Big Adventures and Vacations – Just Get in the Car

Getting to know author and Hawaiian enthusiast, Katherine Kayne

Just Get in the Car — Fri, 15 May 2020 19:21:55 +0000

Recently, I had the opportunity to review Bound in Flame, a wonderful fiction piece written by Katherine Kayne. Read about that here! The story let me escape to Hawaii for a bit, and I thought Katherine would be a great person for our next Getting to know you post. Below, see what she has to say about the Hawaiian culture, history, and beauty she loves so much.

Bound in Flame is a Hawaiian adventure, romance, and story of a strong female character. What was your inspiration for this story? Have you ever seen a parade in Hawaii? They are the best! There is a tradition of women dressing to ride like the historic royalty. It is stunningly beautiful; the practice is called pa’u. The women use it as a way to celebrate their history. And what a history it is! The first time I saw the riders I began to research how women lived in the early 1900s. What I learned about these fierce women became the inspiration for Bound in Flame. Hawaiian ladies were expert horsewomen, businesswomen and astute politicians. Because the United States had unlawfully seized the Hawaiian Kingdom they chose to fight for what they believed in. And the right to vote too. I am writing a whole series based on these women called the Hawaiian Ladies’ Riding Society.

We visited Hawaii on our honeymoon – Maui and Kauai. We spent more time on Maui, but really loved the lushness of Kauai. Tell us about your favorite parts of Hawaii. We are in love with the Big Island. It is so big you can put Maui and Kauai and all the other islands (and then some) within its borders. Almost every climate zone in the world is represented. You want tropical rainforest? Check. High mountain desert? Check. And perhaps the most beautiful beach in all the islands? Check that box too with Hapuna Beach. We never tire of it because there is always something to do or see. One of my favorite things are the farmers’ markets. They are all over the island with three in upcountry Waimea alone. The produce is beyond amazing. Particularly the fresh papaya and the local boletus mushrooms called ali’i. You will want to cook even if you are on vacation.

I noticed on your Facebook page a post about Orchids. Are you a plant lover? What are your tips for indoor Orchid care, any secrets? I love orchids because they are so easy. Yes, there are secrets to indoor orchid care. Well actually one. Ice cubes. Orchids like cool wet toes. So every week, instead of watering, put a couple of ice cubes at the base of the plant. Easy, huh?

When you can’t get to Hawaii, what are some other places you enjoy visiting? (If you’d like to talk about your New Zealand trip, that’s great!) I just love islands of all kinds. Puget Sound – that is the body of water where Seattle’s harbor lies – is enormous. And full of islands! Since we winter on Hawaii Island we are fortunate to summer on one in Puget Sound. The farther south you go in the Sound the calmer the waters are, except when the tides are running. Wildlife is abundant. We spent last weekend watching sea lions having a herring party! Next week will finally be getting out kayaks out. I can’t wait.

If our readers are looking to plan a trip to Hawaii, what are your best pointers? What islands should they visit? Any particular places that you encourage people to seek out and explore? First of all recognize that Hawaii will be slow to re-open after the virus. The healthcare system is not designed to handle all the needs of Hawaii residents and lots of sick tourists too. The Governor has been very deliberate about his plans. Once Hawaii does re-open I suggest looking at renting a condominium. There are lots of choices and it gives you a more local experience. What to see? I have a HUGE list. It is always tempting to head to the beach and stay there. That said you will miss so much of the real Hawaii if you do. Whatever island you are on I would go see at least a couple of historic sites. Two of my favorites are Queen Emma’s Summer Palace on Oahu and Hulihe’e Place on Hawaii Island. These sites are both run by volunteers from the Daughters of Hawaii’i. They give an authentic picture of royal life.

Thank you, Katherine! We loved learning more about your passion for Hawaiian culture, and islands in general! We will be on the lookout for the next adventure of the Hawaiian Ladies’ Riding Society! (And also, thank you for the tip on caring for Orchids!)

-Kristin

Git yer Keister to Virginia City, Nevada

Just Get in the Car — Mon, 20 Apr 2020 19:38:48 +0000

We miss traveling. Its one of the things everyone in our family enjoys doing. We love visiting new places, trying new food and drinks, and learning about the people that live (or lived) in the places we are going. So COVID-19 quarantining sucks. Infrequent trips to the supermarket and walks around the neighborhood are not enough to satisfy our wanderlust.

Luckily, one perk about having a travel blog is that you still get to learn about exciting places to visit. A couple of weeks ago, we had the opportunity to go on a virtual tour of Virginia City, Nevada. Never heard of it? Then you obviously didn’t pay a lot of attention in history class! Virginia City is located just northeast of Lake Tahoe, about halfway between Reno and Carson City. Around the time of the Civil War, Virginia City was the wealthiest city in the American West. This was thanks to the Comstock Lode, a giant silver deposit that made the miners and people of the town richer than Mr. Monopoly. Virginia City combines a bit of everything we love: a unique history, great looking restaurants and bars, as well as a new and cool place to visit.

During our call, some of the people from Visit Virginia City gave us a virtual walking tour of downtown – along C Street, the main drag. Like the Old West towns in the movies, the sidewalks are all wooden planks covered by the awnings from the stores. The streets are all paved now, but if you use your imagination, you can conjure a dusty road, filled with horses and carriages. Looking around at the architecture, you would still think you are in the Old West – the buildings look like they are straight out of Back to the Future III. But this isn’t a set – most of the buildings date to the mid-19^th Century.

Downtown there are a bunch of cool shops to check out selling things like candy, jewelry, and, because it’s the Old West – guns. But the real thing to check out are the saloons. At one point, there were over 100 saloons in the city – and the population peaked at around 30,000! There are not that many saloons there anymore, but you can still visit one or more of over a dozen saloons in town. They all still have that Old West look, as well as the cool names: Silver Dollar, Ponderosa, and my favorite, the Bucket of Blood.

Back in the day, you could get a stiff drink, fight, gamble, and probably meet a lady of the night. Today, you can still get the drink, but would probably have to settle for listening to the stories, checking out the décor, and listening to some live music. That doesn’t sound too bad to me! I can’t wait for the chance to pull up a stool, drink a local beer or a Cemetery Gin cocktail, and listen to one of the local bands play while I check out the stuff on the walls.

