Author: Rose Spahn

Washington D.C. a place of fruitful history and home to the United States capital.  I wanted to end my last travel blog on D.C. because the city is kind of my hometown.  Being from Northern Virginia my friends and I take the metro to the city often. There is lots to learn in D.C. and there is never a lack of things to do.

Famous for the many memorials the first place I recommend in D.C. is the national mall.  The reflecting pool, Washington Monument, Lincoln memorial and the Jefferson memorial are all visible from one place, and all Americans should visit these breathtaking monuments at some point in their life.  Along with the memorials in the mall I recommend renting one of the many scooters available in D.C. to visit the capitol, white house or the Martin Luther King Junior Memorial.

If your visiting in the summer D.C. gets hot and the humidity is killer!  Museums in D.C. are free and there are many to choose from. I have to recommend the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History because of the many one of a kind displays that museum provides.  This is a great museum for kids because there are so many displays including  some of huge animals and dinosaurs, so it’s impossible to get bored! To check out the hours for this museum visit this link.

Other great museum options include the African American History Museum.  This new museum opened in September 2016. The displays portray the changing portrayal and roles of African Americans throughout history and the present in the United States.  The whole museum is modeled after a slave shift to demonstrate the hardships African Americans faced when they entered the United States and the hardships they continue to face in current times.  I really enjoyed the third and fourth floor of the museum because they display the evolution of African Americans in sports, art and music, which I found extremely interesting. Although the African American history museum like all museums in D.C. is free because it is a newer museum, visitors may need a special time entrance pass for times when the museum is really busy.  To check when these times are visit this link.

Washington D.C. is also home to hundreds of spectacular restaurants.  I personally love the restaurants of celebrity chef Jose Andres! After graduation I know my parents took me to Oyamel Cocina Mexicana, a Jose Andres’ Mexican restaurant and the food was spectacular.  The restaurant was decorated with bright colors and beautiful fake butterflies. I will caution you that the food is a little pricey, but it tastes spectacular. Check out the menu at this link.  After eating here I HIGHLY recommend walking a couple shops down the street to Pitango Gelato, a family owned gelato shop.  I love to make ice cream and Penn State ice cream is amazing, but the flavors of gelato in Pitango Gelato are unmatched and everyone should give them a try. 

Washington D.C. has so many fun things to do and there is definitely something for everyone.  But whereever you go Happy Travels!

I will never forget the first time I came to Hershey, Pennsylvania.  It was sophomore year of high school, and my team was traveling from Virginia to run a travel meet.  All my friends and I were extremely excited because we were going to Hershey park afterwards and we all knew no matter how the race went spending the day in Hershey would be a lot of fun.  This held true, the Hershey cross country course is extremely difficult, but Hershey park afterwards made the whole race all worth it.  

I’ll start with the major highlight of Hershey, Pennsylvania: Hershey Park! To buy tickets check out this link.   My favorite ride personally is The Fahrenheit, it goes extremely fast and is a good length.  It is visible throughout the park by the large red rollercoaster. Another favorite of mine is The Great Bear, this coaster dangles you high above ground and continuously spirals you and has many loopy loops.  Keep your eye out for the large black and blue coaster as you stroll through the park. These are two of my favorite coasters, but there coasters of all vigors and speeds so everyone can find something fun at Hershey Park.

As much as I love Hershey Park I do not recommend eating in the park because it is so expensive.  My sister lives in Hershey and she recommends stopping at The Mill or Troegs brewery. The Mill is a little more classy then Troegs, but it’s food is spectacular because they pride themselves on the use of local and natural ingredients.  Check out the excellent menu at this link.  Troegs has a fun “snack bar” with an assortment of sandwiches and shareable food dishes.  The atmosphere at Trogues is much more casual and the food is spectacular. Check out their menu here.

For dessert, you are very lucky you are in the sweetest place on earth!  Hershey’s Chocolate world is free for everyone to enter and has an extremely large assortment of Hershey products.  There is also a free chocolate tour where participants receive a free chocolate bar at the end!  

Before you visit Hershey Park make sure you check out what is going on in the town.  There are many concerts at Hersheypark Stadium and the town host many fun events. I highly recommend visiting Hershey, Pennsylvania, even just for a day trip!  Happy Travels!

Have you ever ventured to Central Pennsylvania?  Make sure to stop in State College PA during your next adventure it is the highlight of central PA!  Housing the renowned Penn State University the area is a hub of fun activities and adventure. Get a feel for college life while viewing the beautiful scenery surrounding the gorgeous happy valley.  

