Free Passes for Military at National Parks this year

Being in the military has its perks. We found out on the last weekend in May that military members and their dependents can get into National Parks for free this year (I like free).

We stumbled across this money saver when my parents made one more trip to see us before we head out west.

My Dad and Barbara planned a trip to Williamsburg, VA for the last week in May and we decided to meet them there for the weekend. Our house rented much faster than we expected and we had transitioned to a furnished golf villa (condo on the golf course). North Carolina and Virginia are some of the prettiest places I have lived so we were excited to hang out with them and see the battle grounds (Well…Yany and Dad were excited to see the battle grounds).

One way the East Coast differs from Texas is in the ages of the towns here.  Some of the towns and states on the east coast pre-date USA. We were tromping around in the exact location where the War of Independence took place. It conjured memories from school lessons about the rag-tag men who were passionate enough to brave the cold without shoes and with inferior weapons, clothes, and training because they desired freedom. How awesome is that?

Us tromping across the fields where American's fought for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness (The Grandparents are watching us from the car-it was hot and they saw this before we got there)

We were able to see the land our ancestors had owned (and lost). We drove across the bridge named after our great-great-great grandfather, (Preston) Coleman Bridge; which crosses the river that contributed greatly to the defeat of the British in the War of Independence. This was due to George Washington’s battle strategy and nature’s fury (Washington was a God fearing man, and God honors those that honor Him).

 

If you get your magnifying glass out, you can read about this spot. It says this land belonged to my ancestors and now it doesn't (Reader's Digest version).

 

 I wish my Dad was in this picture. Johnny Coleman is either dad, grandad or great-grandad to everyone in this picture. Coleman Bridge is behind us and we are standing in the York River.

Yany and I by York River with the Coleman Bridge behind us.

The house is still standing where the British signed their surrender proclamation allowing our country freedom from British rule. My Dad, my husband, and I have all felt the need to provide military service to our country, as I have mentioned, I am married to a military lifer (we’ve all served in the Army-I guess we like to run).

Back to the free passes…the tour guide for the house told us that military service members were given free national park passes for this year, we just had to show an ID to get them. So I am sure we will be taking advantage of this benefit as we cruise across America-the land of the free.

We also visited the Yankee Candle Flagship store- oh my gosh! What fun!!! We got there 5 minutes before they opened and let the kids press their noses against the window and doors. We got VIP treatment and were in 2 minutes early-or they didn’t want to clean any more kiddie finger and nose prints off the store front. They had Father’s Day candles out and the best seller is the bacon flavored scent. I love bacon but I thought the candle was kinda’ stinky. They had a Christmas area that snowed-my favorite part. The kid’s favorite part was dipping their own candles in hot colored wax. I am not sure how well these candles are going to travel in the car when it’s parked and hot (I will have to take before and after pictures).

I don't remember this picture-Barbara sent it to me. I guess I wasn't watching my children, I must have been too busy sniffing candles. This is Kasen and Alyse being totems and Laney crashing the picture.

Another fun thing was an ice cream meal. No one was hungry enough for a meal so we headed over to Cold Stone and had frozen dairy goodness for dinner. In the words of Rachel Ray, “yum-ooo.”

My parents had to leave out early Sunday so we stayed and putt-putted with the pirate Blackbeard.

Blackbeard was feared by other pirates-he didn't even show mercy to Laney and it looks like the little kids lost eyes, too-go figure

Final stop was to The College of William & Mary campus bookstore. I can now say I went to The College of William & Mary-I’ve even got the t-shirt.

They got hats-the college is up the street, I guess I am still trying to get the hang of taking pictures ;)

Just another example of weekends being too short.

DeeAnn-Military Lifer Wife