Thursday, June 25, 2026: We headed out toward our next stop: Thousand Trails Harbor View in Colonial Beach, Virginia.
It was going to be a long drive, but thankfully we made good time. Some travel days feel like they drag on forever, while others move along pretty smoothly. This one was long but manageable. We had miles to cover, but we were ready to get settled somewhere new for a while.
Along the way, we stopped in Richmond, Virginia, for a very late lunch at a place we had been missing: The Real Vinny’s Italian Grill and Pizzeria.
And of course, that meant one thing.
Bruschetta.
We had been looking forward to it, and it was good. Very good, actually. But we have to be honest, it still was not quite as good as the bruschetta we had at the location in Lynchburg, Virginia.
We asked our server about it and found out that the locations are franchised, so each one does things a little differently. Same name, same idea, but not exactly the same experience.
Oh well.
The good news is that we will be in Lynchburg later this year, so we may just have to do a little bruschetta comparison research when we get there.
After lunch, we got back on the road and continued toward Colonial Beach. By the time we arrived at Thousand Trails Harbor View, we were ready to get parked, hooked up, and settled in. We set up our campsite, unpacked what needed to be unpacked, and then called it a day.
After a long drive, there is something nice about finally being still. The slides go out, the hookups are done, the chairs are set, and the camper starts to feel like home again.
Friday, June 26, 2026: A work day, so we stayed close to camp. Those days are not always exciting, but they are part of this lifestyle too. Some days are for exploring new places, and some days are for catching up on work, laundry, rest, and all the normal things that still have to happen no matter where we are parked.
Saturday, June 27, 2026: We were ready to get out and do a little sightseeing.
We visited Mount Vernon, the historic home of George Washington, and spent time walking the grounds and taking in the history. It is one of those places that makes you slow down a little. There is so much to see, and it is easy to imagine how much life and history passed through that property.
Before making our way around the estate, we took advantage of lunch on site at the Mount Vernon Inn. Breakfast and lunch was ours to enjoy.
The grounds seemed to be very spread out on the map, but walking the area was simple. We visited the gardens, stables, and several of the smaller buildings that housed services for the estate.
We joined the line to view the main house. The line kept flowing as everyone visited each room as we wove through the house.
After Mount Vernon, we drove toward Washington, D.C., and passed by some of the sites that afternoon. We did not try to do everything in one day. This was more of a first look, a chance to get our bearings and enjoy seeing a few familiar landmarks from the road.
There would be more time for D.C. later, so this little drive-by introduction was enough for the day.
Sunday, June 28, 2026: We kept things a little closer to the campground and headed into the Colonial Beach area for the day.
We also learned something about ourselves.
Apparently, we are a little out of practice at being tourists.
We were up, ready, and heading out by about 9:30 that morning, feeling pretty good about getting an early start. The only problem was that most things in the area did not open until 11:00.
So there we were, ready to explore, and Colonial Beach was not quite ready for us yet.
The waiting was not a total loss, though. It gave me a chance to sit down, update the blog, and get caught back up a little. After several hard weeks and travel days, it felt good to finally get some words written and some posts moving again.
Maybe now we will get back into a rhythm.
Once things started opening, our first planned stop was the James Monroe Birthplace.
The staff at the visitor center were very welcoming and knowledgeable. They took time to answer questions and share information about the property, which always makes a historic stop more enjoyable. The displayed items were presented well and easy to review. We even found a map reflecting the part of the part of Tennessee that was still attached to North Carolina.
We enjoyed the historical timeline walk around the property. Each date marker had a QR code that opened a page of information for that specific marker. That was a nice touch and made it easy to learn more as we walked the grounds.
The replica house on the property was completed in 2021, and they have done a good job stocking it with period pieces. It gave the stop a nice visual connection to the time period instead of just being a marker on the map.
After leaving the James Monroe Birthplace, we stopped at the boardwalk in Colonial Beach. The water was rough, and with the cloudy skies, the beach was not quite as inviting as it probably is on a bright sunny day. So instead of getting too close, we simply observed the beach and the water from afar.
Sometimes that is enough.
From there, we visited the Colonial Beach Museum, which was filled with local information. The staff there were friendly as well and suggested Circa 1892 Wine and Cheese for lunch.