Being a runner I always love to recommend the best running and biking trails.  My favorite place to run is a gravel path located close to Sunset Park. At the end of McKee street where sunset park is located you will see a paved black trail with a single yellow strip running along it.  If you follow this trail you will go down a long hill (Sunset hill) until you see a gravel trail on your right side, there are yellow markers. This gravel trail is surrounded by trees, which in the fall display lovely colors.  I would recommend following this trail and just doing an out and back to get back to Sunset Park, although I will warn you that going up Sunset hill is very difficult so make sure to save energy for going up this hill.

Be sure to check out if any fun concerts or sporting events are going on at Penn State when you are stopping by.  This year I saw the Jonas Brothers, which was phenomenal, and I know that bands like The Chainsmokers, Jason Aldean, Twenty One Pilots and others also performed at the Bryce Jordan Center.  Check out the event schedule at the BJC at this link.  Along with fun concerts Penn State is part of the Big 10 Conference and sporting events are always a blast.  Football games are very fun, but home games make the school extremely busy on weekends. I really like going to hockey games, students are very enthusiastic with their cheering and games always keep you on the edge of your seat.  Check out the Penn State hockey game schedule at this  link.

State College is also a host to a plethora of good restaurants.  If you’re looking for a quick bite I recommend Irving’s Bagels located right on College Avenue.  The restaurant sells sandwiches, bagels, smoothies and more. Check out a full menu and hours at this link.  State College always has something going on so be sure to check out your options before you stop by!  Happy travels!

Have you always wanted to explore the Jersey Shore?  Lavallette is a small beach town located off of the coast of New Jersey that has fun for the whole family! With beautiful beaches, wonderful restaurants and fun bike friendly streets Lavallette has activities that everyone can enjoy!

Beaches in Lavallette are private and visitors must show lifeguard their beach passes to enter.  Beach passes are available for purchasing from badge checkers on the beaches. Daily, weekly and seasonal passes are available with special pricing available for children, seniors, military personnel and the disabled.  For more information about badge pricing check out this link (link).  This badge policy helps to keep the beaches less crowded and can make every beach day enjoyable.

When not hanging out on the beach kids can enjoy a fun day at the Casino Pier and Breakwater Beach where there are fun amusement park rides.  I had a lot of fun one night when me and my friend were able to spend a night riding roller coasters and going on a drop tower. The amusement park has rides for kids of all ages!  For more information about hours and season details check out this link.

Lavallette being a beach town is a very bike friendly area, roads have bike lanes and sidewalks to allow families to easily explore the town.  One of my favorite activities at the beach is always to bike to get ice cream. The Music Man is an ice cream parlor that has a Broadway theme that interacts with guests and provides a show while customers enjoy their ice cream.  Although fun for all, this restaurant is an especially big hit for little kids. For information about the The Music man restaurant I recommend checking out this link (link).

Lavallette also provides beautiful shops where customers can find unique items.  I really like a shop called My Sister’s Closet, which is also attached to a store called My Sister’s Jewelry Box.  The stores showcase cute clothes, one of a kind gifts, souvenirs and beautiful jewelry. Junior year of high school I found my homecoming dress at My Sisters Closet and really love it.

I hope that you decide to plan a trip to Lavallette this summer because Lavallette really is a vacation destination for all.  You can relax on the beach, enjoy a fun bike ride around town, have a fun little shopping spree or enjoy a delicious bowl of ice cream all while visiting Lavallette!

Baltimore, you’ve probably passed it on the highway, seen the large buildings and piles of salt.  Have you ever stopped? Baltimore is an incredible city with many awesome food places and a variety of activities.  My sister used to live there so I have spent a lot of time there and can honestly say that it is a gorgeous city.

Being a port city, Baltimore has many fantastic views of the ocean that will leave you breathless.  My sister actually got married in Baltimore and her wedding pictures are gorgeous taken right on a dock.  Not only are these ports great for taking pictures in front of, but they are also a great place to go running, have a picnic or throw a football.  One of my sisters favorite things about living in Baltimore was the gorgeous views on her runs and taking walks with her husband to see the real beauty of Baltimore.

Do you like ice cream?  Who am I kidding everyone likes ice cream.  Be sure to stop by BMORE LICKS, a unique ice cream shop located right across from Patterson Park.  The shop sticks out because of the brightly colored artwork on the side of the building. BMORE LICKS offers a very wide variety of ice cream flavors and cone flavors, check out all the options they have to offer here.  Personally being an ice cream connoisseur I highly recommend it.  It is located right across from Patterson Park so after enjoying a wonderful ice cream cone you can enjoy throwing a frisbee or letting your children play on the playground.

