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

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

Missouri

Missouri famous for BBQ and the place where Lewis and Clark set out "officially" for their journey west. So technically Lewis and Clark officially set off from Pittsburgh, but since they just went down the Ohio River until it met up with the Mississippi and then went up to St. Louis (which was an established city) their real journey west didn't start until they made it to St. Louis.

St. Louis
Meet me in St. Louis! Not sure exactly what Judy Garland would think of St. Louis now, but I think it is a fabulous city and is one that I would actually live in if I ever felt the need to move from my hometown (Never going to happen :) 

The Arch and Jefferson National Expansion Memorial 
You can ride all the way to the top of this impressive structure and get a birds-eye view of the city and the Mississippi River. It was built as a symbol of the westward expansion for the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial and is now an internationally recognized symbol of St. Louis. 

The Arch

Old Courthouse

Dred Scott

Jefferson National Expansion Memorial is a national park that is in memory of Thomas Jefferson's work to expand our country. It is also a memorial of Dred Scott, the slave who sued for his freedom in the Courthouse where the memorial is now. 

St. Louis Cardinal's Game
Anyone who loves baseball knows that you have to check out a game! Since Jason and I are trying to go to every ballpark in America, this definitely is on my list of places to check out! Times who doesn't love a hotdog and beer at a ballpark? 


Six Flags St. Louis
Thrill-seekers rejoice! If you want some rollercoasters and whitewater rapids, look no further than Six Flags St. Louis. Tickets are around $67 a person at the park, but if you buy online prior to going, it is cheaper!

Budweiser Brewery Tour 
I am not a beer drinker, however, I would be remiss if I didn't include the Budweiser Brewery tour!
There are a few different tours of the brewery available as well as just going to the Biergarten (beer garden basically). Make sure you do a little bit of research as to what tour best suits your needs! I would choose the Bud Light Tour, mainly because you start with the CLYDESDALES! Tickets are $10 dollars and if it were me I would reserve ahead of time, just so you know what time your tour will be!

Grant's Farm

Named for Ulysses S. Grant and is right beside of his house that is now a National Park. It is now mainly used for the Clydesdales! That's right this is where you can go see the beautiful horses! It costs $12 to park (or may be included as part of the package for the Brewery tour), but that's worth it to see the horses! Also, you can see where President Grant lived too :) 

Grant's Home

City Museum - now you all know that I am not a museum person. But this is different. It is a huge playground inside an old factory that has mainly repurposed architectural components. It is amazingly beautiful inside and a great way to spend an afternoon. It costs $15 per person to get in, and then you have to pay to park as well but totally worth it, especially if you have kids. 

Just some of the beauty, photo does not do it justice

playing in one of the climbing things :) 

Forest Park - a beautiful 1300 acre park in St. Louis. There is much to do here including the history, and art museums and the St. Louis zoo!! This park is rich in history since it was the location for the 1904 World's Fair and also hosted some of the Summer Olympics in 1904 as well! 

World's Fair Pavilion in Forest Park

Kansas City
Blues, BBQ, and the Kansas City Royals.

Penn Valley Park
Originally part of the Sante Fe Trail, it is now 170+ acres in the downtown area of Kansas City.
It currently has the National World War I Museum and Memorial. It is officially the National Museum of the United States on everything about WWI. It is only open 10am-5pm Tuesday -Sunday and costs $16 to get in.

Kansas City Royals Game 
Same thing as before for a Cardinals game. Is there anything better than a hotdog and a beer at a ballgame?

Community Bookshelf Wall 
If you are a book nerd (like myself) then check out this wall! It's on 14w 10th Street in Kansas City. I loved it and took about 80 million photos of it :)

Power and Light District 
A new shopping, dining, and entertainment district in downtown Kansas City! It looked fun and hip when we drove through it! Definitely looked like some killer food options!

Branson
Welcome to the Gatlinburg of Missouri. Shows galore and so many tourist attractions that it almost hurts my eyes to look at the place.

Table Rock Lake
With over 800 miles of shoreline, what can't you do at this lake? Water skiing, fishing, swimming, boating, and even scuba diving is available here.

Silver Dollar City/White Water Branson
Silver Dollar City is an amusement park filled with rides for thrill-seekers of all ages. White Water Branson is a water park!

Shows
This is almost like Broadway, there are so many shows that you can see. Make sure to do a little bit of research about the shows for when you decide to go!

Other Locations in Missouri

Ozarks - This mountain range starts outside of St. Louis and runs all the way through parts of Arkansas, Kansas, and Oklahoma. There is a lot of outdoor activities that can be done around these areas. Mostly hiking, biking, trails, and water sports!

Alley Mill in the Ozark National Scenic Riverways

Independence, Missouri
Known mostly now being the home of President Truman, it also has a Frontier Trails Museum and has some rich history here!

President Truman's House

Lamar, Missouri
Ok, the only reason why I am putting this out here is because I was so impressed with one shop in particular. Blue Top Quilt Shop was a fabulous experience for me. They drew me in because of their advertising "Scream until he stops!" Well, it worked because I stopped. I fell in love with the ladies that work there because they went above and beyond to help me. Wish I lived closer but looks like I will be ordering from them soon!!

That is all I have for Missouri!
Any questions shoot me an email!!
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

Nevada

Nevada! The home of Las Vegas, the gangster paradise or it was at one time. Nevada is not just about Las Vegas, there are multiple areas to see/play. However, I have only been to Vegas and the Hoover Dam. I would love to see Lake Tahoe, Reno and Carson City one day.


Las Vegas 
Las Vegas became the big city in 1930 when the Hoover Dam was being built. The mafia built up the casinos and showgirls because of the influx of men coming into the area for the building of the dam and that is how Vegas was born.

There are many many things to do in Vegas.
The hotels on the strip are all different themes, like the Venetian, Treasure Island, and New York, New York. My personal favorite is the New York, New York because of the rollercoaster, and they have the best bar in Vegas. The Bar at Times Square is a dueling piano bar. I have spent a lot of time at this bar singing and dancing! :)

Bellagio - has the iconic water show that has been a staple for several years! Monday through Friday there is a show every half hour from 3pm-8pm then from 8pm-midnight is every 15 minutes. Saturday and Sunday the show is every half hour from noon-8pm and from 8pm-midnight every 15 minutes.

Stratosphere - One of the tallest hotels on the strip, and on the end of the strip. There is an observation deck and all kinds of thrill rides including a sky jump. Definitely, a must see while on the strip!

View from the observation deck

Venetian - Probably the crown jewel of the Vegas strip and my other favorite place to stay. It is beautiful and reminds me of Rome with all the fountains and shops. It's beautiful and if you don't stay there at least make a point to go visit and shop :)

There is so much more in Vegas. There are shows, shopping, and so so many food options, that to list everything would be exhaustive and would take forever. Be sure to take in a show and a buffet, I enjoy the buffet in Paris a lot :)



Hoover Dam 
The Hoover Dam was started in 1931 and completed in 1936. There are multiple multiple tour companies that will take you from Vegas to the Hoover Dam. There are also tours that will take you into the Dam itself. Prices vary depending on the actual tour. Make sure you get a "2 places at once" photo. The dam is located on Lake Mead and on the border between Nevada and Arizona. It is technically in two different time zones! Also, rub the feet of the winged figures are good luck!

Two places at once! 

Rubbing the feet for good luck!