Pecos National Historical Park and Historic Santa Fe

Pecos National Historical Park is a great stop for kids.

The carful of kids are our way to Santa Fe, New Mexico, for a Winter Break Ski Trip when we stop off at the Pecos National Historical Park for a look around. This park is 25 miles east of Santa Fe, New Mexico, on Interstate 25 outside of the town of Pecos, and a great place to stretch your legs and minds.

Pecos National Historical Park is open everyday except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day, during the winter it's open from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The admission is $ 7. per person, 16 years old and older or you can use your America the Beautiful annual pass ( $ 80 ).

Pecos NHP features a self-guided 1.25 mile easy hike that winds you around the pueblo and mission ruins. There is also a small museum exhibit and movie to watch about the native people.

After running around, she loses her boot.

The carful of kids love national parks but today the kids are really in love with all the snow on the ground at the park. They are running around like goons and my crazy kids from Texas don't realize that they can lose their boots in the snow.

We take the hike, tour the museum, watch the movie and earn our Junior Ranger Badges all under an hour and a half. The carful of kids learn about the Civil War Battle of Glorieta Pass and the Santa Fe Trail.

Shh! Don't tell the kids they are learning during Winter Break.

Next stop historic Santa Fe. We take a walk around the square and see the sights--it's especially festive at Christmas. There is plenty of shopping to enjoy with boutiques and galleries.

Downtown Santa Fe is especially festive at Christmas.

The carful of kids really just like looking at all the holiday lights and luminarias that dot the downtown area. Santa Fe Plaza is dripping with them, there are food carts with hot drinks if you need something to warm you up.


We walk by the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi and take a picture.  Unfortunately, it is not open but they feature special services during the holiday season.

It is getting a little chilly and we still have to rent our ski gear so the carful of kids load up and head to Alpine Sports at 121 Sandoval St.

I like to rent our ski and snowboard equipment at an independent rental store. I have found over the years that the prices are cheaper and the equipment is nicer than at the resort.

My daughter and I got brand new ski boots this time--no smelly ski boots for us this year. With our ski and snowboard equipment in the back of the SUV, we are ready to hit the mountain in the morning.

Up Next: Ski Santa Fe

Crazy West Texas Dust Storm

Yesterday outside of Abilene, Texas, the sky looked a little dirty at the horizon in front of us.  We were no where near a smog-smothered city.

"Hey kids that looks like a dust storm,"  I said to the carful of kids attached to their iPods.  I get a grunt in return.

I looked at the ultimate traveling companion--my iPad and checked out the weather in Lubbock, Texas.  There was a dust storm warning in effect for the area.

Well outside Lubbock we ran into a wall of dust.  The wind was howling, the dust was blowing, I could only see 25 feet in front of my car.  

First the cars put their flashers on, then we see the cars parked on the side of the road.  What to do?  I pull over for a few minutes and decide I was a sitting duck waiting to get hit.

I decided that 10 mph is better than sitting in a raging dust storm and crawl out of it.  It was lucky that we did because the highway was shut down minutes after we left.  The storm was the worst in that area.  The closer we got to Lubbock the better the conditions got.  

You have to pack your best judgment for your road trip.  

We drove the next four hours in 40 to 50 mph winds and varying levels of visibility.  It was fun for the kids but my hands hurt from holding on to the steering wheel so tight.

We made it through the dust storm and the temperature dropped 40 degrees.  The middle child was cold because he was wearing shorts and flip-flops.  I know, but who listens to Mom anymore.

We made it to Santa Rosa, New Mexico and checked into the Best Western there and called it a day. 

You know you might be from Texas

The carful of kids are from Texas and occasionally we herd cattle on the side of the highway to help a fellow Texan.  That is what we did this morning on our way out of town.

While driving on Highway 183 outside of Lampasas, a cow falls out of it's trailer right in front of the carful of kids.  How a cow falls out of it's trailer at 60 mph is one of the great questions of the universe.  The cow did bounce a bit but walked off the highway, I am happy to report.

We like to help when we can so we hit the hazards and get out of the truck.  We are off to rope some cattle because another one is on the loose.   It's in our blood being Texans, right?

We are not all cowboys and roping cattle isn't easy, but we did help corner a couple of cows.  More people jumped out of their cars to help the real cowboy rope his escaped cattle.

After the cowboying pit stop, we are back on the road.  The carful of kids is headed to see the snow of Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Anyone who knows the carful of kids, knows we are a snow curse.  Every year, we plan a trip to do a little skiing and snowboarding and wait for the snow to fall.

We wait and we wait and the snow does not fall.  In the past, the carful of kids has slid down hills of ice glaze and learned to ski on snow cone mush covered hills.

The carful of kids are not snow snobs at this point and anything cold and white would be great.  At last the curse has lifted and there is natural snow covering the mountains of Santa Fe.

