Williamsburg, Virginia Beach, and Wilmington (DAY 1)

DAY 1

Let me just preface by saying that we planned this entire road trip for a long time! (for example, this entry from February). Lots of hand-scrawled notes and maps and google spreadsheet formats. Right on the cusp of our thirties, we really wanted to make the most of this trip and hope you enjoy the tips we found useful.

Woke up bright and early Wednesday morning before Memorial Weekend to visit Colonial Williamsburg VA, Virginia Beach VA, and Wilmington NC. This was the first leg on a road trip that would span all the way down the East Coast of the USA from Baltimore, MD.

Out of the many options out there- we went with National Car Rental Service. Got lucky with a Hyundai Tucson that had only 9 miles on it! Though it was picked up at the BWI Airport, the expectation was that it would only be driven one-way and dropped off at the NOLA Airport eventually. Armed with Starbucks Almond Chai Latte (no foam, no water) and Herbal Tea, we started heading down 95.



If you drink water and tea at the start of the trip, you'll start wanting to take a rest stop around Colonial Williamsburg appearing on the route. Having never been there before (but I had heard stories about the reenactments and history), we stopped by the Visitor Center and wandered through the Great Hopes Plantation for a bit. The weather was really nice, and there a lot of old examples of housing structures and a windmill.







VIRGINIA BEACH



This is the largest city in Virginia, known for it's naval installations and shoreline beaches. It wasn't long after leaving Williamsburg that we got to Cape Henry Lighthouse. I had no idea it was part of a military establishment! Fort Story is a beautiful area right on the water. Though we weren't expecting for our vehicle to be investigated before admission, it made the destination feel more hidden and special. There's a Memorial and beach outlook point across the street from the Lighthouse, that's nice to stop at. *One thing we found out the hard way is enter through Gate 8*.







I highly recommend printing out the VA Beach Public Art Scavenger Hunt map. It made it much easier to identify the art installations scattered along the Virginia Beach Boardwalk, and became a fun game. Our favorite were the Beach Balls and Birds in Flight.

We dipped our toes in the water, and ate froyo from Kohr's when it got hotter (Strawberry/Banana, and Chocolate/Peanut Butter).



We stopped at Commune for lunch, and were not disappointed. There was a healthy mix of families and young people. Everything was responsibly sourced and delicious. I had iced coffee (from local coffee company, PJ's) with burnt honey and a Ham & Jam Biscuit (both the Peach and Strawberry jams were great) for less than $10 total. The parking lot they share with Esoteric, a bar and restaurant is so beautiful, right?







This was our longest driving day, 550 miles, so to get something that would keep us alert and feeling our best went really, a long way.



WILMINGTON



Chris Dixon writes this in this New York Times article 'In Wilmington, N.C.', "a band of fortune seekers and opportunists braved the un-air-conditioned heat -- as well as the mosquitoes, alligators and bears along the banks of the Cape Fear River -- to create Wilmington, which in time became the northernmost hub of the Southern rice culture. Now it makes its living as a resort, a busy port and an aspiring movie capital. In 1983, Frank Capra Jr. found Wilmington a good place to shoot his film "Firestarter," and now his Wilmington studio, EUE/Screen Gems, says it is the largest film production facility east of California. Downtown this fall, you might find the cast of the WB network's "One Tree Hill" among the contented tourists in search of antiques, a night at the theater or a bowl of ground white hominy".



Dinner was at Front St. Brewery Taproom. I'd heard good things, and the person who checked us into our hotel also recommended this place. Best Pulled Chicken Burrito I've ever had, for around $10. The Mug of the Day beers are a great deal, where you can get their choice of beer that day for $1.99. (Normally it's $4.99 a beer.)



We wandered into KGB Lounge nearby for drinks, sipping a mule and dark & stormy. From there we kept walking down to the water a bit before getting some much needed rest.







In the morning- the heaviest rain we would get occurred.

Ate breakfast at Ezzell's Breakfast House, a local diner. The coffee was strong. Solid breakfast food. A little group of local older folks held court near the entrance.



Full and happy, we headed down to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

New Spring Photos on Shutterstock

Nothing better than a bright, sunny day in the park with chips. Those and hot dogs are my dream summer diet.

