enjoy dinners together, but we also loved sitting outside and just observing the world around us.

    one of the many dinners we enjoyed

    view of the dock from our rental home

    My young son particularly loved the opportunity to be outside in the fall and we visited Council Farms, one of the best pumpkin patches we have ever been to – one where the pumpkins were still on the vine!

    running through the corn maze
    checking out the manual apple press

    What little boy doesn’t love a tractor ride?

    In addition to Council Farms, we also visited St. Michael’s, a small coastal town that offers plenty of opportunities to shop and dine. The Eastern Shore Brewing Company is located at one end of the main drag, so of course we stopped in to sample some brews.

    A few things to note about the Eastern Shore:

    • Traffic can vary significantly depending on your departure/arrival times and, on occasion, the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, which you must cross to get to the Eastern Shore from DC, can close when there are high winds. In an attempt to avoid heavy traffic and delays, we usually leave very early in the morning to head out to “the Shore” and plan on spending a few hours visiting St. Michael’s or just puttering around somewhere instead of attempting to time our arrival with when the rental home becomes available (usually 3pm).
    • The Chesapeake Bay Bridge is a very long bridge and can be intimidating to drive across if you are, say, from California and nervous about earthquakes. If you are uncomfortable driving across the bridge, there is a drive-over service that you can call one hour before your arrival. Although I have not personally used the service, I have friends who can recommend it.
    • If you happen to be visiting the Shore in the summer, make sure you feast on some Maryland Blue Crabs. Although there are places where you can get Maryland Blue Crabs in DC, nothing beats getting a bushel of crabs and eating them outside along the Chesapeake Bay!
    • If you aren’t one for vacation rentals, the Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay may be a good option for you. It’s not only kid and pet friendly, but it has a number of options for the kiddos, including family portraits, evening s’mores, and more.
    • There are a number of restaurant choices in both St. Michael’s and Easton, but St. Michael’s in particular can get very busy during peak tourist season so expect a wait! Luckily, because it’s a heavily visited area, everyone is familiar with children and accommodating.

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  • Fall Getaway: Rose River Farm in Syria, VA With Kids!

    Fall Getaway: Rose River Farm in Syria, VA With Kids!

    My husband is an avid fly fisherman and for years, many of their family vacations centered around fly fishing. At some point in our relationship, I accepted that fly fishing was always going to be a part of my life and I began keeping an eye out for new locations where my husband and my father-in-law could go fly fishing, while at the same time providing my mother-in-law and me with other distractions and things to do!

    Rose River Farm in Syria, VA in located near some of the very best fly fishing in Virginia. The farm was purchased and built with the intention of providing a “fly fishing getaway” close to Washington, DC that offers the same uncrowded fly fishing experience to those who enjoy fishing in Colorado and Montana. In 2011, the Farm added two modern Mongolian Yurts, to provide sleeping quarters for both fishermen and their families. I personally find the notion of a yurt to be fascinating (bordering on a hobbit house like experience), so when I realized that I could combine both my yurt fascination along with my husband’s intense love for fly fishing in one fall getaway, I immediately booked us for a weekend at Rose River Farm.

    The Farm now has a total of three yurts which are available for booking year round. Each yurt is just over 1,100 square feet, has central heating and cooling, two full baths and two full bedrooms (each with double beds). The yurts are fully equipped with just about everything you can think of for a fly fishing vacation, including washing machines, however, I must note that the yurts are not equipped with dish washers, which may be a dealer breaker to some.

    The yurts are stunning:

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    The major benefit to my family, of course, was that the yurts provided close proximity to excellent fly fishing. By staying at the Farm, you have access to fish a stretch of the Rose River that is private access only. It is $95/day/person to reserve the right to fish the stream and the Farm limits access to five rods a day (if your party books four rods, they will reserve the entire stream for your use). My husband and his father loved being able to fish the reserved stream that was located just minutes away from the cabin and, when they were ready to take a break, they came back to the cabin and walked our son down to the pond so he could practice his own fly casting.

    There are a number of nearby attractions in addition to fly fishing, such as wine tasting. My mother-in-law and I spent a lovely afternoon wine tasting while my son napped. If you’ve never been wine tasting in Virginia, it’s not quite the same as wine tasting in California, but there are a number of excellent wines (and ciders) that you can sample throughout the state.

    The Farm also provides a list of other activities nearby, including guided kayaking trips, horseback riding, and fishing on public waters. Although having a three-year-old in our party meant that we could not participate in many of those activities, I would definitely explore more active activities now that our kids are older.

    Finally, I would love to return to Rose River Farm, especially now that my oldest is 8 and could learn to fish on the relatively calm stretch of the river they offer private access to, but, unfortunately, the Farm does not allow pets. While this may be a benefit to some, with three cabins available for rent, I sure would hope the Farm reconsiders the policy and allow pets perhaps in one of the three cabins! I have no problem traveling without my pet when the need arises, but for fall weekend getaways close to home, it just doesn’t seem right to leave our four-legged child behind. Nevertheless, if you aren’t limited by this factor, I highly encourage you to getaway to Rose River Farm and experience a yurt, as well as excellent fly fishing, wines, and more, just two hours from DC.