Like any good town, Virginia City also has its fair share of restaurants with some delicious looking food. We have been checking out the websites and menus for some of them, and we don’t think a weekend in town would be enough. We would probably start each day at the Roasting House for some coffee and breakfast. For lunch, barbecue is in order: The Virginia City Beef Jerky Company or the Firehouse Grill would be our choices. At dinner, we would be looking for something a little fancier, like the Cider Factory, Crown Point, or the Canvas Café, where you can dine on delicious food while checking out some of the best work by local artists.

If you decide to visit, you could probably find a nice chain hotel somewhere near the airport or Reno. But why would you want to deprive yourself of the nightlife and a part of the historical experience? Virginia City has some great looking and authentic hotels right there in downtown, such as the Comstock Lodge or Gold Hill Hotel. Looking to get hitched while there? The Silver Queen has its own wedding chapel. These, and several of the other hotels in Virginia City, do their best to maintain the look and feel of the city’s heyday.

I know you are reading things about Bucket of Blood Saloon, drinking establishments, guns, and ladies of the night and thinking to yourself: would I really want to take my kids here? The answer is a resounding YES! One thing that might be of interest – mine tours! During these popular tours, kids and adults can go underground and see what it was like to mine in the olden days (but, no, you can’t leave them there). Downtown has the Virginia City Outlaws show, which combines gun fights, comedy and stunts. You can also take your kids for a ride on the V&T Railroad or take them downtown to sugar up at either Grandma’s Fudge Factory or Barrels O’Candy.

Are you more into the culture of the Wild West? Check out the Fourth Ward School & Museum, The Way It Was Museum, or the Mackay Mansion to learn more about the history of the West and Virginia City. Think the city was just full of sinners? Check out the beautiful St. Mary in the Mountains Church and learn about some of the good people that lived in town as well.

One thing I found personally cool about Virginia City is how similar it is to my family history. Part of my family came from the Irish mining towns of Pennsylvania. I found it pretty cool to learn how big of a part the Irish played in building the city, and that they were among the wealthiest residents when the town was at its peak.

Was our virtual excursion enough to pique your interest in Virginia City? If so, check out Visit Virginia City’s website and take some of their cool virtual tours to learn more about the town. And then, once this quarantine is over and done with, git your keister to Virginia City!

-Shawn and Kristin

Louisville, the Bourbon City

Just Get in the Car — Mon, 24 Feb 2020 18:54:55 +0000

On Friday night, a buddy of mine came over and we talked Bourbon. We discussed our favorite brands and some of the flavor profiles of what we were drinking, and I got to thinking about how much my drinking pallet has changed over the years. In my teenage years, it was whatever we could steal from dad and drink in the cemetery, while my college years could be referred to as my “Red Dog” years. I may not have matured much, but my drinking has. Like many others, I enjoy craft beer. But bourbon is now my go-to drink.

While our kids were trashing my house, and our wives chatted over a bottle of wine, we got to talking about one of our favorite cities in America: the Bourbon City, Louisville.

If you have not been to Louisville, or “Loo-a-vul”, as the locals say, then you are really missing out. If you enjoy sporting events, restaurants, or nature, there is plenty to do and see in and around the city. But the biggest reason to visit Louisville is bourbon. Even if you don’t enjoy the drink, you will probably enjoy the history, the process, and the friendliness of everyone involved.

Though there are not any top-tier professional sports teams in Louisville, the city is still a great place to visit for any sports fan. Its most famous for the Kentucky Derby, perhaps the most famous horse race in the world. Even when the race isn’t happening, Churchill Downs is still a great place to visit any time of the year to learn about horse racing (and enjoy a mint julep!). If you are not into racing, there is minor league soccer and baseball. Boxing fans can enjoy the Muhammed Ali Center, college basketball fans get the Louisville Cardinals, and everyone should check out the Louisville Slugger Museum.

Nature lovers are also in luck. Our crew loved checking out the fossils at the Falls of the Ohio State Park across the river in Indiana (although we did not see any waterfalls). And not too far away is Mammoth Cave, the longest cave system in the world.

Foodies would also love this place, as its probably one of the most underrated restaurant and bar scenes in America. Besides tons of great restaurants, it also has a cool bar scene with plenty of microbrews and speakeasies to visit. So check out their food offerings, and make sure you try a Hot Brown.

But the real reason you should visit Louisville is the bourbon. In Kentucky, bourbon is not just a drink, its an art. And the artists there are more than happy to share their magic with you. Downtown Louisville has several bourbon bars and tasting rooms where you can sample the local craft. But the best way to experience Kentucky bourbon is to visit the distilleries and learn about things from the distillers themselves.

But how do you choose where to go? There are over 50 distilleries all over Kentucky! And is it really a smart idea to drive around and limit how much delicious bourbon you get to try at these places? After all, most of it might not even be available where you live. Luckily, there are plenty of groups that will take care of that work for you. But in our opinion, the best is the Kentucky Bourbon Boys. Want to visit Louisville or other distilleries around Kentucky? Just tell them where you want to go, and they will book your tours, drive you there, and even make sure you eat. And they do it all with the Southern Hospitality you would expect from Kentucky!

But what the hell do we know? You would rather hear about this from an expert, right? Well good news! Tomorrow, we are going to have a post from our friend Tim at the Kentucky Bourbon Boys. And he will tell you all about how and why you should enjoy bourbon, and why you should visit Louisville and let them show you around. Stay tuned!

-Shawn

The Fry Bread House

Just Get in the Car — Mon, 11 Nov 2019 15:59:15 +0000

Traveling is a wonderful way to expand your worldview, your horizons, and your palate. Way back in 2015, before our travel blogging adventures, Shawn and I visited Phoenix, AZ. We loved it. We saw a lot of cool places, and ate some delicious food.

We like to try to find places to eat when we are traveling that are not chains, are interesting, and that have something to add to our experience of the locale. We hit the nail on the head with The Fry Bread House. Personally, I had never heard of fry bread before.

A little google search, though, and we were convinced that we had to give it a shot.

Here is the basic definition of Fry Bread, taken from Wikipedia

“Frybread is a flat dough bread, fried or deep-fried in oil, shortening, or lard. Made with simple ingredients, frybread can be eaten alone or with various toppings such as honey, jam, powdered sugar, venison, or beef. Frybread can also be made into tacos, like Navajo tacos”

You can read about the fascinating history of this native American food over at Smithsonian.com . Be mindful though that the history associated with this particular food illuminates the struggle of a people forced to relocate from their homes, and the health implications of lack luster ingredients.

It’s been my experience that some of the most delicious and interesting foods have been borne from necessity and limited ingredients. I’m thinking of all the ‘depression era’ and ‘waste not want not’ food my Italian grandma used to make.

