Hershey Park 2014

 

We made our first trip to Hershey Park this fall.  We happened to visit on Milton Hershey's birthday (Sept. 13), and they were giving out free chocolate all day in the park. In fact, from our arrival at the Hershey Lodge on Friday night until our departing stop at Chocolate World on Sunday, the kids pretty much ate chocolate all weekend.  Even the air outside smelled like chocolate.  Elise didn't get to try the chocolate spa treatment at the hotel, but she did design her own chocolate bar (in purple, of course). A great family get away—we all want to go back soon!

 

 

  

 

  

  

 

 

Montreal and Quebec City



Some highlights from our summer vacation to Montreal and Quebec City.  We spent four days in Montreal in an 18th-century townhome--La Maison Dumas--near the Old Port.  While in Montreal, we went to Mass (en francais) at the Cathedral of Notre Dame, explored the Biodome and Science Center, and amused ourselves at La Ronde theme park.  Next, we drove along the St. Lawrence River to Quebec City and stayed at the Hotel Frontenac overlooking the historic Lower Town.  We loved the Old World, European feel of Quebec: the cobblestone squares, the street performers and the funicular to our hotel.  Vivian was convinced she was staying in a castle.  We concluded our visit with a stop at Montmorency Falls outside of Quebec City.  After a week in French-Canada, we were a little sad to return to our very American Holiday Inn in Burlington, Vermont.  Nous avons eu de bonnes vacances!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

Virginia Beach

We made our first family trip to Virginia Beach in July.  After enduring some of the worst I-95 traffic we've ever encountered (it took us six hours to drive to the hotel), it was nice to relax for a few days by the beach.  We had mixed feelings about Virginia Beach itself: the boardwalk and pier were nice, but the Atlantic Coast just isn't the same as Gulf Shores.  Still, the kids had a great time playing in the sand and splashing in the (chilly) ocean water.  Below are some photos from our weekend.

 

 

 

 

 

Dutch Wonderland

We celebrated the end of school (and the start of summer) with a day trip to Dutch Wonderland in Lancaster, PA.  We wondered if the kids might have outgrown the park, but as you can see below, they had a ball.  The new dinosaur exhibit was a nice addition to the park.  Henry's favorite ride was still the roller coaster (we rode three times), and the highlight for Vivian, curiously enough, was the diving show.  It ain't Disney World, but this little theme park still delivers a ton of fun.