Good recommendation!
Beth had the harvest chicken salad and roasted red pepper soup. Kevin had the George Washington grilled cheese, which came with cheddar cheese, ham, and a slice of apple. The food was good, and it made for a nice lunch stop while we were exploring town.
After lunch, we wandered through a couple of variety shops, and then it was time for ice cream.
On our way to our next stop we drove by the house that Alexander Graham Bell lived in. We found this information in the local museum and sought out to find the house.
We always look for ice cream when we are out exploring. This one may not make the favorites list, but that is okay.
We stopped at The Ice Cream Hut on the main road coming into town. The rain had just started, and we scurried under the shelter to order. We ordered one single scoop and one double scoop, with espresso chip and chocolate eclair as our choices. With our order placed, we waited on our change.
The total was $11.89, so I handed the clerk $22.00, hoping to get a ten-dollar bill back. She started to hand the two dollars back, so I explained what I was trying to do. She paused for a second, looked at the money, and asked, “Do you want a ten-dollar bill, two fives, or a five and five ones?”
It was one of those little moments that makes you smile, shake your head, and realize that apparently making change has become a lost art.
We probably should have known something was off when both cups came out looking exactly the same size. I am also fairly sure Beth got regular chocolate instead of chocolate eclair.
Maybe next time.
After our ice cream adventure, we headed back to Harbor View for the evening.
Once we were back at camp, we spent some time planning for our first full day of actually touring Washington, D.C. We had already purchased Old Town Trolley Hop-On Hop-Off passes, which should make it easier to get around the city, see the major sites, and explore with a guide along the way.
Today, we were not nearly as exhausted as we had been the day before, so maybe we were finally getting back into the swing of things. A little history, a little local exploring, a good lunch, questionable ice cream service, and an evening back at the camper felt like a pretty good travel day.
The rain moved in later, which made for a relaxing evening and brought some cooler weather with it. There is something peaceful about ending the day at the campground with the sound of rain outside, especially when tomorrow holds a full day of exploring.
Monday, June 29, 2026: We headed into Washington, D.C. early this morning.
We arrived at Union Station, parked, and boarded the Old Town Trolley around 9:45. Our plan for the day was simple: ride the trolley, listen to the guide share information about the city, and then decide which stops we wanted to explore more closely. Since we had Hop-On Hop-Off passes, we could use the trolley as needed throughout the day.
At least, that was the plan. We captured many future sites to visit along the route to our first place to disembark.
We rode the trolley to the Lincoln Memorial, where the route connected with the Arlington Tram. Before switching over, we decided we needed a snack. We had seen several refreshment stands around the National Mall as we passed by, so we stopped at one near the memorial.
Wanting something more than just a small snack, we ordered a chicken tender basket and a chipotle chicken sandwich. While we ate, we spent some time FaceTiming Olivia, which was a nice little break in the middle of the morning.
After our meal-snack, we boarded the tram to Arlington.
At some point, Beth looked at the time and realized it was not even 11:00 yet. We had already eaten lunch. Oh well. We were good to go for a while, and this visit was going to take some time.
As the tram approached the main entrance to Arlington National Cemetery, we were stopped by security. Secret Service had placed everything on hold because a VIP was on site. We left the tram and went through security in preparation for our visit.
Did you know that the foil strip on a pack of gum can set off their security system?
Kevin knows that now. 🙂
For some reason, I had decided cargo shorts were the best place to carry everything I owned that day. Once security started checking everything, I quickly realized I had more stuff in my pockets than I had hands to hold it all.
Thankfully, the guard was in good spirits, and we made it through without too much trouble. After a brief delay for the VIP, we started our tram around Arlington National Cemetery.
Our first stop was President John F. Kennedy’s gravesite, where we viewed the Eternal Flame. We also saw the gravesites of other Kennedy family members nearby on the hill. Some were marked simply with a white cross and a small marker, which made that area feel very quiet and reflective.
We boarded the next tram and saw many memorials and markers along the narrated trip.
Next, we viewed the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
We have watched many videos of that ceremony over the years, but seeing it in person was different. The precision, silence, and respect shown during the ceremony made it a powerful experience. Now we have a video of our own to remember it by.
