Delaware

Welcome to THE FIRST STATE! The first couple times I've been to this state was just to pass through on my way to NYC or Boston. But this past summer, we made a stop in New Castle and I just recently ran a half marathon in Rehoboth Beach!

Wilmington
Situated right on the Delaware River, this town boasts probably the most to do. It's right in the middle of Philadelphia and Baltimore and well I feel like this poor town gets over-looked. A drive-by city.
But there is quite a bit to see and do in this town!

Winterthur Museum, Garden, and Library. 
Founded by the Du Pont family (DuPont) it now boasts one of the largest Americana collection. Even if you don't take a museum tour, you can walk through the extensive gardens!

Brandywine Zoo 
150 animals on 22 acres! The cost for an adult is $7 and $5 for kids.

Delaware's Children Museum 
On the riverfront and perfect for toddlers through teens! Climbing, learning and exploring galore. $8.75 per person and parking is free! Closed on Mondays and most holidays!

Riverwalk
This runs right in front of the Children's Museum and runs along the river. There are several places to eat here. Joe's Crabshack, Iron Hill Brewery, Big Fish Grill on the Riverfront to name a few.


New Castle
I have to say that I fell in love with the old historical part of town when I visited last summer. It was cute and historical, basically the two things I love in a town. And it had an ice cream shop, which just gave it more points to its already high score.

New Castle Courthouse Museum 
This is part of the First State Historic National Park and in a perfect part of town. All of the houses/businesses around it are historic, most built in/around the 1600's. And this is where the ice cream was found! My fiance found it in a tavern where the people were dressed up as pirates. Jessop's Tavern is the place and I highly recommend it.

New Castle Courthouse Museum

Some of the shops around New Castle Courthouse

More Shops

Fort Delaware 
A Civil War fort that is on an island and only accessible by ferry in either Delaware City or Fort Mott State Park in New Jersey. The fort has historic reenactments and interpretations.


Rehoboth Beach
I know what you are thinking. A beach? In Delaware? But real life there is! It has been named "The Best Family Beach on the East Coast!"

The Boardwalk is the main entertainment in this area beside the beach obviously. A mile-long with lots of shops and restaurants. It has been named "One of the Nations Top 10 Coastal Boardwalks" as well as America's Best Boardwalk! There is a little amusement park on the boardwalk called Funland. It is priced by tickets which are 40 cents per ticket and with the bigger rides costing up to 6 tickets to ride.

The shops along one of the streets

The Boardwalk

More Shops 

Candy Kitchen

The Boardwalk

And that is all I have for our First State!
Any questions let me know!!

graceparsons2023@gmail.com

Kansas

When people say that there is nothing to see/do in Kansas.... They are right. I'm sorry Kansas but they are. There is not much going on in that state but agriculture, Wizard of Oz, and basketball (Let's Go Mountaineers, stupid birds suck). Anyway, I did find one place that I thoroughly enjoyed in Kansas. And to defend the state a little I've only been to a small section of it.

Fort Scott
I fell in love with this little town when I stopped to get my National Parks stamp. It has this perfect old time town feeling. Complete with a main street full of shops. Make sure you stop and visit this while in the area! Totally worth all your time!

Arkansas

Arkansas is such a beautiful state! I've been lucky enough to visit here 3 different times. Twice to Little Rock for races and to Hot Springs and Fort Smith on my way to another race.


Hot Springs
The Vegas before there was a Vegas. This is where Al Capone and all the gangsters hung out here because of the natural springs.

Bathhouse Row is the main avenue here complete with 8 bathhouses, some are still functional, like the Buckstaff Baths. Fordyce Bath has a museum and the visitors center since this is a National Park.

Ohio Club - built in 1905 it was a major hangout for gangsters and major league baseball players. It has this amazing bar back that no photo I took could do it justice. Make sure you go and have a drink at this speakeasy.

It's Hot! 

Dad and I with Al Capone :) 

Fort Smith 
The city right on the Arkansas River that saw fame due to Hanging Judge Parker. In the judges' defense, he was a judge a lot longer than most are and tried a lot more cases. In Fort Smith, they have a museum right on the river all about Judge Parker.


Little Rock
In all honesty, there is not much to do or see in Little Rock. The downtown area has a nice walk by the Arkansas River.

Arkansas River with North Little Rock in the background

The main street, President Clinton Ave, has a bunch of restaurants and shops as well as the River Market, which has shops and cafes inside.

The H.U. Lee International Gate

Beside of the Convention Center on President Clinton Ave is symbolizing friendship between South Korea and America. 

Old Statehouse

The oldest surviving statehouse west of the Mississippi. It is now used as a museum showing off Arkansas history and culture. 

President William J. Clinton Library and Museum

A museum relating to Clinton's life. 

Eureka Springs

I just happened to pass through this little area on my way to get another stamp at a National Park and was pleasantly surprised to find this gem! 

Nestled in the Ozarks, is Eureka Springs on Highway 62. 

From zip lining, hiking and many many other activities available to you! The hotels are quaint cottages mostly and so many antiques and shops litter the highway in either direction. 

I hope to one day spend some quality time in this area! 

