So it’s the end of 2015, and it’s time to do the second annual best-of-Anne’s-Travels! Last year, I simply posted the most popular posts of the year, but if I did that again, it would be nigh unto identical, with…
Visiting the Liberty Bell Center in Philadelphia
A visit to the historic area of Philadelphia, PA just wouldn’t be complete without seeing the Liberty Bell (at least once in your life, anyway). So even though the one person in our group who’d seen it said it wasn’t…
Visiting the US Mint in Philadelphia
Ever since I visited the Bureau of Engraving in Washington, DC when I was 9 years old, I’ve wanted to visit the US Mint in Philadelphia. But it’s never quite worked. No one really wanted to take a trip to…
An Evening at the Strong National Museum of Play
Not too far from home is an internationally renowned museum. The kind that gets into the Guinness Book of World Records (seriously!) Yet we rarely visit the Strong National Museum of Play. Why? It’s not for lack of interesting exhibits…
Fort Stanwix: The Hands-on Fort
For some reason, few people know about Fort Stanwix. I live within a few hours, yet I’d never heard of it until one day when I was looking for national public lands areas near my home. Then it went on…
How to Visit the Deception Pass Bridge for Free
Ever since I saw my first picture of the Deception Pass Bridge in northwestern Washington, I wanted to see it in person. There was something so uniquely interesting about the graceful spans, and knowing some of my group members pretty…
Cape May Zoo: Free – and a Good One, Too!
The Cape May Zoo is definitely something special. Ok, sure, it has some of the same animals you’d find in almost any other zoo. But what other zoo – besides the National Zoo in Washington, D.C. – has over 500…
5 Best Hikes in Anza Borrego Desert State Park
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park always has fond memories for me. From swimming in a palm tree oases to exploring a desert slot canyon, there is a variety of hiking opportunities and natural attractions to see. In this post, I’ll talk…
Sea Stacks, Sea Arches, & Wilderness on Ruby Beach
Olympic National Park really is a study in contrasts: from snowcapped mountains to rain forests to ocean beaches. This makes it a really fun place to visit because there are so many varied activities in the park. My personal favorite…
The Window and The Door Trails: Experience Badlands
If you don’t have much time in Badlands National Park, but you want to experience the Badlands proper, the Door and Notch Trails are for you. These trails are extremely short (together, they’re 1 mile (1.6 km) RT), and they…