Every summer Willie and I plan a family trip with our parents and sisters to make up for lost times. July 2021 we decided to do a road trip. What an experience it was!! Our then 10 month old and 4 year old were real troopers. Having to go from practically being on lockdown for over a year due to covid-19, to extended travel, had the girls a little anxious... Mama was too!
Imagine having to nurse your little one, leaning over the car seat because you refuse to keep making stops. Or having your 4 year old ask "Are we there yet?", seemed like 5 times per hour. Oh the sacrifice. We made it work and I wouldn't change anything about it. Well maybe a few things.
Montgomery, AL
With a goal to absorb as much Black History and culture as possible we decided to make Montgomery, AL our first stop. We stayed at the Springhill Suites Montgomery Downtown for 2 nights. The staff were pleasant and the rooms were clean and spacious. Check out our Instagram Montgomery stories highlight for a room tour.
Speaking of tour, our family had the opportunity to take a tour of The Legacy Museum and The National Memorial for Peace and Justice. There's such deep rooted, rich history that is shared through not only these museums but throughout the city of Montgomery. I encourage you to add it to your list of places to visit. Note that The Legacy Museum doesn't allow any photography, food nor drinks inside their facility. However, respectful photography is allowed at The National Memorial for Peace and Justice. Request your tickets for both well in advance as they sell out quickly. Our tickets were free, but depending on the day and time there's a possibility adults and seniors may have to pay $5 or more.
Savannah, GA
On the road again, On the road again... The Fitz Pack and crew drove 7+ hours, with a couple of stops to Savannah, Ga. A couple of weeks prior to our trip, we were contemplating eliminating Savannah. I'm glad we didn't. This city has so much to offer. Its filled with beautiful antebellum architecture, cobblestone squares, and oak tress covered in Spanish moss.
We checked in at TRYP by Wyndham Downtown Historic Savannah for a 2 nights stay. The hotel was decent and clean, very convenient to get to surrounding restaurants, stores, and Savannah River Street. Choosing to stay downtown was perfect for us. The only time we drove was when we arrived and left Savannah.
If you're planning to visit Savannah with small kids, I would suggest staying a minimum of 3 days to have the opportunity to explore. Catering to the little ones needs could be time consuming, and we know they're priority over anything else. Needless to say, we owe Savannah another visit.
Atlanta, GA
Hot-lanta is one of our favorite cities to visit. No matter how many times you visit, the city always have something new to offer. The food options are endless! We were so hungry from the extended drive from Savannah, we decided to stop for some awesome BBQ before checking into our hotel.
We opted not to stay directly in the city due to price height of the hotel rooms and for a newer hotel. Our hotel was located in Lawrenceville, about 35-40 minute drive from Atlanta. Tru by Hilton Lawrenceville gives you the collage dorm feel. There's a shopping mall conveniently located behind the hotel, unfortunately we didn't realize it until our last nights stay. After exploring the Georgia Aquarium and indulging in good food, we were too tired to do anything else. The Georgia Aquarium is beautiful and has some really cool shows and interactive activities for everyone. The shows book fast, so its best to reserve them asap.
If you're looking for a different kind of experience, Ponce City Market is the place for you. The food hall/retail shops is a whole vibe. The Roof is great for a date night or hanging with your friends. It's the first to-do on my list next time we're in Atlanta.
DMV (District of Columbia/Maryland/Virginia)
D.C.
After spending a week with my parents and sisters it was time to part ways and continue our summer travel. The girls, Willie and I flew to D.C. to vacation with his parents. It's always a great pleasure to vacation with our families. Willie and I are grateful for the extra help with our little ones during travel. We were excited to explore the DMV area for 6 days and to save on hotel accommodations by staying with his parents.
An unforgettable highlight of our visit was experiencing the Smithsonian Museum of African American History and Culture(NMAAHC). Hubby was able to secure 4 tickets the morning of our visit. We loaded the girls in the stroller, rushed to the metro station to make sure we didn't miss our entry time. Getting lost and having to stop a few times to calm a crying 10-month old, delayed us! We were over an hour late. Luckily, the door attendant didn't examine our tickets and we were granted entry. So if you're planning to visit NMAAHC in the near future, be sure to give yourself at least 2 hours for travel time, just in case you get lost and are traveling with little ones.
