We really need a vacation sometime soon. But we've got some problems - we have limited funds, limited time to go away, and we are having trouble making decisions. Add to that the fact that the kid who is supposed to be allowed to have a big say in what we do for vacation this year doesn't even LIKE to go on vacation and we've got some serious issues. This is supposed to be the 'Summer of Spencer', but in order for Spencer to really enjoy it, it probably shouldn't involve him needing to share a hotel room with the rest of us or endure crowds and unfamiliar settings.
Now, we do have a couple of tentative plans in place - and their appeal for Spencer is limited. It's been a few years since we've gone to Florida, so we would like to visit again. We're thinking maybe the gulf coast this time, and I'm just now checking with the hotel we had in mind to see about availability and pricing. Maybe that will happen, and Spencer will just have to endure the hotel if he goes with us. Another idea that we may follow up on is a couple days to New York City. A very good friend will be there at the end of the summer, and would like to get together with us, so we're trying to figure out how to do a couple days trip that would allow us to do a bit of the touristy thing in The Big Apple and also see some other old friends in south Jersey where we used to live. We'll see what happens with that.
But I suspect that we will also take advantage of the accommodations that are already paid for right here at our house. Our comfortable familiar beds, and our own economically stocked kitchen for meals. Saving money on hotels and eating out will ease the vacation expense, and after all, there is PLENTY to see and do within a couple hours drive of home. I put together a list of just a few of the things we might be able to do if we staycation this year.
Western Maryland Scenic Railroad - a steam railroad trip between Cumberland and Frostburg.
Antietam National Battlefield - less than an hour away, and we still haven't been there! We really should visit, and make return trips to Monocacy Battlefield, Harpers Ferry, and Gettysburg while we're at it.
We're hoping to get to a Washington Nationals game sometime this summer, and maybe a Baltimore Orioles game too. Closer to home - and cheaper! - I'm certain we'll make it to a Frederick Keys game at least once.
It's been a few years since we've been to the National Aquarium or the Science Center in Baltimore's Inner Harbor. Both are worth it for tourists, so they'd be perfect staycation choices as well. Also, we haven't been back to the B&O Railroad Museum since Harrison was a toddler!
The kids and I have been to Fort McHenry, but DH hasn't, so that could go on the list of things to do.
How about a day trip to nearby Catoctin Mountain? We're familiar with it already, and there's a lake, a waterfall, hiking trails and even cabins for rent.
We've made a few trips to the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal, and it's worthwhile every time.
We could head over to the Eastern Shore area and check out the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad and spend a little time at Historic St Mary's City.
There are tons of things to do in Washington DC, but honestly I hate driving in. We might brave it for a couple of the museums.
A little further south in Virginia (but still within day trip mileage) is Front Royal, more battlefields and historic sites, and a couple of caves - Skyline and Luray. We visited Luray Caverns in the fall so I doubt we'll do that one again, but who knows.
There are plenty of covered bridges in our area, and of course near the shore there are lighthouses. Not all of them are open to tourists so I'd have to find out which ones were worth visiting if we're nearby.
I have long wanted to visit Longwood Gardens, so I think that might be an anniversary outing I'll suggest to the hubster.
Western Maryland Scenic Railroad - a steam railroad trip between Cumberland and Frostburg.
Antietam National Battlefield - less than an hour away, and we still haven't been there! We really should visit, and make return trips to Monocacy Battlefield, Harpers Ferry, and Gettysburg while we're at it.
We're hoping to get to a Washington Nationals game sometime this summer, and maybe a Baltimore Orioles game too. Closer to home - and cheaper! - I'm certain we'll make it to a Frederick Keys game at least once.
It's been a few years since we've been to the National Aquarium or the Science Center in Baltimore's Inner Harbor. Both are worth it for tourists, so they'd be perfect staycation choices as well. Also, we haven't been back to the B&O Railroad Museum since Harrison was a toddler!
The kids and I have been to Fort McHenry, but DH hasn't, so that could go on the list of things to do.
How about a day trip to nearby Catoctin Mountain? We're familiar with it already, and there's a lake, a waterfall, hiking trails and even cabins for rent.
We've made a few trips to the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal, and it's worthwhile every time.
We could head over to the Eastern Shore area and check out the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad and spend a little time at Historic St Mary's City.
There are tons of things to do in Washington DC, but honestly I hate driving in. We might brave it for a couple of the museums.
A little further south in Virginia (but still within day trip mileage) is Front Royal, more battlefields and historic sites, and a couple of caves - Skyline and Luray. We visited Luray Caverns in the fall so I doubt we'll do that one again, but who knows.
There are plenty of covered bridges in our area, and of course near the shore there are lighthouses. Not all of them are open to tourists so I'd have to find out which ones were worth visiting if we're nearby.
I have long wanted to visit Longwood Gardens, so I think that might be an anniversary outing I'll suggest to the hubster.
That looks like a pretty good list! There ought to be enough there to keep us busy all summer long!
Will you travel far or stay close to home for vacation? Leave a comment and let me know! Be sure to visit the Schoolhouse Review Crew blog (this link will be live on Tuesday, June 4th) to see what other Crew members thought about "What Worked? What didn't?". You can also visit the Schoolhouse Review Crew blog homepage to see the reviews we are working on, past reviews, and past blog cruise topics.
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1 comments:
We have some out-of-town trips planned, but since we haven't lived in our area very long we're going to 'play tourist' and see what we can discover!
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