The Monticello Tour

First and foremost, some important facts to remember before visiting the Monticello house. Taking photos and videos inside the house is NOT allowed, but is permitted on the grounds. Of course, you need to buy a ticket in order to tour the house.

The tour guide meets you at the East Walk fronting the house at least 15 minutes before your scheduled tour.

The Monticello is considered to be a designated masterpiece of Thomas Jefferson, the 3rd president of the United States, and the one who drafted the Declaration of Independence. He constructed and redesigned every aspect of Monticello including the landscapes for a period of 40 years. He made this his residence after inheriting the land from his father. It is located outside Charlottesville, Virginia on a mountaintop with a 5,000-acre plantation.

Jefferson started designing and building Monticello when he was 26 with his designing principles inspired from a neoclassical design of an Italian renaissance style and still continued to redesign and integrate more from his own design ideas towards styles that became popular in the late 18th-century styles.

Monticello means an Italian name for "little mount" because of its location on a lofty hill in Albermarle County, Virginia in the southwest mountains, south of the Rivanna Gap.

Inside the house reveals rooms where Jefferson and his family spent their daily life routines. Furnishings, books, gadgets, arts and many more objects are also displayed revealing Jefferson's unique mind.

A Crossroads Exhibit, restored wine cellars, a kitchen, smoke house and the slave quarters can be seen in the cellar area with an entrance shaped like a tunnel.

 Outdoors are historic gardens which were a botanic showpiece with extensive gardens for fruits and vegetables and other gardens for ornamental and useful plants.

Fifteen minutes away from the Monticello house is a walking trail to Jefferson's grave and other members of his family.

There are more exhibits that can be seen at the Thomas Jefferson Visitor Center as well, including 4 exhibitions that feature interactive technology, historical objects and ground-breaking researches.

Experiencing 18th-Century at Michie Tavern

If you want to relive an 18th-century setting for a bit, visiting Michie Tavern in Charlottesville, VA is worth it!

The original tavern was built in 1784 which used to be a social center during the colonial period. You will experience eating a buffet lunch menu consisting of colonial fried chicken, stewed tomatoes, green beans, gravy, cole slaw, mashed potatoes, etc...Servers will also be dressed in their colonial costumes as they serve your drinks and other special requests you may have.

Self guided tours are mostly ideal if you want to take your time, but guided tours are also available, particularly for bigger groups. Their interactive tour is popularly ideal for groups. This is of course a guided tour and it includes seeing the 18th-century outbuildings, experiencing interactive activities such as dancing a colonial reel (with music) as well as you get the chance to try playing an 18th-century game! 

18th-century toilets!

Tours include visiting the oldest section of the tavern as you will continue to discover its 18th-century history.

Photos are allowed while touring inside the tavern, so bring your camera!

Some onsite shops are available at the area such as the Metal Smith Shop, The Armory, Artifacts Shop, The General Store and The Tavern Gift Shop.

A Visit to the MacArthur Memorial Museum

This museum also functions as a research center dedicated to present and preserve the story of Gen. Douglas McArthur's life, his military career and achievements, his speeches, his family background and his role during the WW I & II including the Korean War.

The memorial also pays tribute to all men and women who supported McArthur in his battles during the war.

The first floor Memorial contains the Rotunda (the round-shaped area at the center of the first floor.) This is the focal point of the first floor. At the center of the Rotunda are the tombs of Gen. McArthur and his wife. On the walls are flag displays that can be easily seen.

There are 4 main galleries here; - Galleries 1, 7, 8 & 9.

The Second Floor Memorial contains 5 galleries; - 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6. In here is a life-sized trench diorama, artifacts, artworks and interactive maps, - telling all about the happenings during the WW I & II, the occupation of Japan and the early beginnings of the Cold War.

By the way, there is also a visitor center where you can watch a 25-minute film about the life of Gen. Douglas McArthur. Adjacent to it are the special exhibit gallery, a gift shop, a visitor's lounge and some displays. It's purely all-history exhibits. If you're doing a research, bring your notebooks, a pen and your camera!...you'll never know ;).

The Virginia International Tattoo 2016...(I was there!)

This world-class international event is held annually in Norfolk, Virginia with a purpose to honor our nation's military, to educate the youth, strengthen international relations and to celebrate American freedom and patriotism.

The Virginia International Tattoo is supported by a group of government and military leaders who serve as an advisory committee.

This year's celebration was on its 20th anniversary! How time flies! It is always dedicated to the 3 million men and women of America's armed services who stood courageously and continously to stand guard around the world.

The event was inspiring. For many who regularly watch it, many say they have always feel a renewed sense of pride and optimism.

This year's show featured the finest Tattoo cast ever assembled with a magnificent 200 person massed pipes and drums, 1,000 glorious voices, and nearly 2,000 military and civilian performers from 8 nations. The entire show consisted of show-stopping drill teams, inspirational music played by both military and non-military bands, majestic bagpipe and drum bands, colorful and elegant dancers and many more, creating an extraordinary unified performance.

I saw the 2016 Virginia International Tattoo! :)

The 63rd Norfolk International NATO Festival "Parade of Nations"

Being the longest continously presented parade in the region and the only United States parade that salutes NATO, - this fabulous parade celebrated annually comprises more than 100 parade units, including visiting high school and local bands, US and international military bands.

