Travel & Vacation
Travel & Vacation: Charleston History & Sites to See
Karlie and Brina standing at the pier with Patriots Point and USS Yorktown in the background.
Brina and Karlie love going to Charleston with us. One of their favorite things to do in Charleston is to explore and learn tidbits of history. Charleston has a lot of history so it has provided many opportunities for us to learn and appreciate our country’s history. We always visit Waterfront Park in Mount Pleasant whenever we go to Charleston. Near the pier is an area with a fountain, monuments, and plaques honoring our military. You can also see the USS Yorktown from that area too (see picture above). There are other areas in Mount Pleasant, Daniel’s Island and Charleston with a lot of history as well. Here is a few we enjoy visiting when we are in the area.
A sign near the monument
Monument….”on behalf of a grateful nation”
Department of Army (1775) monument
Throwing their coins into the fountain.
United States Coast Guard (1790)
South Carolina state flag flying in the wind next to the monuments
United States Air Force
Fountain near waterfront park
Department of the Navy – United State of America
This one is on Daniel’s Island and says “By 1680, Charleston had moved to its present location and was growing rapidly. It attracted French Huguenots and others drawn by the promise of religious tolerance and available land.”
Department of Navy – United States Marine Corps
In Peace and War – United States Merchant Marine (1775)
The neat part about reading these monuments with the girls is that it gives us an opportunity to discuss our country, its history, and show appreciation for the men and women who have served and those who are currently serving. We have many amazing blessings living in the United States. No country is perfect, but we have a lot of great things to celebrate in our history.
The “Travel and Vacation” series is an insight into our trips together as a family and ways we relax. Life is short and we were thrilled to have the opportunity to build memories with family and explore of of the most amazing places during our time away. Explore with a good attitude, look for fun, and it will be an awesome trip jammed packed with positive memories. It is refreshing having some time away from the regular routine. Make it a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet new people and learn. You just might see or try something new that takes your breath away!
Travel & Vacation: Jeep Safari – Orange County Kabini, India
Wild boar by the Kabini River as we watch the sunrise
We got up before dawn the second day at Kabini to go on a Jeep Safari. Everyone was excited but moving a little slower. We took a boat over to an island on the other side of the Kabini River. On the other side we got our jeep and set out on our adventure. It was a lot of fun exploring the jungle and seeing the wildlife with Matt, Jen, and the kids.
Our tour guide standing up and alert as he looks for some animals. He was great about spotting animals, stopping so we could take pictures, and giving us descriptions on the animals, plants, trees, and other facts about the area. He went to Kabini as a kid on a family trip. In school he studied to be a software developer but after a few years he decided to come back to Kabini and work outside giving tours. He led both our boat and jeep safaris.
Oh look….a monkey in the tree right beside the jeep! He was just casually looking at us.
Elephant walking casually through the jungle next to our jeep. It was neat watching him walk, stop for a few seconds munch on a stalk or grass then continue on his merry way. This guy must have gotten into a fight at some point because his one tusk has been broken off. He turned to face us but continued eating his breakfast while watching us in the jeep.
Momma and her baby were grazing on grass before we drove up. As soon as they saw us they were alert and it wasn’t long before they went deeper into the tall grass away from us. I think Momma didn’t want us getting too close to her baby.
Monkey see….monkey do….. A group of monkeys hanging out together. It looked like they were digging for grubs or some type of bug.
Beautiful peacock strutting his stuff right next to the jeep
Two male peacocks were down in a ditch fighting with their tails fluffed up and in the air. We could hear them but this is the only picture we could get of the tails because the ditch was so deep. Their feathers look pretty amazing when they are all spread out.
Guess if an elephant is crossing it wouldn’t be a good idea to run into it….at least not for your vehicle anyway!
Matt in the back seat protecting the kids from the tigers and leopards. Rachel was a little concerned!
Beautiful tree, you see many of these yellow flowers hanging from vehicles everywhere. I cannot remember the name of the flower but I believe it is a symbol of good luck. Our driver stopped to hang one up in our jeep.
Leopard paw print, we were literally following the leopard through the jungle…..soooo neat! 🙂
I didn’t realize this before, but do you know why tigers and leopards will often be seen walking on the roads instead of in the woods? The pads on their paws are tender and they like to walk on the softer dirt road (it’s more comfortable for them).
Monkey hanging out in the tree next to us.
