buzznwoodysmom
08-01-2013, 04:55 PM
We had some trouble getting moving this morning. Something about too long a vacation taking its toll on all of us. LOL. We were tired, very, very tired.
We made it to Asheville just before 11am and decided to get lunch out of the way. We visited Asheville, NC probably 8 or 9 years ago and right after we got home we saw a special on the Travel Channel about unique fast food restaurants. There is a very nice McDonald's near the Biltmore entrance and we remembered wishing we had known about it to check it out last time so that is where we had lunch. Very strange to have copper tiled ceilings, chandeliers, a baby grand piano, fireplace, and hanging tapestries inside a McDonald's. LOL.
After lunch we headed to the Biltmore Estate. This was one of our favorite things we did on that trip all those years ago, but the boys barely remembered it. They enjoyed it so much this time around. Landon spent the entire day pretending he was in Hogwart's Castle and picked out rooms that would be the different house common rooms. LOL. His imagination was in overdrive. Collin kept saying "I wish I could live here for just one year".
After touring the house we had snacks in the nearby shops, and wandered around picking up any last minute souvenirs for those we forgot to get something for. :blush: We also headed to their Antler Village area. A lot of this area is new since we last visited. There was only the winery last time. We didn't have a ton of time, but enjoyed the area, and enjoyed driving around the property.
By late afternoon we knew we had to get back on the road. This was on Sunday evening. We didn't get back home till Monday around 2pm. It was a very long drive to get back home from where we started in NJ. Totally worth it, so glad we did it, but not planning on doing that again. LOL.
This whole trip was a success. While a lot of things didn't go according to plan, that's what we expected. That's the fun in life, to just go with it and go with the flow when you can. To be able to see so many new places that we've never been to was amazing. I will always look back fondly on this summer and I think my children will as well.
Everyone had their own favorite locations. For me DC and NYC were at the top of the list for sure. DH enjoyed DC, Gettysburg, and NYC the most. My mom's favorites were NYC and Asheville. Collin's favorite was NYC, but he also liked DC and Hershey a lot. Landon's favorite was Hershey, probably followed by NYC.
We have been discussing plans to revisit our favorite spots. DH would like to try to do the Army 10 mile race in DC within the next couple of years. It's held in Oct. which we think would be an excellent time to visit DC. We would couple DC with Hershey, and perhaps even a side trip to Gettysburg if time allowed. I think if we flew and allowed ourselves a full week we could accomplish all three with a rental car.
DH has also always wanted to go to the Army/Navy football game. We'd love to try to plan that and maybe 3 nights in NYC into another trip. It's my dream to see NYC for the holidays and the Army/Navy game is just after Thanksgiving each year. That would be a perfect trip for me.
As for doing this again, I don't think we would. It was just too long away from home. The boys are never ready to come home from vacation and they couldn't wait to be home. To have their own space, to see their friends. They felt it took too much time from their summer. Now that we are back they have just a few weeks till school starts, so I understand how this trip made their summer feel very short for them. DH will either do phase 2 of this course in NJ again next summer, or he'll do it in Wisconsin. He is leaning toward Wisconsin, but we've already decided we are not joining him. Instead we'll go spend a week in Disney with my SIL and her kids while he is away. Disney seems so easy compared to what we did this summer. LOL.
What I am most happy about is that we were able to show our kids these places at what I feel are the perfect ages. They are 11 and 13, both in middle school now, so it's something they will be able to remember, and they understood what they were seeing. DH and I feel like we accomplished an "unspoken obligation" to our kids by taking the time to bring them to some of these locations, especially DC. And we hope to be able to continue to incorporate important locations in our Country's history in between all the fun locations we also go on for vacation.
Thanks for coming along on my trip report journey. I know they've been long! LOL
We made it to Asheville just before 11am and decided to get lunch out of the way. We visited Asheville, NC probably 8 or 9 years ago and right after we got home we saw a special on the Travel Channel about unique fast food restaurants. There is a very nice McDonald's near the Biltmore entrance and we remembered wishing we had known about it to check it out last time so that is where we had lunch. Very strange to have copper tiled ceilings, chandeliers, a baby grand piano, fireplace, and hanging tapestries inside a McDonald's. LOL.
After lunch we headed to the Biltmore Estate. This was one of our favorite things we did on that trip all those years ago, but the boys barely remembered it. They enjoyed it so much this time around. Landon spent the entire day pretending he was in Hogwart's Castle and picked out rooms that would be the different house common rooms. LOL. His imagination was in overdrive. Collin kept saying "I wish I could live here for just one year".
After touring the house we had snacks in the nearby shops, and wandered around picking up any last minute souvenirs for those we forgot to get something for. :blush: We also headed to their Antler Village area. A lot of this area is new since we last visited. There was only the winery last time. We didn't have a ton of time, but enjoyed the area, and enjoyed driving around the property.
By late afternoon we knew we had to get back on the road. This was on Sunday evening. We didn't get back home till Monday around 2pm. It was a very long drive to get back home from where we started in NJ. Totally worth it, so glad we did it, but not planning on doing that again. LOL.
This whole trip was a success. While a lot of things didn't go according to plan, that's what we expected. That's the fun in life, to just go with it and go with the flow when you can. To be able to see so many new places that we've never been to was amazing. I will always look back fondly on this summer and I think my children will as well.
Everyone had their own favorite locations. For me DC and NYC were at the top of the list for sure. DH enjoyed DC, Gettysburg, and NYC the most. My mom's favorites were NYC and Asheville. Collin's favorite was NYC, but he also liked DC and Hershey a lot. Landon's favorite was Hershey, probably followed by NYC.
We have been discussing plans to revisit our favorite spots. DH would like to try to do the Army 10 mile race in DC within the next couple of years. It's held in Oct. which we think would be an excellent time to visit DC. We would couple DC with Hershey, and perhaps even a side trip to Gettysburg if time allowed. I think if we flew and allowed ourselves a full week we could accomplish all three with a rental car.
DH has also always wanted to go to the Army/Navy football game. We'd love to try to plan that and maybe 3 nights in NYC into another trip. It's my dream to see NYC for the holidays and the Army/Navy game is just after Thanksgiving each year. That would be a perfect trip for me.
As for doing this again, I don't think we would. It was just too long away from home. The boys are never ready to come home from vacation and they couldn't wait to be home. To have their own space, to see their friends. They felt it took too much time from their summer. Now that we are back they have just a few weeks till school starts, so I understand how this trip made their summer feel very short for them. DH will either do phase 2 of this course in NJ again next summer, or he'll do it in Wisconsin. He is leaning toward Wisconsin, but we've already decided we are not joining him. Instead we'll go spend a week in Disney with my SIL and her kids while he is away. Disney seems so easy compared to what we did this summer. LOL.
What I am most happy about is that we were able to show our kids these places at what I feel are the perfect ages. They are 11 and 13, both in middle school now, so it's something they will be able to remember, and they understood what they were seeing. DH and I feel like we accomplished an "unspoken obligation" to our kids by taking the time to bring them to some of these locations, especially DC. And we hope to be able to continue to incorporate important locations in our Country's history in between all the fun locations we also go on for vacation.
Thanks for coming along on my trip report journey. I know they've been long! LOL