Snow is falling right now and the rest of the week is clear with highs in the low 40's.  Yea!  This makes a carful of kids so happy.

We start driving early and hope to reach to Santa Rosa, New Mexico, tonight.  We don't want to drive with snow falling in the mountains after dark.

We are from Texas and we might herd cattle on the side of the highway.  We will leave the treacherous winter driving to those who know what they are doing.

Not too Early to Plan that Ski Trip

We are a house divided.

The carful of kids have a couple of free nights to use before the end of the year so we are headed for the hills. This year the Winter Break Ski Trip is Santa Fe, New Mexico.

When you have kids in school and two weeks off at Winter Break--a Mom has to plan ahead. There is plenty of competition and only a limited number of rooms-- remember not every room is available to those of using points or vouchers.

I called about a month ago and my first choice was already booked. Yes, that was the first part of October for reservations for the latter part of December. You can't wing it with a carful of kids and expect to get a good deal and your first choice.

Mom is not going to give up that easy. The carful of kids love the snow and we don't see much of it in Texas.

When researching for our next adventure, I always have to stay flexible and plan early. Sure enough, I find something better--if Mom wanted predictability and convenience, the carful of kids would stay home.

My criteria for our Winter Break Ski Trip:

• A family-friendly ski resort that is not too big--has to have a conveyor-type ski lift for my younger kids and lots of options for ski school.
• Plenty of seasonal activities to do after the last run of the day--remember ski resorts usually are winding down at 3:30 or so. 
• Some family-oriented, non-chain restaurants to sample local cuisine.
• Close enough to our home base of Central Texas that we don't lose too much time driving.
• A ski resort close to a Best Western because I have points for free nights.

Keeping all that in mind, New Mexico is a natural choice for us. It's about 12 hours to the snow-covered mountains and it is a great value for families.  

Now all I have to hope for is SNOW.

Krause Springs--Legendary Central Texas Swimming Hole

The carful of kids love to travel and explore new places outside of their home state of Texas, partly because it is a tad hot here in the summer.  But anyone who has been to Texas knows we like to do things bigger and better here. The carful of kids eyed some gems of Central Texas a few weekends ago, we're visiting some legendary swimming holes.

Let's start with our newest discovery, Krause Springs in Spicewood, Texas, home of Willie Nelson, is about 30 miles west of Austin.  According to their website, it is an 115-acre property that has been in the Krause Family for over 50 years. There are 32 springs on the property that feed into
a man-made pool and the natural swimming hole that eventually flows into Lake Travis. This is the carful of kids' newest favorite place.

Krause Springs is far enough out of Austin to keep the crowds down and close enough to make it a great day trip.  A few pointers before you go--pack your cooler full of food.  There isn't much out there once you pass the newly developed Bee Caves area. If you are OK eating out of a gas station then you're set.  I loaded up the refridge into my cooler but I have a herd to feed for the day.  I gas up the 4Runner and we hit the road early; it is close to a hour and a half drive for the carful of kids.

Mom always checks things out on the web before she goes, sure enough, useful information.  Krause Springs is a CASH ONLY operation.  We pay our admission of $6 per adult and $4 for kids four to eleven in assorted bills, not bad for a day of fun for the carful of kids, including the packed lunch--it is a steal.

We enter the little piece of paradise--central Texas is usually sun-parched in September especially this far west.   With the butterfly gardens and the huge Cypress trees, it is shady and lush; such a relief for the heat.  We park our stuff at one of the abundant shaded picnic tables and head for the main attraction.

The natural pool is a traditional swimming hole, rope swing included.  The carful of kids decide today is the day that they are taking the plunge into the age-old tradition. My 8 year-old son is first in line and firmly grabs the rope and lets it rip only to forget to let go.  My 9 year-old daughter is not going to be out maneuvered by her brother, she drops in shoes and all.

The man made pool

I sit on the limestone rocks on the edge of the natural pool and blow up my air mattress until I am dizzy. Before I can get into the water, the carful of kids are asking to use it.

"Where were you guys earlier this morning when Mom was loading the car?  That's right you were watching cartoons.  Mom is going to use her air mattress."  Since I am a Mom I ended up paddling my youngest around in the water instead.

Speaking of the water, if you are not prepared for the shock of some cool spring water it takes a few minutes to adjust.  To the carful of kids, it is all part of the fun.  We paddle around and swim for a bit before the kids decide they are hungry.  Just about the time Mom starts to relax.

After lunch we decide to try out the man-made pool.  It is not the largest spring fed pool we have seen, that honor belongs to Barton Springs Pool.  It is nice, not too crowded and super clean.  The carful of kids take turns jumping of the rock wall at the deep end.

We hike around the property to see more of the springs, a few waterfalls and the beautiful butterfly garden full of wind chimes.  Krause Springs has great century-old Cypress trees, a couple with great cavities that scream Facebook photo.  The rest of the day is spent swimming in the two pools and enjoying the day slip away.

