families – Page 2 – Love, Laughter, and Luggage

California 21 May 2025

Driving Through Death Valley National Park in July

At first glance, the title of this post probably seems a little crazy. Why would you go to Death Valley National Park in July? If you’re a teacher and you have a school-age kid, this stop along a massive road trip makes perfect sense. In 2022, we set out from Joplin, Missouri, to undertake one of our longest road trips to date. A couple of days before, we’d stopped overnight along the highway, and we’d also spent a night at Grand Canyon National Park at Kachina Lodge. Our next overnight stop was scheduled for Lone Pine, California. Along the way, we hoped to spend some time in Death Valley National Park, even though it was so hot we didn’t want to leave our car for very long. Visiting in July is possible, but I wouldn’t plan on any major hiking during the day. Be sure to have plenty of water…

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California 10 Apr 2025

Staying in a Cabin Among the Redwoods at Crescent City/Redwoods KOA Holiday

When we made a reservation at Crescent City/Redwoods KOA Holiday, I knew a stay at this campground would be memorable. We wanted to spend a night among the majestic redwoods, and a cabin at this KOA seemed perfect. We only spent one night here, but I’ll never forget it. In the summer of 2021, we took a road trip that began in Joplin, Missouri, and headed west. We spent time in Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks. We zipped up to Glacier National Park and then over to Seattle. After a few days in the city, we took a detour to Mount Ranier National Park before landing in Forks and Astoria, two towns known for their connections to popular movies. From Astoria, we drove along the Oregon coast before arriving just inside California. To read about that drive, click here. This placed us at our stopping point for the evening…

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Arkansas 2 Mar 2025

Experiencing the Healing Waters of Quapaw Bathhouse in Hot Springs National Park

One spring break, we decided to spend a few days at Hot Springs National Park in Arkansas. That visit would include spending time on Bathhouse Row and trying one of the available bathhouse experiences; we chose Quapaw Bathhouse. Hot Springs National Park is Unique I love visiting national parks, and I’d had my eye on this one since Arkansas borders Missouri. Spring break seemed like the perfect time for us to go. It’s important to realize the Hot Springs National Park differs greatly from most parks. This park focuses on the history of medical tourism to Hot Springs, Arkansas, during the late 1800s and early 1900s. Due to the natural hot springs in the area, Hot Springs became a mecca for those looking to relieve their ailments in the mineral-rich water from the hot springs. Though there are some ways to get some hiking in, if you come to Hot…

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Pennsylvannia 22 Feb 2025

Touring Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell

If you’re heading to Philadephia, be sure to add a visit to Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell to your list of stops. On our East Coast road trip one June, we made it a priority as we made our way from Maine to Washington, D.C. Our arrival time was planned for the evening, so we’d have to save official touring for the next morning. For the night, we stayed across the street at the beautiful and fascinating Kimpton Hotel Monaco. This beautifully quirky hotel put us right where we needed to be for our tour of Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell the next morning. Even better, the location allowed us to take an evening stroll around the very buildings where our country was born. This was the perfect hotel for staying in Old City. In fact, it’s one of my favorites of anywhere we’ve stayed.on our adventures. Touring…

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California 13 Jan 2025

Visiting Manzanar National Historic Site

Everyone should visit Manzanar. The lessons within its borders are necessary. I didn’t know Japanese Internment during World War II was something that happened until well after high school graduation. I’d never heard the slightest murmur of such things all through high school, and I took advanced history classes. At 22, I’d moved to Front Royal, Virginia, a small town about an hour from Washington, D.C. One December day in 1997, I had the opportunity to visit the Smithsonian Institute’s National Museum of American History. Fortunately, I’d visited twice before as a child and a teenager. It was a favorite of mine, and I looked forward to seeing the First Ladies’ exhibit and the pop culture section. Imagine my confusion when I stumbled into a portion of the museum that looked like a neighborhood in California. Shops and restaurants in this replica San Francisco street were closed and boarded up,…

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Massachusetts 21 Oct 2024

A Night at the Hawthorne Hotel in Salem, Massachusetts

As we planned our summer East Coast road trip, we knew we wanted to spend some time in Salem. Initially, we set aside two nights for our visit, though arrival day and departure day would involve a lot of traveling. We narrowed our accommodations down to two places–the Hawthorne Hotel and the Salem Inn. In the end, I picked the Salem Inn because it was the hotel was divided among three historic homes in Salem, The rooms had been converted to suites, and we would have a separate bedroom and a kitchenette. Why I am talking about choosing the Salem Inn in a post about the Hawthorne Hotel? Well, as luck would have it, we ended up staying at both! As our time in Salem drew near, I started second-guessing how much time we’d truly have in Salem and if I’d allowed enough time for everything we wanted to do;…

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Tennesse 24 Sep 2024

Nashville Haunted Hearse Tour with Nashville Ghost Tours

A ghost tour is a great way to learn more about a city, and the Haunted Hearse Tour with Nashville Ghost Tours was the perfect way to do just that. An evening tour is also a great way to beat the summer heat. That’s why, one warm July evening, my family signed on for one of our more unusual ghost tours–hearing ghostly tales from the back of a modified hearse. The Nashville Haunted Hearse Tour Begins The tour begins in the parking lot of the Union Station Hotel. We arrived early for our tour, and a couple of other parties arrived at around the same time. We waited in the parking lot in downtown Nashville, a few blocks from the river. It’s right on Broadway, down from the famous nightlife area. We weren’t exactly sure what to expect, but soon our Nashville Ghost Tours hearse pulled up. After our tour…

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Maine 4 Sep 2024

Two Nights in Bar Harbor, Maine

.Bar Harbor is one of those delightful seaside villages that looks and feels just like you think it would., from fishing boats in the harbor to walkable streets selling local wares. We made our first trek into Maine during our East Coast road trip in July of 2023, and the state quickly became one of the most memorable and enjoyable stops on our 23-day journey. Would I return to Bar Harbor, or anywhere in Maine? Absolutely! Read on to see how we spent about 48 hours in this enchanting seaside town. Staying at Bar Harbor Manor When planning these epic road trips, we often start with lodging, often about a year out. At first, the KOA campground in Bar Harbor had our attention. Though we don’t currently have an RV, we often stay in the cabins in these campgrounds across the country. We were excited that it was waterfront, and…

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Maine 18 Jun 2024

A Summer Day in Acadia National Park

As part of our East Coast road trip, we made a two-night stop at Bar Harbor, Maine, to check out this seaside town and Acadia National Park. We divided our short time pretty equally between the town and the park. As always, I wish we had more time, and on this particular adventure, I wish he’d had less morning fog. Still, we always make things work and I’m grateful for the experience. I hope to return to the area someday to experience more of this fabulous park! Acadia National Park is primarily located on the largest island off the coast of Maine–Mount Desert Island. Bar Harbor is also located on this island, and Acadia National Park is right outside of town. Our Acadia National Park Adventure Begins We arrived in Bar Harbor in the late afternoon. That left us enough time to settle into our lodging, have dinner, and browse…

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