Welcome to the next post in my series highlighting states we have visited throughout the years. I hope you will enjoy coming along for the ride!
I will be featuring the states alphabetically. The next state in my series is
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania became the 2nd state on December 12, 1787. The capital is Harrisburg.
When I was a teenager, my family made a trip to Philadelphia to see the historic sites. All I remember is seeing the Liberty Bell (it was more years ago than I want to admit and I was a teenager after all). About 40 years ago my husband and I took our kids tent camping to Pennsylvania and toured the Hershey factory and the Gettysburg National Military Park. We made some wonderful memories with our children who were two and six at the time. Unfortunately I don’t have photos from those trips.
Just a few years ago Henry and I traveled through Pennsylvania on an RV trip with our fifth wheel. Always looking for a waterfront campsite, we found a great one at Ferryboat Campsites in Liverpool, right on the banks of the Susquehanna River.
View of the Susquehanna River from the campgroundView of the Susquehanna River from the campground
The Millersburg Ferry is the last operating ferry on the Susquehanna River. The ferry landing is located in the campground so of course we took a ride across the river.
Millersburg Ferry in Liverpool, PennsylvaniaMillersburg Ferry on the Susquehanna RiverMillersburg Ferry is the last operating ferry on the Susquehanna RiverMillersburg FerryEach mark on the building represents the year and the height of a flood
Welcome to the next post in my series highlighting states we have visited throughout the years. I hope you will enjoy coming along for the ride!
I will be featuring the states alphabetically. The next state in my series is
North Carolina
North Carolina became the 12th state on November 21, 1789. The capital is Raleigh.
From the Great Smokey Mountains to the Outer Banks, there is a lot to explore in North Carolina. Waterfalls and beaches, hikes and scenic drives, mountains and racetracks, wildlife and wildflowers – these are just a few of the things that make North Carolina memorable.
Back before our RVing days we wandered around the Outer Banks seeing the lighthouses and beaches, visiting the Wright Brothers Monument where they took their first flight, and taking the ferry from Hatteras to Ocracoke. Another ferry took us from Ocracoke back to the mainland where we visited Bath where the pirate Blackbeard once lived.
Hatterras Light
Ocracoke Lighthouse, NC
Bodie Island Lighthouse, NC
Wright Brothers Memorial
Ocracoke Island Ferry
Hatterras Beach
If you love waterfalls, you won’t be disappointed in North Carolina.
Waterfall along the Blue Ridge Parkway
Dry Falls
Tom Branch Falls
Juney Whank Falls
It doesn’t get any better than a campsite with a beautiful view. Our campsite at Campfire Lodgings in Asheville was perfect for hanging out after hiking or touring the fabulous Biltmore Estate.
Blondie taking a break at our campsite at Campfire Lodgings in AshevilleBiltmore Estate in AshevilleSunset at Campfire Lodgings in Asheville
Andy and Opie on the water tower in Mount Airy, NC
Downtown Mount Airy, NC
We ended our tour of the Charlotte Motor Speedway in the winner’s circle.
In the Winner’s Circle at Charlotte Motor Speedway
One of the hikes we made was on Whiteside Mountain in the Nantahala National Forest.
Whiteside Mountain in Nantahala National Forest
Whether it’s the leaves showing their fall colors or the flowers showing their brilliant blooms, the vibrant colors of the North Carolina mountains change with the seasons.
Fall Colors on the Blue Ridge Parkway
Tiger Lilys at Mabry Mill
Rhododendrons along the Blue Ridge Parkway
North Carolina Wildflower
Swallowtail and Wildflowers
Jewel Weed
Rhododendrons
We explored Mabry Mill on the Blue Ridge Parkway and Mingus Mill in the Great Smokey Mountains National Park near Cherokee.
Mabry Mill, the most photographed spot on the Blue Ridge Parkway
Mingus Mill in Great Smokey Mountains National Park
And if it’s wildlife you’re looking for, try visiting in the fall where you might see the bugling elk in Cataloochee Valley in the Great Smokey Mountains National Park.
Bull Elk Bugling in Cataloochee Valley
Bull Elk in Cataloochee Valley
Two young male elk lock antlers in Cataloochee Valley
Welcome to the next post in my series highlighting states we have visited throughout the years. I hope you will enjoy coming along for the ride!
I will be featuring the states alphabetically. We have never been to New Jersey so the next state in my series is
New York
New York became the 11th state on July 26, 1788. The capital is Albany.
A few years ago we camped in Niagara Falls, Canada. After exploring the Canadian falls we made a day trip into New York where we had close up views of the Bridal Veil Falls and got soaked as we walked along the decks on the Cave of the Winds Tour.