We have to leave unfortunately, but there is camping for those who want to stay more than the day.  According to their website, they have primitive camping and 24 RV sites with electricity and water--just give them a call.  The girls decide that a rinse off would be great before we head out to dinner.  We find the bathrooms and they are great.  They are super clean and modern.  Is that slate tile?  So don't hesitate to bring your change of clothes, a clean towel and some shampoo and clean the kids up before you leave.

Next stop: Barton Springs Pool!

We are so much wiser because of our time spent on the road...

Well we left New Orleans without incident and arrived back to Central Texas safe and sound.  It took several days to get back into the swing of things.  There was a SUV to unpack, sand and snacks to vacuum out, a mountain of laundry to do.  I also had to get the carful of kids ready for school.  I got all that done and I had a moment to think about our trip.  I asked the kids their favorite and their least favorite parts of the trip.  I thought about it myself and I asked Melissa.

I will start with some numbers.  The mileage came in close to 5,000 miles.  We were gone for a little over 2 weeks.  We averaged about 300 miles a day.  I always plan for the first day out and the last day of the road trip to be mileage heavy. It was that way this trip.  The first day we drove a total of 703 miles and the last day of our trip we drove 507 miles.  The first day was a little rough on the carful of kids, especially the driver--Mom.  We covered some ground on this trip.  We started in Central Texas where we live and drove all the way to 50 miles from the Canadian Border.  That is the furthest North the kids have been.   The second furthest was last year when we went to Rocky Mountain National Park.

So on to the reviews.   I will start with my daughter who is nine.  She liked the St. Louis Arch and going to Chicago.  She wants to make Chicago dogs for dinner some night.  Great--I will have her help make dinner that night.  Well thinking about it, she can probably do it all by herself.  The ferry ride to Mackinac Island was a hit.  She thought it was cool the island didn't have cars.  She clarified by saying that she could ride her bike anywhere she wanted.  She loved the beach in Florida.  She is my beach girl.  She thought finding the shark's head was really cool.  She didn't like the driving but the kids didn't complain that much either.  A day in the car is better than a day on the couch.

My son, the eight-year-old liked running for the ferry and riding the train.  He liked playing in the sand and going so far out into the gulf he had to swim.  Note--he had on a life vest and was with an adult the whole time.  He also liked playing in Lake Huron.  He loved feeding the alligators at the Crab Shack.  He is an action boy.   The skateboarder in him was disappointed that the skate park in Asheville, North Carolina was flooded.  He didn't like the Art Institute of Chicago.  He said he didn't like the driving as well.  Though he was the best at sitting there and looking out the windows.  He seemed content to watch the countryside go by when he wasn't belting out Kidz Bop out of tune.

Big Boy's of Michigan

My four-year-old son didn't have an opinion good or bad of the trip.  He was there for the ride and an occasional fit.

The carful of kids drove through many regions of the country and tried to sample different specialties from each.   I tried to stay away from national chains when we were driving.  When we stopped for lunch I tried to find regional restaurants.  Most of these I found by paying attention to billboards and the blue signs on the side of the highway.   While the carful of kids loved the fudge of Mackinac Island and the beignets of New Orleans.  The overall winner for the carful of kids was the Chicago Dog.  They still talk about this hot dog.

Here is the recipe, or really it is just a list of ingredients.  You start with a boiled all-beef hot dog then add it to a poppy seed bun, top it with some yellow mustard and sweet pickle relish, throw on some chopped onions, slide in a dill pickle spear and tomato wedges,  sprinkle a couple pickled peppers and a dash of celery salt.  There you go--you have a Chicago dog, but whatever you do, don't add ketchup!

Dad adding poppy seeds to the buns

The trip according to the adults.  Melissa had not been been to this part of the country before so it was all new to her.  She loved the museum and wanted to spend more time there, except without a carful of kids.  She thought Navy Pier was a little over rated but enjoyed the Schooner ride on the Windy.  The Millennium Park was an unexpected surprise.  St. Louis was just too hot--not its fault.  Melissa loved Mackinac Island but found the drive to the Upper Peninsula a little tedious.  She loved the sugar sand beach and the gardens of the Biltmore Estate.  According to Melissa "the act of getting out and doing something new has the power to change your attitude."

The trip according to Mom,  I did a lot of driving.  It was worth it to give my children the exposure and confidence to travel when they are older.  Most physical things can be taken away from you--but no one can take away your education or your experiences.  I know that is a little deep for a travel blog.  I am trying to show my kids through example some of the best things in life are not things.  Have a life instead of trying to buy one.