I will be honest – when we pulled up to the Fry Bread House, I thought – this place is not for us. From the outside, it was unclear what was inside. But, in true ‘Just Get in the Car’ fashion, we decided to go for it anyway. Inside the restaurant, we were met with friendly staff and a warm environment. It was evident that this was a place for the locals, and that’s just what we were looking for.

Having never eaten fry bread before, we were going in blind. However, we both enjoyed our choices, and got a cultural lesson to boot. We selected a few items off of the menu, and hoped for the best. What we got exceeded our expectations, and here four years later, has stuck in our minds enough to write about it and encourage others to give it a try.

We opted for a few of the fry bread tacos, pictured here:

We also had a lesson in tamales – which neither of us had eaten before. Sadly, we were very naive and had no clue what to do with them. I believe we had to ask how to eat them!

If you are in the Phoenix, Arizona area, you should definitely stop into The Fry Bread House for a delicious meal, with a side of culture and history! Tell them Just Get in the Car sent you!

-Kristin

A weekend in Memphis, TN

Just Get in the Car — Wed, 02 Oct 2019 13:23:07 +0000

Earlier this summer we took a family vacation to Toronto and Niagara Falls. It was a trip that was much anticipated, but poorly planned. We got passports for the kids months in advance, booked our hotel rooms early, and had a pretty good idea of the sights and activities we wanted to check out. Unfortunately, the trip came directly on the heels of a death in the family, and we were totally unprepared. We had our three kids with us, and it just wasn’t what we had hoped for such a big trip. We returned from the trip feeling like it could have been better.

It wasn’t the destination, or even the things that we did, but the circumstances that created a cloud over our experience. (Not for the kids – they said it was their favorite part of the summer!)

Later in the summer, we spent a week at the Jersey shore with our extended family. Though a beach vacation seems like it would be relaxing, sharing a house with 20 additional people, lots of them children, negates that. Also, lugging chairs, beach toys, umbrellas, food, and drinks three blocks back and forth from the beach every day isn’t all it is cracked up to be. Spending a fortune in arcades so your kids can earn enough tickets to get a moustache comb while they scream about not winning the Nintendo Switch all the way home also takes away from the experience. We keep going back every year though. Something about memories and family bonding …

Lucky for us, we had a grown up trip to Memphis to look forward to! A cool city to visit, no kids, no extended family, and a bit removed from our loss made for an amazing weekend.

We love our kids, we travel with our kids, but this trip was a NO KIDS TRIP … woot woot!! Before kids, we visited some pretty cool places together, and it was so nice to experience that again as a couple rather than the whole gang. Again, we aren’t getting rid of the kids but everyone needs a break sometimes.

We had been to Nashville, and really enjoyed it, but we weren’t sure what to expect from Memphis. We knew the draws – Elvis, rock ‘n roll, the blues, civil rights history, barbeque – but we weren’t sure what the vibe of the city would be. And to be honest, Memphis has a bad rap of being unsavory in parts.

I have to tell you that we felt the complete opposite. I felt totally safe in Memphis. The efforts of the city could be seen – an adequate police presence, signs about not giving money to ‘panhandlers’ (but we are from Philly, so we already know that drill), and tons of evidence of people trying to create a positive atmosphere – Southern hospitality, new restaurants and shops, etc. No one bothered us, and the overall vibe was really very chill, so to speak.

LESSON – don’t base your travels off of things you read on the internet (except our blog, of course). Go, be smart, experience for yourself. If you’re wary, stay in the parts of town that are known tourist areas.

Lots of cities claim to be diverse – but in Memphis, it seemed that everyone mingled together more so than we’ve seen in other areas. Maybe it’s the music scene, maybe it’s an appreciation for the impact of the history of the town, or maybe it’s the mild weather and Southern vibe. Whatever the reason, the overall feeling is a positive one.

After we arrived in Memphis, and checked into our host hotel, Hotel Indigo Downtown Memphis, we decided to walk around a bit to get a feel for the area. This is a great way to see what is around before planning out your days in a new city.

We wandered down to get a glimpse of the famed Mississippi River, and check out the waterfront area. We found some pretty cool green spaces, walking trails, and playground areas. There were bikes and scooters for rent everywhere. Getting around is very easy. We accidentally stumbled into the Tennessee Welcome Center, where we were greeted by the friendly staff. Stacy gave us lots of good information about the local area and must see things to do, see, and eat. We even snapped a photo of Elvis (no, not the real one. Just a statue!).

Although Stacy gave us lots of good food for thought, we had already planned on checking out the restaurant at our hotel. We headed back there to the 3^rd and Court Diner to grab a drink and some food before heading over to Beale Street.

We made fast friends with the bartender, Jeff and his co-bartender, Nick. Whether it was par for the course Southern hospitality, good bartending, or that he just really liked us (OK, probably not that) – we thoroughly enjoyed chatting with Jeff. Shawn tried some local beers from Crosstown, Wiseacre and Memphis Made breweries. Jeff was even creative enough to pair some of them with Girl Scout cookies. We even learned something! When looking at the menu for something to eat we saw popcorn with ‘cracklin’ as an option. Cracklin is not a Yankee term, so we had to ask for a translation. Jeff tried to explain it to us, and another customer chimed in. We determined it is basically bacon. So obviously, we ordered the popcorn with cracklin, and it hit the spot! We also ordered the pimento cheese ball, which seemed to be a local favorite. Both choices did not disappoint.

While we really enjoyed hanging out with Jeff, we also wanted to venture out and experience Memphis before calling it a night. We decided that we should walk a few blocks to Beale Street, but on the way we passed by AutoZone Park, which is home to the AAA Memphis Redbirds. I had already reminded Shawn that this was not a baseball trip, but he wanted to pass by and just “see what it looked like.” Next thing I know, we were both walking around the stadium watching the second half of the game! Shawn was excited to pull one over on me, but I was enjoying myself, so I was OK with it. While we were there, we even ordered some BBQ pork nachos from the Rendezvous Barbeque concession stand. They hit the spot!

After the game, we continued on toward Beale Street. Stacy at the visitor center informed us that they recently started charging a $5 cover charge and doing a security check at the entrance to Beale Street. This is a good way for the city to keep the crowds manageable, and everyone safe. No one likes to be nickel and dimed, but we thought this made a lot of sense! And for those of you wondering – they checked ID at the gate AND at each establishment.

