Indiana

Ok, I'll be the first to say it, there ain't much in Indiana. But there are a few things that are definitely worth checking out if you are in the area.

Santa Claus, Indiana
Y'all this is the cutest little town I've ever been too. And let's remember The North Pole incident, where I was so disappointed with life but I did not have this issue with Santa Claus!


So first (I've just recently been told firstly is not an actual word, which bothers me because I use it ALL the time) Holiday World & Splashin' Safari - an amusement and water park! Only open from May to September, this will cure some of your summer Christmas blues! Ticket prices range from 21-50 dollars per person depending on what day you go (cheaper during the week) and if you buy online.

Next up is just the town itself. Complete with a Christmas shop and a post office where some of Santa's letters come. It is an adorable little town and I highly recommend making it a stop!

Indiana Dunes National Seashore
I thoroughly enjoy the national parks, well most of them anyway. This one I thought was amazing and wish that I would have spent more time there, but I had other things to see that day!
Make sure you stop and put your toes in Lake Michigan! There are a couple points where you can have beach access, however, I recommend West Beach because there is a bathhouse there and you can swim. There are also several trails in this area that you can hike up the dunes.
PSA
Please make sure that you do not hike up the dunes that aren't designated trails, it destroys the natural beauty of the dunes!

At the Seashore

West Beach

Some of the Dunes 

Indianapolis
The capital city of Indiana. Home to the Colts and the Indianapolis 500. Most people do not believe that there is much here, and well honestly they may be a little right :)
But if your travels take you here, there are a few things you should do!!

The Canal 
There is a beautiful canal right in the middle of the city. So obviously there is a walkway that you can do and most importantly you can take a gondola ride just like you were in Florence, Italy! I'm not sure if they sing or not, but I'm sure with enough money they will, just maybe not well.

Benjamin Harrison's House 
Do you remember this name? He was our 23rd President! When he was campaigning he would give speeches from his front porch and would eventually die in the master bedroom here. It is worth at least a drive-by if not a tour if you have the time!

His House and Front Porch

Part of the Front Porch

Indiana War Memorial
I left this for last, but it is probably the main thing I would make sure I visit while in this city. This monument was originally supposed to be to honor the WW1 soldiers and was enlarged later and had a name change. It's a 5 block plaza and definitely number 1 on my list for anyone!

WW1 Memorial

Well, that is all I have for Indiana! 

Any questions, email me! 

graceparsons2023@gmail.com

South Carolina

Let me say this. I know more about South Carolina than any other state, except my own of course. This is because I spent the majority of my childhood vacations at West Virginia's beach aka Myrtle Beach.
I do not have a lot of photos of the Myrtle Beach area for this reason. The ones I do are actually a friend! So a big Shout Out to Amy Conrad for the photos!


Myrtle Beach

Myrtle Beach is a tourists dream! Not only is the beach pretty awesome, but there is also so many places to eat and things to do.

Firstly, the putt-putt golf is amazing. If you are like my family, and super competitive, don't worry you could probably play 3 games at different courses every night and still have left over places.

The "Strip" as most know it, is the main avenue in town. It's Ocean Blvd and is where the Myrtle Beach Skywheel, Ripley's Believe It Or Not, Myrtle Beach Zipline Adventure and Mount Atlanticus Mini-Golf.

Broadway on the Beach 
If you need a little nightlife and shopping then this is one of your go-to places! It is 350 acres of shops, cinema, putt-putt, and restaurants. Make sure to put this on your list, you never know what you may find there! Don't forget about the Ripley's Aquarium too!!

Broadway at the Beach

Aquarium

Barefoot Landing

If you want something similar to Broadway but with less people, then this is your place! Same type of set up with shopping and restaurants. Some not to miss things here is the T.I.G.E.R.S. preservation station, where you can play and get photos with baby tigers! 

Also beside of Barefoot Landing is the House of Blues, Alabama Theatre and Alligator Adventure! 