I saw the baths of Hot Springs for the first time and thought "What architectural gems".  The trip to the St. Louis Arch was great.  My soul sings for great design.  I loved that I finally made it to Mackinac Island and enjoyed my time at The Grand Hotel.  I can say that I have been to the UP--uppper peninsula.
I agree with Melissa that the drive up there was a little monotonous.  The Smoky Mountains were nice but I prefer the Rocky Mountains or the Sierra Nevada's better.   The Biltmore Estate was another great property that I am glad I got to visit.  I recommend it to anyone who loves castles because that is what it is--an American Castle.  The beach in Florida was a personal favorite.  It is a great beach area for the family.  It has not been taken over by hotels, bars and drunks.   I love New Orleans for its history, authenticity and the beignets.

Some of the great things I learned from my trip this year.  That I love when housekeeping says, "No problem."  That eases my harried life as a traveling mom of a carful of kids.  Mom doesn't get to sit down much except behind the wheel of the SUV.  But when she does, it is bliss because it is a mist the most awe-inspiring scenery.  I know that I am very lucky to have a friend of thirty years to accompany me and my kind but rambunctious kids across the country every summer.  She was there before my husband and she was there before my kids.  She knows my past and has lived through my present and with her in my passenger seat I can coast into my future.  I am forever grateful for her friendship, her honesty and her loyalty.

Kid-Friendly New Orleans

The carful of kids coast into New Orleans late from a beach day at Grayton Beach State Park on the Florida's Emerald Coast. We are homeward bound after a road trip taking us to Mackinac Island and back, we have just a a few hours to soak up the tastes of kid-friendly New Orleans.

We are here on a mission--we need beignets, the French-style doughnuts that the Acadians brought to New Orleans generations ago. Nothing motivates the carful of kids more than the thought of square doughnuts buried in powdered sugar for breakfast.

I load up the carful of kids and drive into the French Quarter, it's so early that the sidewalks are still wet.  I park the SUV on the street taking a picture of the street sign to remember where I parked--what can I say, I haven't had my coffee yet.

I have been to Cafe Du Monde so many times over the last 30 years that I dart past the tourists waiting in line for an outside table and head inside. You'll get your beignets faster at breakfast if you sit inside then come back in the afternoon for a snack and the ambience of an outside table.

The carful of kids lick their lips in powdered sugar anticipation. I order three orders of beignets, chocolate milk for the kids and coffees for the ladies, I take mine iced since it's summer.

The Fernandez Family has owned Cafe du Monde since 1942, though the restaurant originally opened in 1862. It is an institution and the menu doesn't change often; the last addition was in 1988 when they added iced coffee and soft drinks.

Cafe du Monde serves dark-roasted coffee with chicory, the root of the lettuce-like plant, Endive. It is roasted, ground and added to coffee to cut the bitterness of the dark roast, a tradition brought to New Orleans by the Acadians of Nova Scotia.

A stop at Cafe du Monde is a must for the everyone, especially families. The carful of kids love the way the powered sugar falls all over them while they stuff their faces.

They're other places and Cafe du Monde has other locations but they're the best at the original location. You can't take them home and relive the whole experience hours later, it's not the same.

Beignets

Our next stop is the New Orleans Jazz National Park just steps away from Cafe du Monde and on the way to the French Market. The visitors center has a quick Junior Ranger program for the kids to introduce them to Jazz and occasionally hosts concerts so check them out.

The carful of kids head to the French Market, US's oldest public market established in 1791. This is the place to go for a quick, inexpensive lunch and get cheap t-shirts and souvenirs for the kids.

After grabbing our t-shirts, the carful of kids head to Central Grocery, located at 923 Decatur Street. Central Grocery is famous for its Muffuletta, the round sandwich invented by original owner, Salvatore Lupo.

For those who haven't tried a muffuletta, it's a ham, salami and provolone sandwich on a round Sicilian loaf smeared with an olive tapenade. Lupo used to serve them to the produce truck drivers from the French Market across the street.

French Quarter

I grab a Muffuletta for the road--it doesn't take long before the olive oil starts to leak through the paper bag. My mouth waters at the sight, they are that good.

I have a favorite scent that I ran out of a little while back so the carful of kids walk over to Bourbon French Parfums on 805 Royal Street. I find my way to the small shop that has been blending perfume since 1843.

There is an old world charm to the shop and it's a great stop for girls of all ages. After I buy some more Sweet Pea perfume, the carful of kids meander our way back to Jackson Square to check out some artwork, enjoy the park and watch some street performers.

It doesn't take long before the carful of kids beg for a horse-drawn carriage ride, there are several companies offering tours but private carriages are expensive. I find a larger carriage offering tours for $18.oo per person for a 30-minute French Quarter tour. The tour guide gives us a kid-friendly tour and a great history lesson too.

The carful of kids enjoy our time in the kid-friendly French Quarter and can't wait for the next time we visit. We have to get back in the SUV and head home.
 