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  • Fall Getaway: Visiting New England With Kids

    Fall Getaway: Visiting New England With Kids

    New England is a quintessential fall getaway destination and a great place to take kids.  The fall colors are brilliant and set against quaint towns.  Even though fall color can be pretty spectacular in Ohio, we made New England trips in October 2008 and October 2016 to enjoy New England fall.  My husband experienced fall for the first time when he lived in Connecticut for five years before we met and has so many fond memories of fall in New England that he wanted to share with our kids.  We love visiting New England – our favorite New England destinations are Amherst, Massachusetts, where my aunt and uncle live, and New Haven, Connecticut, where my husband attended Yale’s School of Management.

    The inherent planning problem with a fall foliage trip is that the timing and vibrance of fall colors varies from year to year and cannot be predicted in advance even if you consult a fall foliage map.  Our 2008 trip coincided with my husband’s business school reunion at the height of an especially vibrant fall color that year.  Our 2016 trip overlapped a school holiday and was a bit early for that season, which was never as vibrant as 2008.

    The trek to New England by car for us is at least eight hours and the longest car journey we have attempted as a family.  However, logistically, it is much easier to drive than fly, especially when we decided to add on stops in Princeton, New York City and Chautauqua in 2016.  To make it easier on everyone, we try to leave in the late afternoon so that the kids are sleeping for the last few hours.  That has worked for us with varying degrees of success.

    Amherst Area

    I have made a number of trips to the Amherst area over the years visiting my aunt and uncle who live nearby in Leverett.  Because our oldest was only eight months old during our 2008 trip to New England, we were excited to have the chance to take our two, six and eight year old kids to explore the their farm and the nearby area.  There are not a plethora of hotel options in the area, so we booked a room at the Howard Johnson’s, which was conveniently located as the closest hotel to their home.  We booked through Priceline for $90.  Although our stay was brief, we were pleasantly surprised by the hotel, which included a hot buffet breakfast that we were not aware of at the time we made the booking.  There are a number of fun activities for families in the Amherst-area to enjoy at any time of the year.

    Mount Sugarloaf

    I always enjoy going to the highest point in a city or region and getting a birds-eye view of the area.  Mount Sugarloaf in nearby South Deerfield is the perfect location for viewing the Connecticut River and fall foliage.  Because it is possible to drive to the summit, it is easily accessible for families even with young children.  Our trip there in 2008 had added excitement as we were there just a few days after the Mel Gibson movie Edge of Darkness had completed filming on site.  The observation tower had been temporarily renovated and had not yet been returned to its pre-filming state.

    View of the Connecticut River from Mount Sugarloaf

    Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory

    The Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory & Gardens is a great place to take kids. Magic Wings includes a glass conservatory filled with absolutely beautiful butterflies.  If you keep still, one may even land on your hand.  In addition to the conservatory, there are a number of educational exhibits and an outdoor butterfly garden.

    Hiking

    There are also many opportunities for hiking.  My aunt and uncle suggested a family hike at Rattlesnake Gutter, which was a perfect location for us to hike with the kids.  It was mostly flat with a clear path and beautiful wooded scenery.  We found some of the best colors there and collected a few leaves to iron flat to preserve.  My daughter enjoyed the hike from the comfort of her carrier and even took a nap.

    Because we live in the suburbs, our kids loved the opportunity to spend a day outside hiking and exploring my aunt and uncle’s farm.  The pond had dried up after a dry summer, but we toured the barn and saw the cows that are kept on the property and just ran around and had fun.

    The Amherst area is a great place for families to visit.  Next time I go back, I want to check out the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art.  I think that my younger son, who is a big fan of Eric Carle and art in general, would particularly enjoy.

    New Haven

    Because my husband graduated from the Yale School of Management, a stop in New Haven is always on our agenda when we are in New England.  New Haven is conveniently located between Amherst and New York City, so we booked a night at the Omni New Haven Hotel through Priceline at a nightly rate of $164.  Although we arrived late and left early, we really enjoyed the Omni and the amazing view out of our window.  It was centrally-located and well-appointed.  The lobby is like a grand living room, and my boys played chess while waiting for us to check in.

    My husband really wanted to enjoy a white clam pizza at Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana.  Unfortunately, they were out of clams when we called.  We also wanted to go back to his favorite Thai restaurant where we ate lunch twice in 2008, but we were both bummed to find it closed.  So, we were 0/2 on food nostalgia in New Haven.  Luckily, the highlight of New Haven is really the Yale campus.  I absolutely love the Collegiate Gothic architectural style.  We were able to tour the gym, which has many aspects common in Gothic Revival architecture includes all the conveniences needed for a modern gym.

    The Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library was another fun stop on our campus visit.  The stunning building has outer walls made of translucent marble that prevents the collection from being exposed to direct sunlight.  This is one of the world’s largest libraries dedicated to rare books, and a complete copy of the Gutenberg Bible is on permanent display.

    We also peeked inside the Sterling Memorial Library, which was also built in a Gothic Revival style and is reminiscent of a Gothic cathedral.  It was so beautiful, I wanted to study inside.

