travel

baltimore grand prix

Melissa

On Friday we went down to Baltimore to see the Baltimore Grand Prix. It was so exciting – we’ve had tickets for like nine months, so this has been a long time coming.

Our gorgeous hotel was right on the race track:
Luckily we could see the action from our room, since Colin got sick again on Friday night and spent the whole time in our room šŸ™ He still had a BLAST on Saturday, though, cheering for the cars through the window.

It was amazing.

We even got to meet some drivers! Colin was in awe. AWE!!

with #9 Anders Krohn - notice Colin cannot take his eyes off him!

The girls were cheering hard for Danica, yelling “Girl Power!!!”

We had to leave on Saturday, so we didn’t get to see any actual races, but it was so much fun while we were there! I hope we can go back next year… when we’re not sick.Ā  We’ll definitely stay at the Hilton Baltimore again – it was gorgeous and it was SO fun staying inside the race track!!

williamsburg stop #6: jamestown settlement

Melissa 1 Comment

Our final stop in Williamsburg on Sunday morning was Jamestown Settlement.

“FINALLY!” said Ellie. Ellie had been dying to go to Jamestown Settlement, to see theĀ  re-created Powhatan Indian village. It was the part she had been looking most forward to. First we had to see the gallery exhibits and watched the introductory film that traces Jamestown’s beginnings in England and the first century of the Virginia colony and describe the cultures of the Powhatan Indians, Europeans and Africans who converged in 1600s Virginia.

Then finally, finally we headed out to the Powhatan village.
Ellie taught us all how to play this game – we didn’t even know what it was! But she had learned about it in school this year and knew all about it!

Then, we went over and toured replicas of the three ships that sailed from England to Virginia in 1607. SO cool. Colin was very very impressed!

Then we headed over to the colonists’ fort. Colin immediately went straight to the armor!! Imagine that!

The girls were fascinated by seeing the women cooking in the house kitchen. Jamestown really showed us all how difficult life was for the colonists. Seeing something like people cooking with only colonial supplies over an open fire was so eye-opening for the kids as to the challenges of colonial life.

Jamestown Settlement was absolutely fascinating. Unfortunately, we only had about 2 hours to spend at Jamestown, which was not nearly enough time. There was so much to see and so many exhibits and such, we really could have used more time. It was a fantastic place to visit and the kids were so interested in everything, we will definitely have to come back!

For more information on travel to Williamsburg, visit www.visitwilliamsburg.com.

disclosure: we were provided complimentary admission to jamestown settlement to facilitate this post. as always, all opinions are my own.

williamsburg stop #4: busch gardens

Melissa 10 Comments

On Saturday, we headed to Busch Gardens Williamsburg. The kids (who love amusement parks) were super excited. We immediately blown away – Busch Gardens Williamsburg has been voted the worldā€™s ā€œMost Beautiful Parkā€ every year since 1990 by the National Amusement Park Historical Association… and it shows. It was gorgeous setting, filled with fun rides and great attractions like shows and animal exhibits!
The first thing we did upon arriving was stop and get the kids measured. They each got a colored bracelet with their height – which made choosing rides so easy. What a great idea!
We headed straight to Sesame Street Forest of Fun, at Colin’s request. He was dying to see “Elmo’s World” as he called it. He was so so so excited!
We rode several rides in Sesame Street Forest – but the favorite by FAR was Grover’s Alpine Express. This was Colin’s very very first roller coaster. I think he liked it. He claimed this was his very favorite thing at Busch Gardens!
We explored a ton of rides – the kids had a blast in the Land of the Dragons and loved classics like the train and sky ride. I was impressed how friendly and nice all the employees were at Busch Gardens. Every employee we encountered on rides and in stores or restaurants was polite and friendly. So often amusement park employees look bored and grumpy. But not here!

