Traveling from Hurricane, Virginia to Arlington, Virginia

 We left the hotel early this morning after stopping at an auto store to get a new windshield wiper (we heard it rains a little bit each day in DC).  We took the "Midland Trail" scenic drive.  It follows the Kanawha River and is oh-so-beautiful!  I have really loved taking the road less traveled on portions of our vacations.  Above are the Kanawha Falls.  This portion of the scenic drive is in the Allegheny Mountains - lots of switchbacks but such pretty views. 

 We stopped at the New River Gorge National River site and saw the New River Gorge Bridge.  I'm scared of heights.  Very scared.  And driving over a high bridge isn't my cup of tea.  But apparently it's my family's cup.  :)  So we drove across...twice.  We stopped at the Canyon Rim visitor center and the big kiddos became Jr. Rangers again.  :)  You can learn so much when your kiddos become Jr. Rangers.  We also snacked and took a small hike along the rim of this canyon.

 Two historical points of interest.

 I had to get my John Denver on as we traveled through West Virginia.  It is so, so pretty.

 Our last scenic stop of the day was at Monticello - Thomas Jefferson's home.  This is the coolest presidential home.

 The kiddos loved the kid's center at Monticello.  I was so impressed with this place!  Last time we were here we didn't have kiddos, so I'm guessing we didn't visit this center or it's new.  Katie is doing a rubbing of the home.

 Jackson is pretending to draw water from a well.

 Katie is pretend cooking over a fire.  I know God made me born in the 70s for a good reason.  I am an adequate cook with all my kitchen conveniences!

 Collin remade the porch of Monticello in blocks.

 One of our few family photos on the trip.

 Here is a small glimpse of Jefferson's massive gardens.

 Thomas Jefferson liked to come to this small house to look out at his land, gardens and think and write and plan.

 We really enjoyed this day of traveling.  We had some lovely stops and plenty of time to get wiggles out during the drive.  We made it to our hotel in Alexandria.  It was a Springfield Marriott.  Very modern.  We had two queen beds and a "living" section of the room where there was a couch.  This fit our family of 5 really well.  Also had a tiny fridge and microwave so we had a place to keep Jackson's food fresh.  (Huge relief to this momma).

End of Day 3, June 29, 2013

Day 2, Day 2 - Vacation post

 We left St. Louis and headed east.  We stopped along the way at Thomas Lincoln's farm.  Here is Collin as Honest Abe and Katie measuring her feet against Abe's.

 This is a beautiful, not very well known National Park in Indiana.  It cost only $5 for the day to explore and hike and learn about Abraham Lincoln as a boy.

 After a movie and quick trip through the museum we are off to find the farm.

 Abraham Lincoln's mother died at a young age of "milk poisoning"!!  That means the cow ate some sort of grass that tainted the cow's milk.  It sounds like this was a long drawn out death and very painful.  Several in the little community here all had it and all died.

 Our Chubba Chubba Choo Choo had to have his picture taken on the train tracks.

 

 We visited the reproduction of Thomas Lincoln's house, a one-room house that had bed, table, fireplace and the upstairs loft where the boys slept.

 Katie and Collin both decided that the upstairs they sleep in is a little more comfortable and had such a hard time imagining kids not being afraid when they slept up there.

 Mom and Dad Lincoln's bed along with trundle bed for the sister.  Going to really try not to complain about my old queen size mattress anymore.

 The smoke house.  Also hard to imagine a time where there weren't grocery stores and just getting meat whenever you wanted, but killing the animal you were going to eat later.

 We took a hike down to the Lincoln's well.  And it was a hike!!  Makes me also appreciate WATER and the fact that I can have it anytime I want and anywhere I want.

 After a picnic lunch on the Thomas Lincoln farm we headed into Kentucky.

 I know I'll mess up this historical moment, but I believe Matt wrote a portion of his dissertation on the Cane Ridge meeting house.  Is that right my love?  Anyway, he/we wanted to see it.  And while we did get to see it, apparently we spent too long at the Lincoln farm and did NOT take into account a time change so we arrived just at closing.  Matt got to go in and see briefly while the custodian was cleaning.  I stayed in the van with the kiddos.

We've made several travel notes about this day.  Thomas Lincoln's farm is worth seeing again.  We want to stop in Santa Claus, Holiday Indiana and go to Holiday World, a little theme park dedicated to holidays.  And re-see the Cane Ridge meeting house.  We traveled on from Cane Ridge, Kentucky all the way to Hurricane, Virginia to spend the night.  On this night our right windshield wiper on the van started acting up.  (more on this story later.)