    No trip to Yale University is complete without a trip to the Yale University Official Bookstore for some Yale swag.  Our boys have been wearing Yale baseball caps since their toddler days, and my husband hoped they would fall in love with the campus as he had.  Of course, the campus is so breathtaking that it’s hard for anyone to not want to return to Yale, and we have two boys who both plan to attend college there.

    Our fall journey to New England in 2016 was an amazing adventure, even if the colors were not as brilliant as we had hoped.  You may not be able to predict when and if peak color will occur, but it’s a great trip to take regardless.

     

  • Fall Getaway: Lost River Modern in Lost River, WV With Kids!

    Fall Getaway: Lost River Modern in Lost River, WV With Kids!

    When the summer heat and humidity gives way to crisp fall air, there are a few things that come to mind immediately: leaves, apple cider donuts, the outdoors. Growing up in Southern California, fall colors and weather were as mythical as unicorns. During my four years in college in rural Massachusetts, I came to love fall and everything it embodies.

    Shortly after my first born turned 1, I realized that I wanted him to become familiar with fall and love it just like I did. Living and working in DC, the opportunity to run in massive piles of orange and red leaves was rare and I wanted to get away from the congestion of daily city living. I hatched the idea of a mini fall getaway, taking advantage of the Columbus Day holiday to sneak in an extra day off from work. My husband agreed and a tradition was born! We are avid fall getaway people and have taken advantage of long weekends to escape and unwind.

    I first discovered Lost River Modern while perusing an issue of Dwell. My husband and I are fans of modern architecture and thus, we followed along on the owner’s blog, which detailed their efforts to build a modern prefab cabin on a hill in West Virginia. At some point, it dawned on me that Lost River, West Virginia was only 2.5 hours away by car and by then, the cabin was ready for booking so I decided to check into availability. I corresponded with the host via email, booked the cabin for three days and two nights, packed up our gear, and we set off to Lost River. The cabin was everything it promised to be – modern, inviting, perfect for our then-family of three and my in laws, who joined us for the long weekend.

    The house itself is perched on a ridge, so it’s not a place you want to visit in the dead of winter unless you have four wheel drive.

    the deck, where we spent many hours lounging and enjoying the quiet
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    main entrance to the cabin, with dutchtub available for use
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    The deck itself has wire railing around (and baby gates were available so we could close off the entrance and keep our toddler safe), but the side of the house drops off the side of the hill very quickly, so you will want to watch any young children closely. The cabin also comes with a wood burning hot tub, the dutchtub, available for use, although we did not fire it up while we were there.

    My son loved being outside… and throwing rocks. Lots and lots of rocks.
    The layout of the cabin was simple. The cabin was split into two levels: the main level, which contains the main living + dining room, kitchen, and master bedroom, along with one full bath. The downstairs level has two bedrooms and another living area, along with a full bath. Because of the divided space, we never felt crowded, not even with four adults and one toddler running around the house.

    The kitchen and dining room provided a great space for us to enjoy our meals together. My husband loves to cook, and he spent the weekend whipping up fabulous meal after meal for us to enjoy.

    one of the many meals we enjoyed

    corner windows in the master bedroom

    My husband and I loved the architecture and design of the space and my in laws quickly fell in love with it as well. Given its relatively remote location and distance from any grocery store of note, it was highly recommend that we bring all our groceries to the cabin with us, which we did. There’s a small general store about 20 minutes away by car, but not much else so make sure you pack everything you think you might need. The hosts were gracious and left us a bottle of wine to enjoy, which we happily sipped while cooking in the modern kitchen that also came equipped with a sound system that piped music throughout the house and the deck.

    lounging on the couchWe did not do much during our weekend at the cabin, but that was the point: to get away from the hustle and bustle of daily city living. We discovered a zipline, hanging in the backyard, and we all took it for a spin.

    a spin on the zipline
    We also took the short drive over to Lost River State Park, where there was no shortage of foliage.

    I highly recommend Lost River Modern if you’re looking to truly get away. It’s not the destination for you if you’re looking to eat your meals out and have 1,001 activities to fill your day. But if you’re looking for a bit of quiet and solitude, Lost River Modern is the perfect modern retreat. When we visited in 2010, there was no cell reception within about 30 minutes of the cabin and no cell reception at the cabin either, but there is active internet and satellite television, so you aren’t completely cut off from the world. The house was also kid friendly with toys scattered around, a pack n play for our use if we desired, and, importantly, the absence of decorative chotchkies that would be dangerous but also irresistible to curious toddlers. Finally, although I would not hesitate to return, its remoteness makes it difficult for me to justify the visit, given that we now have two kids and a 75 pound dog to transport with us. Although the house is dog friendly, having to truck in all of our food items and cook all the meals is slightly overwhelming. The nearest large grocery stores are in Winchester or Front Royal, both of which are about an hour from the house. Given our crew, our car is usually packed to the gills with just our belongings and two hours in the car round trip is further than I would like to travel for groceries. Nonetheless, if you are interested in a modern oasis in the country, Lost River Modern can be the perfect location to disconnect and unwind in nature.