As the world's oldest and largest indoor flower show, the Philadelphia Flower Show has been delighting visitors from all over the globe since 1829. Smartly running during the bleakest time of the year, the show attracts a staggering 260,000 attendees each year with promises of vivid color, of spring-like fragrance
Last night, I fell in love with the small town of Clifton, Virginia. Perhaps it was the lack of stoplights or the epic sunset after an otherwise rainy day. Or maybe it was the Amtrak zipping across Main Street or the ease in which I was able to buy cupcakes from one
Road trips, blog milestones and an Emmy nomination made 2014 a VERY good year. Here are my favorite places I discovered along the way.
Walking into Asheville's Omni Grove Park Inn for the first time, I immediately felt right at home. The gigantic stone fireplaces, the Great Hall's huge and open space, the attentive concierges and the air of history all were so comfortingly familiar... reminding me of the old National Park lodges from out west that I love. My
It's been just two days since our epic Memorial Day road trip down to Asheville, North Carolina. I had the highest hopes for this city, and I'm so pleased to say that Asheville exceeded my highest expectations. We packed a lot in during the 4-day getaway, and I wanted to share some of my
OVERVIEW: The Restaurant at Patowmack Farm is both a revered establishment for DC foodies, as well as a bit of a hidden gem. This restaurant frequently makes appearances on regional “best of” lists, yet many have never heard of it. It features a creative, regionally-focused tasting menu that changes weekly. Only
Trip Overview: To say that a weekend in Hershey is a sweet escape is quite the understatement. There's literally chocolate everywhere. The streetlights are topped with jumbo Hershey's kisses, the coffee's roasted with cocoa beans, the people are all as nice as can be and -- heck -- in certain places even the air
My springtime love affair with the cherry blossoms in DC hits a new high after an early weekday morning visit to the Tidal Basin.
Another year has come and gone, which means it’s time to reflect on some of my favorite travels from the past 365 days! 2013 marked an important shift here at Packed Suitcase. While I had started #TravelLocal adventuring in October 2012, this year I focused on it nearly exclusively. I’m determined
As we drove the Blue Ridge Parkway deeper and deeper into the heart of south-western Virginia, we passed regional landmarks like Round Meadow Creek and the Mayberry Trading Post before turning onto Squirrel Spur Road, which snaked through the mountains on a scenic and serpentine path. Then, a sign: It's a blink-or-you'll-miss-it
It's September. The leaves aren't turning-- yet-- but the yellow busses filled with chattering school children are just the first indication that summer is coming to an end. After trips to far-away places like Toronto, Ottawa and Alaska, and local travels to the Shenandoah Valley, Hot Springs, Hampton, Solomons Island, Dewey
I've done some crazy things over the course of my life. I've jumped out of a tiny pink plane at 15,000 feet in New Zealand. I've climbed to the top of Mayan pyramids and (inadvertently) swam with a shark. But, sometimes life is all about knowing your limits... and recently, my
