Adventures and Posts

In June of 2025, we traveled to Frederick, a town rich with Civil War history and timeless charm. During our visit, we learned about the story of Barbara Fritchie, a local legend whose name is forever tied to one of Frederick’s most famous historic homes. Her story immediately caught our attention, blending patriotism, folklore, and the lingering echoes of the past that always seem to draw us in.

In June of 2025, we once again found ourselves drawn back to Spotsylvania Confederate Cemetery in Fredericksburg, Virginia. This quiet and often overlooked burial ground had left a lasting impression on us during our first visit in 2006, and nearly two decades later, we felt compelled to return. The goal was simple but personal—to see if the uneasy, chilling atmosphere we remembered so clearly would still be there. Our original visit in 2006 took place early in the morning, j

In June of 2025, we traveled to Richmond, Virginia, and one of the most anticipated stops on our itinerary was Hollywood Cemetery. Nestled along the James River, this historic cemetery immediately impressed us with its sheer size, rolling hills, and quiet, reflective atmosphere. From the moment we entered, it was clear that this was not a location you could fully appreciate in a quick visit—it demanded time, patience, and curiosity. Hollywood Cemetery is vast, and we quickly

In July of 2017, we took a trip down through Virginia, making several meaningful stops along the way, and one of the most important was our visit to Appomattox Court House. This small village holds an outsized place in American history as the location where the American Civil War effectively reached an end. Entering the grounds was akin to entering a timeless moment, imbued with the profound presence of history.

In July of 2019, we traveled to Parkersburg, West Virginia, and made a point to stop at Quincy Hill Park, a location that had been on our list for some time. Before the trip, we had read about the park’s layered history and the many stories tied to the hilltop, including its role during the Civil War and the tragedies said to have taken place there. With so much history concentrated in one area, we knew this was a place we wanted to experience firsthand.

In November of 2025, we traveled to Warren, Ohio, and once again made our way to the Pioneer Cemetery, a place we have come to know well over the years. Each visit feels somewhat different depending on the season, the weather, and the mood of the grounds, but this stop was special for one key reason. For the first time, we had access to a published brochure designed specifically for a self-guided tour of the cemetery. That simple addition entirely changed how we experienced t

While exploring Richmond in the summer of 2025, Marianne picked up a local tourist magazine from the lobby of our hotel and noticed that Old St. John’s Church was just a short distance away. Given its close proximity—and its deep roots in American history—we quickly added the church to our list of must-see stops before leaving the city, not realizing just how memorable the visit would become.

The first time we stood beneath the towering light at Fairport Harbor Lighthouse was in 2004; it felt like nothing more than a quiet stop along Lake Erie’s shoreline—a historic beacon watching patiently over the water. Years later, in 2015, we returned with a very different purpose.