Day trip from Washington DC - Natural Bridge and Foam henge

The good thing about living in DC is that there are many day trips that you can take during the weekends. I can just wake up one day and decided to go somewhere I have never been to and be back to DC on the same day.

About 3hrs30mins drive from DC, Natural Bridge, VA is a place you could visit in half a day (unless you are those hardcore hiker).  It was named as Natural Bridge for obvious reason (duh!).

But no, even though it is a bridge, you will not be able to cross it, or probably you can if you know those chinese kungfu/ 轻功 like in this video. And you don't have to understand Chinese to watch this video. You get what I mean..

Leaving DC at around 8am, you will reach there at 11.30am. You will start with the visitor center where you could purchase the different combo of tickets depending on your interest. It's weird that I am not able to find information about the combo tickets online, but I am sure you could get it directly at the visitor center. We bought the natural bridge + caverns tickets. 

Bear at the gift shop

We started our tour at the caverns. Didn't have any photos of the cavern, anyway, to me, I think all caverns are the same, once you have been to one cavern, you have been to all caverns. If you really want to choose, Luray caverns will be nicer if you want a day trip from DC.

Then, we went to take a look at the natural bridge itself. It's amazing and it's really an wonder.

Yes, that's the bridge

under the bridge

Fortunately or unfortunately for us, it started snowing when we reached there. The snow was getting heavier and heavier when we were there. Thanks to the snow, we were all drenched (we were not prepared for snow), but it also make everything look even more gorgeous.

 

After staying a while at natural bridge, we went to foam henge, a replica of stone henge with Styrofoam. It does look like stone henge from far! And yes, it look so much prettier with the snow! and because of the snow, we were the only crazy ones there. You should go there because (1) it is only 5minutes away from natural bridge (2) you have no money or time to fly to England to see the real thing (3) since someone is so free to build the stone henge with foam, you should take a look

 

 

There are also signs to tell you the theories of the real mysterious stone henge

 

 

To digress, since there are so much snow, it is a waste not to...........

Yes, you are right! snow angel!

Back to to the topic, we stayed quite a while at foam henge till we hear wolf howling. The foam henge is on top of hill, surrounded by trees and no other human nearby. We can totally imagine a pack of wolves suddenly appear out of nowhere and surround us. Scary! That's when we decided to leave and go back to DC.

Not too far from Foam henge, there is also nice diner where you can stop by for lunch or dinner -  Pink Cadillac Diner! And the pink cadillac itself will remind you of? Yes, you are right! Elvis! So you will be able to see a lot of Elvis stuff inside the diner and also a pink cadillac at the entrance of the diner! The food was great too!

 

 

So the whole trip was relaxing for us (don't have to rush for anything) and one day was just nice. By the time we reached DC was around 8 plus pm.

Niagara Falls and Toronto, Canada

This was my very first road trip in US (or Canada). It was my forth day in US (in 2012) i think and I was having major jet lag (imagine a road trip after an almost 24 hours flight). This trip's itinerary was planned by my husband, hence, I have limited memories of it. I was just merely following and sleeping then. I will try...


Day 1:

Drove from DC to Niagara Falls (canada side) - about 7hrs30mins drive. By the time we reached Niagara Falls, we were greeted by the awesome view.

As it was already late afternoon when we reached, we could only stroll around (but that was enough, the view was picturesque). oh ya, don't forget to check into an hotel room with the falls view, you will definitely not regret the decision! u

View from our hotel room

Day 2:

Day 2 was focused on touring Niagara Falls itself. The second day view was even better! Note: I don't know how to edit photos so I don't edit my photos. Can you imagine how gorgeous the place is? Because my unedited photos (esp the one below) just look like a postcard view! 

We bought the adventure because you will save! Also, this will reduce your transportation sorrows! YOu will be able to hop on and off the Wego bus unlimited times with this pass!

we started off with the White Water walk. Be careful, the Whirlpool Rapids can be pretty but dangerous (just like pretty women), you do not want to fall into the gushing water!

 

 Don't believe that it is dangerous? Look again!

Then, we went to take the Maid of the Mist (it is a must if you are at Niagara Falls). Even if you don't have time to do any other things, please take this boat ride!! That's the closest you can see both falls!

Yes, you will get wet because of the mist but the Niagara Falls people are sweet enough to provide you with free ponchos too!

Oh, another chance to be near to the falls is behind the falls! Realllllyyyyyy close

Day 3:

As much as I don't want to leave Niagara Falls, we had to. We drove around and saw this gigantic giant floral clock.

And went to the vineyard of my favourite drink of all time. I remember always buying inniskillin ice wine at the DFS when I fly. Not very cheap but too nice to resist! You should try it if you have not tried it before.

 

you get sample of different ice wine too!

