DROG – Our Driving Blog | Things we find and do along I-95

FL: Step Back in Time and Experience the Renaissance

Posted on February 17, 2016 by sandra

Deerfield Beach FL Exit 42: Journey back to the 16th century as you step through castle gates and into the days of yore at the Florida Renaissance Festival.

Explore the artisans’ village where over one hundred merchants and artisans demonstrate and sell their wares. View live demonstrations of glassblowing, steel-fighting, jewelry making, coin minting, and archery. Hundreds of Performers on 12 stages to entertain: sword fighters, minstrels, magicians, wenches and jousting events with battling knights. Feast on hearty food fit for a king.

See real life re-enactments of life in the 16th century with the, Anger of the Mistress trebuchet launching, pirates encampment, rapier demonstrations and Medieval games.

For the little ones there’s Kid’s Kingdom: an enchanted playground filled with bounce houses, craft activities, and an interactive Renaissance-themed castle playground for children of all ages.

Location: Florida Renaissance Festival, Quiet Waters Park –
401 S. Powerline Rd., Deerfield Beach, FL 33442
Date: February 13, 2016 to March 20, 201 – weekends only (Sat/Sun)
Hours: 10am- sunset
Tel: 954-776-1642
www.ren-fest.com
For Regional Accommodations, Restaurants & Attractions: deerfield-beach.com
broward.org
sunny.org

Posted in Arts and Crafts, Drink, Entertainment, Festival, Florida, Food, Fun, History, Kids, Nature | Tagged 16th century, activity, age, archery, artisan, battle, beach, bounce, castle, century, children, coin, coin-mint, craft, Deerfield, demonstration, encampment, enchanted, entertain, event, feast, festival, fight, fighters, Florida, Food, game, gate, glassblowing, house, interactive, jewelery, jewelry making, journey, jousting, kid, King, kingdom, knight, launching, life, magicians, medieval, merchant, minstrels, minting, performer, pirates, playground, rapier, reenactment, Renaissance, stage, steel, steel-fighting, sword, theme, Trebuchet, village, ware, wenches | Leave a comment

Invented in Connecticut – Fun Facts

Posted on February 15, 2016 by sandra

Fun Facts: Connecticut is commonly referred to as the “Constitution State”. The official flower is the “Mountain Laurel” and the official tree is the “White Oak”. The capital of this state is Hartford. The name of this state derives from the Native American word Quinnehtukqut. This word is translated as “beside the long tidal river” referring to the Connecticut River. Connecticut is the first state to issue license plates for vehicles. This began in 1937. George W. Bush, born in New Haven on July 6, 1946, is the only US President born in Connecticut.

Invented in Connecticut:

Colt revolver: 1836
Portable typewriter: 1843
Sewing machine: 1846
Ice-making machine: 1853
Can opener: 1858
Tape measure: 1868
Pay phone: 1877
Collapsible toothpaste tube: 1892
Electric light socket with pull chain: 1896
Hamburger Sandwich: 1900
Lollipop: 1908
Erector set: 1911
Frisbee: 1920
Vacuum cleaner: 1933
Polaroid camera: 1934
Helicopter: 1939
Color television: 1948
Wiffle ball: 1956

For Regional Accommodations, Restaurants & Attractions: www.ctvisit.com

Posted in Connecticut, Trivia | Tagged American, ball, camera, can, capitol, chain, cleaner, collapsible, color, colt, common, Connecticut, constitution, electric, erector, fact, flowe, frisbee, fun, George W. Bush, hamburger, Hartford, helicopter, ice, invent, laurel, license, light, lollipop, machine, making, measure, mountain, native, New Haven, oak, official, opener, pay, phone, plate, polaroid, portable, President, pull, revolver, river, set, sewing, socket, State, tape, television, toothpaste, translate, tree, tube, typewriter, vacuum, vehicle, wiffle | Leave a comment

VA: Celebrate George Washington’s Birthday in his Hometown Alexandria

Posted on February 11, 2016 by sandra

Alexandria, VA Exit 177: On February 15, 2016, thousands of people (plus some dogs and horses) will march along the historic streets of Old Town Alexandria to honor the 284th anniversary of George Washington’s birth.

