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
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
“While you weren’t looking, Richmond got cool.” This statement from Frommers as it named Richmond one of its top places to visit to 2014 has recently kicked off a flurry of national recognition for Virginia’s capitol city that to many is long overdue. Indeed, Richmond offers visitors much more than just
There’s nothing like springtime in our nation’s capital. Once the ground thaws and the trees finally start to blossom, Washington D.C. becomes abuzz with cheery positivity... just about everyone seems to have an extra spring in their step. But, the secret's out and people come from all over the nation to
The town of Floyd is a quick detour off of the Blue Ridge Parkway in Southwest Virginia. Part of the famed Crooked Road musical heritage trail, Floyd is a renowned stop for music-lovers seeking their salvation in the twang-y notes of traditional Americana bluegrass. This November, I spent less than 12
This past November, I hit the road for an Old School Virginia Road Trip. My first stop was Roanoke, a city about 3 1/2 hours away from D.C. that I had heard about, but never visited before. With my limited knowledge, Roanoke was faceless with ambiguous features. But after my day
The whole object of travel is not to set foot on foreign land; it is at last to set foot on one’s own country as a foreign land.” – G. K. Chesterton Are you thinking ahead towards next year's travels and looking for some inspiration a little closer to home? I've compiled
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
The first weekend of November, I packed up my car and headed out to discover the "Old School" side of Virginia. Found all over the state -- from the largest city to the smallest town-- Old School Virginia shares glimpses of a simpler time. A nostalgic blast from the past where
World class spas. High thread-count sheets. Epic views. 5 star restaurants. Prime locations. Top-notch service. Luxurious spas and activities and amenities galore... Yes, I'll admit it. I'm a sucker for a nice hotel. Here is my list of some of the dreamiest hotels in the mid-Atlantic, in no particular order. Some of these I've already
When attempting to fly fish, stealth is key. Every decision -- from the fly you use, to where you stand, to the subtle way you flick your wrist -- either helps you blend into the natural environment... or announces your presence to the underwater world below. Being stealthy when fly fishing isn't
All throughout the mid-Atlantic, a change is taking place. Yes, friends, it’s time to say goodbye to summer and celebrate fall once again! Fall is arguably my favorite time to plan a weekend trip in this part of the U.S. The weather’s consistently temperate and mild, the natural scenery is at
