Josh had airline credit, so you know us… we couldn’t just let it waste! We had to take a trip and use it all up. If you saw my last blog post, 30 States in a Year, you know that we have been to a lot of states already. We wanted to check more states off our list, but needed a cheap flight to do it. We were able to get 4 more states on this trip: Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, and West Virginia! Josh had already been to Pennsylvania, but it was new to me and Payson.
Anyway, we decided to make this another American History trip, and I didn’t realize it at the time wee booked our flights, but it was a perfect trip for Memorial Day Weekend because it brought a whole new meaning to what Memorial Day means. So much work went into making this country. So many men lost their lives for liberty, and more today fight (and some die) for our country and liberty. Memorial Day is a nice day off of work, but more than that it is a way to remember those who have died, and those who worked so hard to make the United States of America free.
Our Rental Car
We always rent a car on our trips so we can see more things. We always rent the cheapest car, plus Josh also has a 5 star Hertz rental status, so sometimes he gets free upgrades. Also, if the car of the class we booked in is not at the Hertz location we booked at, we get the car of whatever class that is there. With all that being said… we ended up with a really cool car for this trip. We rented a Mitsubishi Spyder Convertible for a really good price! The weather was not ideal most days to have the top down, but we still found time to have it down. Payson didn’t like when we put it down because of the noise, but once it was down- he was cool! He liked to see the sky, and his car seat canopy provided quite the protection from the wind!
Valley Forge
Valley Forge kicked off our first stop of all of our American History stops. (We had a few other stops, as well). It was humid and rainy, but it was neat because we were basically the only ones there. We didn’t get to go in a lot of the buildings because they were closed by the time we got to them, but we did get to go in to Washington’s Headquarters, and we saw some monuments throughout Valley Forge.
Ocean City/Assateague Island
We went to Ocean City, where there is beaches all around. We touched the ocean, and that was it. It was too cold to even be outside without a jacket the day we were at Ocean City. The view from our hotel room was pretty, though, and the hotel did have an indoor swimming pool!
Luckily, our drive to Ocean City wasn’t for nothing because about 15 minutes away is Assateague Island National Seashore. We went to a very neat visitors center, and took a little drive on the island. We got to see wild horses, which was pretty cool.
Café Rio
For those of you who know what a Café Rio is- you must know that Josh LOVES it. There are no Café Rios in Chicagoland or anywhere close. However, lucky for Josh, he found a Café Rio in Frederick, Maryland, right by Harpers Ferry. So Josh specifically planned for us to stay in a hotel in Frederick so we could have Café Rio for dinner. I’m glad he found one because I sure enjoyed it, too!!
Harpers Ferry
Harpers Ferry was our second favorite place out of the places we visited. Many of the old buildings still remain from events during the Civil War. Harpers Ferry is right on the Shenandoah and Potomac rivers, and at one point the Shenandoah combines with another river. You can see the distinct line where the rivers combine because they have different color water. It was cool to see. At Harpers Ferry we walked along a big bridge, saw the museums and historical buildings, and Payson and I hiked up to Jefferson Rock and saw the old church. Josh wasn’t feeling too well, so he stayed in the lower part reading more about the events that occurred at Harpers Ferry. In some of the pictures at Harpers Ferry you will see Payson in my Mei Tei Wrap. Let me just say- I love that wrap because now that Payson is older he is hard to carry on my front. The wrap allows me to throw Payson on my back and wrap the wrap around him. Anyway, when I got to Jefferson Rock I was pretty hot because I had my sweatshirt on, and I was wearing a 22 pound 15 month old. I put Payson down, took my sweatshirt off, and then threw Payson on my back to wrap him up. I could feel so many eyes staring at me because Josh wasn’t there to help. After I was done I got some comments from some pretty impressed people!! ha ha- I thought I was pretty cool after that!! 
Parade
Between Harpers Ferry and Antietam Battle Field we got stopped for about an hour because of a town parade. There was no way around it, so once Payson woke up, we watched the parade, and got a sucker to keep him happy. Once the parade was ending, we jumped in the car so we could get to the battlefield. We were right behind the last cop of the parade, so since we had a cool car, some people thought we were still part of the parade. They would clap and put their hands up for candy!! Sorry guys- no candy from us. One guy was nice, and actually threw us some candy!
Antietam Battle Field
Antietam Battle was the single most bloody battle in one day during the Civil War, and it was a draw between the Union and the Confederates, so basically a lot of lives were lost for a tie battle. Pretty sad! We watched a cool movie about Antietam and saw where the different attacks took place on the battlefield.
Gettysburg National Battlefield
Gettysburg is a huge battlefield. We did the auto tour, and saw all the monuments. It was neat, but I wish I knew more about it before I went. We didn't go to the visitors center because it cost $12 a person and we got there too late anyway. I do know that Gettysburg was the bloodiest mutli-day battle of the Civil War, which is probably why it is so huge. It is the battle that basically ended the Civil War. We went up an observation tower, and saw many sites at the top. This is also where we met other “Mormons.” I saw a couple and I said to Josh, “Look at that Mormon Couple.” Later on that couple’s brother asked us if we were Mormon. haha! I am glad that they could tell we were, too.
The coolest thing at the battlefield was the cemetery. We didn’t get out of the car, and I didn’t get a good picture, but it was neat. The largest monument at the battlefield was the Pennsylvania monument. Payson and I walked to it, while Josh studied the map!
Philadelphia
Out of all the historical places we visited, we liked Philadelphia the most. Perhaps, it was because this is the place where the Declaration of Independence was written and signed, but I think the biggest reason we liked it the most was because it has a special Spirit there. Our forefathers were pretty inspired men. I believe it was all part of God’s plan to make this land a free land where we could have freedom of religion. It is the land where the Gospel of Jesus Christ was restored. The events that happened during the Revolution needed to happen before the Restoration could.
In Philadelphia we went inside the buildings that were not closed, except Independence Hall because the tickets were “sold out". We did get to see Liberty Bell. If you hover over the pictures, it will tell you what building is what. In Carpenters Hall there was a sign that explained that we were standing where the first steps to create the United States was taken. If you can, read the picture of the sign in my pictures. It’s pretty cool!! We also walked around the gardens. After we saw the buildings and gardens, we got Philly cheese steaks and ate them on the grass.
Atlantic City
Our last night was spent in Atlantic City. Luckily the weather was a little warmer than our first beach stop, but still not ideal. We first got lunch and ate it on the beach. Next, we waded in the ocean for a couple minutes; then walked along the beach wrapped in our towels. Josh carried Payson, and Payson actually fell asleep. It was so precious! After the beach, we went swimming in the perfect pool!! It was an outdoor saltwater pool, but it was very warm- like a giant hot tub, but not too hot for the Pay. It also had an area that was only 3 inches deep, where Payson could play in without us holding on to him. We were also the only ones swimming, so we had the pool to ourselves! That night we walked along the Atlantic City boardwalk. We ate dinner at The Rainforest Café, and each played a dollar in the slot machines at Caesars Casino/Hotel. We actually let Payson push the button! Josh/Payson won $5!! Ha Ha- It paid for about a fourth of our many tolls from the toll roads! As we were walking back to our hotel, The Chelsea, we stopped to watch the light show for a minute before Payson got too restless. It was pretty neat. Atlantic City was pretty cool, but I think our favorite part of our time there was the hot tub pool!
Like most our trips, it was fun and adventurous! Payson and I love to be with Josh all day, and it is always fun being out of our little house.