Fresh TIGER tracks on the road right next to our jeep!!! These are a little harder to see with this camera angle, but now we know one is in the area. We never did catch up with the tiger but it was pretty cool to be driving down the same path only moments behind one.
Red squirrel flying from tree limb to tree limb. They are fast and pretty!
Bison leaving after getting a drink from the small pond.
Deer eating peacefully.
Did you know that deer make a distinct noise when they sense danger (like a tiger or leopard)? It was really interesting hearing their danger call and watch them bolt as we sat there in the jeep looking around to see if we could spot a tiger or leopard near us. Not sure who was smarter in that decision, ha!
Large nets hanging from the trees for the kids (and our guide) to climb and play on.
The boats that took us on the boat safari and across the river for the jeep safari
Going on the jeep safari was truly awesome. We got to see so many animals in the jungle as we were driving through. The guide was really good about stopping to let people take pictures and point out different plants, trees, animals along with tidbits of information. I loved seeing the animals up close…..just wish we could have seen the leopard or tiger that we were following as well. Although I am not sure what we would do if we caught up with an hungry and aggressive tiger or leopard since we were in an open jeep.
Thankfully the animals seemed to be pretty well fed and use to traffic. It was a blast going on the jeep Safari. I am grateful for the time with spent with Jake’s cousin Matt, Jen and their family. It was really neat hearing the kids dialogue as we would spot different animals. If you are ever in Orange County Kabini, India I highly recommend this going on this adventure!
The “Travel and Vacation” series is an insight into our trips together as a family and ways we relax. Life is short and we were thrilled to have the opportunity to build memories with family and explore of of the most amazing places during our time away. Explore with a good attitude, look for fun, and it will be an awesome trip jammed packed with positive memories. It is refreshing having some time away from the regular routine. Make it a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet new people and learn. You just might see or try something new that takes your breath away!
Travel & Vacation: Charleston Food, Lodging, & Fun (Part 2)
Jake, Karlie, and Brina shivering in front of the pineapple fountain downtown Charleston.
The girls REALLY wanted to see the fountain that we had been reading about in our book Very Charleston, however, the day we choose to check it out it was freezing. This was by far our coldest day in Charleston, earlier in the week it was in the 90’s and now it is 40 degrees outside. The kids were freezing because I didn’t bring jackets but thankfully it was our last day in town.
Brina snacking on Green Apple Rock Candy as we head to our next stop
Karlie munching on her Root Beer Rock candy
Next to the Chic-Fil-A in Mt Pleasant is a little pond with a fountain and……..
TURTLES!!!! The girls love watching turtles!
The girls were so excited when we parked next to the Charleston Creamery “Herby” that they insisted I take a picture! Oh how they love their ice cream and this store!
Charleston Creamery – a place the girls always request to visit when we are in the area!
Ice cream made by a robot is always more fun to eat!
Are you getting full yet Brina?!
The girls had their own bedroom and TV. It was pouring outside so we gave the kids a bath and let them watch TV for 30 minutes before going to bed.
Another great trip to Charleston with the family! The girls had a blast. It was very warm the first half of the week but by the time we left it was in the 40s. Thankfully we did a bunch of our outdoor activities and swimming the first part of the week so when it got cold we found other things to occupy our time. Jake got a lot of work done while we were in Charleston as well as created more great memories with the family.
The “Travel and Vacation” series is an insight into our trips together as a family and ways we relax. Life is short and we were thrilled to have the opportunity to build memories with family and explore of of the most amazing places during our time away. Explore with a good attitude, look for fun, and it will be an awesome trip jammed packed with positive memories. It is refreshing having some time away from the regular routine. Make it a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet new people and learn. You just might see or try something new that takes your breath away!
Travel & Vacation: Charleston Food, Lodging, & Fun
Spending some time in the hotel room. Karlie is lounging as she listens to me read.
The girls are always excited when we go to Charleston! They have a blast spending time relaxing and exploring. We typically go to many of the same places but always try to squeeze in a few new adventures as well. The kids make the trips more fun. These pictures are from a trip earlier this year. We stayed at the Marriott Hotel in Mount Pleasant. It was a little further from Jake’s work so we had to drop him off in the mornings but it was located near a lot of fun activities. We tried out some new restaurants this time too.
