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Adventure Snapshots
Adventures in Michigan
My favorite region is the shore of Lake Michigan. The towns are old and full of interesting things. The food is good. My wife loves the shopping. There are tons of things to do and see. And Lake Michigan is so cool. I mean that literally, the water is always cold. The lake is so deep that it just seems to stay that way, but it’s very refreshing in the summer heat. The beaches are amazing and the water is clear, blue, and beautiful.
Indiana
I moved to Indiana in August 2000. I moved into my graduate school apartment in Bloomington, Indiana, on a hot summer day. My apartment had only window units for air conditioning on the third floor of a 60s-era building. The building was made of cinderblocks painted white and was outdated well before the 1980’s. (I would later learn that the building was to be demolished in two years.) As a new student, I attended Indiana University (IU) new-student orientation and learned the IU fight song. It was rather catchy.
A Christmas Story House, OH
Much like Ralphie who only wanted an official Red Ryder carbine action, 200-shot, range model air rifle with a compass in the stock and this thing that tells time, my husband made one request for our road trip last year. He wanted to tour the House from A Christmas Story in Cleveland, Ohio.
Cuyahoga Falls National Park, OH
Sometimes a long road trip only allows for a short stop at an attraction. I used to think, what’s the point? You’re not going to see much. After being a military spouse for 25 years, I’ve realized a short stop trumps no stop.
Beckley, WV
I’ll admit I hadn’t spent much time in West Viriginia before last summer. Most of my impressions about the state came from John Denver’s famous song “Take Me Home, Country Roads”. I pictured winding roads through the mountains and coal mines. It took visiting the state to understand the first line of his song, “Almost Heaven, West Virigina”.
Intitally I planned our family road trip with a brief stop at a national park near Beckley, West Viriginia. I quickly realized there were plenty of reasons to stay more than a few hours in the area.
Harpers Ferry National Historic Park, WV
Shortly after we moved to Ft. Meade, Maryland my friend Rebecca invited me on a day trip to Harpers Ferry National Historic Park in West Virginia. The only thing I knew about Harpers Ferry came from my parents’ stories about John Brown’s raid on the town.
My parents grew up in the same area where John Brown built a tannery with a secret room to hide escaping slaves. He was part of the Underground Railroad and an avid abolitionist.
But Harpers Ferry had a lot more going on than just John Brown. In fact, the town caught George Washington’s eye in the late 1790s.
Mammoth Cave National Park, KY
Caves hold a mysterious allure for me. How did they form? What unusual things are down there? Who’s explored it? Bonus: Caves stay cool on a hot summer day.
When I realized we’d pass close to Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky on our July road trip, I immediately added it to our itinerary. My Mom and I were traveling from Texas to Pennsylvania to see family while my husband served overseas.
Great Smoky Mountains, NC & TN
Sometimes the perfect winter PCS road trip falls apart. We tackled a coast-to-coast move from the Naval Postgraduate School, California to Ft. Meade, Maryland. On this trip, we decided to do a little sight seeing along the way.
The first part of the trip played out perfectly. We stopped at the Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona and then headed to Dallas to spend Christmas with my family. Everything was fine.
Dollywood, TN
I guess there are two kinds of families in the world: those who go to amusement parks and those who don’t. I grew up in a family that didn’t do amusement parks often at all. My family now goes much more often, but probably still only once a year. Two family members love them and two family members like them about as much as mayonnaise. (Yes, someone actually made the comparison a few years ago.)
Albuquerque, NM
I often add “just one more thing” to my road trip schedule. My theory: Surely we can squeeze in one more stop even if we don’t get to see everything.
The was the case the last time my Dad and I found ourselves passing through Albuquerque, New Mexico. I’d researched several great places and we squeezed in two of them. If you’re stationed at Kirtland Air Force Base, you can easily knock these monuments off your bucket list.
Fredericksburg, Texas
Fredericksburg, Texas and I go way back. As an eight year old, I remember gazing at the display cases of the Old German Bakery with glee. My parents told me I could get one treat. I perused the myraid of delectable pastries trying to decide…cherry cheese danish, apple strudel, cream filled donut or a gigantic cinnamon roll dripping with icing. I don’t recall which one I got, but the joy of getting to choose still sticks with me.