Bridal Veil Falls as seen from CanadaNiagara Falls USA
You will get wet if you take the Cave of the Winds Tour!
You can’t get much closer to the falls that thisUp close to the falls on the Cave of the Winds TourThat’s Henry waving from the Hurricane Deck
Our next stop in New York was Golden Hill State Park. Although the park is located about thirty miles by water from Niagara Falls the drive is a little bit longer. This peaceful state park was exactly what we needed after the excitement of Niagara Falls. Where else can you have a view of a lighthouse and one of the great lakes from your campsite? We enjoyed touring the Thirty Mile Point Lighthouse and Blondie enjoyed swimming in Lake Ontario. The highlight each day was watching a gorgeous sunset over the lake.
Thirty Mile Point Lighthouse overlooking Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario at Golden Hill State Park
Blondie swimming in Lake Ontario at Golden Hill State Park
Thirty Mile Point Lighthouse, NY
Thirty Mile Point Lighthouse at Golden Hill State Park
Sunset at Thirty Mile Point Lighthouse at Golden Hill State Park
I recently returned from a fantastic Mother-Daughter Weekend in New York City. We did all the things on our bucket list and much more. The best part of the weekend for me was seeing the city with my beautiful daughter.
Welcome to the next post in my series highlighting states we have visited throughout the years. I hope you will enjoy coming along for the ride!
I will be featuring the states alphabetically. The next state is
New Mexico
New Mexico became the 47th state on January 6, 1912. The capital is Santa Fe.
We have traveled through New Mexico several times in our travels. The first time was in 1985 in a mini van on our way to the Grand Canyon to tent camp with our two kids. Each time we were in the state we made sure to eat some of the delicious New Mexico food. From blue corn tacos to green chile stew it’s all delicious. One year we visited my brother and his wife near Albuquerque and they took us to some of their favorite restaurants. Nothing better than eating where the locals eat!
In New Mexico many restaurants give you a choice of red salsa or green salsa. If you want both, when the server asks you what salsa you would like, the answer is “Christmas”. And where else would you have green chile stew and nachos for breakfast?
Green Chile stew and nachos for breakfast at the Frontier Restaurant in Alburque
When we left home on our first RV trip in 2006, one of our must see stops was Roswell, New Mexico to visit the UFO Museum.
Street Lamp in Roswell, NM
UFO Museum and Research Center
UFO Museum in Roswell
New Mexico is one of the states that meets at the Four Corners.
Four Corners – States of Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado and Nevada
Our campsite at Santa Fe Skies was a perfect home base to explore Santa Fe and the surrounding area. We enjoyed wandering around Santa Fe, shopping at the Palace of the Governors and visiting the Georgia O’Keefe Museum.
St. Francis Cathedral Santa FeCamel Rock near Santa FePalace of the Governors in Santa Fe
When we asked one of the staff at the RV park the best way to get to Taos, he told us we could take the high road or the low road. Of course given two options we decided to travel to Taos on the scenic high road through high desert, mountains and small towns and return to Santa Fe on the low road through the valleys beside the Rio Grande River.
The scenery changed along the high road as we drove from Sante Fe to Taos.
High Dessert on the High Road to Taos
On the high road to Taos
We visited the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge outside of Taos before exploring Kit Carson’s home and enjoying tacos from a vendor at a Fiesta in Taos.
Rio Grande Gorge BridgeKit Carson’s home in Taos
As we drove back to Santa Fe on the low road there were great views of the Rio Grande.
Rio Grande River on the Low Road between Taos and Santa Fe
Santa Rosa is one of the places to see some of the neon signs along historic Route 66. The Blue Hole was also worth a visit.
Historic Route 66 in Santa Rosa
Blue Hole in Santa Rosa
Historic Route 66 in Santa Rosa
Mater from the movie “Cars” in Santa Rosa
There is so much to see in and around Albuquerque. Although we had visited before, my brother and his wife were great tour guides and knew the best places to go. After attending a Navajo Rug sale with them we all took a hike through Petroglyphs National Monument.
Petroglyphs National Monument
Petroglyphs National Monument
Petroglyphs National Monument
On our most recent trip to New Mexico we wandered around Old Town Albuquerque and visited the Coronado State Monument.
Historic church in AlbuquerqueCoronado State Monument
The highlight of our stay in Albuquerque was the drive on the Sandia Crest Scenic Byway. The views along the way and at the peak were amazing.
View from Sandia CrestView from Sandia CrestView of Albuquerque from the Sandia Peak
Wandering Dawgs 