Annapolis Day Trip

When my parents told me a few weeks before my birthday that they decided to come up and visit me I was thrilled. A few minutes later I started to worry about what new places I could take them to on this trip to DC. Even before my move to DC my parents have been to the city many times since their first visit for Clinton's inauguration in 1992 and many of my dad's work conferences in the following years. So they have seen all the major tourist sites and I wanted to take them somewhere new for this upcoming visit.  The husband and I had not yet visited Annapolis in Maryland despite it being only a 45 minute drive from the city. So we all decided to grab a birthday seafood lunch in Annapolis and have ourselves a relaxing day trip.

I researched local seafood restaurants in the area and found great reviews for Boatyard Grill and Bar near the marina. Maryland is known for its crab cakes and this place didn't disappoint. The motto on the menu was no filler, all killer crab cakes and it held up to those words.

After our delicious lunch we walked into the quaint downtown area to window shop and explore. We stumbled upon the Kunta Kinte- Alex Haley memorial that pays tribute to the enslaved Africans who come to the United States.  It is definitely a unique memorial right in the middle of Annapolis.

We also strolled along the State Capital grounds which was founded in 1649 and is drenched in historical charm. I enjoyed being close to the water for a few hours and the energy is much more laid back than the hustle of DC.

Hello Oregon: Thoughts on my first visit to Oregon

Our first stop in Oregon was the coastal town of Cannon Beach. My sister had visited this town a few years since her husband has family in the area and raved to me about its beauty. That day we were greeted with lovely misty rainy weather as we walked down to the beach to dip our toes into the Pacific Ocean. I have to be honest and say that seeing the Pacific Ocean was something I was looking forward to on this trip. The furthest west I had gone before this road trip was Las Vegas in 2003, so I was excited to finally experience the west coast. My only west coast disappointment was that I was not near any In and Out Burger location to see what all the fuss is about. What can I say I love a good hamburger.

Coming from growing up in Florida where I either went to the beaches of the Atlantic or the ones on the Gulf of Mexico, the rocky terrain of the Oregon coast was different yet uniquely beautiful.


The next day I finally got to spend time in Portland. I think I might have come into the city with too high of expectations, partly from my love of Portlandia's The dream of the 90's is alive in Portland skit and hearing how awesome it was from my sister and a close friend. We were only able to spend an afternoon in Portland so the first stop was naturally a visit to Powell's Books. If you love books, this place is like heaven. It takes up a whole city block and houses every book you can imagine. The fact that I only spent $40 in there is amazing. We had a bit of a tiff with our friend/traveling companion right as we arrived into the city and split up for lunch. We ended up at Fat Head's Brewery where I enjoyed the Bumble Berry Honey Blueberry Ale and commented how many hipsters I saw while we ate outside on the patio. I personally found Portland to be heavy on the hipsters which isn't my style. It's not that I disliked Portland, I just think that coming from living in DC now it doesn't seem as big city as others described it to me. If I went from living in Orlando to then Portland it would have probably made a different impact on me.

We were advised to make the 45 minute drive from Portland to see Multnomah Falls in Columbia Gorge and I'm so glad we did. Oregon has so many varied landscapes and I think we were able to see several of them in our short time in the state.

The last stop on the Oregon trip was Crater Lake National Park. To get from the Portland area to here is a long and boring drive through sparsely populated Eastern Oregon. I didn't know it yet but it would be worth the tedious driving once I saw the unspoiled beauty of Crater Lake. T has said this was his favorite national park besides Glacier. He literally could not stop taking photos while we were there.

Mt. Rainer National Park

A big highlight of the trip was finally visiting the Pacific Northwest for the first time. This was actually something on my 30 for 30 list which is a list of goals to accomplish by my 40th birthday. My introduction to this region would be through Washington state. We drove in through the eastern side of the state with the city of Spokane as my greeter to the state. After days out in the sparsely populated states of Wyoming and Montana, getting off the highway and going into a Walmart to replenish supplies was a welcome change of pace for me. While I enjoy getting into nature for a few days out of the city one of the things I came to realize is that I definitely prefer living in a city.

