Since landing in Orlando and getting the Baby Beest up and running once again, we have enjoyed following "spring" up the East Coast. Our travel timeline was set by the desire to be in Richmond, Virginia for a family wedding in early April.
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A colorful pop of spring colors added to the charm of that day,
... as did the pop of historical charm that we found along the way as we made our way up the East Coast.
Here are some of the highlights ....
St. Augustine, Florida
We headed up to Anastasia State Park where the beaches seemed to be hinting that summer is headed our way.
In nearby St Augustine, the cobblestone streets of our nation's oldest city charmed us with delightful shops and restaurants.
A little further up in Jacksonville Beach, a celebration of a Gator's win with friends reassured us that Florida was still enjoying its "March Madness" spring!
Cumberland Island National Seashore
From there we drove to the cute town of St Marys, Georgia which is the launching point for the ferry that takes visitors to Cumberland Island National Seashore.
We actually planned ahead and were able to reserve a place on the national park ferry that takes a limited number of visitors to the island a few times a day. When we arrived, a park ranger led us on a tour of the southern tip of the island and filled us in on some of the island's fascinating history.
Indigenous people, Spanish explorers, and wandering pirates were the first to occupy this island. In the 1700s, Cumberland Island was settled by wealthy plantation owners, and later it became a popular winter get-away for the rich and famous. The Thomas Carnegie family purchased a majority of the island around 1880 and built their mansion, Dungeness, overlooking the southern tip of the island in 1898. It must have been a magnificent structure, but unfortunately, we can only try to imagine its grandeur as it burned down in 1959.
Savannah, Georgia
A number of years ago, we spent a couple of hours walking around Savannah and like many other tourists, we were captivated by its "southern charm". This time through, we decided to stay a couple of days at nearby Skidaway Island State Park so that we could spend more time in this city that was spared from destruction by General Sherman's army in 1864.
Savannah was methodically laid out by James Oglethorpe in 1733 with an organized grid of streets, neighborhoods, and public squares. Each one of the city's 24 squares offers a unique park-like setting that invites all
Savannah's waterfront area has an array of shops and restaurants nestled within the historical brick buildings that date back to the late 1700s. A free ferry ride took us across the river and back again, allowing us to see the city from a different perspective.
Dubbed "the prettiest street in Savannah", Jones Street is lined with antebellum homes whose historic charm has been meticulously preserved.
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Thankfully, Savannah's vibrant food scene offered a just reward for my ever-so-patient walking partner. From cute coffee shops to fall-off-the-bone southern ribs to the famous Leopold's Ice Cream, the food offerings in Savannah can quickly re-energize even the most weary of walkers.
I'm sure that Doug will thank me later for training him up for the mega-walking experiences that await us in Washington DC and New York City!
Richmond, Virginia
Next, we were able to experience the charm of downtown Richmond which was the location of the pre-wedding and wedding activities.
Love was in the air (along with a fair amount of pollen), and the trees burst out their very best flowery attire during the ceremony and reception that was held at the historically charming Branch House Museum.
Of course, sister time is always the best of times!
Washington, DC
I've lost track of how many times I've visited our nation's capital, but the charm of this history-dense city always draws me back when we're in the area.
This time we stayed at Cherry Hill RV Park that is located just outside of DC in College Park, Maryland. While it's a bit pricier than our average resting spot, the convenience of being able to hop on a bus, transfer to the Metro, and be at the National Mall in less than an hour was priceless.
Some highlights of our four day trip included ...
United States Capitol Tour. Usually advance tickets are required, but somehow, we lucked out and were able to get in on a last-minute tour to see the rotunda in all its architectural and artistic glory.
Being seated directly across from Abraham Lincoln's theater box during a live performance of "Sister Act" at Ford's Theater.
Watching Doug ponder the wonders of air and space at the Smithsonian museum of the same name.
Being greeted by the iconic giant elephant at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History.
Marveling at the majestic architecture while walking the streets of DC.
Fueling up in preparation for miles of walking each day with a cappuccino and espresso cream pastry at Good Company Donuts and Cafe ... definitely a delicious double dose of caffeine! Yes, the baristas began to recognize us as repeat offenders.
New York City
Since April is Doug's birthday month, I was happy to "gift" him with a return visit to one of his favorite places ... New York City. Our camping spot once again was the pricey but oh-so-convenient Liberty Harbor RV Park across the river from Manhattan.
From there we caught the subway that took us under the Hudson River to Manhattan. Activities abound in this city that never sleeps, and each time we enjoy new experiences.
Some highlights of this, our third visit to New York City included:
A visit to the American Museum of Natural History where we were greeted by a herd of elephants ... as well as quite a few other tourists. This museum wasn't free like the Smithsonian in DC, but we found a "mammoth" amount of exhibits and interesting information.
Seeing another Broadway production, Operation Mincemeat. This hilarious award-winning new musical is based on a true story of a British "Trojan horse" type spy mission that helped turn the tide for the allies during WWII. The five-person cast dazzled us with their musical and comical talents as well as with their quick character and costume changes.
We completed one of Doug's bucket list items by visiting a craft brewery in each of the five New York City boroughs. This fun feat was accomplished by figuring out our route on the subway to Queens and the Bronx,
... and we only got slightly lost when Google Maps led us astray, but sometimes the journey is the destination.
Whether walking through Central Park by day,
... or Manhattan at night,
... with each visit, New Your City continues to capture our hearts.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
The last city on our east coast historical tour is often referred to as the Birthplace of America, since that is where the Declaration of Independence was written, discussed, agreed upon, and signed in Independence Hall during the summer of 1776.
During and just after the American Revolutionary War, Philadelphia played an important role in the formation of our young nation. It was where the First and Second Continental Congresses met, where Ben Franklin spent most of his life, where George Washington was appointed commander-in-chief of the Continental Army, where the United States Constitution was signed, and where President George Washington and the new nation's other government leaders lived and governed from 1790-1800 while the permanent capitol city of Washington DC was being built.
It's also where many American revolutionaries made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.
When we arrived in Philadelphia, we found a free public parking lot near Independence Square which allowed us to spend two days exploring this historical gem of a city.
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