After Jamestown, we continued our historical retreat to Monticello, the house and land of Thomas Jefferson. I had absolutely no idea that it would be so beautiful. Apparently, Jefferson wrote that he'd rather be at his home in Monticello than dealing with political affairs and I can see why. The house, which sat upon tens of thousands of inherited land, is surrounded by lush trees and fresh flowers and vegetables. It is the kind of place that I imagine artists to escape to for inspiration, a peace of mind and a mental escape from the harsh realities of the world. It is the exact place I fantasize having as my retreat home, a place where I can escape to and write for hours and hours without the world's distractions around me.

Looking out at the green hillsides reminded me of the south of France. Everything was just so green. I couldn't believe it. When Dad said we were going to Monticello, I had no idea that we'd be entering a place like that.

When we got there, we took a guided tour through Jefferson's home, then a self-guided tour through his numerous gardens and the underground quarters for the slaves. It was so fascinating to imagine life back then: the hustle and bustle of slaves walking a quarter mile to prepare food for Jefferson and his guests, the fermentation of the beers and wines he had just below his house, the continuous growth of fresh fruit, vegetable and herbs used for cooking...it was all just so magical.

[Thomas Jefferson's home]

[His herb and vegetable garden]

[That barrel is a trashcan and it stunk really bad]

The kids had a lot of fun too...Robert spent most of the time searching for the perfect slingshot on the ground while Mary imagined how life would be writing letters with a quill pen. Daniel is at the perfect age for this entire road trip--he soaks in everything like a sponge. Every piece of information he finds interesting and every landmark he's fascinated by...it's a lot of fun.

[Dad and Mary looking at the grave site]

[Jefferson's tomb stone]

[Daniel and Mary looking as if they like each other...
a perfect--and candid!--Kodak moment.
I'd like to add that as soon as I took this, Daniel looked back and said,
"Oh great! Sissy just took a picture of me sitting next to you...ugh!"]

[Robert found the perfect sling shot!]

At the end of the day, we walked down the hill (as opposed to taking the shuttle), through the bustling trees, hitting the oh-so-refreshing breeze, and finally back into our trusty minivan. Driving away from Monticello was a slightly bittersweet for me--leaving such a beautiful place for a mediocre hotel room was not exactly my idea of fun--but I fell asleep before I could think more about it.

Before I knew it, it was already time to get back into the van for our next stop...

Destination 9: Jamestown, Virginia

After a very long drive from Charleston, SC, we finally made it to Virginia at around 11 p.m. We thought that everyone was going to crash the moment we laid in bed, but there were many, many giggles and pent-up energy from the long car ride. We decided to indulge ourselves in a little bit of Food Network, which the kids have learned to love by the way, and stay up a little later than usual.

The next morning, we slept in, got some breakfast and kind of dilly-dallied around the hotel for the day. After some swimming, reading and more TV, we made our way to the Jamestown Settlement around 4 p.m., giving us 2 hours before closing time.

Well, we made a couple of wrong turns, and before anyone knew it, we were parking with just over an hour left to see the settlement. It was a speedy stop but such an interesting exhibit!

For those of you who forgot your high school history lessons, in 1607, 13 years before the Mayflower arrived at Plymouth Rock, a group of 104 Englishmen began a settlement on the banks of Virginia’s James River. Jamestown was the first permanent English settlement in America. Today, about a mile away from the actual settlement is a museum of 17th-century life with exhibits that chronicle the first century of the Virginia colony.

[The settlers' kitchen on the ships...imagine cooking in that tiny thing!]

Impressively, we made our way through all the forts, the ships and the indoor, air-conditioned exhibits. Of course, another hour or so would have been ideal, but for what little time we had, I think we did one heck of a job. The kids learned a lot and they had fun doing it! A success for all :)

[Robert looking rather ferocious]

[Dad talking to a 17th-century settler...no big deal.]