We also got to see the guard correct a member of the audience who chose to sit during the event. That moment made it very clear that this was not just something to watch. It was a ceremony to respect.
After finishing our tour of Arlington, we headed back toward the National Mall.
The Lincoln Memorial was impressive, and the view from the steps was incredible. Standing there and looking out across the Reflecting Pool toward the Washington Monument is one of those views that feels familiar from pictures and movies, but it is still something special to see in person.
From there, we walked along the Mall and visited the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and the World War II Memorial. At the World War II Memorial, we checked out the state names and spent a little time watching the water. It was another beautiful and meaningful stop.
Trying to get to the Washington Monument turned into more of a task than expected. The National Mall was already being prepared for the Fourth of July celebration, so fencing, closures, and detours made walking from place to place a little more complicated.
By the time we made it to the entrance area, we only had a few minutes left before we needed to catch the last trolley at Stop 11.
When we got to the stop, there was no trolley. After checking the trolley app, we realized that Stop 11 had been removed for the day.
So, we were off on foot again, this time heading toward the White House area to meet the trolley at Stop 14. By that point, we had already done plenty of walking, but there was not much choice if we wanted to catch the final ride back.
We finally made it to the trolley, boarded, and rode back to Union Station to end our day.
It was a full first day in Washington, D.C. We learned a lot, walked a lot, saw places we had only seen in pictures, and figured out pretty quickly that touring D.C. takes planning, flexibility, and comfortable shoes.
On our way back to camp, we stopped at El Charro Mexican Restaurant in King George, Virginia.
After a full day of walking, sightseeing, trolley riding, and figuring out D.C. transportation on the fly, Mexican food sounded like the right choice. We had steak tacos, a salad, and chips with some spicy – very spicy – salsa.
It was a good meal and a good way to wind down before heading back to Harbor View for the evening.
Tuesday, June 30, 2026: Today we visited historic Fredericksburg, Virginia.
After getting a later start than planned, we headed downtown to the Fredericksburg Visitor Center to gather some information and figure out the best plan for the day’s adventure. Visitor centers are always a good first stop in historic towns. They help you get your bearings, pick up maps, and sometimes point you toward places you may have missed otherwise.
Lunch was next.
The choice was not great, but it was food, and sometimes that is all you can ask for when you are trying to keep a travel day moving.
After lunch, we visited the Fredericksburg Area Museum. Three floors that were organized by themes. Like many other museums, the time it takes to read all the materials can be overwhelming. We want to learn for sure, and we do our best to capture as much as we can.
Next we headed to the Hugh Mercer Apothecary Shop. Once we checked in, the lady there went fully into character and began explaining the work and processes of Dr. Mercer. It was one of those stops where the presentation makes all the difference. Instead of just walking through a room and reading signs, we were pulled into the story a little more.
In the next room, a young man continued the experience by explaining some of the medical practices of the time, including the bleeding of patients and the use of leeches. Ugh!! those things are nasty looking!
Let’s just say modern medicine has come a long way.
Our next stop was the Mary Washington House – another good visit. We had a great docent who provided the full life story of Mary Washington and her family, along with the story of her journey being the mother of George Washington. The house was presented well, and the guided explanation helped bring the history together.
Since most places in the area closed at 4:00, our options became a little more limited after that. We finished the day with a visit to the area marked as Mary Washington’s burial site and then stopped by the Hugh Mercer Monument.
Fredericksburg was another reminder that these older towns are full of stories. Some stops are big and well known, while others are smaller and quieter, but together they help paint a picture of the people who lived, worked, struggled, and shaped our country.
This stop at Harbor View has given us a little bit of everything so far: campground quiet, waterfront exploring, Virginia history, Washington, D.C. monuments, trolley rides, unexpected detours, and a few meals worth remembering.
We are still getting back into the rhythm of being tourists again, but maybe that is part of the story, too. Some days start too early, some days start too late, some plans work, some stops disappear from the trolley app, and sometimes the ice cream order is not quite what you expected.
But that is road life.
For now, we are settled in at Harbor View, thankful for safe travels, new places to explore, and another chapter from the road.
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