The parade also showcases various performers and colorful floats that represent all 28 NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) members. (nations)

It's patriotically entertaining! A salute to the performers and participants for a job well done! :)

I was there! ;)

Experiencing Lantern Asia at Norfolk Botanical Gardens

Since Lantern Asia has been sponsored by Norfolk Botanical Gardens for the year 2016 (spring), this was a great chance to visit as it was the first ever Chinese Lantern Exhibition in Virginia. The art exhibits become spectacular better at night, but it is still good to see the arts during the day.

Both walking and tram tours were available, and since it was raining when we visited, we opted to do the tram tour. It was true!; - "an art by day, magic by night."

There were 36 enormous, magical illuminating works of art, crafted with eco-friendly materials, silk and steel making the garden's landscape transforms into a colorful, magical work of art ;).

These works of art (lantern festivals) also highlight traditional Asian themes, which are rich in history dating back to the Han Dynasty considered to be the largest of its kind in the US. Judging by the photos I took, I must admit it's truly a magnificent lantern exhibition! 

A Visit to the National Museum of the Marine Corpse

The museum is located on a 135-acre site which is adjacent to the Marine Corpse Base in Quantico, Virginia. You can easily distinguish the museum through its soaring design evoking the image of the flag raisers of Iwo Jima. 

The museum fucntions as a lasting tribute to the US Marines; - from the past, present and for the future. It also features world-class interactive exhibits, artifacts and immersing visitors in the sights and sounds of Marines in action.

As you walk inside the front door, main entrance, some sets of exhibits are displayed at the main entrance. (Leatherneck Gallery)

There is an entrance to visit all the galleries on the first deck while walking along the legacy walk and you will end up exiting from all the galleries back to the leatherneck gallery close to the main entrance. The second deck are where the restaurants are located plus some traveling exhibits.

There are tons of displays to be seen including the trails in Semper Fidelis Memorial Park at the second deck.

The entire museum area has 120,000 square feet when they opened in 2006. In the future, they are adding another more than 80,000 square feet with a giant-screen theatre, more classrooms, exhibits and art galleries.

Bill Gaither Homecoming Tour @ Patriot Center - The Experience!

It was my first time to attend a Bill Gaither Homecoming Tour concert as well as a first timer to visit Patriot Center in Fairfax, Virginia. I was surprised to know, Patriot Center is more huge than American Music Theater in Lancaster which I usually go to watch inspiration concerts such as the Gaither Vocal Bands :).

Well, obviously, later I got to know and figured out that Patriot Center is an arena, while American Music Theater is merely a theater ;). - just a bigger theater

Being a 10,000-seater arena is something, -so to speak. They host big basketball games, family shows, big concerts and other ceremonies.

And food wise, you'll never get hungry while watching a show too! All sorts of food is around where food stalls surround the arena, quite the opposite when you're in AMT. I only remember buying a drink in a small food stand in the lobby of AMT once, since I was there few months ago. But of course, the shows I watched at both places were spectacular as always! :).

And talking about shows, the Homecoming Concert was so inspiring! I love to meditate through music sometimes and I love hearing Bill Gaither's music because I always end up singing their songs (as long as I know the lyrics, lol!) or just humming with them. I love slow gospel music for meditations, - one way of letting me feel the spirit of God in me.

I also love how Bill Gaither hosted his Homecoming concert in a full evening of entertainment and meaningful music, and his guests with the best-loved voices in gospel music. Of course, with the GVB and other group guests as well!

I am a big fan of GVB too!...can you tell? I was glad I had the experience of watching this concert. I am greatly blessed!

The Yellow Barn @ Shenandoah Caverns

Few meters away from the caverns is the valley's newest entertainment location, - the Yellow Barn! It offers small town shopping, historic displays of model trains and various collections of restored carriages and other farm vehicles, wine tasting, home decors, small accessories, and many more.

There is also an indoor beehive in the store where you can see the bees making their honey. But take note that the beehive is not available for viewing in the cooler months.

Kids can also enjoy playing at the playhouse, just in front of the building, and the giant frog statue for a photo session! :)

Their souvenir shop carries a wide variety of items from local wines to arts, crafts, trinkets and mementos.

The Trip Down Main Street of Yesteryear

This elaborate, full of colorful unique, animated and antique store window displays opened in 1996. It shows more than 100 animated figurines of window displays most of which of them were originally displayed in city department stores a half century ago.

The idea of opening this window displays came from the fact that there were those times in the past, many years back when children get so excited during the holiday season wherein they couldn't wait to visit department stores just to look at those animated displays through the store windows.

Today, children can now experience enjoyment and fun the same way as before when they visit Main Street of Yesteryear.

When you are visiting Shenandoah caverns, you can either choose to visit these displays before or after your cavern tour as the place is just adjacent to the caverns.

The cavern tour or a visit to the Main Street of Yesteryear starts at the shop where both entrances are. Those coming from the cavern tour will still have the choice to be dropped off from another entrance to the Main Street through the elevator.

Big brown bears displayed along the side of the stairs came from the Rose Parade in California.

As you start your visit to Main Street of Yesteryear, you will be greeted with glass cased windows filled with fully restored antique displays such as the three-ring circus of clowns, twirling elephants, jugglers and ferocious tigers.

You will also see the thrilling sight of the miniature version of the presidential inaugural parade, completed with miniature military units, bands and floats.

Don't miss Cinderella going to the ball ;).

This is one ideal place for children to visit. The displays have buttons to press making the characters move.