Alligator Adventure is world's largest reptile home! 

Alligator Adventure

Carolina Opry

By far the best show in Myrtle Beach! Not only does it put on a great show, but it also has artists that come play as well as magicians and various artists. A MUST SEE while in town! 

Food: 

Y'all know that I love me some food. And while I have ate at SOO many places in Myrtle Beach I'm gonna tell you my absolute favorites and then the rest you can find out for yourself.

Carolina Roadhouse - get there early, get a reservation and prepare to be so stuffed that it hurts.

Dino's Pancake House - man this is some amazing food!! 

Nakato Japanese Steakhouse in North Myrtle Beach - this has to be included because this is the place that started my love of Japanese steakhouses 

Charleston
Now I've been here twice. Once for a family vacation at Folly Beach and another to run the Charleston Half Marathon. Downtown is absolutely beautiful and I wish I had spent more time here. One thing I will say is take a horse and buggy ride through the city. There are A MILLION of them around and they can and will give you the best view and are super informative.

Must See's

The Calhoun Mansion - beautiful mansion right on the river that is now open for tours!

Rainbow Row - The colorful houses that you can't miss!!! They are the pastel colored Georgian style houses that date back to 1745!

Old Slave Market - This building is a museum about the slave trade in Charleston

Historic Charleston City Market - 4 blocks of an open air market with lots of food and crafts! Including the famous sweet grass baskets!

Fort Sumter - The ruins of the Fort where the civil war started!

Boone Hall Plantation - This working plantation that was built in 1681! Known for its long road of mossy trees called the Avenue of the Oaks. It is also the house Allie lived in during that summer romance in The Notebook.
It offers tours and a farmers market in the summer months! Be sure to check this out!

Boone Hall Plantation

Folly Beach - only 9 miles from downtown Charleston, but a thousand miles away it feels like. It is a beautiful beach full of house for rent in the summer months. The pier is a great place for fishing!

Lighthouse off Folly Beach

That is all I have for South Carolina!!

Any questions let me know!

graceparsons2023@gmail.com

California

California is a huge state, the 3rd largest actual, and I have only seen a small portion of it. Mostly Disneyland, Anaheim, Los Angeles and San Diego.

Los Angeles 

The City of Angels, or at least that's what Los Angeles means. I'm not exactly sure what angels live there currently, but that is neither here nor there. It is a huge town. I mean huge. There are almost 4 million people in the area. Let's talk about the highlights! Obviously, Disneyland is number 1 on my list, but I have already done a complete blog post about that so I won't talk about it here, but you gotta go.

Hollywood Sign
Good luck getting a perfect photo. You can't get too close to the sign anymore without paying a huge fine for trespassing. I think the best place is Griffith Observatory. Not only can you see the sights of LA from above but the Observatory is a stunning place as well. Also Beachwood Canyon Drive you can see the Hollywood sign and the sign for Hollywoodland :)


Hollywood Walk of Fame 
Everyone knows what this is. This is where you can walk through Hollywood and see the stars of some of your favorite actresses and actors. There are more than 2,600 stars on over 15 blocks. There are maps you can buy that will allow you to find your favorite star!

Chinese Theatre 
Absolutely beautiful theatre that still functions as a theatre. In front of the theatre is where you can find all of the handprints of the stars! It's considered a great honor to get your handprints in front of the theatre! Make sure you keep your belongs close to you! Pick-pockets are in abundance here. Across from the Chinese Theatre is Disney's Soda Fountain and Studio Store! The ice cream is wonderful! I'd check that out!!

Rodeo Drive 

If you are like most girls in the world, then Rodeo Drive has all the shopping you could need. It's 2 miles long and stuffed full of high-end shopping. Versace, Harry Winston, and Dior to name a few. 

Studio Tours 

There are a couple tours you can do, probably the most popular are the Warner Bros. Studio Tour and Paramount Pictures Studio Tour. I have not done one yet, however I have heard really good things about them!! 