Afterward, Mom and Dad randomly decided that we'd stop at a Virginia diner somewhere off the road. We kids (hahaha I'm clearly going mad as I'm grouping myself with the kids now...) weren't so sure about it since we parked in front of a sign that said "Virginia Diner Headquarters" with no hint of life within a 5-mile radius. Mom called the number on the sign and asked, "Are you a restaurant?" With some key questions and maneuvering, we figured out that the restaurant was actually down the road, about a block from the headquarters. When we finally made it there, we were thrilled to see that it was a very southern restaurant, to say the least.


The entire building was white, with big red letters that read, "Virginia Diner." Inside were packages upon packages of peanuts because...well, naturally, Virginia is the peanut capital of the world! (Did you know that? I didn't!) I had a Waldorf salad, which was not what we Californians know as "Waldorf Chicken Salad." It was a little bowl of cut-up apples and a peanut dressing that tasted more like caramel than anything else. It was delicious but a little too sweet as a dinner entree for my taste. Luckily, I also got some vegetable beef soup that was absolutely delicious. Dad got what else but fried chicken and Mom got a vegetable platter with sweet collared greens. The kids got the usual (chicken tenders and french fries) but for dessert, they ordered peanut pie, which was very interesting. It was almost like pecan pie but everything from the outside to the filling was peanuts. A little to peanut-y for my taste but good nonetheless.

On our way out, we found out that Guy Fieri went there for his show once. Our waitress told us that after seeing the show, couple from Vancouver specifically traveled to Virginia to try the collared greens that Guy had on his show. They, unfortunately, did not like it. Oh well! It was quite the southern experience :)

Until next time, lovelies...ciao <3

Destination 8: Charleston, South Carolina

Charleston, SC was just a one-night stop before a long drive to Jamestown, Virginia. But before heading to our hotel, we went to Fort Sumter, the site in which the Civil War was initiated on. We took a 30-minute ferry ride to the fort, spent about an hour looking at the various canons and the exhibits, and rode back. It was a wonderful historical lesson for the family, despite the 100+ degree weather. We witnessed how the canons swiveled back and forth, how thick the fort walls were (5 feet wide!), and how history may have changed had President Lincoln accepted his invitation to Fort Sumter the day he was assassinated at the Ford Theater.

[On the way there]

[And what we did on the way back...]

After the tour, we drove around Charleston, oo-ing and aw-ing at the gorgeous southern homes. They were all so large, grand, pristine and powerful. It was everything I imagined "southern" homes to look like.

I felt like such a tourist, peering up at the mansions outside of the car window. But sometimes that's OK, right? I'd like to compare it to the "celebrity sighting" tours around L.A. ;) After about an hour of circling around the same few blocks, we finally made our way onto the highway and into our next destination.

This is a short post, I know, but it was a short stop!

I hope you're having a beautiful week.

Love you <3

Destination 7: Baxter County, Florida

After our day at Pensacola Beach (which, by the way, is now affected by the oil spill right after I said it wasn't!), we headed to a very rural part of Florida to visit Mom's college friends, Judi, Cary, Teresa, Joyce and Les. By "rural," I mean dirt roads, acres upon acres of land, swamps, woods, big plum-size horse flies, utter silence and a 30-minute drive to the nearest store.

[An old shack down the road with picturesque Spanish moss]

[Judi & Cary's mailbox!]

At first, I wasn't so sure of what I thought about spending two nights in rural Florida. I wasn't looking forward to potential alligator attacks and such. But as soon as we pulled up to Judi and Cary's home, full of love, animals and nature's beauty, I was sold. Sitting outside on the back patio in the night's warm breeze, surrounded by lush trees had a magical effect. It was so peaceful and a nice change from the hustle and bustle we've been doing lately. My normal life consists of constantly being on the go, so when an opportunity arises to sit and appreciate the moments when time ceases, I really, really appreciate it. It reminds me of life in France when sitting around doing absolutely nothing was totally acceptable.