The city celebrates the General’s birthday throughout the month of February with a dozen festivities, including the George Washington Birthday Parade, free admission to historic sites, popular walking tours, 18th-century dance classes, chocolate and Madeira wine tastings and even the foodie-favorite “Cherry Challenge,” a cherry-themed competition among local restaurants.

With over 140 sites associated with the first president, why not embark on the self-guided walking tour “Washington’s Footsteps,” and traverse down centuries-old paths tread by some of the most prolific characters in American history.

Historic Alexandria Open House- Admission is free to these sites on Parade Day:

George Washington’s Mount Vernon, 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Hwy, Mount Vernon, VA 22121, 8 – 4pm, 703- 780-2000
Gadsby’s Tavern Museum, 134 North Royal St., 11 – 4 pm, 703-746-4242
Stabler Leadbeater Apothecary Museum,105 S. Fairfax St., 11 – 4pm, 703- 746-3852
Friendship Firehouse Museum, 107 S. Alfred St., 10 – 4pm, 703-746-3891
Lyceum–Alexandria’s History Museum, 201 S. Washington St., 10- 4pm, (703) 746-4994

Location: Old Town Alexandria
Date: February 15th Parade and Open Houses – refer to website for other events dates and times
Hours: Parade starts at 1 pm
Tel: 800-388-9119
visitalexandriava.com/things-to-do/events/george-washington-birthday
For Regional Accommodations, Restaurants & Attractions: VisitAlexandriaVA.com

Posted in Entertainment, Fun, History, Kids, Museum, Nature, Pets, Special Event, Virginia | Tagged 18th-century, Alexandria, American, anniversary, apothecary, birth, birthday, century, challenge, character, chocolate, city, class, competition, dance, February, firehouse, footstep, friendship, Gadsby, general, George Washington, historic, History, local, lyceum, Madeira, mount, Museum, Old Town, parade, President, Restaurant, self guided, site, Stabler-Leadbeater, tasting, tavern, tour, vernon, Virginia, walking, wine | Leave a comment

NC: Eat Dessert First, Giant Candied Apples at New Deli

Posted on February 10, 2016 by sandra

Fayetteville, NC Exit 46: New Deli – The reason to venture here (hidden in the back of an office mall) is for the giant candied Granny Smith Apples. First they dip the apples in caramel and then other sweets (I counted 23 varieties). The pecan pie candied apple has white chocolate, cinnamon sugar and pecans. Banana pudding is dipped in white chocolate and rolled in crushed banana chips with vanilla wafers. Heath is milk chocolate rolled in Heath Bar crunch. Others have peanut butter or cappuccino chips.

Indulge in their dessert strawberries dipped and drizzled in milk, white or dark chocolate or plunged into a topping: banana pudding, DC Joy, apple pie, cheesecake, white chocolate pistachio, Heath, Butterfinger and Oreo. You can’t stop at just one!

You can buy deli sandwiches on wheat berry bread or a Hawaiian panini with honey ham, Asiago cheese and pineapple, or a Reuben brie wrap. The tropical salad is piled with feta, mandarin oranges, pineapples, tomatoes, red onions and almonds. There’s pizzas and PB&J. Expect daily soups too (lobster bisque, corn chowder),and Starbucks is the house coffee. But we’d eat an apple for lunch!