Our first stop was King Jerry Lawler’s Hall of Fame Bar and Grille. Shawn recognized the name from his years watching WWE wrestling, but I had no idea. And when Shawn tried to explain, I may have checked out for a few minutes. Inside, they had televisions playing old videos of his wrestling highlights, which Shawn watched while we enjoyed some drinks and music by Fuzzy Jeffries and the Kings of Memphis.

We are old, so we did not stay too long. We walked back to our hotel with no issues, and had a good night’s sleep, free from the fear that one or more child would be sneaking in and taking up an inordinate amount of space in our bed.

We started our Saturday off with a delicious and filling Southern breakfast at the Blue Plate Café. This was a place you’d expect to find on a Main Street in a small country town. Instead, we found it right in downtown Memphis, only a few steps from our hotel. The service was friendly, the food was yummy, and the coffee was plenty. Shawn enjoyed peanut butter and banana pancakes (Elvis inspired, I’m sure), while I had bacon and eggs with biscuits and gravy. At the end of our meal, they even gave us a full to-go cup for our day of sight-seeing. Don’t miss this place if you are in town! We did seem to get in at a good time, however, because it was a full house on our way out, with a wait that we did not experience.

From breakfast, we walked a few blocks over to The Peabody Hotel to check out the famous ducks. For those unfamiliar with this tradition, the hotel has a family of ducks that spend the day in the hotel lobby in the fountain. The hotel has a formal entrance and departure for the ducks every day, as the “Duck Master” escorts the ducks to and from their rooftop home to the lobby for a swim. It’s a popular and family friendly event. We got there a little late, so we had to watch from the second floor. So get there early! Also, for about twenty minutes prior to the duck parade, the Duck Master gives a history of how this came to be a tradition at this historic hotel.

We were still full from breakfast, so I suggested, “let’s walk to Arizona!” Shawn agreed, but reminded me how bad I am at geography, so we walked across the Big River Crossing Bridge to…Arkansas. It was a hot day, and the walk was about three miles round trip (the bridge itself is a mile long). But we made it to West Memphis, Arkansas where we saw…a port-a-potty and a bench right next to the Interstate. Seriously, there was nothing there. So we reminded ourselves, it’s the journey, not the destination.

After leaving a bit of ourselves in Arkansas (remember the port-a-potty?), we decided to check out another famous Memphis site – the Lorraine Motel, home of the National Civil Rights Museum and the place where Martin Luther King, Jr. was shot. We spent well over an hour in the museum. We both found it sad, infuriating, and inspiring. The museum does a great job of bringing together some of the darkest moments in American history and to show how some people were courageous enough to take a stand and make some much needed changes.

By the time we got out it was late in the afternoon, and we were starving for lunch. Luckily, the museum was right around the corner from Central BBQ. We stopped in to get a taste of real Memphis BBQ – some dry rubbed ribs with pulled pork and brisket. It was delicious, and well worth the wait.

After eating, we jumped in the car and decided to check out the Crystal Shrine Grotto at Memorial Park. Shawn found this in our research for Memphis, and we were intrigued. I was not sure what to expect. After all, it was a piece of public art in a cemetery. The grotto itself was peaceful. A well landscaped park in the middle of the cemetery with a pond, some man-made caves, and a gazebo that looked like it came from Middle-Earth. The grotto itself was inside one of the caves. Inside, we found a cool looking cave made by hand and decorated with various scenes from the life of Jesus. We were a little underwhelmed by the experience, but it was still interesting.

Next, we drove over to one of the top tourist sights in Memphis – Sun Studio – the birthplace of rock ‘n roll! We signed up for the tour and learned a bit about Memphis music history, and how it was the perfect place for Delta blues and country music to come together to make a new sound. Soon, we found ourselves in the same studio that Elvis, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, and other famous acts got their start. At the end, we had the opportunity to pose with the microphone they all used – but sadly, one of us was impersonating our three year old and had enough and was ready to go. Maybe next time!

Next, we went to the Memphis Pyramid, which is a giant steel and glass pyramid that used to be home to the Memphis Grizzlies and is now home to…a Bass Pro Shops. The store was pretty neat and really big, but didn’t seem to really fit with the architecture. But we grabbed some fudge, checked out some guns, and then went on our way.

Before we got back to the hotel, Shawn drove us to a whiskey distillery. Ever since Shawn went to Louisville, he has thought of himself as some kind of whiskey expert. But we didn’t have kids, and I could go for a drink, so I agreed. We missed the tour at the Old Dominick Distillery, so we just sat at the bar and had our drinks, before heading on our way.

After getting changed, we went back to visit Jeff at 3^rd and Court. We had some more drinks, and Shawn continued to be a whiskey connoisseur, and tried some Blue Note Bourbon, as well as some local beers before we decided to head out for a bit before heading to bed.

For our last stop that evening, we went to Rendezvous BBQ, which was also just a short walk from our hotel. They were pretty close to closing, so our waiter didn’t look too happy to see us. But we ordered a simple platter of dry-rubbed ribs, and tipped well, so I bet he was OK with that. The food was delicious. There is a reason these guys are one of the best in the BBQ business.

After filling up, we went to bed and got ready for our last day in Memphis.

After waking up Sunday, we decided to finally take advantage of the rooftop pool at the Hotel Indigo. It was warm and quiet, so we went out and had a morning swim. The water was still a little chilly, but the setup was awesome. Besides the pool, there is plenty of seating, as well as some games, like giant Jenga on the deck. It’s definitely a cool hang out place, if you don’t feel like going out.

After checking out of the hotel, we decided to head back to Beale Street for lunch. It was much quieter and less crowded in the early afternoon, and we checked out some shops before getting our last meal and fixin’ of the Blues at BB King’s place. We tried some fried catfish for the first time, and were surprised how much we enjoyed it. Then we had some very generous portions of our lunch while we listened to the music.

With a couple of hours to kill before our flight, we decided to check out Mississippi. This is our typical MO, as we like to get the most out of all of our trips! Don’t be too impressed, Memphis is right on the border of Mississippi. It’s not like we took a drive to Arizona or anything. We stopped in the town of Hernando to see what it had to offer. The answer is: not much. But we did get some awesome donuts from Hernando Donuts.

After driving back to the airport through a rainstorm that could only be described as Biblical, we got ready to head back home to Philadelphia. School was starting, work was waiting, and our babysitters were ready to unload our kids.