Movie Tours 

There are probably 100 different companies that will take you around LA looking at movie star houses and different places where movie scenes are from. Just make sure you actually pick a reputable company and not some random guy off the street! 

Laguna Beach 

If you are a fan of Lauren Conrad (Laguna Beach and the Hills star and an idol of mine), then you must make the trek to Laguna Beach. It's about an hour drive outside of LA, towards San Diego. 

Just one view of the ocean in Laguna

An amazing place to eat is Las Brisas. It can be pricey but the views it boasts especially during the sunset is worth it. 

Finally in Laguna is the famous San Juan Capistrano Mission. Founded in 1775, it has been a cultural icon in California for years. It was made famous due to the swallows that make their home here every year. The swallows migrate from their winter home in Argentina to the mission. It should definately be on your list of places to visit, it is beautiful and rich with history and culture. 

The bells at the mission

San Diego

2 hours south of LA, is this beautiful town. Well I've heard it's beautiful, I've only ever been to the zoo! From what I hear though there are amazing beaches and great places to eat! 

The San Diego Zoo

It costs about $54 to get in, but in my opinion it is the best zoo I've ever been too. It had a good bit on animals and has PANDAS! I have yet to go to a zoo in the states that has Pandas! The line is super long, but totally worth it to see these cuddly animals. 

That is all I have for California at the moment! Any questions, let me know!!

graceparsons2023@gmail.com

Kentucky

I have been all throughout Kentucky, but normally I was visiting my good friend and running races! I didn't take near the amount of photos that I should have, but don't worry, I'll fix that soon enough!

Louisville

Mainly 2 big things you must see. 

Louisville Slugger Museum - where all the bats for the Major Leaguers are made! Costs $14 dollars to get in, but you get a little bat as a keepsake! A must see!! 

Babe Ruth's Bat! 

A League of Their Own

Churchill Downs - where the Kentucky Derby is held each year! The Kentucky Derby is a week-long festival, where the actual race is the last day! The weekend prior to the race (the race is normally the first weekend of May) there is the Marathon and Half-marathon where you get to run actually inside on the green in the middle. 

Make sure you wear the biggest hat you own if you plan on taking in the fun during the Derby! 

Running the Half Marathon in the rain!

Food around Louisville

-One of my favorite pizza places is called Bonnie and Clyde's outside of the city! 

-Tom and Chee in Bardstown is famous for its grilled cheese sandwiches is spectacular. Try the s'more grilled donut and thank me later~ 

-Backdoor has amazing wings! 

-Highland Morning has key lime pancakes and apple pie pancakes and they are just as delicious as you would expect them to be! 

Lexington

I've really only been here once for the Run the Bluegrass Half Marathon, but I would be remiss if I didn't include it in this post! 

The entire country is Horse country, and is well worth the drive to see the country side littered with horses! 

Keeneland is another horse track in Lexington. If you drive the area around it, there are all kinds of horse farms (that's where we started and ended the race, so I know!) 

Minnesota

I've actually been here twice, but only for a short stop over to see the Mall of America and to run a half marathon. But I've got at least another trip planned to see International Falls (well it's planned in my head :)

Mall of America 

Image stolen from the Internet. 

This place is huge!!! Come ready with a plan of attack because you can and will get lost if you aren't prepared. It is the largest mall in America, 12th largest in the world. There is actually a lot of other things to do here then just shop! 

1. Nickelodeon Universe - in the middle of the entire mall is an amusement park! There are a lot of rides and games here! 

2. The Aquarium 

3. Make your own crayons at the Crayola Experience! 

4. Fly Over America - similar to Disney's Soarin' ride, and goes through the states highlights! 

5. Mini Golf

6. Bowling

7. Build with Legos 

8. Zip-line

And don't forget the food! I had a chicken Alfredo crepe when I was there that was to die for!! 

Really this place has just about anything you could want! Along with super cute shops and name brands that everyone knows! 

That's all I have for Minnesota!
Let me know if you have 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