Category: USA Travel

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Moon Marble Company, Bonner Springs, Kansas

Looking for an interesting place to stop along I-70 in Kansas? Try the Moon Marble Company located south of exit 224 in Banner Springs, Kansas, a mere 20 miles west of Kansas City.  Located at 600 East Front Street, the Moon Marble Company occupies an unassuming building that is much larger inside than it looks on the outside. Open from 10-5 Monday through Saturday, it’s a great stop for both children and adults. If you’re lucky, you’ll even be able to watch an artisan demonstrate how marbles are made. The glass artists explain the history of marbles and  how they are made from 10:30 until 3:00 on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays during the year, and daily in the summer.

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Got Kool-Aid? The Hastings Museum in Nebraska Does

If you’ve been following our adventures somewhat regularly, you know that I have a goal to visit all fifty states by the time I’m out of my fifties (50 by 50 went out the window a few months ago). Driving through doesn’t count–I actually have to do something or visit something in the state. Enter our trip west on Route 80 from the Ohio/Pennsylvania border to Laramie, Wyoming, before veering off to head south to Denver, Colorado. On this trip, we’d go through three states I’d never visited: Iowa, Nebraska, and Colorado.  In Iowa, we stopped to visit the Herbert Hoover National Historic Site, a mere 1/4 mile north of I-80, but we had no idea what to see in Nebraska. After consulting my Roadside America app, I decided we should visit the Kool-Aid Museum, a.k.a. the Hastings Museum in Hastings, Nebraska.

 

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Herbert Hoover National Historic Site

Recently, my husband and I took a 1600 mile road trip from our home in Northeast Ohio to Denver, Colorado. After a few changes in plans, mainly due to Dennis’s work schedule, we decided to take the northern route along Interstate 80. I was excited because this would be my first time traveling through Iowa and Nebraska. While most people aren’t as excited about the plains states, I was happy because of my goal to visit all 50 states. Driving through isn’t good enough though.  I actually have to stop and visit an attraction to count the state. In the interest of time and convenience, I chose a place right off I-80, the Herbert Hoover National Historic Site.

Herbert Hoover National Historic Site, the two room cottage where he was born

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Expedition Lodge in Moab, Utah

Living in Northeast Ohio, I’d always wanted to visit Utah. Home to five national parks, the landscape is so different than what I’d experienced my entire life. Visiting Utah for spring break would allow us to see a new place (and mark another state off my list) while also giving us a little time to spend with Meghan, Joe, and J.R.  We decided to meet Meghan and Joe in Moab, Utah, using the Expedition Lodge as a jumping off point to explore Arches and Canyonlands National Parks.

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Tips for Touring Washington DC during Cherry Blossom Season

Many tourists visit Washington, DC, during cherry blossom season each year. The beginning of April is a prime time for people to travel to the capital.  Washington’s weather is usually mild, colder in the mornings and warm in the afternoon. The rising temperatures and the fragrant abundance of cherry blossoms bring 1.5 tourists to the nation’s capital during this time. Many of the tourists congregate around the monuments and the Tidal Basin where hundreds of cherry trees show off their fancy new blooms.  After a recent visit, I’d love to share a few tips to make your trip a little easier. 

 

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Daffin’s Chocolate Kingdom

If you live in Northwest Pennsylvania or Northeast Ohio, you’ve probably heard of Kraynak’s and Daffin’s. These two stores are located only two miles apart on the same street; one in Sharon, PA, and the other in Hermitage, PA. And, both of them are wonderful places to visit throughout the year. However, spring is an especially great time to take your family to visit these two shops.

Last Saturday we had two of the grandbabies  for the day. Ady had gymnastics in downtown Sharon in the morning, so we decided to take her and Josh to visit some of our favorite Easter places–Daffin’s and Kraynak’s.

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Utah and Nevada: Vacation Planning 101

I’m currently in the middle of planning our next trip. Because it’s my big birthday trip, I was supposed to be surprised. However, that’s not how it’s worked out. Dennis did have some great ideas, but none of them worked out with the time we have off work. Somehow, exactly how I’m not sure, I took over planning, and it’s been a quagmire from almost the beginning. I wanted to say “disaster,” but it’s not quite as bad as it could be. However, we will be headed out west, no matter what. Our plans now involve visiting Utah and Nevada.

Pinterest pin with photo of Arches National Park in winter for Utah Parks and Las Vegas
Vacation planning for the Utah National Parks and Las Vegas

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Doubletree Pittsburgh Airport: My Favorite Park and Fly Hotel

We live in an area where the two closest major airports are approximately 80 miles away (an hour and a half in Ohio terms). Because of this, we often look for park, sleep, and fly hotels, especially when we have an early morning flight. One of our favorite park and fly hotels is the Doubletree Pittsburgh Airport.

Dennis and I have stayed at the Doubletree at least three times in the last two years and are planning to stay again before our next trip. Since we rotate between three different cities (Cleveland, Akron-Canton, and Pittsburgh) for flights, this is quite a few times for us. Actually, we’ve stayed there every time we’ve flown from Pittsburgh since we got married.

There are several hotels near Pittsburgh Airport, and many of them advertise Park and Fly packages. So, why do we keep going back to the Doubletree Pittsburgh Airport? There are several reasons.

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Twelve Tips for Visiting a Christmas Tree Farm

The Christmas tree is the central decoration in many homes this time of year.  Although the real vs. artificial debate reigns supreme each year, I admit to being a fan of the real tree–I’ve never had or wanted anything else. A real tree, if cut fresh and kept watered, will last the entire season, filling your home with a wonderful aroma. Visiting a Christmas tree farm is a fun activity for family members of all ages.

As many of you know, my parents own Storeyland Christmas tree farm in Northeastern Ohio. I spend A LOT of my time there in November and December. Because of that, and my 30+ years working on a Christmas tree farm I’d love to give you some tips for cutting down your own Christmas tree.

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Hartford Optimist Club Fall Hayride

There’s been an autumn tradition in my hometown for as long as I can remember, an experience whose proceeds benefit the children of the community. This annual event is the Hartford Optimist Club’s Haunted Hayride.

The hayride takes place on select weekend evenings in October each year. It originally took place at Hartford Orchards in the center of town, but moved to Storeyland Christmas Tree Farm in neighboring Burghill, Ohio, nearly twenty years ago. Continue reading “Hartford Optimist Club Fall Hayride”