One of the Best Beaches around--Grayton Beach State Park

The carful of kids adore the beach and we have been to a lot of beaches in our travels but we have one day to enjoy our favorite beach. We are driving hard to sneak a day in at Grayton Beach State Park in South Walton, Florida.

The South Walton area is a series of small beach towns that run south of Destin to Panama City along 30-A--the highway that connects them. Day-use parking is hard to find and beach access can be limited but the sand and surf are worth it.

I've known about Destin for years and the carful of kids made it here in 2007 when my youngest was 6 months old, it has been on my list to return ever since. With its turquoise water and sugary white sand that crunches when you walk on it--it's hard to resist and I thought you had to fly to the Caribbean to see beaches like this.

The carful of kids are on the tail end of another road trip but we need some beach time, the crashing waves and smell of salt water are calling us. We just finished up a day in Savannah, Georgia, and are headed back to our home in Central Texas after making it all the way to Mackinac Island.

From experience I know that the hotels along 30-A have two-night minimums during the summer so that is out, but I whip out my smart phone and my paper atlas and do some research. There are a couple of things that I remember from our last trip to Florida.

A few minutes later, I book a room in Defuniak Springs, Florida, that has a reasonable rate without the two-night minimum. It is right at the turn off for US Highway 331 heading south into Grayton Beach State Park, just 30 miles away.

The kids are on board and willing to forgo our usual stops so we can end the day with a beach sunset. I know we're getting close when I can smell the beach through my rolled-down windows.

A quick, friendly question to the police officer directing traffic and he points the carful of kids to legal parking spot. I barely shift the SUV into park before the kids bolt for the beach.

I hear the crashing waves and bliss awaits. We spend the rest of the waining sun playing in the surf, didn't even get the swimsuits on.

It is dark before I can lure the kids back into the SUV. I need stop at the grocery store in Santa Rosa Beach to restock for our beach day.

I don't want to waste any daylight stocking up on supplies because the carful of kids want to spend as much time as possible sitting on the beach. I have driven the carful of kids to the Canadian border and back I would like to sit in a beach chair with some fluffy fiction and recharge.

It's late by the time we get back to our room. No complaining because we have a whole day to play at the beach.

Baby shark head 

The carful of kids are in the SUV early and head to Grayton Beach State Park, I know there are not many day-use parking spots for this state park on the gulf. We arrive at the check-in and the ranger asks us for $ 5 for admission for the whole car--that's right, five bucks.

I don't have to ask twice to get some kid help when unloading the handfuls of sand toys. We find a nice open spot on the beach and park ourselves. 

The carful of kids start making a sand fort and this will take all day.  Isn't that the beauty of a beach day.

My daughter finds a really cool baby shark head.  I decide not to ask the obvious Mom questions.  

Speaking of safety at the beach, I always pack the life jackets.  I always make my kids wear the life jackets and I don't care if they are the only kids wearing them. 

Grayton Beach State Park doesn't not have a life guard station anywhere in sight while we are here. I know enough about rip currents to respect them. 

Lunchtime hits and we decide to use the covered picnic tables near the parking lot for our picnic instead of the beach. I love the sand just not in my turkey sandwich.

The carful of kids carry on with exploring the beach until late afternoon when we need to move on. A word of advice though--the park advertises showers in their list of amenities. I had hoped for enclosed showers in the restrooms but I find rinse off showers outside--not the same.  

The carful of kids need to make it to our next destination and I have a reservation in New Orleans, 275 miles east of us. It will take me close to five hours to get there and I was hoping to do it without sandy bottom.

Up Next: Family-friendly New Orleans

Know before you go:  If your family loves the beach and want a great beach vacation I recommend this area. It is well south of the crowds and hotel and restaurant chains of Destin, Florida--it's primarily second homes and rental properties.

The rental market usually rents by the week only during the summer and that is what we did the first time we came here. My kids were five, four and six months old at the time and we needed something easy because of the baby.

We rented a condo within walking distance and played at the beach all week. It was easy because the condo had a pool and a full kitchen.

If that doesn't appeal to you then Grayton Beach State Park has duplex rental cabins that are fully air-conditioned and sleep six. They are equipped with a full kitchen and available for one-day rentals during the week or by the week as well, they also have camping and RV spots.

Beach Bound--Savannah and Tybee Island

The carful of kids had a whirlwind tour of the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina, and now we are headed to Savannah, Georgia. We are on our way back home to Texas after weeks on the road making it to Mackinac Island and back.

The carful of kids are hungry and we would like to have a little beach fun before the sun sets. Melissa gets on the iPhone and we find The Crab Shack on Tybee Island, where the elite eat in their bare feet.

The Crab Shack is a local dive that became an Georgia institution by growing slowly and keeping its low country charm. It's located along the banks of Chimney Creek and the locals used to launch boats and buy bait here.