One of the biggest highlights was visiting Lorikeet Glen and Wolf Valley. Both are amazing exhibits – our kids could not stop talking about them. Especially the bird that landed on Daddy’s head! This was my animal lover Ellie’s favorite part of Busch Gardens!
We caught a couple shows as well – Pirates 4D was so funny. And we all loved the Celtic Fyre show! It was absolutely amazing! I was very impressed by the quality of the production and the incredible talent of the performers. You have to see this show if you go!!Ā  My little dancer, Gracie, was enthralled. She said this was her very favorite part of Busch Gardens!
She loved it so much, we had to wait until after the show so she could meet some of the performers!
We had such a fantastic time at Busch Gardens. It is a beautiful park, with tons to do for everyone. Both my girls said it was the most fun park they had ever been to. (And this year, this was our 6th amusement park. Yes, really. We’re not sure how that happened.) We had such a great experience here — this is one of our top parks we’re ever visited and its so affordable! We will definitely be back!

Tips for Busch Gardens Williamsburg with young kids:

  • Buy a water bottle. When you buy a Busch Gardens/Water Country USA water bottle (for $8) you get refills for just 99 cents for soda and $1.99 for frozen drinks. It was a super hot day, so we just kept refilling the water bottle we bought at Water Country USA with frozen lemonade all day and spent less than $10.
  • Bring swimsuits if its hot. There are several water playspots just for kids to cool off.
  • If Sesame Street Forest of Fun is too crowded, head over to Land of the Dragons. There were hardly any lines and a huge play area for kids to run around in!
  • In the afternoon, take a rest by catching a show in a nice, air conditioned spot!
  • Dining with Elmo and Friends is available, so if your child has his or her heart set on meeting characters, this is your best bet. Kids 3 and under are free, so its a really affordable dining option for families!

For more information on travel to Williamsburg, visit www.visitwilliamsburg.com.

disclosure: we were provided complimentary admission to the busch gardens williamsburg to facilitate this post. as always, all opinions are my own.

williamsburg stop #3: colonial williamsburg

Melissa 8 Comments

Well, I can’t include everything, since we took approximately a gazillion pictures during our day in Colonial Williamsburg, but here are a few highlights. It was amazing! I’ve wanted to go there pretty much forever. Colonial Williamsburg is a living museum – there is truly nothing else like it.

It is gorgeously restored, utterly unique and captivating. I was a bit worried about the kids losing interest, but we all loved it! Seriously – with all the technology we’re used to, who could have imagined how fun a stick and hoop could be?Ā  We were there all day and the kids were sad to leave – and were asking if we could come back tomorrow. Even Colin, who is only three, had a great time…
Whenever he saw a soldier, he got really excited and got out his gun. He is also quite fond of pointing it at his sisters. Imagine that.

The kids got really into talking to people, asking questions about what they were doing and such. When they ran through the town shouting, “The British are coming! The British are coming!” Gracie asked nervously, “They’re not really going to fight… right?” (Good question! Everything else was real!)Ā  The Revolutionary City Street Theater was so really cool – the kids were really into that! Colin loved seeing the soldiers ride their horses.

The kids had a blast playing RevQuest, where you play the part of a Patriot spy trying to thwart an assassination attempt by the British. The kids were running around, deciphering secret codes, and hunting for clues in secret locations around Williamsburg. It was a little advanced for our kids to do on their own (ages 8 and 6) but they still had a great time and were really into the whole process!

working together to figure out the clues...

A few tips with young kids:

  • Plan on more than one day. We really found that one day was just not enough to see and do everything. With young kids, two days is probably the limit. Without the kids, I could probably wander around much longer!
  • Bring some snacks. Colonial Williamsburg is truly restored properly – so there are not tons of drinking fountains and food stalls like an amusement park. Have bottles of water and a few snacks for the kids, especially if your kids are like mine and go from zero to starving in three seconds.
  • Pack sunscreen, plenty of diapers and wipes, band-aids, and whatever else you think you might need. Again, not lots of supply shops in Colonial Williamsburg.
  • Take advantage of all the programs for kids! Use the Kids Adventure Maps where kids can get a special prize for getting their map punched at different stops and the RevQuest activity.
  • And don’t worry… if your kids aren’t behaving, you can just put them in a Colonial Time Out:

For more information on travel to Williamsburg, visit www.visitwilliamsburg.com.

disclosure: we received complimentary admission to colonial williamsburg to facilitate this post. as always, all opinions are my own.

williamsburg stop #2: yorktown victory center

Melissa 2 Comments

Our first peek into history this week was a stop at Yorktown Victory Center. Yorktown played a pivotal role in the Revolutionary War and the Yorktown Victory Center now serves asĀ  a museum of the American Revolution, offering a unique blend of timelines, film, thematic exhibits and outdoor living history.