Philly in a Day
I grew up outside of Philadelphia as much as I grew up anywhere as a military brat. I remember loving my mom’s cheesesteak sandwiches (a Philadelphia original made by a Richmond native), the school cafeteria’s soft pretzels (probably made in New Jersey), hoagies (any meat and cheese sandwich also called a Po-Boy at our next duty station), and anything from Wawa (a local convenience store start up with one of the best coffee bars ever.)
8 Christmas Towns Near Military Installations
Moving with the military gives us the opportunity to experience unique Christmas celebrations all around the United States. Ande and I rounded up some of our favorite festive Christmas towns near military installations from coast to coast and even Hawaii. Enjoy!
Hiking Oahu
One of the things I love about living on Oahu is the ability to go from shopping in Honolulu to a serene hike in a rain forest within a half hour (depending upon traffic, of course). From trails perched along sea cliffs to towering volcanic craters, Oahu offers plenty of hiking adventures that even the kids can enjoy.
Exploring the Attack on Pearl Harbor, Pt. 2
Last week I explored the unique opportunities Department of War ID cardholders have to explore Pearl Harbor National Memorial. Here are the rest of the memorials and museums that highlight the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Exploring the Attack on Pearl Harbor, Pt. 1
Getting stationed anywhere on Oahu means living among the remnants of a significant moment in American history. Evidence from the December 7,1941 Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor still exists in sunken battleships, strafed airplane hangers and memorials found around the bases and the harbor.
Kalaupapa National Historic Park
At the time I visited there were a few ways to reach the park: fly in to Kalaupapa Airport with an official contractor in a tiny plane, ride mules down the steep Molokai cliffs trail or hike down and back up the cliffs. All of the above require permits and planning ahead.
House on Fire, UT
We’d heard rumors of Native American ruins with a roof that breathed fire. We even found jaw-dropping pictures of the place. The name “House on Fire” certainly seemed to fit. But we had burning…
Grand Canyon, AZ & Hoover Dam, NV
The Grand Canyon was right there in front of us. We stopped and stood in awe of God’s creation. There was an overwhelming sense of limitlessness that made us feel tiny.
Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area, AZ
The predawn cold seeped into our bones despite three layers of clothing. As Dad, my husband and I walked to our shooting locations in the dark, the ponds were eerily quiet.
International Spy Museum, DC
My mind stretched to absorb this mission before the countdown clock hit zero. I needed to infiltrate the safe house where a rebel group hid a really bad guy. My cover: Finley Gonzalez, a…
Chesapeake Bay Lighthouse Tour, MD
Lighthouses always have fascinated. The Chesapeake Bay lighthouses especially intrigued me because they didn’t perch on the edge of land that meets the sea. Nope, these lighthouses…
Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, OK
One little furry head popped up out of the dirt mound. The critter looked around and then carefully climbed out of the hole. Behind him, another little furry head popped up and then…
Fort Mose Historic State Park, FL
The Mose residents remained in St. Augustine for the next 12 years until Spanish officials force them to rebuild the fort and once again defend St. Augustine from the British.
The Goonies Road Trip, Pt. 2
Last week I shared my family’s adventures on the first leg of our road trip journey. The trip was a combined our boys’ desire to adventure with their Dad…
The Goonies Road Trip, Pt. 1
When we were stationed at Joint Base Lewis- McChord (JBLM) there were several things I wanted to make sure we experienced as a family: Mt Rainier (I could see it from…
Washington’s Mount Vernon, VA
His resume reads a bit like an overachiever: two-time President of the United States, creator of the US Army and Navy, grew the United States by five states, and so much
Ft. Ticonderoga, NY
The Fort looked black against the bright blue sky. It was the perfect day for exploring a little of upstate New York and for learning more about an important place in America’s history. We were ready to explore!
iFly Kansas City, MO
“Hey! There’s a tattoo parlor! Maybe we get matching tattoos for our 20th anniversary?!” I joked. This was my shocking suggestion as Tim and I were discussing what we should do for Columbus Day weekend.