Memphis is an awesome city. If you love music, there is so much to listen to, learn and see. The history speaks for itself. For foodies, there is all the delicious BBQ you can imagine, and other cuisines as well. Our stay at the Hotel Indigo was comfortable with a ton of amenities and a great location. And there is something to be said for Southern hospitality. (During one of our strolls, a biker yelled out “On your left!” as he came near us and proceeded to say “How y’all doin?” when he passed us. Back home, it would have been “On your left, asshole!”

So do yourself a favor – plan a trip to Memphis. Check out the Hotel Indigo and tell them Just Get in the Car sent you. And when you go for your drink at 3^Rd and Court Diner, tell Jeff we said hi.

-Kristin and Shawn

Hotel Indigo Downtown Memphis

Just Get in the Car — Sat, 31 Aug 2019 13:11:42 +0000

There is something to be said for southern hospitality. Well, a lot of good things to be said for it, in fact. From the moment I made contact with Jocelyn at the Hotel Indigo Downtown Memphis, I knew our stay was going to be great. Jocelyn graciously agreed to host Just Get in the Car at this ideally located downtown hotel in exchange for us sharing our experience there.

Hotel Indigo is a boutique brand – each of its hotels has a unique sense of décor that matches the city it’s in. For Memphis, the hotel embraces the city’s music history. It looks and feels like you might be in the lobby of a vintage music studio or radio station, rather than a hotel. And if you collect IHG reward points, even better – they fall under their umbrella!

Shawn and I anticipated this trip for months. We’ve had a long summer, filled with lots of sadness with the death of my father, and also lots of travel – mostly with the kids. This was going to be our time to get away and spend some time together in a city new to both of us. We were thrilled to have the Hotel Indigo host us for this much anticipated weekend.

A quick and easy drive from Memphis International Airport, the Hotel Indigo is literally in the middle of everything you might want to do in downtown Memphis: five blocks from the famous Beale Street, 3 from the river, and just one block from AutoZone Park, if you are looking to catch some baseball. Along with all of that, there are plenty of awesome restaurants (like The Rendezvous, for you BBQ lovers) just a short walk away. We only got in the car to do some further out exploring, but you could certainly spend your whole trip without ever having to do so.

An easy way to get around the city from the hotel, in lieu of driving or walking, is to make use of the conveniently located bike and scooter share options. Coming from Philadelphia, where it is an every bike, car, and person for themselves free for all – we were impressed with the efforts Memphis has made on its streets to create a harmonious and safe experience for all travelers.

When we arrived at the hotel, we parked at the meters outside of the lobby, because we wanted to get our bearings. But you should know that you can turn the corner onto Court Avenue, and into their parking garage. There you will find convenient ‘check in’ spots to use while you go inside and, well, check in.

At the front desk, Kaion greeted us enthusiastically. If I am being honest, I did feel sort of important when he said things like “Ohhhh, Kristin! Social media, travel blogger … wait we have something for you here”, and presented me with an adorable welcome bag full of goodies. Thank you to the sales staff for leaving that for us!

The Hotel Indigo Downtown Memphis hosted us for our stay. Our descriptions and opinions are 100% our own!

Our first stop was to say hi to Elvis at the jukebox, and take a look around the vintage radio themed lobby, inspired by the first all-woman radio station, WHER, that was started just down the road.

After some pics in the lobby, we went straight up to our room. The comfortably sized, modern but vintage inspired room was a welcomed site after our afternoon of travel. Our king-sized bed was super-comfortable, which was a welcome feature after long days of walking, music, BBQ and drinks. Below are some pictures of the room. I was very excited to see a Keurig machine, which beats most hotel room coffee making options.

The bathroom was large, and the shower was awesome, with a rain shower shower head and handheld attachment as well. Who doesn’t love a luxurious shower? As in most hotels, there were complimentary body wash, shampoo, soap, and lotion provided. The bathroom also had a hair dryer underneath the sink. However, with the temperatures outside, I knew blow-drying my hair would be a fruitless effort!

The room had lots of storage options, a fridge, a desk, and a sitting area. There is Wi-Fi provided for guests.

Almost all the rooms are just a short walk from the outdoor, rooftop pool. Most hotels just have a small hole in the ground filled with water. But the Hotel Indigo Memphis pool looks like a great place to party! If you get tired of swimming and sunbathing, you can pick up a game of bean bag toss or life sized jenga. Various seating arrangements are set up, and there is a handicap lift so that everyone can join in the fun of the pool. There is also plenty of seating, so if you want to hang out with some friends and beverages, you can have yourselves a pool party! While we were checking out our room, we noticed a small group of people doing just that. Before we left, we did manage to sneak in a morning swim. We were the only ones out there, but that’s probably because it was 9AM on a Sunday morning!

In addition to the pool, Hotel Indigo Memphis has a nice fitness center with weights and cardio machines. We didn’t utilize it during our trip, though. We got our exercise by exploring the city and lifting forks, ribs, and drinks! If you need a quick snack (or maybe some Tylenol for your hangover) there is a marketplace for you’re on the go snack needs, as well as some delicious sandwiches and salads from the 3^rd and Court Diner next door! If you just want to sit down and hang out, the lobby has lots of seating, while outside of 3^rd and Court, there is outdoor seating. It is in the front of the parking garage- but they make it work!

The housekeeping crew, like all the staff, was super friendly! Whenever we passed someone in the hall, we were greeted with a smile and an enthusiastic “hello!” I wish I could be that cheerful while working!

Once we settled into our room, we went for a walk to get a lay of the land. We quickly realized that we were so close to most everything we wanted to see! I was impressed with the system of waterfront parks and walkways. We even passed by a fun birthday party at one of the gazebos.

After we got our bearings, we headed back to the hotel to grab a drink at 3^rd and Court Diner, where we quickly made friends with Jeff and Nick behind the bar.

Jeff and the other staff, as well as some of our fellow patrons, gave us some suggestions for things to check out in the area. We even got a lesson in ‘cracklin’, which is a term us yankees were not familiar with. Turns out it is basically bacon, or if you want to be fancy – dried pork skin. Sounds gross, tastes yummy! We also tried a pimento cheese ball, which seems to be another local favorite as I saw it on some other menus as well. We decided to hang out for some drinks, where Jeff introduced us to some local beers from Crosstown, Meddlesome, and Wiseacre.