We met T's uncle, who is retired and travels across the country visiting national parks, in Packwood just outside of the park. Packwood is a small town that you pass through on your way into Mt. Rainier. We found an independent coffee shop that made the best white chocolate frappe I've ever had  in my life. If you are ever in Packwood check out Butter Butte Coffee Company.


We spent 2 days camping in the nearby national forest (which are super dog friendly) and I swear my dog was in heaven with his first time camping. Compared to the campsite we had in Glacier this one was an upgrade for sure with a location right by the river. Mt. Rainer National Park is the the most glaciated park in the mainland United States. It also has an active volcano and 6 major rivers. One of the highlights of this park was hiking the Paradise trail despite it being foggy and a little chilly. This part of the park is filled with beautiful wildflowers and is just so peaceful. The Paradise area has its own visitor center that warrants a visit when you are at Mt. Rainer. This was definitely a great place to kickstart the Pacific Northwest portion of the trip. Sadly I didn't get a chance to visit Seattle on this trip, but I loved the time I spent in Washington.

Glacier National Park Montana

How does one recap a trip that you have been wanting to take forever? I have been wanting to drive cross country since I was a middle schooler watching MTV's Road Rules when it started.  I figure it will take multiple recaps with all the places we made it out to and all the photos we took. I will start with what is called one of the crown jewels of the National Parks, Glacier National Park in Montana.

One of the most memorable activities found in Glacier National Park is to drive the Going to the Sun Road which is a 50 mile road that winds through the interior of the park to showcase the raw beauty of this natural wonder. You can choose to drive this picturesque road in your own vehicle or take the Glacier Park shuttle along the road. We choose to drive it ourselves, or more specifically my husband drove it since mountain driving is something I have zero experience in. The drive is filled with breathtaking views that every American should see at least once in their lifetimes. I'll be honest with you, Montana wasn't on my travel radar until 2 summers ago when T made his first trip out there to visit his uncle and instantly fell in love with Glacier.  He came home convinced that I needed to experience this place myself and now 2 years later I got my chance.

We ended up camping for a night at the Apgar Campground inside the park. The camping aspect of this trip was a little nerve wracking for me. Before this trip the last time I attempted camping was back in high school and I ended up going home with several fire ant bites, so I was a camping newbie to put it lightly. Everything was fine until it was time to go to bed and I underestimated how cold it would get overnight in July in Northwestern Montana.  I can't imagine how harsh the winters are up there. The next day we made it out to Logan's Pass to do some day hiking. While at Logan's Pass I got to encounter wildlife first hand in of all places a parking lot. After completing the hike in Logan's Pass I walked down to the car to check on the dogs (dogs are not allowed on any Glacier trails) while the guys went to to check out the gift shop in the visitor center. I am sitting there giving water to the dogs when I hear people gasping in the parking lot that a group of rams has entered the parking lot. I look up to see tourists snapping pictures on their phones of the rams circling the parking lot. Right as my eyes become fixated on the rams my friend's dog begins to bark uncontrollably. I start to freak out not knowing if the barking will entice the rams to come explore what was the cause of all the noise. I plead Matilda to stop her barking and now my dog has started making a whine noise himself. For the next few minutes I nervously watched the rams circle through the parking lot wondering if they would stop by our car due to the dogs inside. Luckily the rams did not appear to be interested in interacting with the dogs and made their way to explore the other side of the parking lot. That would not end up being my singular wildlife encounter on the trip but it was most definitely the scariest one.