The Crab Shack is a great place for the carful of kids. Did I mention you can feed the gators in their swamp out front--what kid doesn't want to tell the kids back at school they fed alligators on vacation?

For $ 3 you get some cut-up Slim Jims that you stick on an old-fashioned hair pin attached to a bamboo cane. Throw the pole over the rail and low and behold the gator snaps it off. It's about as low tech as you can get and great fun for kids.

The outdoor dining area is on the water nestled among the live oaks. The atmosphere is so casual and laid back, they even have cats roaming among the tables. 

The Cap't Crab Sampler for One

Melissa and I decide to share the Capt'n Crab's Sampler for One, the Crab Shack specialty. Wow, it's a lot of food, good thing we love sea food. To finish it off, the carful of kids split some Pecan and Key Lime Pie, southern favorites.

After our seafood feast, we head to the Tybee Island Beach for the last sliver of sun. The carful kids frolic in the surf while I look for the last shells of the day.

We wake up the next morning with Girl Scouts on our minds. We head over to the Juliette Gordon Low's Birthplace--the founder of the Girl Scouts for the centennial of the Girl Scouts of America.

Living by the Motto, "Be Prepared" 

Located at 10 East Oglethorpe Avenue in the 

Savannah's Historic District, it is open Monday through Saturday 10 to 4 (Spring through Fall, $9/GS adults, $8/GS youth).

Juliette Gordon, born on October 31, 1860 in Savannah, had a happy and privileged childhood. After finishing school in New York City, she married William Mackey Low, a wealthy Englishman in 1886.

Her marriage was not a happy one and Juliette Low spent her time in service to others. After her husband died in 1905, Juliette Low needed something meaningful to spend her time.

Inspired by Sir Robert Baden-Powell's Boy Scouts, Juliette started the Girl Scouts with 18 girls with the goal of getting girls outside and improving independence.

The Juliette Gordon Low's Birthplace tour is an intimate look into the life of the founder of Girl Scouts and is of particular interest to Girl Scout members, past and present. The Girl Scouts of America marked their 100th birthday and over the last century over 50 million people have been served by the organization.

The carful of kids really love the beaches of South Fort Walton Beach and if we make really good time we can be there before sunset. We decide to save the rest of Savannah for another trip--the white sugar sand of Florida is calling us.  

Up Next: Grayton Beach State Park

The Biltmore Estate and Beyond

The last time the carful of kids were riding the rails through North Carolina on the Great Smoky Mountain Rail Road. Now we are headed for Asheville, North Carolina, via the Blue Ridge Parkway--a scenic byway that meanders parallel to I-81 for 469 miles from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to Shenandoah National Park.

The carful of kids enter the Blue Ridge Parkway just below the Waterrock Knob Visitor Center, where we check out road conditions and grab our Junior Ranger Badge Workbooks.  We check out the Waterrock Knob Trail, despite the light rain and fog. Not many people out today, we hike back down and load back up in the SUV.

The ranger warns us to be careful out on the road because of the fog.  Sure, Got it!  I am a Mom of a carful of kids--careful is my middle name.

We continue north on the Blue Ridge Parkway and then the fog gets fierce.  So many times Melissa and I find ourselves on an unfamiliar mountain road with adverse weather conditions--today it is fog.  But we have been through pounding rain with temperatures hovering around freezing on a 12,000 foot mountain pass with zero visibility, a washed-out road in a flash flood and a hail storm so hard that I thought I would loose my windshield.

It is stressful but with Melissa in my passenger seat, all is well.  We have been driving together for over 20 years, there is comfort in that.

As we get closer to Asheville, the fog lifts.  We stop at the Folk Art Center on the Blue Ridge Parkway just north of Asheville, where we finish up our Junior Ranger Badges and watch an artisan make a broom.

Next stop--the Biltmore Estate, an architectural icon and number eight on the American Institute of Architects' (AIA) list of top 150 structures in the United States. I booked online for a discount and they run specials during the summer for free admission for the kids. The Biltmore Estate is open rain or shine, today we got rain.

The Conservatory

The Biltmore Estate was built between 1889 and 1895 by George W. Vanderbilt II as an escape for his family; it is still owned and managed by the descendants of the George Vanderbilt family. It is the largest privately held home in the United States.

Vanderbilt commissioned New York architect Richard Morris Hunt to design a house in the Chateau style and it is a notable example of the Gilded Age. Richard Hunt founded the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and designed the facade and the Great Hall of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty and The Breaker's, the Vanderbilt summer home in Newport, Rhode Island.

The Biltmore Estate encompasses 8,000 acres and is bisected by the French Broad River.  The grounds were designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, who designed New York City's Central Park; Vanderbilt wanted the Biltmore Estate to be self-supporting so they had poultry, cattle and hog farms including a diary.