Brina’s turn to read a book to us
We ate downtown Charleston so we would have plenty of time to walk through the market and go to Battery Park. Brina and Karlie enjoying their BBQ wings
Messy….messy…..messy….BB (I think she’ll need a bath tonight)
Karlie licking her lips after finishing my homemade & delicious she crap soup
Karlie and Brina sitting next to the moon in the “Moon Pie” store in downtown Charleston.
Jake & I had our own bedroom in the hotel room. It was the last available room in the hotel and it was a huge 2 bedroom suite (with a doorbell). This was our first time staying at the Marriott in Mount Pleasant and it was awesome!
Our kitchen in the hotel room, loved having all the counter top space.
Goofy Karlie…..she must be the “cream” in the chair!
Wonder where Brina could be? Oh yes, in between the cushions!
Dress Code sign outside a store in downtown Charleston. Made me laugh! 🙂 Some are listed twice. My three favorite ones are:
“Bottom of Shirt Can’t Be Past Wrist”
“No Gold Teeth”
“Doorman has final say”
Jake picked up ice cream sandwiches for the girls. We had a fridge but no freezer so they were a little softer than normal. Karlie eating the one of the last melting ice cream sandwiches
Brina getting the last little bit from her wrapper
I am thankful for the many opportunities to create special memories with my family. The girls are wonderful travelers and love to explore new areas so it is always fun having a few days to relax and check out an area. When we go to Charleston we typically stay either on Daniel’s Island or in Mount Pleasant so we have found a few fun things to do.
The “Travel and Vacation” series is an insight into our trips together as a family and ways we relax. Life is short and we were thrilled to have the opportunity to build memories with family and explore of of the most amazing places during our time away. Explore with a good attitude, look for fun, and it will be an awesome trip jammed packed with positive memories. It is refreshing having some time away from the regular routine. Make it a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet new people and learn. You just might see or try something new that takes your breath away!
Travel & Vacation: Orange County Kabini, India
We made it to Orange County Kabini, India!
While we were in India we had the opportunity to spend some time with Jake’s cousin and his family who are currently living in Bangalore, India. The week we came to visit them was during an Indian Holiday so Matt had a few days off work and the kids didn’t have to go to school the last half of the week so we decided to make a last minute “road trip”. One of our FAVORITE adventures while in India was when we went to Orange County Kabini. Thanks Matt & Jen for showing us around India!
We took a road trip through the countryside of India you can see pictures of that adventure in my posts Traveling through MySore, India (and a Couple Small Villages) and Traveling to Orange County Kabini, India. It was an awesome place to visit, such great memories. I can see why Trip Advisor has Orange County Kabini listed as Travelers’ Choice® 2012 Winner with a 5 star rating.
As we tumbled out of our Scooby Doo van and went to check into the resort we were serenaded with music. These two musicians were at the front door playing music we each received our bindi blessing. The bindi blessing consisted of a dot placed on our foreheads made out of a red paste (wikipedia definition). What a great welcome for visitors!
Fresh flower design on the floor in the entry way. Every day they had a different floral design. It was always bright, colorful and beautiful.
Michael checking out the map of resort…….what should we do first Mikey?!
The plaque hanging next to the check-in desk. “WE WANT TO GIVE YOU AN EXPERIENCE WHICH MONEY CANNOT BUY” It was an amazing experience. If you are ever in India and have a chance to visit this place it is beautiful, the staff is awesome, the “huts” are wonderful and the food is delicious. It is a great place to relax or go on various adventures (stay tuned for a glimpse at some of the adventures in upcoming posts).
The fun crew we went to Orange County Kabini with Jen, Matt, Rachel, Michael, David, and Erica! This is right after we had our refreshing sugar cane drink brought to us by the staff. Now its time to plan our activities while at the resort.
Jake & I at Kabini!
Our hut for the next few days, it was AMAZING!
The kitchen & eating area in our hut. The ceiling was handmade out of a neat weave material.
A cute porch complete with cushy chairs to relax in after a busy day of sightseeing!
Very comfy bed…..we slept so well at Kabini!
Even our own private jacuzzi for our hut! This view is from our bedroom. The kids loved the private “pool” and were able to squeeze in a few more minutes of swim time each day! Rachel and Erica stayed in our cabin, it was fun spending some extra time hanging out with girls swapping stories and giggles.
Fresh tray of fruit on the table everyday. They also restocked our cookie bowl, drinks, chocolates and other snacks every day!