Many times me and my family have met in Baltimore to watch baseball games.  Although we are not Orioles fans the park provides a fun atmosphere enjoyable for all!  Who doesn’t enjoy munching on a hotdog while enjoying America’s favorite pass-time? Check out the Orioles schedule here.

Baltimore is also extremely well-known for the National Aquarium.  Although I have never been I have heard great things. The National Aquarium will give you the opportunity to see a variety of animals that you may have never seen before.  For information about buying tickets check out this link.

Next time you are cruising through the East Coast I highly recommend making a stop in Baltimore, being right off the highway, it is the perfect place to stop and have a very fun afternoon.

Charleston, South Carolina is a charming city filled with history ready for you to explore.  Charleston founded in 1670 includes beautiful historical houses. There is even the famous rainbow row which features charming houses in a variety of colors.  These iconic homes can make for very creative Instagram posts so I highly recommend having a little photo shoot in front of the row. This is a must see when visiting Charleston find the location using this link to Google Maps.

The next place that I highly recommend in Charleston is the Charleston City Market.  The market features one of a kind items made by locals. One of the most famous souvenirs that can be purchased there are the sweetgrass baskets.  Originally made by slaves on plantations, the tradition of basket making continues in Charleston and these baskets are not only a form of art but also are very useful in people’s everyday lives.  For more information about the markets hours and location check out the link here.

Charleston is a gorgeous city to walk in, but at a certain point everyone gets tired of walking. Take on the town by horse carriage! Enjoy a historical tour of the town while relaxing in a horse drawn carriage, the ride can give you a glimpse into the life of citizens of Charleston in the 1700’s and times before automobiles were easily assessable.  Check out this link  for more information about scheduling a carriage tour.

Need another place to relax?  Waterfront Park supplies great views and a relaxing atmosphere.  When I came last time a group of people were playing around on a slack line and they even let me give the line a try! Although not horribly large the park is a beautiful place to walk around and provides the city with a nice green space.

Although I have never had the opportunity to I have heard that Charleston candle light tours are a great experience.  Only available seasonally these tours allow tourists to explore private homes in the evening by the light of candles.  The tours are only available September 19th through the 26th, for information about them visit this link.

Charleston simple charm and historical engagement gives the city a unique draw that is unmatched by other cities on the east coast.  I encourage you to schedule a trip to Charleston soon, and as always Happy Travels!

Picture a gorgeous pier with a lovely river where National Harbor and Washington D.C. are all in view.  This one of a kind view does exist, let me introduce Old Town Alexandria. Lined with beautiful cobblestone streets and small shops Old Town exudes a charm unmatched in other cities throughout the hectic DC, Maryland, Virginia area (DMV).

When you come to Old Town, be sure to check out the Torpedo Factory.  The building was a Torpedo Factory during World War I and II, but after World War II was converted into an art center.  The center now displays one of a kind art from a plethora of artists. Each artist has their own room and are free to set up their display how they please.  It is amazing to see how creative some people are and how much of the art is so unique. This art center allows people to see all kinds of art, even art that may not traditionally be displayed in a museum.

Of course after viewing art for hours you will probably get hungry. There are yummy restaurants everywhere in Old Town Alexandria!  My sister an Alexandria resident highly recommends the fish market.  The restaurant offers a large menu where I’m sure everyone can find something to eat.  

For after dinner dessert I recommend Pop’s Old Fashioned Ice Cream Co.  The shop offers a large variety of flavors that are all made at the shop.  Pop’s Old Fashioned Ice Cream Co. is also conveniently located right off of King Street, which is one of the most popular streets in Old Town.

Are you an avid instagramer, always searching for the perfect place to take pictures?  Let me recommend the pier at Old Town, Alexandria. Last year for homecoming, my friends and I came and took pictures off of the pier.  The view features a beautiful sunset and in some pictures the bright yellow river taxi is even present.  Not only do I see people taking pictures for school dances here, but I have seen many weddings photographed here also.

Before you plan your visit to Old Town Alexandria always be sure to check out what kind of special events the city has going on.  Last year my friends and I attempted to come to a holiday themed boat parade and although we came too late to see the boats, the spirit around us was still amazing.  We even got a picture with Santa! Old Town has events nearly every weekend so I urge you to check out what festivals or parades are going on before your visit.  Don’t be afraid to walk around and explore the city also, there are fun things to do around every corner in Old Town.  Happy Travels!