The museum will take you a minimum of 2 hours to explore, depending on the crowd. Whatever you do, be sure to start your tour on the basement floor. We were told its the beginning of slavery, then work your way up to each floor, as it becomes more digestible and pleasant touring . Unfortunately one of the ushers advised that we started on the top floor, which we found out later that wasn't the best advice. Sadly we didn't get the opportunity to experience the basement floor because the lines were extremely long and of course our girls were cranky after 2.5 hours of history. However, we still had a great time.
Educating our children every chance we get is embedded in us, but I believe NMAAHC is more appropriate for ages 7 & up. Younger children are naturally more anxious and would probably be ready to leave like ours were. We packed our patience that day! If you appreciate raw, authentic history and culture, this is the place for you.
Maryland
If you're looking for more laid back family fun activities, check out the National Harbor located in National Harbor, MD. The Harbor is filled with shops, restaurants, and things to do for all ages. We visited twice during our stay. We tried two restaurants. Succotash which offers some southern favorites like fried catfish and chicken & waffles, and Graces Mandarin offers modern Asian dishes. Both dining experiences were delightful.
Bellies full and wanting to give way to some kid-fun, our oldest daughter convinced her Papa to ride the giant Capital Wheel. The ride was $11.25 for ages 3-10 and $15 for ages 11 & up. If you're not a fan of heights, you may want to stay on the pier and grab some ice cream or imagine you're on the beach by putting your feet in the sand that sits off of the Potomac River. You can enjoy the National Harbor and all that is has to offer daily, its open until 10pm.
Virginia
Little Miss Wynter wanted to continue her play the next day, so we found a local park in Alexandria, Va. We're always down for a great energy burner! Summer, summer, summertime....had gotten the best of us and it was time for some frozen treats to help us cool off. The Iconic ice House in Alexandria is a must try. Its been around since the 1930's.Its currently owned and managed by Goodies Frozen Custard & Treats.
Did I mention how grateful we are to have our parents vacation with us? Willie and I were able to leave the girls for a couple of hours to enjoy an impromptu dinner date at Laporta's Restaurant and Jazz lounge. We went in close to closing time but were served without hesitation. Our waiter was phenomenal. The seafood soup and mushrooms dip definitely set the tone. The fresh Caesar salad paired with the shrimp and clam pasta was quite delightful. OH, and the complimentary, mystery lemonade that our waiter created was pretty lite and refreshing.
Planning to add the DMV to your travel list, be sure to check out a few of the spots mentioned, and our Instagram DMV highlights as a reference.
Orlando, FL
Orlando, FL always get a dose of The Fitz Pack. We travel there at least twice a year. With the drive being less than 4 hours from where we live, in addition to the overwhelming amount of things to do, why not! On our drive back to South Florida from Virginia, my lovely in-laws wanted to surprise the girls with a 3 nights stay at Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin. The resort is absolutely gorgeous. It just so happens to be or first time staying at a Disney resort, so we were looking forward to it.
I loved that the resort offers shuttle/ferry rides to the Disney parks and its neighboring hotels for free. We used these last few days of our trip to decompress and relax, so we decided not to attend any theme parks to enjoy perks of the resort. The property has at least 4 pools, a playground, great amount of restaurants, a fitness center, shops, and much more. Although we stayed in the Dolphin hotel, we still had free rein to the Swan hotel amenities.
Our girls spent a day at the pool with their grandparents while Willie and I roamed the property. After hours of soaking up some vitamin D, we all were in search for some ice cream. There's parlors conveniently located throughout the property. The connecting Disney Boardwalk offered a slew of park good eats that didn't require the park entry fee to indulge. I was able to get the replica brownie and ice cream that I would usually get from Magic Kingdom. To close out the night, hubby and I were able to squeeze in one more impromptu dinner date while the girls were resting. Todd English's Bluezoo is one of the best restaurants on the property. It's perfect for seafood lovers and the beautiful bold colors and décor gives a fancy cruise ship aesthetic. We really enjoyed ourselves.
It's time to head back to South Florida. We closed out our visit with a family breakfast, one last scroll through the boardwalk and a few pictures. Orlando was just what we needed it to be. A great amount of family, relaxation, and food. Although there we're a few hiccups, The Fitz Pack and crew had an amazing 17 day vacation.
I hope that you enjoyed reading about our summer travel journey. Please don't hesitate to connect with us and remember to Live on Purpose!
Comments