That's all I have for Arkansas! 

email me with any questions! 

graceparsons2023@gmail.com

Virginia

Virginia is right beside of me (WV), but in all honesty, we don't make this our travel destination often. It's a pass-through on the way to Disney or Myrtle Beach. But over Thanksgiving, my Dad and I did a road trip to see all the national parks in this state!!! #stampies Here's what we did!!


Charlottesville

Downtown Charlottesville

Home of Thomas Jefferson's pride and joy - University of Virginia. While we didn't tour the campus, we did go to James Madison's Highland (his home) and Thomas Jefferson's Monticello (his home).
Prior to getting to both Monticello and Highland (they are right beside each other basically), you will come to Michie Tavern. There are a lot of shops and the tavern is a functional restaurant. If it's open when you are there, I would definitely make a stop!

We just drove up to James Madison's house, we didn't go in because it didn't open until 11am, and we had other things to go see.

The Drive to Highland  - I just thought it was so beautiful.

Monticello is an impressive display of architecture and European beauty. Not to mention the number of books he had, made me pea green with envy. It's about $20 to view the 1st floor of the home and the grounds. There is a hill to climb, but they offer a shuttle service that runs about every 5-10 minutes. 

Monticello

Thomas Jefferson

No photos are allowed in the house, but the tour takes about 40 minutes and you learn a good bit about Thomas Jefferson and his life after Presidency. Obviously, Thomas Jefferson is a little controversial since he definitely fathered 4 (more like 7, but only 4 have DNA evidence) children with one of his slaves.Make sure to walk through Mulberry Row, which is where the Slaves lived. 

Mulberry Row

Vegetable Garden

Old Chimney

Finally, if you take the path from Mulberry Row down towards the Visitors Center, you will walk to Thomas Jefferson's Grave, you can't get into the cemetery but you can see the huge obelisk that marks his grave. 

Food - Bluegrass Grill and Bakery -- best breakfast we have had in a long long time!!! 

Appomattox Court House

Fun Fact: This is the actual name of the town. NOT a courthouse in the town of Appomattox, like I had originally thought! 

This is where the Confederates and General Lee surrendered to General Grant and the Union. 

The actual town was destroyed and the owners of the surrender house tore it down to take it to D.C. to make a Civil War Museum out of it. So everything there is a replication, and most of the artifacts are replications since the Union soldiers took everything they could get their hands on (a sign of times to come for the South). 

McLeod House - the surrender house

McLeod House - surrender house

a table in the room where the surrender happened

a table in the room where the surrender happened

If you drive little ways into the town of Appomattox, there is a Battlefield Park. This park is Appomattox Station Battlefield and is the last battle of the Civil War. It is actually where two of my ancestors fought - so we loved it! 

Food - Babcock Inn Restuarant is really good food!! 

Petersburg 

Ok, we stopped here to see the battlefield but honestly, if you aren't a history buff (or have done research and know of ancestors that fought here) I wouldn't make this a stop. BUT there is a house built out of Union tombstones! 

No joke. In the Great Depression, the Union cemetery decided to save some money on mowing. They cut the tombstones in half, kept the half with the names and sold the bottom halves. 

The Tombstone house builder bought 2,200 of them for $45 dollars. This is the result.

Tombstone House

Richmond

So again, unless you are a history buff then going around to the battlefields is not necessary, but I would totally go to Tredegar Iron Works. This was the largest ironworks in 1860 and serviced the Confederates with guns and ammunition for the Civil WarThis is right on the canal. I would definitely go to the bridge that goes right by the falls and explains the night that Richmond was taken by the Union. 

Tredegar Iron Works

Tredegar Iron Works

Richmond Falls 

Richmond has almost obliterated its heritage. We found the White House of the Confederacy right beside of an ER. John Marshall House is barely on the map. And monument avenue is beautiful, but I can rightfully see how African Americans would be upset (and they have every right to be). Not one Union monument to be found. I personally think that is horrific and if you want to honor history, you should make sure you do it correctly.

White House of the Confederacy 

John Marshall House

J.E.B. Stuart Monument

Robert E. Lee Monument

Jefferson Davis Monument

Stonewall Jackson Monument

Fredericksburg

We made the stop here for the battlefield, but the town is actually really cute and worth a drive through. 

Memorial to the Confederate that went over the stone wall to give water to the fallen Union soldiers

The original stone wall from the 1862 Battle

Mount Vernon 

George Washington's home. It is absolutely stunning and is only about 10 miles outside of D.C. This is worth dedicating at least 2 hours to explore it fully! Make sure you see inside the house and his grave for sure! I was lucky enough to see some reenactors while we were there. That was definitely cool! 

Mount Vernon

Mount Vernon

George and Martha's Graves

The old vault where they were first buried

Reenactment

Reenactment

George and Martha

George and Martha on their back porch overlooking the Potomac River

Alexandria

Old town Alexandria is beautiful and definitely worth going to see! Not only are there all kinds of shops and food places but none of the houses have been changed since they were built in the early 1700's. 

Arlington

So I already touched on this in my D.C. blog post, but just for completeness, I'll put it here as well. Make sure you visit the Arlington Cemetery where the tomb of the unknown soldier is as well as JFK's grave. 

Any questions let me know!!! :)

graceparsons2023@gmail.com