Olmsted instituted the first managed forest in the US at the Biltmore Estate. He designed the shrub garden, the Azalea garden, the Italian garden and the centerpiece--the Conservatory.  It houses an extensive collection of palms and tropicals.

The Rose Garden is a magical space with over 2,000 roses surrounding a double arch also covered in roses--it is a must for any rose lover. The Biltmore Estate is the host of the International Rose Trials, plus has an extensive collection of 19th century roses.  

The Carful of Kids.

As we tour the gardens, the rain will not stop. An umbrella and disposable rain ponchos will only do so much.

We head inside the Biltmore House but they do not allow indoor photography. The first floor is dedicated to entertaining and is quite grand and luxurious but not ostentatious.

The Biltmore House has a Billiard Room, Banquet Hall, Salon, Music Room, Tapestry Gallery, Library and Winter Garden. The Biltmore Library contains over 10,000 books, half of Vanderbilt's total collection--a testament to his love of reading. All the rooms feature artwork from Renoir and John Singer Sargent. Vanderbilt admired the work of his architects so much, he commissioned Sargent to paint them.  Hunt and Olmsted considered the Biltmore Estate one of their greatest projects.

The second floor of the Biltmore House is dedicated to the private bedrooms of the Vanderbilt's.  George Vanderbilt's bedroom is quite dramatic with gilded wall coverings with red bedding and upholstery.  Mrs. Vanderbilt's bedroom is opulent with gold and aubergine cut velvet and silk.

The third floor is dedicated to guest quarters and then the tour takes us down to the basement where the bowling alley and the indoor swimming pool are located. With a quick peek down the service corridor, the laundry rooms look especially daunting.  The final part of the tour is the Bachelor's Wing complete with a Smoking Room and Gun Room.

The Biltmore Estate has created the Antler Hill Village as another designation on the Estate. This is where you will find the Winery, Outdoor Adventure Center and the farm.

After exploring the Biltmore Estate all afternoon, we are starving. Dinner at The Moose Cafe is a must, they have the most amazing biscuits and apple butter and the servings are generous.

Up next--a day at the beach.

The Great Smoky Mountain Rail Road

The carful of kids woke up with trains on the mind this morning.  We put on our conductor's hats with the train patches from previous trips.  My hat is vintage because I got it when I was 12 and I have the most train patches.  I made reservations on the Great Smoky Mountain Rail Road for today before we left on our trip.  We like to take scenic rail road excursions on our road trips.  Remember when I was herding my carful of kids through the Art Institute of Chicago hoping one day they would at least have an appreciation for art.  Well when I was a kid, my brother was a train kid.  He loved his model trains.  Because of that my mom would take us on the Amtrak Sunset Limited from Houston to San Antonio to visit our grandparents.  I liked the train trips just not as much as my brother--he was obsessed.  But the more we rode the train to Grandma's house, the more I appreciated the train.  Now I have been on more trains worldwide than my brother.  I love the clickety-clack of the train.  The nostalgia of the whistle, the crisp screech as it cuts through the air like a call for adventure.   There is something romantic about the back and worth sway of train.  Some of my best nights sleep as an adult have been on a berth in a sleeper.  My favorite trains have to be stream trains.  Riding a steam train is akin to driving a vintage car, you are reliving a little piece of history.

Last spring, while my son reading to me, I thought I heard a steam whistle.  No that can not be.  I asked my son if he heard it.

"Yeah mom, I think it is a steamy,"  he said, just happy for the distraction from his homework.

"I think so too.  Get your shoes, let's go find that train."  I told the carful of kids as I grabbed my purse and my camera.  Off we went and headed for the train tracks not too far from my house.  Sure enough I found my train,  the Union Pacific's fully restored Engine 844.  We should have been doing our homework that day, but I think the carful of kids will remember the day Mom flew out of the house to chase a steam train longer.

Riding a train is a great activity for kids of all ages.  I had my middle son on a train when he was 4 months old.  It was a short trip, but two years later I had my then three and a half year old and two year old on the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad for a eight hour trip through the Southern Rocky Mountains.  It still has to be our favorite train ride to date, but I was prepared.  I had a backpack jammed with water, snacks,  jackets, extra diapers and lots of wipes.  So do not hesitate to take your family on a excursion train trip, it is worth the extra effort from Mom.

The carful of kids is taking the Tuckasegee River Excursion this time.  The Great Smoky Mountain Rail Road (GSMRR) offered a deal this summer.  For every adult ticket, you get a free children's ticket. Great deal, I found it under the daily deals section of their website.  It always pays to hunt around.   We have seats on the open air gondola car that is all fun and no luxury. They are converted flatbeds and baggage cars.  They have a solid railing and bench seats running down the length of the car.  They are a great value for families because people needing more comfort are inside a car with windows that close.  The GSMRR departs daily from Bryson City, North Carolina in route to Dillsboro, North Carolina some 16 miles away along the Tuckasegee River.  Our itinerary includes a lunch stop in Dillsboro before heading back.