ICE!, Grapevine, TX
As we waited in a very long, winding line near the entrance, we felt puffs of frigid air hit us. Even the blue light escaping around the giant, floor-to-ceiling curtains that separated us from our target looked cold.
USS Constitution, MA
As we approached the USS Constitution, my American-history-loving son #1 was bouncing up and down. We couldn’t walk fast enough to get to the ship he’d learned so much about.
Lego Build at National Cathedral, DC
The boys thought the huge church was pretty cool, but they had no idea that we would be engaged in one of their favorite past-times-building with Legos!
Ridgway, CO Part 2
As soon as we turned off the highway, our jaws hit the floor. Elk, badgers, black-billed magpies, deer and coyotes moseyed through the meadow as we meandered down the winding dirt road.
Ridgway, CO Part 1
Like U.S. Marshall Rooster Cogburn, we raced up the mountain with anticipation burning in our gut. But our prize wasn’t a low-down dirty outlaw, rather the famous scenery from the 1969 Western “True Grit”.
Corning Museum of Glass, NY
The boys stared at the performance on the stage. The spinning, semi-liquid blob captivated their attention. They scrutinized each movement as the glass blower put the long metal pipe to his lips.
Statue of Liberty, NY
Lady Liberty grew larger and larger as the ferry propelled us across the harbor. Details of her robes and her iconic face filled our vision. Eventually we had to tip our heads up to take in her enormous size.
Cedar Point, OH
“Winner – Winner Chicken Dinner!”– I walked out of the ice cream shop at Cedar Point to see boy #2 (age 8) with a very large stuffed wolf in his arms, standing in the “Winner Circle” of the carnival-game area.
Monterey Bay, CA
Everyone held his or her breath as the giant creature surfaced within arms reach. The whale’s enormous size dwarfed our boat. That caused a few of us to imagine how easily this whole trip could go sideways.
Hersheypark, PA
My son bounced with excitement, anxious to join the fun. The deafening cacophony of laughter and screaming came from within the home of all things candy and coasters- Hersheypark.
West Point Foundry Preserve, NY
What’s dog friendly, combines history with hiking, and stays open even during the Hudson Valley’s winter? The West Point Foundry Preserve checks all of those boxes and then some.
City Museum, St. Louis, MO
We opened the doors and stared in awe. Kids whizzed down a giant, two-story slide in the middle of museum entry way, hit the ground, and took off, ready for their next adventure. This was no ordinary museum.
Fort Scott NHS, KS
My visit to Fort Scott National Historic Site in Kansas confirmed two things: 1) the Army really does go rolling along—until the big wigs change their minds 2) Army Architects have always loved building duplexes.
Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitors Center, MD
I knew about Harriet Tubman’s work with the Underground Railroad, but her relentless courage and faith through harsh conditions impressed me as I explored the museum.
Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge, TX
Each November Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge along the shores of Lake Texoma looks like a snow globe with thousands of migrating snow geese and ducks that mow down fields of grain planted just for them.
Leavenworth, WA
Have you ever flown across the snow on a sleigh ride? My family and I took our very first sleigh ride on our winter trip to Leavenworth, Washington. It left us giddy and exhilarated.
Gettysburg, PA
For six years we experienced the history of Gettysburg up close and personally. A good place to start in understanding of the Battle of Gettysburg is learning a little history and geography.
Bannerman Island, NY
One bright October day my husband and I took a trip up the river from the United States Military Academy to explore the aforementioned castle, a part of the Hudson Highlands State Park Preserve.
Hovenweep National Monument, UT
A stiff breeze and a distant rumble of thunder were the only things to break the silence. A summer monsoon storm threatened to cut short our exploration of Hovenweep National Monument in Utah.
Yellowstone National Park, WY
The crystal-clear night sky spread for miles. It was as if I were looking at a National Geographic spread: millions of stars danced against an inky black backdrop. It was amazing!
Sierra Nevada Mountains, CA
The Sierra Nevada, which means snow covered mountains in Spanish, runs along the eastern boundary of California and Nevada, stretching for 400 miles of jaw-dropping scenery.