Location: New Deli, 2153 Valleygate Dr. Suite 1, Fayetteville, NC 28304
Other Location: 225 Green Street, Fayetteville, NC 28301
Hours: Mon-Fri 10-6, Sat 11-3pm
Tel: 910-223-3082
www.mynewdeli.com
For Regional Accommodations & Attractions: www.VisitFayettevilleNC.com

Posted in Food, North Carolina | Tagged almond, apple, apple pie, Asiago, banana, bar, berry, bisque, bread, brie, butter, Butterfinger, candy, cappuccino, caramel, cheese, cheesecake, chip, chocolate, chowder, cinnamon, coffee, corn, crunch, daily, dark, deli, dessert, dip, dipped, drizzle, Fayetteville, feta, giant, granny smith, ham, Hawaiian, heath, honey, house, joy, load, lobster, lunch, mall, mandarin, milk, new deli, North Carolina, onion, orange, oreo, panini, PB & J, peanut, pecan, pie, pineapple, pistachio, pizza, plunge, pudding, Reuben, salad, sandwich, soup, Starbuck, strawberry, sugar, sweets, tomato, topping, tropical, vanilla, variety, venture, wafer, wheat, white, wrap | Leave a comment

DE: Yo-Yo Performance and Lion Dance at Chinese New Year Celebration

Posted on February 8, 2016 by sandra

Wilmington, DE, Northbound Exit 7, Southbound Exit 7B: The Delaware Art Museum hosts the 10th annual Chinese New Year Celebration: Year of the Monkey. Highlights includes: traditional Chinese art activities, artist demonstrations, a gallery scavenger hunt, a lion and folk dance.

Chinese yo-yo performance by the Chinese American Community Center Folk and Lion Dance Troupes and Yo-Yo Club, and additional special performances from the Chinese American Art Council in New York. Artwork created by children from the Chinese School of Delaware to commemorate this holiday will be on view.

Admission is Free to the Museum during Chinese New Year events and all galleries will be open throughout the day from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Location: Delaware Art Museum, 2301 Kentmere Pkwy., Wilmington, DE 19806
Date:February 20, 2016 @ 11:00 am – 3:00 pm
Tel: 302-571-9590
delart.org/event/chinese-new-year-celebration-year-of-the-monkey/?instance_id=6549
For Regional Accommodations, Restaurants & Attractions: visitwilmingtonde.com

Posted in Arts and Crafts, Delaware, Entertainment, Fun, History, Kids, Museum, Special Event | Tagged activity, American, annual, art, artist, celebration, Center, children, Chinese, club, commemorate, community, council, create, dance, Delaware, Delaware Art Museum, demonstration, folk, gallery, holiday, host, hunt, lion, monkey, Museum, New Year, New York, performance, scavenger, school, traditional, troupe, Wilmington, year, yo-yo | Leave a comment

VA: It’s Just For the Kids at the 3rd Annual Kids Expo – Fredericksburg

Posted on February 3, 2016 by sandra

Fredericksburg, VA Exit 130B: Take the kids to the Fredericksburg Kids Expo. There will be tons of activities for the kids including inflatables, face painting, Fredericksburg’s Largest Sandbox, reptiles, fire safety, meet police & fire heroes, petting zoo, train rides, arts & crafts, K-9 demonstrations and gymnastics. Have your child’s photo taken at the FredParent booth and you will receive a FredParent Magazine Cover with your child’s photo.

This fun and informative venue allows you to gather knowledge and samples on such items as toys and games, sports and fitness, learning devices, safety products, health and nutrition, natural products, activity equipment, everything for your kid. Take advantage of the FREE Parking, food court and seminars.

