Traveling with Kids: Outer Banks, North Carolina

If you have ever traveled to North Carolina you very well know there are so many really neat places to visit, some of the ones we love the most are the Beaches!! We have visited so many different beaches along the East Coast of North Carolina over the past 2 years of living here, but unquestionably we LOVE going to the Outer Banks!

We have made a trip out there two times now, once with just our family, and then when my mom came to visit we made the trip out there with her as well.

My main tip to enjoy the Outer Banks is to either aim for off season, as it's less crowded, or check on Groupon before you plan your trip. Being a huge tourist destination the area is a bit pricey for stays, but with a little patience you should be able to dig up a deal that makes the trip much more affordable!! The exciting part about it being tourist is there is a LOT to see and do, other than the obvious enjoying the beach!

Since this post is about traveling with kids I will talk about the couple things we did that they LOVED doing with us.

North Carolina Aquarium:


This museum is a great one for kids and in the off season it's practically abandoned so the kids enjoyed the personal attention the workers gave them, as well as being able to run a little wild and really enjoy the displays with out the usual restraint of behaving.

Wild Horses:

So with this we were cheap and it was also late by the time we got out there. So we decided to find parking near by and try to walk out!! But it was almost sunset, and there was a lot of people out in their off road vehicles out to see them so there was really no chance of it happening but we had fun thinking about it and hoping it would happen. I recommend either coming in a 4x4 vehicle, or purchasing an excursion with one of the many companies in the area that do the tours because I imagine it is pretty magical!!

Roanoke Lighthouse:

This beautiful little lighthouse we also really loved visiting and went to see twice!! I love the big ones and the Outer Banks has a few different awesome options to check out in the area!! But there is just something very charming about this little one in the inlet of Roanoke!!

There are so many things to love about the Outer Banks, North Carolina. It really is a get away you shouldn't miss out on!! There is so much beauty, but also tons of adventure awaiting you!!!

Also maybe you will get luckier than us but there is also Kitty Hawk to check out which is such an interesting piece of History!!

Traveling with Kids: Hubbs Corn Maze 2018

Fall wouldn't be the same without a trip to the Corn Maze!! This year we didn't actually venture into the corn maze as we realized the kids aren't really old enough to understand it. But Hubb's Corn Maze is a blast because they have so many fun activities already included in the cost!! We did the Hayride, Straw maze, Petting Zoo, Pumpkin Patch, and Dirt hill climbing!! But there are 2 more levels that include the train, tractor rides, bounce pads, slides and much much more!!

It truly can be a full day adventure!

Don't forget to bring your camera as there are plenty of fun places to take pictures!!

There is also a few food options to keep you full the whole time, and if you feel like staying a little later watch for the movies under the stars options as well as fire-pits!!

Book Review: My Name is Memory

This lovely book was one I picked up from the garage sale my friends and I had before the hurricane.

My Name is Memory by Ann Brashares is an intriguing story that really gets your brain thinking. Along with a charming love story of the times!

Ann Brashares is the same author who wrote The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, her smooth easy to read narrative is very similar in this book!! Worth reading for a nice story, but the little surprise of the interesting time traveled and tested relationships that you meet through out the story gives this book the feel of something new!!

It was a great read that I really enjoyed while stuck without power and then stuck in a hotel room! Another 10 out of 10 review!! Plus I think it may be a movie so check it out!!

More travel Blogs next week!!

Traveling with Kids: Colonial Williamsburg

I am excited to make this blog mostly about travel!! There will of course be some family things, and occasionally book reviews or recipes if I feel they really need to be talked about but my passion has always been for TRAVEL.

So if you love travel as much as I do be sure to check out the travel link above for all our old adventures mostly around Europe!!

Now onto this actual post!!

A couple weeks ago my mom was here visiting and we didn't want to spend the whole time she was here at home. We had just survived the big hurricane that his North Carolina and so beaches here were out of the question!! So instead we decided a weekend trip to Virginia would be perfect!! Both her and I LOVE history stuff so going to Williamsburg was a no-brainer!!

Walking into Colonial Williamsburg for the first time. I think the kids weren't really sure what to expect. We had tried to explain to them that it was still running the same as it did back when people used to live there during the colonial times. 

We started the day out with a fun horse drawn carriage ride. I highly recommend adding this to your day if you are able to because it isn't a really long ride but gives you a nice tour of the whole town so you can decide which houses and shops you want to visit.

We paid for the sampler ticket which allowed us to do 4-5 of the homes or shops just not the  Governor's Palace, the Capitol, or the Art Museums. This ticket was just the perfect amount of locations however when traveling with younger children!! It kept us busy the entire day, and there was plenty that you could do to keep them entertained and learning.

Our carriage and driver!!

Governors Palace. We didn't get to see this one this trip but it was really pretty from the outiside

The Randolph House it has an awesome guided tour you will see more pictures below from the inside!! It is one of 3 houses that are completely originals.

Interestingly some homes are used as guest houses for guests if you want the FULLY EMERGED experience, other homes are now used as housing for people who work on the grounds. That would be such a cool job!

Three generations of us LOVE horses

In the square near the courthouse there is of course a few different ways people were punished available to try out...I might need to make one of these for time out corner!

During the visit there are both self guided and fully guided tours of shops and homes. It was really interesting to get a close up idea of how people lived compared to how they do now. There was lots of people working on the grounds who were more than willing to explain things, talk to your kids at their age level and tell them things about how kids used to live in that time to.

They also have a shuttle service that runs around the parameter of the ground that makes moving from one side and back much easier as little legs start to get worn out. With many food options, and snack bars you are never far from a quick bite either. We ate at Chowning's Tavern and everyone loved their meals, and the staff stayed in character the whole time truly adding to the experience.

 

If you love learning about history and are looking for a way to really emerge yourself in it. You should really visit Williamsburg!! It has something for everyone and could be a fun multiple day trip and just a few mins away from Jamestown which I hear is equally fun and interesting!!