history – Page 10 – Love, Laughter, and Luggage

Kansas City 5 Aug 2018

Six Reasons to Visit Kansas City’s Union Station

We’d like to thank @visitkc for sponsoring our visit to Union Station in Kansas City. As always, all opinions are honest and our own. When visiting Kansas City with your family, be sure to put Union Station on your list for family fun. This historic train station currently serves as the home of Science City, a children’s museum that teaches science concepts through play. But that’s not the only reason to check out Union Station. This venue, pictured in the foreground above, also houses attractions, shops, restaurants, educational films, traveling exhibits, and model train displays. While you’re here, you can send mail at the post office or get your taxes done. Union Station is even an Amtrak stop! You could easily spend hours here, so here is a list of some of our favorite things to do for families, especially during the summer. 1. Check out the History and Architecture…

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Missouri 15 Oct 2017

Laura in the Ozarks: Our Visit to the Laura Ingalls Wilder Historic Home and Museum

I have been a Laura Ingalls Wilder fan since I began reading her books in elementary school, and I’ve always wanted to tour her home and museum in Mansfield, Missouri. I also loved watching the TV show as a child, even though it is pretty loosely based on the books. As an adult, I’ve wanted to learn more about her life, so I have started taking my family to her homes across the Midwest. We are lucky to live near to two of those homes–The Little House on the Prairie near Independence, Kansas, and Rocky Ridge Farm near Mansfield, Missouri. Heading to Rocky Ridge Farm I was pretty excited to bring Kristin to Laura’s homes. She is starting to learn more about her, although currently Jack the bulldog is her favorite character, not Laura. What can I say? The girl loves animals. We’ve also stayed a night in De Smet,…

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Down South 24 Sep 2017

Get a Glimpse of the Past at the Jamestown Settlement

If you’ve ever wondered what life would have been like for the first English colonists who made America their permanent home, then you simply must stop at the Jamestown Settlement in Virginia. We made the Jamestown Settlement part of our road trip to historic sites in the eastern part of the United States. Jamestown is one-third of what is known as Virginia’s Historic Triangle. Just to be clear–this is not the actual site of what is now called Historic Jamestowne. If you want to visit the actual site of the colony and see archeologists in action, then you’ll want to go to the site that is run by the National Park Service. If we’d had more time, we probably would’ve checked that area out, too. In the end, we decided to visit the reenactment attraction, the Jamestown Settlement, because we thought that Kristin would learn more there. If you are…

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Down South 11 Sep 2017

See History Come Alive at the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown

Have you ever wondered what the American Revolution would have been like for the average family in the late 1700s? Just like today, most people were not wealthy; many had small farms and were just trying to survive and maybe even thrive in the colonies. Our history books tend to focus on the Founding Fathers and their service to our new country, and they absolutely should. But there is more to the story. While Colonial Williamsburg demonstrates what life would be like in a city or town during the early years of our nation, the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown aims to teach us more about rural life during this time period. The indoor galleries do provide a timeline of the events leading up to the revolution, the war itself, and a little about the new nation. The Siege of Yorktown is also highlighted, and the lives and actions of…

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Pennsylvannia 18 Jul 2017

Battlefields, Ghosts, and Nachos: A Family Experience in Gettysburg

Things to Do in Gettysburg Gettysburg is just one of those great historic places that we’ve been wanting to experience for a long time. We wanted, of course, to learn more about the battle, but we also wanted to make some family memories together. It’s important for my daughter to learn about the events that shaped our nation, even if she is only seven-years-old. Though the events in Gettysburg were tragic, I wanted her to have a basic understanding of what happened along with doing some family-friendly activities. We spent four nights in Gettysburg, but I think you could easily do a shorter trip or spend more time here. We spent most of our evenings watching the sunset over the battlefield. Here are our recommendations after experiencing Gettysburg. Take a Tour of the Battlefield We took a tour with the Association of Licensed Battlefield Guides, and it was fantastic! This…

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Down South 15 Jun 2017

Step Into the Past: Have Dinner in a Tavern in Colonial Williamsburg

I’m always on the lookout for unique experiences for my family. I love to be immersed in something, especially something that transports me to another time. A tavern in Colonial Williamsburg does just that! During our trip to Colonial Williamsburg, we decided to have dinner at the King’s Arms Tavern, and I am so glad we did! The tavern is on the main street–Duke of Gloucester Street. From a distance, it looks just like any other home or shop along the road. It is near a shuttle stop for taverns, and there are other taverns nearby. I had heard that this place can be impossible to get into for dinner without a reservation, so I made sure to make one a few weeks before our trip. I am a bit of a planner. To make your reservation, just go to the Colonial Williamsburg website. You’ll be able to find the…

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