We started out in touring the 1780s farm. We saw a home, saw (and smelled) the tobacco drying in the barn, visited gardens, held a one day old baby chick from the chicken coop and saw a glimpse of daily life back then.



We spent some time wandering through the galleries for a bit – the sunken ship display was fascinating! But our favorite was the Discovery Room. Gracie was thrilled to get to dress up just like a Colonial Girl! (And complained, “Its not fair – the girls have to wear so much more clothes than the boys!”)
Then we headed out to check out the Continental Army Encampment. Absolutely fascinating! The mortar firing was particularly exciting – and by ‘exciting’ I mean ‘so loud that the ground shook.’ WOW! There are tents for different ranks of soldiers, examples of daily life, learn about colonial medicine and you can even learn how to load a musket.

"Mama, his gun has a sword on it! COOL!"

Ellie imagining life as a soldier.

Colonial Discipline

We so enjoyed our visit to Yorktown Victory Center – we needed a bit more time though. I did not anticipate how interested the kids would be in seeing everything! I would recommend at least 2-3 hours. And if you have kids who are really interested in guns, cannons and loud booms in general, plan to be there when the artillery crew will be firing! That was pretty amazing to witness!

For more information on travel to Williamsburg, visit www.visitwilliamsburg.com.
disclosure: we were provided complimentary admission to the yorktown victory center to facilitate this post. as always, all opinions are my own.

 

williamsburg stop #1: water country usa

Melissa 2 Comments

Today, we went to Water Country USA in Williamsburg and had such an amazing time.

Now first a confession: I hate water parks. I do. Maybe there is something wrong with me. But its true. I only go for the kids. So imagine my surprise when I had a terrific time at Water Country USA. The park was amazingly clean, had great activities for kids, and was honestly really relaxing and enjoyable! It was so easy to navigate and to watch the kids, even in the busier pools, that I would take all three back by myself with no qualms. Really.

my little sea monkeys

We loved the lazy river, the wave pool and – of course – the water slides!

Gracie was fearless!

that splash is my husband ZOOMING out of a water slide. the kids decided to skip that one.

The little details – like changing areas right next to the kiddie pools, tons of healthy food options everywhere, clearly marked bathrooms, friendly employees – made this park stand out.Ā  Our only complaint was that we only had 4 hours to play. None of us wanted to leave – we could have stayed and played much longer!

According to Ellie, this is MUCH harder than it looks.

This was such a gorgeous park. We left only hours ago and the kids already want to go back! (And I have some great videos of the kids on the water slides that I promise to post when we get home! HILARIOUS!)

Thanks for hosting us, Water Country USA!

For more information on travel to Williamsburg, visit www.visitwilliamsburg.com.

disclosure: we were provided complimentary admission to water country usa. as always, all opinions are my own.

 

Congress Hall

Melissa 7 Comments

This weekend, I stayed at Congress Hall in Cape May, New Jersey.

front of Congress Hall

It was love at first sight when I walked into the gorgeous lobby. So elegant. Yet, the hotel is far from stuffy. The staff is delightful and welcoming.

lobby - photo by jo-lynne

I was instantly charmed when they handed me my room key. A real key! The keychains were inspired by the luggage tags of the early 1900s, when Cape May became a popular summer haven for folks from Philadelphia and New York and D.C.

The charm and attention to detail didn’t stop there. Located right across the street from the beach, the Congress Hall Hotel manages to be both a fun family vacation spot and a romantic getaway at the same time. The hotel has a history more than two centuries old – history buffs will be thrilled to walk the halls that are hung with historical tidbits. Congress Hall wasĀ built 1878 and lovingly renovated by owner Curtis Bashaw in 2002. But while it now has all the modern amenities, but still holds that historic touches that makes Cape May unique among towns at the shore.