We had such a fun night chatting with Jeff and the other people at 3^rd and Court, that we returned for more drinks the second night. This time, Jeff paired a couple of the beers with some Girl Scout cookies – yum! We liked Wiseacre’s Gotta Get Up to Get Down stout with a thin mint. There just wasn’t enough time to try everything on 3^rd and Court’s menu, but, seeing the posts from 3^rd and Court always make me hungry – and regretful that we didn’t try more while we had the chance! If you make it to the Hotel Indigo in Memphis, you definitely need to check out 3^rd and Court, and say hi to Jeff for us!

Despite how comfortable and inviting Hotel Indigo is, we had to go out exploring – there is just too much to see and do in Memphis. However, the time we spent there was so relaxed and enjoyable. The facility is super comfortable, the staff is very friendly, and the atmosphere is great fun.

We had the most enjoyable time with Hotel Indigo as our host for our fun filled weekend in Memphis! We can’t wait to check out some of their other locations.

If you decide to go to the Hotel Indigo Downtown Memphis, tell them that Just Get in the Car sent you!

-Kristin and Shawn

Burning Daylight, Life lessons by dad

Just Get in the Car — Wed, 17 Jul 2019 14:52:25 +0000

“Are those kids still asleep?” I hear my dad and mom talking outside of the bedroom that I’m sharing with my brother. I’m on the bottom bunk of one bunk bed, and he is on the bottom bunk of the other. Of course, we are in my most favorite place of all time, or at least what was my most favorite place of all time in that moment. My aunt and uncle’s beach house in Ocean Pines, Maryland.

A few seconds later I see an image that is now forever ingrained in my brain, and brings a smile to my face whenever I think about it.

The door flies open, and my tall, tan, healthy, early riser, marine…loud dad yells into our room, “We’re burning daylight!” He is, obviously, wearing a Donald Duck, sleeveless beach shirt (for lack of a better term), that he got on our one and only non-beach family vacation to Disney World. I have a Winnie the Pooh one, and it now belongs to my daughter.

That’s my little bro in the picture.

“If you want to go with us to the beach, you need to get your behinds (he probably used a different word) downstairs, eat breakfast and get in the car. I’m outta here in twenty minutes. You snooze, you lose.” And off he goes to finish a cup of coffee on the patio overlooking the water (now, my most favorite thing to do). Or pack up the car, or put his fishing rods on the front of the car, or otherwise prepare to leave for the beach.

At the time I could not understand why we had to go to the beach at the butt crack of dawn. As an adult, of course, I realize that since we had to drive there from my beloved beach house – there was less traffic, easier parking, less crowded beaches, and beautiful early morning beach-ness. But as a teenager it was baffling. We usually stayed through a packed lunch on the beach, came home, showered up, and went to dinner. It was perfect. Especially for me, who actually preferred to be with my family than hanging out on the boardwalk or whatever normal teenagers do at the beach – just maybe with a later start time.

So I’m partly writing this post because I am still actively grieving, and because I can’t tell you how much those years and summers at the beach meant to me, especially in hindsight, and because I want you all to know that your kids will appreciate whatever memories you make with them. They will rely on things you didn’t know were traditions. They will cherish your ‘regularly scheduled programming’ of phrases and nagging and predictable responses, and those summer vacations, or winter vacations, or day trips, or whatever things you do.

One day they will relay to someone how special those weeks at the shore were, how they can now appreciate your need to be the first one on the beach, or reminisce about your desire to NOT ‘burn daylight’ (waste time). They will tell people that the sight of your shirt hanging on a beach chair, or your alarming awake-ness at ridiculously early hours are now the most endearing memories.

Plan the trip. Take the trip. Do all the things, and your kids will thank you for it. Be you. They will remember what made you who you were, and them who they are. The memories will be what they cherish during the most difficult of times.

-Kristin

Exploring Louisville with The Kentucky Bourbon Boys

Just Get in the Car — Fri, 24 May 2019 17:54:06 +0000

Ah, bourbon. Besides jazz and anything from the Kardashians, it may be America’s greatest artistic output. And bourbon making is truly an art form. There are some simple rules to follow: it has to be made in the US, be at least 51% corn, aged in a new, charred oak barrel, and be between 80 and 160 proof. Distillers can add other grains, such as rye, wheat and malted barley, but nothing else to create flavor. So no sugar, honey, fruit etc. Within these limitations, distillers are able to create some amazingly varied spirits, and some of the best whiskey in the world. Though bourbon can be made anywhere in the United States, a true aficionado knows that the best bourbon is made in Kentucky.

My college friends and I are all turning 40 this year. We somehow convinced the wives to stay home with the kids and let us “celebrate” out of town. However, I think that they were either just happy to see us go, or were planning on holding this over our heads for the next 40 years. Despite still having the maturity of 16 year olds, we are no longer satisfied with shots of Goldschläger and 30 packs of Red Dog. Our palates are slightly more sophisticated now, and we are all people that appreciate art. Since one of us had recently been to New Orleans, and LA was too far for a KUWTK tour, we decided that bourbon was the way to go. So we made a trip to the heart of Bourbon Country: Louisville, Kentucky.

It was my job to set up the distillery tours and tastings for the trip. With over 36 distilleries on the official Kentucky Bourbon Trail alone, this looked to be quite a task. Some are in dry counties, so you can tour, but not sample. For each, we would need to figure out the tour times and prices, and coordinate driving multiple cars back and forth, which didn’t seem like such a great idea when we were planning on sampling bourbon all day. So I began looking into tour groups to help me figure this out. After looking through several different companies, I found one that seemed just right for our crew: The Kentucky Bourbon Boys.

The Kentucky Bourbon Boys do private and customizable tours for your group, big or small. The price was right: two distillery tours, a tasting at a third, lunch, snacks and transportation all day for about $150 a person. Between that and the dozens of positive reviews, I figured these were my “boys”. After some careful consideration (OK, drinking), I chose a couple distilleries around Louisville and got ready for our trip. The only other thing I needed to do after that was let them know what I wanted for lunch. They sent out a confirmation about our itinerary, and also offered some other suggestions for things to check out during our stay.

The day of our tour came and Roger, our driver / guide for the day, came to pick us up where we were staying. We didn’t have to travel to some central meeting point and get on a bus with a bunch of strangers. The tour was just the six of us and our host. He brought a bag of snacks, some water, Gatorade, as well as a sense of humor and a lot patience, which probably came in handy for dealing with our six dumbasses all day. By coincidence (honest!) four of us went on the tour in red polos and khaki shorts. We looked like a crew of greeters from Target on our lunch break. After we loaded onto the bus, we went to our first stop: Stitzel-Weller Distillery.