Location: Fredericksburg Expo & Conference Center,
2371 Carl D Silver Parkway, Fredericksburg, VA 22401
Date & Time: Sat Feb 13, 10 – 5pm, Sun Feb 14, 11 – 4 pm
Tel: 540-548-5555
fredericksburgkidsexpo.com
For Regional Accommodations, Restaurants & Attractions:visitfred.com

Posted in Arts and Crafts, Entertainment, Food, Fun, Kids, Special Event, Virginia | Tagged activity, art, arts & crafts, booth, child, court, cover, craft, device, equipment, exposition, face, Fire, fitness, Food, Fredericksburg, Fredericksburg Kids Expo, FredParent, game, gymnastic, health, hero, inflatable, item, K-9. demonstration, kid, knowledge, learning, magazine, natural, nutrition, painting, parking, petting, photo, Police, product, reptile, ride, safety, sample, sandbox, seminar, sport, toy, train, venue, Virginia, Zoo | Leave a comment

GA: Wear Colonial-Era Clothing and Enter a Cook-Off at Fort King George

Posted on February 1, 2016 by sandra

Darien, GA Exit 49: Travel back in time at Darien’s Colonial Cook-Off, where visitors to the Fort King George Historic Site can dress in Colonial-era clothing and re-create a recipe from the period. Enter with a partner or cook solo as you create a dish from one of these categories: soups, breads, meats, root vegetables/ green, and pies/cobblers.

Location: Fort King George Historic Site, 302 McIntosh Rd SE, Darien, GA 31305
Date: Feb 13, 2016
Hours: 10 -4 pm
Tel: 912-437-4770
exploregeorgia.org/listing/47164-colonial-cook-off
For Regional Accommodations, Restaurants & Attractions: www.visitdarien.com

Posted in Food, Fun, Georgia, History, Nature, Special Event | Tagged bread, category, clothing, cobbler, Colonial, cook, cook-off, create, Darien, dish, dress, era, fort, Fort King George, Georgia, green, historic, King, meat, partner, period, pie, re-create, recipe, root, site, solo, soup, travel, vegetable, visitor | Leave a comment

RI: Providence Children’s Film Festival

Posted on January 27, 2016 by sandra

Providence, RI Exit 22: The 7th annual Providence Children’s Film Festival takes place February 6-21, 2016 at multiple venues within walking distance of downtown Providence, presenting an array of independent and international children’s cinema to inspire, delight, educate, and connect a diverse community of people of all ages.

With over ten days of screenings, film-making workshops, and free activities, along with post-film conversations that help deepen the film-watching experience. The Festival presents quality independent films for ages 3-18, but appeals to all audiences with compelling stories and worldwide adventures.

During the festival, PCFF screens an average of 18 feature-length and over 100 short films—including live-action, documentary, and animation—made by filmmakers from around the world. This non-profit arts and cultural organization believes in providing enriching film opportunities for youth from an early age and inspiring and cultivating a new generation of filmmakers and storytellers.

Please visit website for details of specific screening times, venue locations and info.

Locations: Films will screen at three venues conveniently located in one neighborhood: Metcalf Auditorium in the RISD Museum Chace Center, 20 North Main Street; Gilder Center for the Arts, 216 Hope Street; and Avon Cinema, 260 Thayer Street
Dates: Feb 6 -21, 2016
Tel: 401-209-7585
providencechildrensfilmfestival.org/
For Regional Accommodations, Restaurants & Attractions: www.goprovidence.com

Posted in Entertainment, Festival, Fun, Kids, Rhode Island, Special Event | Tagged action, activity, adventure, age, animation, annual, appeal, art, audience, average, children, cinema, community, compelling, connect, conversation, cultivate, cutural, distance, diverse, documentary, Downtown, educate, enrich, Experience, feature, festival, film, film-making, filmmaker, generation, independant, inspire, international, length, live-action, multiple, non-profit, opportunity, organization, Providence, quality, Rhode Island, screen, screening, short, story, storyteller, venue, walk, wordwide, workshop, world, youth | Leave a comment

SC: Buy One-of-a-Kind Art at the South Carolina Artisans Center

Posted on January 25, 2016 by sandra

Walterboro, SC Exit 53N or 57S: The South Carolina Artisans Center is the state‘s official folk art and craft center, showcasing hand-made creations (blown glass, sweet-grass baskets, whimsical garden sculptures, carvings, pottery, jewelry, shawls, quilts, tatting, wooden objects) by over 315 juried artists who live and work in SC.