Hilton Head Island is a dream vacation destination located off of the Southern coastal corner of South Carolina.  My family likes to travel here because during our trip we have the opportunity to visit nearby cities such as Savannah and Charleston, Georgia.  With gorgeous beaches and bike trails throughout the island Hilton Head there are fun activities for whatever you are in the mood for!

One aspect of Hilton Head that I found strange and honestly wasn’t a fan of is that Hilton Head’s lodging options mostly consist of condos and cabins in gated communities.  In Hilton Head these gated communities are referred to as plantations.  I found this off putting and it can be annoying when biking around how visitors could not enter parts of trails that entered these “plantations”. Of course, although this aspect of Hilton Head is distasteful Hilton Head still has many other activities and attractions that can make your visit extremely enjoyable.

To start when visiting Hilton Head it is a great idea to bring bikes because the island has bike trails all over.  If you do not own bikes or it is a large burden for you to transport your bikes to Hilton Head there are many companies on the island that give out bike rentals.  Although my family always brings our own bikes Bicycle Billy’s rents bikes for about $35 per week and will deliver it to and pick it up from wherever you are staying with free delivery!  Biking around the island is a fun and easy way to get exercise and allows you to experience all that the island has to offer.  I know that when I biked around Hilton Head I even spotted an alligator (from a safe distance of course!).  

Hilton Head has a variety of amazing restaurants.  I highly recommend the Old Oyster Factory.  I personally don’t like oysters, but the hushpuppies were amazing and my parents really loved the Oyster Rockefeller.  I also love Java Burrito a burrito restaurant that my family always bikes to that has the best burritos.  I look forward to Java Burrito every time I visit Hilton Head because of the fresh and bold flavors.

Hilton is a very family friendly place.  When not hanging out on the beach the island has cute shops and restaurants to explore.  Biking around the island gives your vacation a real feeling of freedom. Overall come to Hilton Head if you want many options for how to enjoy your vacation!

New York!  This summer I spent some time in Europe and every European that I talked to said that when they visit the United States they definitely want to go to New York City.  Because I have family living in New Jersey I have visited NYC many times throughout my life so I will be combining my knowledge from my trips to give you the best advice for what to do in New York.  I’ll start with some advice for how to actually get into the city.

My mother grew up on Staten Island so usually when my family drives to New York we park on Staten Island where parking is cheaper and take the Staten Island ferry over to the city.  The fare is free and the ferry runs very frequently, but if you are concerned about run times you can always check out the schedule here.  I especially like taking the ferry ride because the trip over allows passengers to see the Statue of Liberty and the dazzling New York City skyline.  

Because my family travels to NYC pretty frequently we usually skip the major tourist attractions such as visiting the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, not to say what we do isn’t touristy, but I’ll give you an idea of what a day in New York looks like for us. After getting off of the ferry my family and I love to walk along the New York high line.  Located in the West Side the park was created on old freight train tracks and displays lovely art, gardens and a variety of different foods. On a hot day it can be difficult to walk the whole high line, but even just a short segment of the trail is very enjoyable. Look here for more information about the high line like where it is located and special events.

For lunch I recommend Chelsea’s Market because it has a plethora of different restaurants for tourists to eat at.  On my last visit to NYC, my family and I ate at Saxelbey Cheesemongers, a cheese shop that serves gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches.  My only complaint is that the shop does not serve tomato soup, which is kinda a must for grilled cheese, but the sandwiches still tasted good.  Chelsea’s Market is also home to thousands of shops where customers can browse and purchase one-of-a-kind items. You can enter Chelsea’s Market at 75 9th Avenue and it is open Monday-Saturday 7am-2am and Sundays 8am-10pm (Chelsea Market).

Of course time square is always a huge attraction in NYC.  The dazzling bright signs and billboards make time square unique and magical.  Personally I don’t love the bustle of Time Square and sometimes find it a little overwhelming although it can be fun to walk through.  I do enjoy going to Broadway shows in theaters surrounding Time Square. I especially recommend the broadway play To Kill a Mockingbird.  The play is written by Aaron Sorkin, which if you are a fan of the television program The West Wing you should know he was the programs writer.  The acting at least with the original cast was phenomenal and the story (originally written by Harper Lee) is fantastically altered to fit the play.  Show dates and tickets are available can be found here, but To Kill a Mockingbird is not the only amazing Broadway show New York City has to offer, if you are interested search around and see what is playing during your trip!

New York City is amazing and like no other, so don’t be afraid to explore it.  There is so much to do and feel free to comment with more fun activities to do in NYC!  Happy Travels!

Sources

“Chelsea Market.” Chelsea Market, www.chelseamarket.com/.