[Amazing trashcan that Mom hopes can be replicated for our own home]

[Just hanging out, chattin']

[From left: Joyce, Judi, Mom, Cary]

I think Mom had a wonderful time catching up with old friends too. It was fun sitting with them late at night, listening to their howls of laughter as they told old (and new) stories. The kids, who were completely enthralled by the animals--a bunny, 2 horses, 4 dogs and 2 cats--also had a blast. They ran around, chasing/terrorizing the poor animals, went swimming, rode on a tire swing, ate mounds of sugar-filled snacks and watched movies on my laptop.

[Robert & Joyce riding the golf cart, Mary swinging on the tire and
Daniel waiting for his turn on the golf cart]

[Joyce & Les had dogs like us...makes me miss Tsion & Max (and Koda too)!]

[Visiting on the screened porch, away from the bugs]

[A delicious cake with pecans and homemade cream cheese frosting...mmmm!]

By the time we had to leave, I don't think anyone was ready to say "goodbye." Dad wanted to stay and sit in a particularly glorious recliner just a tad longer, Mom could have spent a lifetime chatting with her friends and committing to the simpler, more enjoyable life there and the kids would have easily agreed to a couple more nights of animal terrorizing and sugar overdosing. But, alas, it was time to say our "farewells" and "see you soon's" and before I knew it, we were back in the van, driving to our next destination.

[Dad and the infamous recliner, as the rest of the world whirls around him]

[Robert caught in the act. He's poking the cat with his paper sword]

[The Shack: a dive restaurant w/ delicious bbq that
Dad wanted to drive by before we left. Perhaps the perfect place for
Guy Fieri's Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives]

Something about staying in a place filled with love and open arms, rather than a cold hotel room, changes everything about a trip. It rejuvenates everyone and warms the soul. It excites me to know we have many more of those coming soon.

Until next time, ciao <3 I hope all of you had a lovely weekend!!

Destination 6: Pensacola, Florida

I have a confession to make: Florida has never once enticed me. I've never had a single urge to visit the state, nor go anywhere near it. And I don't know why. It was just one of those places like Nebraska, South Dakota or Montana (sorry if I offend anyone that lives in any of those states!).

BUT...and there's always a but...

Florida has proven me wrong. Maybe it's because the first place we visited in Florida was Pensacola, a beautiful beach town with white sandy beaches and turquoise water. To me, Pensacola beach is the quintessential East Coast beach, with white sandy beaches, turquoise-green water and large risen houses overlooking the sea. The beach looked as if it came right out of a Nicholas Sparks' romance novel.

[Yay!]

I didn't think I'd miss the beach as much as I do. Maybe it is the countless hours in the car or the numerous nights in hotel rooms that have me aching for the salty air, crashing waves and long, beautiful jetties. So when we pulled up to that sand, the kids and I jetted out to the water as fast as I could. And the best part? The water was warm! I was so relieved to see that the oil has not yet effected Pensacola Beach, although there are reports that the oil spill has already reached Florida :(

After some clam digging with the kids, I decided to take advantage of the situation and go for a 3-mile jog in the water. It felt so good and brought me back to the good 'ol days in Newport Beach. Because there's really no way to express how beautiful and refreshing the beach was, I'll just let the pictures speak for themselves.

[Soft white sand]

[The perfect little clam]

The next day, we went to the Naval Museum on the Pensacola Navy base, which the boys loved (Mary, not so much). We started out watching an IMAX about the fighter pilots. I had no idea what fighter pilots had to do in training and in combat. It was really neat to learn so much about them. But what was even neater and more touching were the people in the audience. There were a lot of older men and women, who I'm guessing fought for our country at one time or another. Many of them were enthralled by the movie and a few were brought to tears because I think it was the first time in a long time they may have felt appreciated by highlighting how hard it is to be a fighter pilot.

After the movie, we walked around the museum for another hour or so before the kids, Mary especially, were quickly over it. We, then, hopped back into the van for our next destination: Sanderson, FL.

[This is what the kids look like when they're ready to go home]

I hope all of ya'll (ya like my new Southern twang?) have a wonderful weekend!