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Almanzo Wilder Homestead
New York

Stopping By the Almanzo Wilder Homestead

The Almanzo Wilder Homestead has long been on my “someday” list. Growing up, I read the Little  House books and was a fan of the TV show from the 1970s and 80s. As we planned our 2023 East Coast road trip, I looked for a way to include this historic farm on our itinerary. I was super excited when I realized we could fit it in between Niagara Falls and Bar Harbor, Maine! It wasn’t the perfect visit, but as many roadtrippers know, stops along the route aren’t always perfect. We weren’t able to stop while the homestead was open due to timing on the road. But if that happens to you, don’t fear. You are allowed to walk the grounds even when the visitor center and museum are closed. You won’t get a tour or get to go inside the buildings. Still, you’ll be able to walk the grounds where…

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Fort McHenry and National Monument and Historic Shrine
Back East

Experiencing the Star-Spangled Banner at Fort McHenry

In the summer of 2023, we took a road trip that started at our home in Missouri, went north to Canada, and then made the trek along the East Coast. As the journey neared the final stretch, we found ourselves stopping in Baltimore for a night before heading into a three-night stay in D.C. One attraction we definitely wanted to see was Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine, home of the flag that inspired Francis Scott Key to write the poem, “Defence of Fort M’Henry,” that would one day become our national anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Written September 4, 1814, after the Battle of Baltimore during the War of 1812, the poem was soon set to the tune of a famous British song, “To Anacreon in Heaven,” a melody we would recognize today as our national anthem, though arrangements over the years have varied slightly. Because of the battle…

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Frontier Restaurant in Albuquerque, New Mexico
New Mexico

Frontier Restaurant in Albuquerque on Route 66

If you’re traveling the Mother Road in Albuquerque, consider stopping for a bite to eat at Frontier Restaurant.  Opening in 1971, this isn’t one of those places that have been there from the beginning; it seems to have sprung up as a college student haven for those attending the University of New Mexico right across the street. However, as more people discover the nostalgic adventure of driving Route 66, the Frontier Restaurant is just as likely to serve up its New Mexican cuisine or American favorites to travelers as to locals. When planning our road trips, I’m also on the lookout for something unusual for us to experience along the highway. When I discovered I could sample some New Mexican fare while my pickier travel companions could have something familiar, I knew this was a place for us. After settling in at our home for the night at El Vado…

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Museum of the American Revolution Philadelphia
Pennsylvannia

Visiting the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia

On our quick stop in Philadelphia, we wanted to hit the highlights and get a taste of the historic city. Of course, we wanted to see Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. We even chose our lodging at the Kimpton Hotel Monoco based on the ease of access to those attractions. One attraction that caught our attention in our planning stages was the Museum of the American Revolution.  This museum’s greatest claim to fame is General George Washington’s War Tent. That’s right; you’ll be able to see the actual tent he used during the revolution. It’s showcased in a special exhibit that only reveals the tent for a few moments during a presentation in a theater. When we looked up the location, we saw that this museum is also easily walkable from our hotel. It also looked like a great museum for learning more about U.S. history, so we added…

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RCA Studio B Tour Country Music Hall of Fame
Tennesse

RCA Studio B Tour at the Country Music Hall of Fame

If you’re planning a trip to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville, and American music history is your vibe, be sure to add the RCA Studio B Tour to your ticket. This tour begins at the Hall of Fame, but a short bus ride takes you to where some of our most beloved artists recorded their now-iconic songs. Even if you don’t know a lot about these artists of yesteryear, the tour is worthwhile and informative. It was a highlight of our Nashville trip. The Tour Begins We booked our tour before we left home for Nashville. It’s easy to select your entrance ticket and any add-ons on the website. For the RCA Studio B Tour, you do need to select a tour time when you purchase your tickets. We picked a late-morning time with plans to see the rest of the Hall of Fame after…

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El Vado Motel in Albuquerque. New Mexico on Route 66
New Mexico

Staying a Night at the El Vado Motel-ABQ on Route 66

One of the most adorable places we’ve ever stayed is along Route 66 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The historic El Vado Motel originally opened in 1937 as a motor court with open garage spaces to park your car, not unlike many motor inns along Route 66, including the Blue Swallow Motel in Tucumcari. Built in the Spanish Pueblo Revival style, this motel makes your imagination a reality as you experience the Southwest corner of the U.S. In 2005, the El Vado Motel closed, its future uncertain. For a while, it looked like demolition would be the motel’s fate, but in 2008, the City of Albuquerque made it a city landmark. Then, in 2028, the El Vado Motel reopened as a boutique motel that honored the motor inn’s past while giving it a fresh, new vibe. On a road trip in 2022, we gave the motel a try. “El Vado…

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Ghosts and Gravestones Boston
Massachusetts

Ghost Touring with Ghosts and Gravestones in Boston

We want to thank Ghosts and Gravestones Boston for sponsoring our tour. As always, all views are honest and our own. One of our favorite things to do when visiting a new city is to take a ghost tour, and one of our favorite ghost tour providers is Ghosts and Gravestones. I’m not just saying that because they sponsored our visit. We first encountered Ghosts and Gravestones in St. Augustine, Florida, long before we started blogging about our travels. We were drawn to the experience for the first time because we were looking for an evening activity, and the Trolleys of the Doomed caught our attention. Ghost stories on a trolley? Sign us up! To read about that first trolley tour, click here. Ghost tours can be a family affair, but you may want to ask some questions before you book. Some tours are more intense than others. We’ve had…

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Thomas Jefferson Memorial in Washington, D.C.
Washington D.C.

Summer Evening Tour of the Monuments in Washington, D.C.

Planning the Tour While planning our summer road trip for the East Coast in 2023, we opted to end the trip with Washington, D.C., before pointing the car west and heading back to Missouri. We booked two nights at an Airbnb on Capitol Hill, knowing we were only going to get a small taste of the city. We were determined to make the most of it, as we always try to do. We can sleep when we get home, right? I had been to D.C. twice before, but this would be Jeff and Kristin’s first visit. I knew I wanted them to experience the many monuments scattered about the Mall and nearby areas, but I also knew it was July and hot. And it was the end of a three-week road trip, so I knew energy could be down. An evening monument tour sounded like just the thing. Not only…

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Quapaw Bathhouse Hot Springs, Arkansas, Hot Springs National Park
Arkansas

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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