Located in the Detreville’s charming former home, the one-of-a-kind items are an eclectic offering of first-rate arts and crafts and definitely worth the 2-mi. detour off the road for anyone who loves beautiful artwork.

Location: South Carolina Artisans Center 318 Wichman St., Walterboro, SC 29488
Hours: Open Daily 9-5pm, Sun 1-5pm
Tel: 843-549-0011
www.southcarolinaartisanscenter.com
For Regional Accommodations, Restaurants & Accommodations: www.walterborosc.org

Posted in Arts and Crafts, Shopping, South Carolina | Tagged art, artisan, artist, artwork, b;own, basket, carving, Center, charming, craft, creation, cultural, detour, Detreville, Experience, folk, former, garden, glass, grass, hand-made, home, jewelery, juried, object, office, one-of-a-kind, pottery, quilt, sculpture, shawl, showcase, South Carolina, State, sweet, tatting, toad, Walterboro, whimsical, wooden, worth | Leave a comment

GA: First Hand Stories of WWII at National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force

Posted on January 20, 2016 by sandra

Pooler, GA Exit 102: Wow, right in the middle of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force’s combat gallery you can watch volunteers restore the fuselage of a WWII B-17 bomber. It was unnerving to find out that the aluminum is so thin that your finger can make it wiggle.

Hear first-hand stories of brave men and women who were not only pilots, but navigators, ground crew, radio operators or even POW’s from 1942-1945. You can set the stage watching a 20 min. movie depicting the perils of a World War II strategic bombing mission over Nazi Germany, where at times 60% of the flights were one way (now that’s bravery).

Find the story about Tyre C. Weaver, who was so badly wounded that he asked to be thrown from his plane to parachute into enemy territory hoping to receive medical treatment, and of the 10-year old girl who found him.

Learn about Jacqueline Cochran who founded the women’s air force and flew every plane, and Nancy Harkness Love, who delivered planes, tested them and towed targets, and Ann Baumgartner Carl, the first woman to pilot a jet. Peer into a MIG 21 nose section.

See if you can find the dollar bill signed by Clark Gable or what tora tora tora means. There’s a museum store, and outside you can view an F-4C Phantom, MiG-17A and B47 bomber.

Location: National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force,
175 Bourne Ave., Pooler, GA 31322
Hours: Daily 9-5
Tel: 912-748-8888
www.mightyeighth.org
For Regional Accommodations, Restaurants & Attractions: poolercrossroads.com

Posted in Georgia, History, Military, Museum | Tagged air, aluminum, Ann Baumgartner Carl, B-17, B-47, bomb, bomber, brave, Clark Gable, combat, crew, eighth, enemy, F-4C, first-hand, force, fuselage, gallery, Georgia, Germany, ground, Jacqueline Cochran, jet, medical, men, MIG, mighty, mission, movie, Museum, Nancy Harkness Love, National, navigator, Nazi, nose, operator, parachute, perils, phantom, pilot, plane, Pooler, POW, radio, restore, section, stage, story, strategic, target, territory, test, thrown, tora, tow, treatment, Tyre C. Weaver, volunteer, war, women, world, wounded, WWII | Leave a comment

DROG – Our Driving Blog

FL: Step Back in Time and Experience the Renaissance

Invented in Connecticut – Fun Facts

VA: Celebrate George Washington’s Birthday in his Hometown Alexandria

NC: Eat Dessert First, Giant Candied Apples at New Deli

DE: Yo-Yo Performance and Lion Dance at Chinese New Year Celebration

VA: It’s Just For the Kids at the 3rd Annual Kids Expo – Fredericksburg

GA: Wear Colonial-Era Clothing and Enter a Cook-Off at Fort King George

RI: Providence Children’s Film Festival

SC: Buy One-of-a-Kind Art at the South Carolina Artisans Center

GA: First Hand Stories of WWII at National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force

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