Aw……what a life it was for those days. We had a blast staying at the Orange County Kabini resort! THANKS Matt & Jen for showing us another awesome part of India. We were super excited to spend the extra time with family and create a lot of great memories along the way. Next time maybe I will remember my passport before making a 7 hour road trip! If you want to check out some more amazing adventures and get a glimpse into the culture in India check out Jen’s blog at Jenny from the Bangalore Block.
The “Travel and Vacation” series is an insight into our trips together as a family and ways we relax. Life is short and we were thrilled to have the opportunity to build memories with family and explore of of the most amazing places during our time away. Explore with a good attitude, look for fun, and it will be an awesome trip jammed packed with positive memories. It is refreshing having some time away from the regular routine. Make it a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet new people and learn. You just might see or try something new that takes your breath away!
Travel & Vacation: Traveling through MySore, India (and a Couple Small Villages)
Sometimes the only home and shelter people had was under a tarp with several other family members.
Earlier this year Jake was in India working for a few weeks and I had the opportunity of traveling over there to meet him. After his final week of work we went to spend some time with his cousin and took a road trip with them. Over the next few weeks I will sharing more snapshots of our time in India. India left a special mark on my heart. It was an amazing experience!
Sign in MySore, India showing the way to the local places – MySore Palace, Zoo, Chamundi Hills, Airport, and MySore City Corporation
Houses in a small village that we passed through, even those these are a step up from a tent shelter it still breaks my heart seeing these homes. Our driver stopped briefly to ask for directions. It was during this brief stop I realized that India has many different dialects even from town to town and even though we were only a short distance from where we were going it took awhile to find someone who knew which direction to point us.
I was really surprised at the amount of trash that littered the sides of the roads in India. Some times you would see piles of trash that with people and animals digging through it to find food, supplies, or items they could use or sell.
Fresh Pineapple anyone….only 5 rupees (approximately 9 cents in US currency). Some of the pineapples I saw were a little smaller then the ones we see in our grocery store but for 9 cents you could get quite a few for the price of one pineapple in the United States.
Can you see the bicycle underneath all the fresh coconuts?! Pretty sure he is going to push that bike because it would be impossible to ride with all the coconuts. Behind the bike you can see coconuts that he has cracked open and the shells laying on the ground. It is very fascinating to watch them break open a coconut, they basically take a huge mashedy knife and chop open the coconut. It’s hard to see with the window glare but the ground all around that area is covered with dry coconut pieces…wonder how expensive it would be to buy “coconut mulch” in the United States?
Guy carrying a mattress on his head. It amazes me the amount of stuff they carry on their heads. You would think their necks would be so stiff.
Cows walking along the side of the road. These are not your typical Kansas grass and corn fed beef cattle. In India there are not always large grassy areas for the cows to graze so it is common to see their ribs. You will often find cattle looking for small patches of grass and occasionally you will see them rummaging through the trash on the side of the road looking for food.
Families from the local village washing their laundry in the river.
After washing all the clothes in the river they lay them out to dry on the rocks.
It was fascinating to see a lot of the countryside of India. We passed through towns and small villages. There was always something interesting to see as we drove through the area. Their fresh fruit looked delicious but I am not sure how much I would like washing my clothes in the river and drying them on the rocks, the wash machine is more efficient. These pictures bring back a lot of memories. I am thankful for the opportunity to see India and already looking forward to the next visit.
The “Travel and Vacation” series is an insight into our trips together as a family and ways we relax. Life is short and we were thrilled to have the opportunity to build memories with family and explore of of the most amazing places during our time away. Explore with a good attitude, look for fun, and it will be an awesome trip jammed packed with positive memories. It is refreshing having some time away from the regular routine. Make it a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet new people and learn. You just might see or try something new that takes your breath away!
Travel & Vacation: Notes on Display
Brina and Karlie hung all their notes from me on the wall outside their door.
Earlier this year I went on a trip and left the girls several notes to read while I was away. They had a note for about every other day that I was away from home. When I came back from my trip they had all their notes hanging next to their bedroom door so they could see and read them often. Writing the little notes to the girls has been a huge help as everyone transitions during our few days apart.
Brina line of notes
Karlie’s notes hanging up on the wall
One of Karlie’s sticky notes on the wall
Brina had a line of sticky notes that I had given her up on the wall too.