After that, we went to Toronto (2 hours drive) and had a great  Japanese lunch. The chinatown town is so much better than DC's. Also, one thing we have observed - why does the people in Toronto are all so good-looking? Is it a requirement to live there? LOL

After that, strolling on the streets and visited the mall since we were early

 

And visited the CN tower. There is this part of the flooring where it's see thru glass and you can see the ground below.

View from CN tower

View from CN tower

We stayed for a night in Toronto and drove back to DC the next day.

there are the US and the Canada side of Niagara Falls. Canada side is definitely better because that's where the bigger falls is at. So if you can, go to the Canada side! Don't forget to visit a vineyard when you are at the Canada side too!

4 days - Charleston, SC and Savannah, GA

This trip happened in Feb 2012.. when we didn't expect that it will be so cold at night (on one day, it was zero degrees celsius). Like most of our trips in the East Coast, we would drive. For a 3 days trip to work, you will have to sacrifice your beauty sleep (left the house at 4.45am). To be honest, even though I said I had to sacrifice my beauty sleep by waking up in the middle of the night, I am those who can sleep very well in the car (a moving car is like a rocking chair to me, the motion just makes me sleepy). Plus, I didn't have my driving licence then. My poor husband have to drive to where we are gg alone while I sleep. His record was driving 15hours alone! (i think it was from DC to Jackson, MS).

Charleston and Savannah are often featured in magazines and articles to be the must-visit city in the US. Well, we were not disappointed. Charleston and Savannah have this old town charm. Even though they do not have many attractions, but they are those cities where you could leisurely stroll on the street just to absorb the beauty.


Day 1: Charleston

who doesn't like horse carriages? except that it smells if you on it

Left really early in the morning because the drive to Charleston is at least 8 hours.

By the time we reached Charleston, it was lunch time. Went to Charleston city market for lunch and to shop. City market is just like the upgraded version of a flea market.

Source:www.ahoycharleston.com

Then, we went to Heyward-Washington House (just have to find some house to go into).

View from the garden of Heyward-Washington House

Heyward-Washington House garden

Yeah, just an old house

Since we are still early according to our itinerary, we had a walk at the Waterfront Park.

Pineapple can be seen everywhere in Charleston. I think it represents hospitality or smth along the line

While at the waterfront park, we also saw smth that was unexpected. Dolphine!

I know the photo is not clear but we really did see it

Also went to visit the oldest Unitarian Church in Charleston, or in fact, one of the oldest in the US and the oldest in the South.

Unitarian Church in Charleston

 

Usually, we don't stay in the good hotels. I always feel that it is a waste for spending a lot for accommodations when you are not in the hotel most of the time. However, for this trip, we decided to stay at French Quarter Inn, which has won many awards and cost about 400++usd a night. You have to try if the rating is 5/5  and 4.9/5 on tripadvisor and expedia respectively, don't you? Yeah, it was really a nice stay.

our room. Ok, i am a bad photographer. all the photos don't do justice to the hotel.

Since we are in the south, of course we must have the southern food (I am quite a big fan for southern food too). What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you say southern food? For me, it is definitely southern fried chicken (I am sure southern friend chicken is world famous) But I am not talking about chain fast food here, Jestine's kitchen did not disappoint us (we went early, if not you will be stuck in the waiting line for a long time!) The fried green tomato there were yummy too.

Fried tomato

 Day 2: Charleston & Savannah

There are a lot of plantations in Charleston (yeah, because we are in the South) and most of them looks beautiful. Had a hard time to choose since we only have time for one. Hence, we chose Boone Hall Plantation which features world famous avenue of oaks and where The Notebook was filmed at.

avenue of oaks

 

 

 After 2 hours drive from the plantation, we reached Savannah. Started our Savannnah tour at the Savannah Visitor Center (highly recommended). The Savannah History museum is located inside the visitor center and this is where you will be able to see the Forrest Gumps's bench.

Forrest Gump's bench

 It was also at the visitor center when we decided to take the old town bus tour. I think it will be better to take the tour, otherwise, you will be just seeing a bunch of historic houses facade without knowing anything. You will be less tired too. Plus, you won't know who will join you on the bus (like a pirate!)

At night, we went to the City Market for dinner, and that's where we tried the gigantic pizza at Vinnie Van  gogo (probably the size 10 times the size of my face)

and also my favourite food of all time - ice cream! Yummy!

Also, if you have time, you should do a ghost tour too. we really wanted to do but our girl friend who joined us is too scared to do it. But i am sure it will be an interesting experience since Savannah is also one of the most haunted city in the US.

Day 3: Savannah

We started our day to old fort Jackson, there were few visitors there though.

and cemetery

then we spent the rest of the days just leisure strolling and see what's nice.

Don't forget to visit those old school sweet shop and also try the pralines!

Day 4: Home sweet Home

The next day before we drove home, we went to pirate's house to have lunch. A haunted restaurant which I think is a little overrated

If you ask me if I prefer Charleston or Savannah, it is a difficult choice but I prefer Charleston and my husband prefers Savannah. I guess each city has its own appeal and charm.