Countdown to my Pacific Northwest road trip

Less than a week from today and I will be starting my 2 week road trip across the Pacific Northwest. I'm excited for my first long road trip and seeing parts of the country brand new to me. On the travel itinerary we have South Bend, IN (a pit stop to see Notre Dame which is big in T's family), South Dakota, Montana (Glacier National Park), Mt. Rainer in Washington, Portland, Oregon coast and Colorado. If any of you have recommendations on any of these places, please feel free to share.

In previous road trips my favorite thing to do is putting together a road trip playlist. Good music is essential to a quality road trip. From my college days road trip to now here are some of my favorite songs to listen to while in the car for a long trip.

Rusted Root- Send Me on My Way - This is one of those songs I played often on the four hour drives from Florida State to home.

Bright Eyes- Another Travelin Song- I love everything from this band. Period.

The Head and The Heart- Lost in my Mind- Great lyrics that fit perfectly for the traveling mindset.

What are some of your tips for a successful road trip?

I Heart Charlottesville

One of the best parts of living up here is the proximity to so many cool day trips. I love my Florida and all, but it is a big state which means long drives. Charlottesville is just a 2 hour drive away from Northern Virginia, but it feels like a different world. The DC metro area is full of busy people, lack of space, and the infamous traffic that clogs the roads at all hours. The drive into Charlottesville is almost a visual reminder to slow down and enjoy the simpler things in life.


You are greeted with sleepy little mountain towns that seem to know nothing of the hustle and bustle just up state. The biggest attraction in Charlottesville is Thomas Jefferson's Monticello which is the reason why we ventured down south that Saturday morning. For the price of admission ($25 per person) you get a tour of the inside of the house and the grounds. Unfortunately you are not allowed to take pictures of the interior of the house.  It is no secret that we are both history nerds so we knew this place was a must-see while we are living in Virginia. Walking along Jefferson's homestead it was clear to understand why he loved living in Virginia so much. Seeing Monticello in the fall with the leaves changing colors was especially a treat for us Floridians. Fall doesn't exist in the Sunshine State.



After working up an appetite from our tour of Monticello we made our way into the city limits of Charlottesville. I had only heard good things about this artistic college town before our trip, so I was looking forward to exploring it. Also I have a soft spot for college towns in general. I think it comes from my years living in Tallahassee when attending Florida State. I just love the vibe found in college towns. We found a mom and pop diner called Mel's Cafe to have lunch and it did not disappoint. Their fried chicken is authentic and the best I've had in ages. So good I forgot to take pictures. We walked around the downtown mall and found the bar where Dave Matthews Band was formed back in the 1990's. They don't advertise it and you wouldn't know it from anything inside the bar, but if you are a fan (like me) it is a must visit.

Best & Worst Vacations

">I'm going to be honest. It was a lot easier to come up with my worst vacation experience than my best one. In writing this prompt I also realize that I don't have photos from some of my older trips. My high school graduation present/trip to NYC in 1999 is a perfect example. Let's start with what happens when travel goes wrong.

New Orleans - December 2012

We got married on November 10, 2012 and at the time I was still a teacher. One of the disadvantages of following a school year schedule is that it is tough to get a block of time to go on a long honeymoon during the school year. I wanted to get married outside and that just wasn't happening in hot, humid Florida weather. So we decided to take a mini honeymoon for logistical and financial reasons. I had originally suggested Savannah, GA but T wasn't feeling it so somehow we both came up with the idea of New Orleans. We got great feedback from friends who said that we would just love it there. Seriously we didn't hear a single person say anything negative about New Orleans. I quickly went into my research mode that I go into before any trip. We left Orlando armed with things to do and places to eat authentic gumbo. The trip started off with a rude valet driver who gave us unnecessary attitude and only went downhill from there.  My apologies to anyone from New Orleans, I thought I would love your city, but it just didn't make a connection with us. We can look back at it now and often make the joke that we need a honeymoon re-do. 