The Amazing Model Train at GSMRR

We grab our tickets at will call.  We have a bonus feature on this scenic train trip, the GSMRR has a model train museum that is included in the train ticket price.  We have a few minutes before we board the train, so I herd the carful of kids to the museum.  But first, we have to make our mandatory bathroom break.  Sorry boys, no exceptions.

Is that the Lone Ranger?

Before long we hear the train blowing its horn.  I gather the carful of kids and climb abroad the train.  Before you can blink your eye, the train is pulling out of the station.   We are excited to find what lies around the next bend.  The carful of kids stand up at the railing, watching the scenery go by.  They wave at the people who stop what they are doing and to watch the train pass.  I guess they are also train people.  I heard a rumor that would be a visitor in the car today.   The staff on the train is great--the conductor answers every question that you can think of.  Low and behold the next thing I know I see the Lone Ranger working his way up the car.  And then off he chases the bad guy with his guns out.  I don't have to tell you that the boys love this.  My daughter, the tween is not as impressed.  We continue on our journey and criss-cross the Tuckasegee River towards Dillsboro.  Before you know it we are pulling into the station.

The rain has been threatening all day.  I forgot the umbrellas in the SUV because when we left the station the weather was sunny.  We have a layover  and decide to eat at Kostas Family Restaurant for lunch.  They combine Greek, Italian and American fare seamlessly.  I take a gamble and order the Chicken Gyros.  It is amazing and I love Greek food.  I used to live in the Greek neighborhood in NYC, so I have had some good Gyros.

While we are enjoying our lunch, the sky decides to fall and does not let up.  Our layover is almost over and the conductor said he will leave us behind if we are late.  The carful of kids have no other option than to run back to the train station.  We get there just in time and are soaked to the bone.  The good thing is the weather is nice and warm so it doesn't take us long before we dry out.

The ride back is just as fun.  The kids look forward to the tunnel.  We have an ongoing tradition of holding our breaths through the tunnel.  This is no exception.  With a long very dark tunnel behind us, we look at the river rafters making their way down the river.   In no time, our train pulls into the station.  Before we can get in the car, the kids have talked us into another walk around the model train museum.  That will to it for the carful of kids for the day, next stop Asheville, North Carolina.

Great Smoky Mountain National Park from the Cherokee Entrance

The carful of kids get their GSMNP Junior Ranger Badges

The carful of kids drove through the Great Smoky Mountain National Park from the Gatlinburg Entrance yesterday.  We will continue to explore GSMNP today, entering from the less-crowded Cherokee entrance.

Our first stop of the day is the Oconaluftee Visitors Center, where I find the Mountain Farm Museum that includes a chestnut tree log home, a large barn, apple house, spring house, a chicken coop and a blacksmith shop.

Mountain Rainstorm

The carful of kids run around while I read the self-guided tour guide to figure out what a spring house is. We learn it is a small building that was built on top of a spring that kept food from spoiling before refrigeration.

We walk from one building to the next imaging mountain life when I see the sky start to darken. "See that?"  I point to the sky and nudge Melissa.

Melissa has no data or cell service in the park so she has no idea what the weather is doing. BANG! The sky falls and we run for cover.  We spend the next 30 minutes on the porch of the apple house talking with a family from Pennsylvania.

The chicken before the boys start to chase it.

Just before we leave we see a chicken trying to catch a grasshopper.  The boys see the chicken and start to chase the chicken.  The chicken misses the grasshopper and the boys miss the chicken.

After a picnic lunch we join the Junior Ranger Bat Program--packed full of interesting facts that are gross enough for the kids to like. She dismisses all the folktales and ends the program discussing the White Nose Syndrome, the disease that has killed over 5 million bats in the Eastern United States.

After the required program and a bag of trash for each kid plus my middle son's broken down box he found in the parking lot; we are ready to get our Junior Ranger Badges.

Next, the carful of kids load up to see Clingman's Dome, the highest point in the GSMNP and the third highest point in the eastern United States but still half the size of most mountains in the Rocky Mountain Chain. We park, ready to hike the half-mile to the observation tower until we look at the looming dark grey skies; can't risk a lighting strike.

We drive back through Newfound Gap area where we cross the Appalachian Trail--the 2200 mile trail that extends from Georgia to Maine. My son decides he has to walk it, I can pick him up in Maine next summer.

As we drive back to Maggie Valley, North Carolina, I tell the carful of kids that Great Smoky Mountain National Park was chartered in 1934 and it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  GSMNP is the most visited park in the United States and encompasses over 500,000 acres, making it the largest protected area in the eastern United States.

As if on cue, an Indigo Bunting darts across the road and before I can pull over to find it I notice the carful of kids are asleep.

Up Next--Asheville, North Carolina and The Biltmore Estate.