(FAVORITE BBQ CHIPS are Utz Kettle Classics Smokin' Sweet BBQ Crunchy Potato Chips.)

Been taking photos around Maryland through the fall and winter so far this year (here's when I posted some in January).



Just added some new Spring photos to my Shutterstock Profile!



So so so excited for the road trip this week coming up. Been planning this for a while (here are some of the plans and notes that I drew up back in February). I can't believe it's finally here. Going from Baltimore to New Orleans, with a bunch of stops in between (Wilmington, Charleston, Savannah, Panama City Beach, and more). Will share as much as I can!

When it Rains

Isn't it 'April Showers bring May Flowers'?

Baltimore's been getting an insane amount of rain the last few weeks. There was hail once or twice too. As you can imagine- it adds to a lot more driving time. At least it's not cookie dough.



Here are three simple ideas I use to try and stay motivated on days like this.



1. Start Energized. The majority of people wake up and go about their days dehydrated. Thanks to a book I like by Aubrey Marcus, Own the Day, Own Your Life: Optimized Practices for Waking, Working, Learning, Eating, Training, Playing, Sleeping, and Sex - I fix a glass of water with a quarter lemon and pinch of sea salt. It's energizing and motivates me to start the day hydrated and with a clear mind. I also like coffee lol. My strong and steady, is Café Bustelo, with half a tsp of condensed milk and some ice cubes melting in.



2. Stretch Your Legs. This is another thing Aubrey talks about in his book. Being in the sunlight, moving around, and getting hydrated within 20 minutes of waking up. Often a change of scenery is what we need to get motivated and be productive. Get up and walk around your office or in the building, depending on your workplace setting. You'll end up getting more done with those little breaks, than if you sat there for hours staring at the screen.



3. Focus on Critical Tasks. One thing I struggle with is narrowing down what to do. It all seems important! I had to teach myself that you don't have to do everything all at once. When it rains I notice the garden being nourished, and it's a gentle reminder that you can't rush how fast plants will grow. Like vegetables and flowers, certain tasks need time to develop, and it'll save you more time long-term, to tackle it later. If it helps, set a google calendar reminder. In the end, ironically, this is more productive than repeating the task later, and fixing things down the road.

New Summer Items!

We have almost twice as many products on the site now, ready for your strong start to the upcoming Summer months. I hope you're going to travel, dream, and explore. That's what I want for myself and everyone I know. After a pretty rough winter, it just seems like time to overcompensate and truly soak up the nice weather.

Following the Junot Díaz News

Following the Junot Díaz news lately after the recent New Yorker piece, and wanted to share my favorite passage by him, below. It’s hard to hear when anyone’s been treated in a way that echoes for the rest of their lives. I will say he put into words what myself and other women couldn't about love and life, for many years.



“This is how you lose her.



You lose her when you forget to remember the little things that mean the world to her: the sincerity in a stranger’s voice during a trip to the grocery store, the delight of finding something lost or forgotten like a sticker from when she was five, the selflessness of a child giving a part of his meal to another, the scent of new books in the store, the surprise short but honest notes she tucks in her journal and others you could only see if you look closely.



You must remember when she forgets.



You lose her when you don’t notice that she notices everything about you: your use of the proper punctuation that tells her continuation rather than finality, your silence when you’re about to ask a question but you think anything you’re about to say to her would be silly, your mindless humming when it is too quiet, your handwriting when you sign your name on blank sheets of paper, your muted laughter when you are trying to be polite, and more and more of what you are, which you don’t even know about yourself, because she pays attention.



She remembers when you forget.



You lose her for every second you make her feel less and less of the beauty that she is. When you make her feel that she is replaceable. She wants to feel cherished. When you make her feel that you are fleeting. She wants you to stay. When you make her feel inadequate. She wants to know that she is enough and she does not need to change for you, nor for anyone else because she is she and she is beautiful, kind and good.



You must learn her.



You must know the reason why she is silent. You must trace her weakest spots. You must write to her. You must remind her that you are there. You must know how long it takes for her to give up. You must be there to hold her when she is about to.



You must love her because many have tried and failed. And she wants to know that she is worthy to be loved, that she is worthy to be kept.



And, this is how you keep her.”