T and I feel that we made it to Bourbon Street 10 years too late. As someone in my early 30's the appeal of open containers and peep shows had clearly moved on along with my drinking tolerance. We did find a cool dive bar called The Boondock Saint that wasn't awash with drunk 20 year olds. You gotta love any bar that has a dog on the bar stool. I did enjoy strolling the shops and restaurants on Magazine Street. If I ever return to New Orleans I will probably just hang out on Magazine Street and skip the mess on Bourbon. You never know how you will react when you visit a new place. Some places capture your heart in an instant, some leave you indifferent, and some just don't make a connection with you. New Orleans was like that for me. I thought I would like it due to everything I had seen in pictures and television, but the city and I just didn't make a connection.

Key West, FL 

Key West is often called the real and quirky side of Florida. People come from all over the country to Florida to reinvent themselves, Key West is where Floridians go.  From the first time I drove across the Seven Mile bridge that is the only way to drive into the Keys I quickly felt like I was home. The vibe down there is casual, laid-back, and accepting. This is Florida with no pretense. You will find no theme parks here. T and I started going there early in our relationship and then started making yearly spring trips to the Keys. He even proposed at our favorite place (Pepe's Cafe) on one of our trips.  

Puerto Rico

I grew up going to Puerto Rico every few years since both of my parents are from the island. I have been all around the island from the crowded streets of San Juan, to the east side of the island to visit El Yunque rain forest, to the mountains in the middle, and the beauty of the beaches of the south. It requires no passport since Puerto Rico is United States territory, but I love that it still retains its culture and traditions. It also gets bonus points for allowing me to speak in Spanish and not giving any of those "You don't look Hispanic" comments I get way too often. 

Saturday in Baltimore

 This past week has been a little hard on me with all the stress on the job front. I thought I had a promising second interview (they even gave me a tour of the place) and yet I received the dreaded rejection email. I must be spoiled because 99% of the time back in Orlando when I got a second interview it meant I had the job. Ty decided that a trip to see Poe's grave and old house in Baltimore
would be a fun distraction. Neither of us had been there before and it is only 40 miles away, so why not?

Edgar Allan Poe's house is listed as being located in a "challenging" neighborhood on the website. Challenging is a polite way of saying that it is located in a rough part of town. If you go park as close by to the house as you can and just be vigilant. I have loved Poe's writing since I was in middle school and he was one of my favorite authors to teach when I used to teach. The actual house is quite small and can only hold a small group of visitors at a time. As a literary nerd I loved walking in the house where he wrote some of his poems and stories before his death.

A true Poe nerd can't leave Baltimore without making a pilgrimage to his grave site. The lovely people at the Poe house actually will give you directions to the grave, which is about 8 blocks away in downtown Baltimore.

What would a trip to Baltimore be without devouring some crab cakes? I researched a little on where to get the best one in town and found Faidley Seafood. If you love a good crab cake you will not be    disappointed here.  I have ate great crab cakes in Key West and Boston, but this place might just be on the best ones I have had yet. If you follow me on Instagram then you probably saw the picture
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Harpers Ferry National Park

One of the differences in now living in the Mid-Atlantic region versus Florida is the proximity of other states to you. Orlando is right smack dab in the middle of the state which means it takes four hours north you are still in the state and you can drive six hours south and still be in the same state.  Harpers Ferry was just over an hour drive and located in West Virginia. This was my first time traveling in West Virginia and I had no idea the beauty held in that state until I saw it with my own eyes.



Harpers Ferry holds quite a few special distinctions in American history. It is here that welcomed the birth of the American railroad, witnessed the biggest surrender of Union troops during the Civil War, and one of the first schools to educate former slaves in the country. You can explore the town of Harper's Ferry and watch a short video that gives you the history of the town's beginnings, importance in history, and its struggles. After walking through the old, classical streets of Harper's Ferry you want to cross the bridge for the perfect view of the point. The Point is where the two rivers meet and you get a beautiful view of the Potomac River and the Blue Ridge. I haven't been to many national parks in the past but this trip has made me want to explore more of my own country's natural landscapes.