A Cape Cod Day Trip That Surprised Me We left Wompatuck State Park early that morning and drove as far out on Cape Cod as we could, following that long, familiar hook of land toward its very tip. I had seen Cape Cod referenced in movies, books, and pop culture for years, so I thought I had an idea of what to expect during this Cape Cod day trip. More beach towns. More cottages. More signs of a famous summer destination that had long since been shaped around tourism. Instead, Cape Cod surprised me. This post is part of our New England road trip series. You can view the full route, …
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Wompatuck State Park Camping: Our New England Home Base Near Boston
After several days of traveling and a few nights in comfortable hotels, we arrived at our home base for the first part of our New England road trip: Wompatuck State Park Camping. When I booked our campsite, I could hardly believe a state park this close to so many popular destinations still had availability. I booked it before leaving Virginia, and honestly, I felt relieved when I snagged the reservation. Finding a campground near Boston that didn’t require selling a kidney or wrestling the camper through tight city streets felt a little like the camping gods were smiling on us. On the …
Things to Do in Mystic CT: Pizza, Shopping, and Harbor Views
I just finished watching Mystic Pizza for the first time. I avoided it all these years because I had somehow gotten it mixed up with the plot of Mystic River… which I’ve heard is also good, but I tend to avoid dark movies. Life is challenging enough. When I sit down to relax, I want something light and fun. Mystic Pizza is a coming-of-age story released in 1988, starring Julia Roberts as one of three young women figuring out life and love in a small New England town while slinging pizzas at the local pie shop. Much like the spices in the secret sauce recipe, the girls haven’t quite …
Ricketts Glen State Park Hiking Trails: Our Waterfall-Filled Stop in Pennsylvania
After spending the night in a Walmart parking lot, we thanked management by stocking up on supplies before heading about an hour northeast for a day of Ricketts Glen State Park hiking, which turned out to be one of the most beautiful surprises of my summer road trip. I had no idea this corner of Pennsylvania held a place like this, tucked into the hills with waterfalls, steep forest trails, and enough rock and rushing water to make you forget the highway altogether. My husband had visited Ricketts Glen State Park years earlier and wanted to go back to photograph the falls, so day two became …
Leaving Richmond + A Day Trip to Shenandoah National Park
Day Trip to Shenandoah National Park: Skyline Drive as the Scenic Start When I first moved to the Richmond, Virginia area, I was thrilled. Within a couple of hours, you can turn almost any weekend into an easy adventure—whether it’s a day trip to Shenandoah National Park, a quick escape to Virginia Beach, a history fix in Williamsburg and Jamestown, a loop through Busch Gardens, a visit to Monticello, or the granddaddy of them all… Washington, DC. What I didn’t fully appreciate at the time is that “top-tier tourism” also means top-tier traffic—especially anywhere near DC. I’ve been stuck …