It was so cute to see that they treasured all the notes that I had written to them. The wall by their door was covered in cards and sticky notes. I was actually surprised at how many there were. Thankful for the sweet girls that I have been given and I pray that they know how much they mean to me.
Travel & Vacation: Traveling to Orange County Kabini, India
Our fancy ride in the “Scooby Doo Mobile” arrived early to pick us up. It only took us a few minutes to load up our bags before blasting off to Kabini! We made a 7 hour trip from Bangalore to Orange County Kabini with Jake’s cousin Matt and his family. It was a fun adventure traveling together. We were able to see a lot of the countryside of India which both shocked and amazed me. Makes me appreciate the many blessings in my life.
Rachel all ready for the road trip, wearing her panda bear just in case she decides to sleep.
Sweet Erica!
The reason why we couldn’t watch a DVD was because it was the WRONG REGION! The funny thing is we had a DVD from India and it still wouldn’t play, but the driver’s pirated version played fine.
There’s even a McDonalds on the way to Orange County
A lot of trucks full sand
We listened to the drivers music on the way to Orange County
Rickshaw full of people and a donkey pulling a cart…..always something interesting on the streets of India.
Traveling on the roads with the livestock.
Homes in India
Not only are there people hanging off the bus it might be a little off balance!
Beautiful church
Wagon full goods going down the street
Laundry hanging out to dry. You see a lot of colorful laundry drying on lines as you go through small villages.
Leading his cattle down the road
Small village, notice the tent homes in the front. You see these often along the sides of the roads in India.
A home made out of tarp and various items on the side of the road. Sad to think that this is the only home people may have.
Traveling through the countryside of India. Love the thatch roofs.
I saw a lot of really amazing sights while trying through India, however, I also saw things that brought tears to my eyes. So many people…some who are living in small tents with dirt floors. It makes me realize how blessed I really am. I have so much to be thankful for in my life yet often I find myself being selfish and ungrateful. Most of the people we met along the were extremely kind, generous, and hospitable. I don’t know if I will ever be the same after traveling through the country of India. Most of these pictures were taken through the van window so I apologize for some of the glares. I hope that some day I will get another opportunity to visit India, it was an experience that I will never forget.
The “Travel and Vacation” series is an insight into our trips together as a family and ways we relax. Life is short and we were thrilled to have the opportunity to build memories with family and explore of of the most amazing places during our time away. Explore with a good attitude, look for fun, and it will be an awesome trip jammed packed with positive memories. It is refreshing having some time away from the regular routine. Make it a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet new people and learn. You just might see or try something new that takes your breath away!
Travel & Vacation: Little Notes of Love
Hidden I love you notes on the DVD shelf
I love my girls to pieces…..and then a little more. It is important to me that they know how much they are loved and treasured. One of the ways I spread the love is by writing surprise notes for them. When I go on a trip or at random times throughout the week I put a note someplace that they will be sure to see. It is worth investing a little extra time each week to show my family that I am thinking about them. Several of these notes were from a trip I took earlier this year. Here are a few other little notes of love I have shared with my kids. Although most of the notes are simple they have a huge positive ripple effect on my kids making it worth every second I spend doing it.
Love note to my girls.
This particular note is posted on the hallway wall outside their bedroom door.
Little Love Note to Karlie on the inside of her new notebook
Brina’s Little Love Note on her new notebook
Just in case she forgot this was on the wall next to her bed!
Note to Brina posted right next to her bed!
Little Love Note written on the inside of a white box and sat on the ping pong table (with a little treat for each kid.)
There are those days when we all could use a bear hug! When “Mom’s” not there to give a hug a sister is a great substitute! This sign was posted on their bedroom door.
FREE Hot or Cold Beverage at Pilot & Flying J Travel Centers
Pilot Travel Centers has a coupon you can print on their Facebook Page for a Free 16 oz Hot Beverage or Free 32 oz Cold Beverage at Pilot and Flying J Centers .
- Go to Pilot Travel Centers Facebook Page
- Like their Facebook Page
- Click on the Coupon Section
- Print the Free Hot or Cold Beverage Coupon (the coupon is below the $1.00 off any large combo coupon and the “print” button is a link directly beneath the coupon)
- The coupon is good through October 31, 2012 .
If you are traveling soon or have a Pilot or Flying J Travel Center nearby this is a great deal. We used a couple of their coupons last month when we were traveling and plan to use some in on our upcoming trips this summer!