Stitzel-Weller is one of the more impressive distilleries I have seen. The grounds have some large buildings that were used to store hundreds of thousands of gallons of whiskey. While the original distillers went out of business, the grounds (as well as the aging whiskey casks in those tall buildings) were sold to Diageo and turned over to another Kentucky bourbon maker: Bulleit. We joined a larger group for this tour, where a bachelorette party assumed our red shirts meant we were the tour guides. One of the women assured us the girls would have followed us “anywhere”…but only after we told them the truth! Damnit!

The tour here was probably the most impressive: our guide walked us through the distilling process in their experimental lab, showed us how some of the barrels were stored for aging, then brought us into a nice big room for the most important part: sampling. We got to try four different whiskeys they make, explained the different processes used for them, and gave us some scoring sheets to help us identify the flavors. I just focused on drinking the whiskey in front of me – the paper and pencil made me feel like I was taking some kind of whiskey SAT.

With our bellies warmed with whiskey and bourbon (yes, there is a difference – all bourbons are whiskies, but not all whiskies are bourbons), it was time for lunch. We made our way back to downtown Louisville for lunch at Against the Grain Brewery. Lunch was preordered, so it was ready for us when we got there. Though it was not included in the cost, we all decided to get a sample of their beer while visiting – also well worth it. If you find yourself in Louisville, make sure you stop by for some of their beer as well as their brisket with a side of their Brussel sprouts. They were delicious.

Next stop was a tasting at a distillery that was new to me – Kentucky Peerless Distilling, also in downtown Louisville. They are a craft distillery that only uses sweet mash – fresh yeast, as opposed to reusing previously fermented yeast from other batches. Our host there was very friendly and knowledgeable – she told us all about their history and processes, while also giving some insight into each of the whiskies we were trying. We also found some nice red shirts for the other two guys in our group to purchase in the gift shop. Sadly, they decided they were too cool for Team Target.

Finally, we made our way east of the city to the one I was most looking forward to: Kentucky Artisan Distillery, makers of Jefferson bourbon. Though the facility was smaller than Bulleit’s, they also gave a pretty impressive tour – they even had some sour mash in open vats so that we can have a taste. And don’t worry – they scooped it out. I didn’t stick my nasty-ass hands in your beloved bourbon. They also told us about one of the most interesting whiskey aging processes I have heard of – they stick a bunch of barrels on a ship that travels around the world for eight months a year, aging and mixing the whiskey as it goes from the Artic to the Equator along the ocean. Jefferson’s Ocean had an interesting flavor as a result. It was not my favorite of their offerings, but I was impressed with the creativity in aging and flavoring it. You should set up a visit and try it for yourself.

With our tours for the day over, Roger was still cool enough to drive us around a bit more. We stopped at the Louisville Slugger Museum store so we could pick up some mini-bats (OK, weapons) for the kids. After that, he brought us back home to drop off some of our things, so we could head out for the night unencumbered. He then brought us to a cool bar he recommended: Holy Grale, a former Unitarian Church converted into an awesome bar with some great food. Sacrilicious!

~ Shawn

What I learned from our first trip to Disney

Just Get in the Car — Thu, 04 Apr 2019 17:18:53 +0000

The last few years of life at Just Get in the Car headquarters has been … rather eventful. We had our third child, we’ve moved homes, and we have lived with two 90+ grandparents. Each of these things alone can be overwhelming, so you can imagine what it has been like with all of this at once. Our children have had a lot of life change, and we had been talking about how we could regroup as a family of five and have some fun and together time, away from the chaos of our new normal.

What would be something that the kids would appreciate, enjoy, and reminisce about as a wonderful experience? A ‘Hey, we know, life has been crazy, but we are going to do this awesome thing and you are going to love it’.

You might have already guessed what we landed on, a quintessential must do for every family, according to a lot of people!

Yea, you know what we decided on. Disney.

I hadn’t been to Disney since I was fourteen years old, and Shawn hadn’t been since he was a kid, either. In fact, Shawn went into this expecting a boat load of kid chaos and kid-centric activities, and pretty much went into ‘endure and survive’ mode prior to our experience. I think his opinion is slightly improved since our trip.

It is safe to say though, that we made a great choice. We had a really good time, and will definitely be planning another trip in the future. In fact, if we don’t make it back soon, it will be a real tragedy, considering how often our children talk about it.

I did learn a few things as a result of our first family trip to Disney, and perhaps these lessons may help some of you have a more enjoyable experience if you are planning your first trip.

A thought out and anticipated ‘surprise’ might not go as expected.

We had an elaborate plan for surprising our kids with the news that we would be going to Disney World. We knew they were going to reallllly love Disney, and that the trip would be amazing. We knew that they would find our clever scavenger hunt on Christmas morning intriguing. What we did not fully process or expect was that they had never been to Disney, they had no concept of what to expect, and that the trip was several weeks in the future – so, their reaction was lack luster, at best. We were expecting accolades and jumps for joy, but instead got ‘Oh, cool, are there any more presents to open?’ This put a real damper on Christmas morning for me and Shawn at least. All that planning for a rather disappointing and anti-climatic reaction. Womp Womp.

Two things about this – now, if we surprised them with the news that we would be going to Disney again, we know their reactions would be much more enthusiastic. They have been, they saw, they enjoyed immensely. And also, next time, I would surprise them the day of, if possible. I think that would be super fun and way more exciting for them then having to wait it out.

Have you ever done a Disney surprise?

If you exhaust and starve your kids, they will melt down.

Our first park day was overwhelming. Although we had a wonderful itinerary from the amazing ladies at 2 Dis Chicks, there is no amount of planning that can prepare you for finally launching this elaborate vacation. And the kids, and adults too, were on sensory overload. By the end of the day, our kids were fried. Although we did eat, it was a long, hot day. We probably did not provide enough fuel on a regular basis, or find enough quieter areas to take a mini break. We know now that at least one of our kiddos needs those sensory breaks to stay sane. We ended our first day with threats of flying home. It wasn’t pretty, and now we know to make a point to schedule regular food, drink, and break-breaks.

I really enjoy easy, fun vacations – even if they are manufactured. In fact, when they are manufactured by talented engineers – er, Imagineers, and experts in hospitality and the customer experience – you are bound to have an amazing experience.