My room was an ocean view king room. It was very spacious and decorated with fabulous simplicity.
And the details – the moldings, the old windows, the adorable bathroom, a sitting area with two chairs (why do hotels always have only one?), the walk-in closet – all of it was wonderful.Very comfortable beds with high-quality linens, a great shower, plus lots of luxurious extras like two fluffy robes hanging in the closet and Aveda toiletries.

i must find their bathroom fixtures for when we re-do our bath! LOVE!

What impressed me the most about Congress Hall – besides the fabulous design – was the variety of activities they offered. There are tons of activities for the kids, but this remains a place where can enjoy themselves too. Kids are more than welcome and will have an absolute blast, but they haven’t taken over the resort. Its still a place I would want to take my husband for a romantic getaway. Perfect example? The Boiler Room. By night, its a nightclub with live music for adults. But if you come down in the early evening, you’ll find kid’s Karaoke! How fun!

The beach is just across the street (complete with full service cabanas, if you’re so inclined) or there is a lovely pool where you can relax with the kids while you sip a cocktail delivered to your beach chair. The hotel provides everything – all you need is your bathing suit!

photo by jo-lynne

I love that my whole extended family could come here – Cape Resort Group has such a variety of properties all within walking distance, we could all stay where we like, but join up during the day or for meals. Plus, with Camp Congress Hall, my husband and I could still sneak in a date night on our family vacation! LOVE!

And the spa! THE SPA! Lovely – just lovely. Peaceful, luxurious, gorgeous. My massage was divine. One of the trip highlights, to be sure.

Of all the hotels I’ve stayed in, Congress Hall is one of my favorites. The character, charm and history really set this one apart in my mind. I stayed at Congress Hall, but got to peek at the Virginia Hotel and the Beach Shack and they both looked fabulous. I highly recommend these hotels and I can’t wait to come back with my family!!

Be sure to follow Congress Hall on Facebook and Twitter to keep up with all their activities. If you’re heading to Cape May, you can receive a $100 resort credit to be used during your stay when you stay at Congress Hall, Virginia Hotel or the Beach Shack. Make your reservation online and use the code MOMBLOG and book by July 31, 2011 for a stay in 2011. Not valid with any other offers.

Disclosure: This trip was sponsored by Cape Resort group and The Motherhood. I was provided with meals, accommodations and a spa treatment in order to appreciate the Congress Hall experience. All opinions are my own.

lunch at beach plum farm

Melissa 2 Comments

One of the highlights of the Mom Blogger weekend in Cape May was getting to see Beach Plum Farm. Beach Plum Farm is owned by the Cape Resort group and provides their Cape May restaurants with fresh produce. Love. Love. LOVE. I am such a Localvore, this commitment to the Farm-to-Table concept just won me over completely. I so admire their commitment to this – I wish more restaurants were!Ā  So, instead of a wordless wednesday, here are a few of my favorite pictures of the weekend.

Planted with summer crops like blueberries, asparagus, tomatoes and strawberries, along with a large perennial herb garden, the certified organic farm already supplies Cape Resorts Group’s restaurants with close to their 50% of seasonal produce. The Ebbitt Room’s chef, Lucas Manteca, looks forward to expanding with chickens and pigs next year.

Due to guests’ enthusiasm for the farm, organized bike tours are offered twice weekly in addition to the picnics, which hotel guests can reserve through the concierge for groups of six or more.

herb garden



harvesting asparagus for our lunch

Speaking of lunch… this meal… this meal… (Hang on. Let me close my eyes and imagine I’m back there….) One of the best meals I’ve ever eaten. In my top 10 for sure. Chef Lucas turned some fresh produce from the farm into a feast.

isn't it gorgeous?

oh, yum. words cannot describe....

Disclosure: This trip was sponsored by Cape Resort group and The Motherhood. I was provided with meals, accommodations and a spa treatment in order to appreciate the Congress Hall experience. All opinions are my own.