If you have a reluctant Disney goer in your party, or if you are that reluctant person, try to keep an open mind. Sure, Disney is a manufactured experience – it is not a historic landmark, a beautiful beach, or an otherwise organic experience – but it is still pretty amazing. If you can’t find something to entertain you or something that you find enjoyable in the Disney complex, then I humbly suggest you take a hard look at your life and your attitude, sir, or madam.

Not everyone does Disney at the same level of intensity, and that is ok. This is your vacation, and you do not have to do all.the.things. In fact, that would be virtually impossible.

When you are planning a Disney vacation, you will get all kinds of advice. It typically involves getting up at the crack of dawn, eating at off hours, and maximizing your time to ride the most rides, see the most shows, meet the most characters. We knew that we were not those people. Before we went, I knew that we could not keep up that kind of schedule, nor would I want to on a vacation. I like to come home feeling rested and rejuvenated, not exhausted and weary ( I mean, I don’t, but, I like to).

It took us until the last day of our five day trip to find our own groove, and to be ok with it. We canceled our morning breakfast reservation, got to the park around 10 or 11, did quick service meals instead of sit down (though we landed a walk in sit down dinner at the very end of the night), and rode the most rides and had the best day. Be your own people, people.

Do you, and your Disney vacation will be amazing.

What Disney tips do you have? Need some inspiration, check out this blog post our friend Tracey did sharing all about her adventures in Epcot with her toddler.

-Kristin

Pines, Ponies, and Priceless Memories in Ocean City, Maryland

Just Get in the Car — Tue, 15 Jan 2019 18:36:50 +0000

Ah, summer. I just love the season that brings warmth, sunshine, and longer hours of daylight. It makes me happy. It always has been, and always will be, the season that I endure all other seasons to get to.

I’ve forced myself to think of things that make the other seasons bearable, but aside from the festiveness that surrounds the holidays, I struggle to come up with anything…

Especially winter. Blech. Whose idea was that anyway?

We are currently in what I like to not so affectionately refer to as ‘post-holiday winter hell’- and I’m writing this post to buoy my spirits.

For basically my entire childhood, I would spend every summer at my most favorite place in the entire world. My aunt and uncle’s beach house in Ocean Pines, MD. It’s just outside of Ocean City, MD (OCMD) – which is inherently different then the Jersey Shore, which is where everyone else around here grew up going.

I must admit that I have come to love Sea Isle City in New Jersey, because we are creating new family memories there with Shawn’s family, but OCMD will always be my number one.

The house in Ocean Pines is about a 2-3 hour drive, and it’s usually less congested when driving from Philly on those busy summer weekends- because everyone going ‘down the shore’ is going east while you are going south (or something like that). And, it is, was, and always will be a little slice of perfection in my world.

So many of the memories I have with my parents, my younger brother, my grandparents, my aunt and uncle, and my cousins revolve around ‘the beach house’. There was a point in time when we would all stay in this house together, and I am still not quite sure how that happened, because having more than one family in there now seems daunting.

It’s a ‘real beach house’, as I say.

What does that mean to me? It means it is not a side by side condo style, cookie cutter, ‘new construction’, all season home. It is a round, kind of make shift, original home, on stilts that really shouldn’t be occupied in the colder months. It is an ‘upside down’ house. The first floor is only the kitchen, and the living room and bedrooms are upstairs – which you get too via a spiral staircase. Plus, this view:

I could probably write pages and pages of stories, recommendations, and reviews of what to do and where to go during a stay to the area. And I am sure Shawn could write some compelling content on what breweries and minor league baseball stadiums are drivable from the general OCMD area.

Following are just a few of our favorite things to do when visiting ‘the’ beach house.

Generally speaking, we tend to stay outside of OCMD proper when on our beach vacations, since Ocean Pines itself is a self-contained community on the mainland.

Ocean Pines provides shopping, dining, playgrounds, walking trails, and a unique forest-y, pine-y (hence the name) atmosphere for your beach vacation.

We have yet to really utilize all of the amenities it has to offer, because we spend most of our time at the beach or eating somewhere outside of the development. I remember as a kid spending quite a bit of time at the pool facilities in Ocean Pines. Apparently some of the children during those fond memories were unruly on the beach, and the pool was easier. I’m quite certain I was not the problem child though, right mom?

Through all of the phases of my family using the beach house, we have always preferred Assateague Island to the crowded beach along the boardwalk in the middle of Ocean City. At Assateague, you can visit either the state park or national park – each with its own set of rules and amenities, and experiences. Located in West Ocean City, it is worth the drive if you prefer a more relaxed beach experience.

There are wild ponies who move freely around the island. For many, this is a reason to visit, but for others it can be startling to see a pony swagger up the coast while you are sunbathing. With attention to the signs and warnings, and use of common sense, it can be a unique beach experience.

While you can buy some concessions, I would recommend packing a lunch. Try Smoker’s BBQ Pit. Or, grab some on your way off of the island. I think it is pretty yummy, and definitely hits the spot after a long day at the beach.

I could list several restaurants to try when you are in the area, but my favorite – based solely on nostalgia, atmosphere, and a stellar view – and the country music that is usually playing – is Hooper’s Crab House. Here you can choose from plenty of options, mostly seafood. Back in the good old days I would come here with my family and we would get blue claw crabs – which is more of an experience then a meal. If you ask Shawn it’s definitely something you have to grow up doing in order to understand. He doesn’t get it, and it’s not quite the same when you are the only one doing it.

I’ve adapted to enjoy Hopper’s more for its ambiance.

In fact, we have branched out, literally and figuratively to Sneaky Pete’s … the bar/grill gazebo on the water outside of Hooper’s.

After Hooper’s, we like to cross route 50 and get a treat from Dumser’s Dairyland.

Our children have come to love the beach house vacation experience as much as I do, and ask every year when we will return. It warms my heart to pass on those special family memories, and create new ones with my own kids.

Since we almost exclusively stay at ‘the beach house’, I can’t comment too much on places to stay. However, I have always been intrigued by these two places, and intend to check them out someday:

The Francis Scott Key Family Resort

Frontier Town Campground

The Francis Scott Key Family Resort just looks cool and family friendly. It is not fancy, but has great pools inside and out, and it is not far from Ocean City proper.

Frontier Town is a unique family resort, including a western themed amusement park, miniature golf, a water park, and a campground. While we have enjoyed the water and theme park (see Shawn enjoying himself below?), we have never camped there. Shawn and the kids enjoy camping, and if we camped here I am almost guaranteed we will also get to a pool and beach – and everyone will win. It’s on our list of things to do.

Have you been to OCMD? What have you done? Where have you stayed?