10/22/2026 DC Road Trip - heading South to Pigeon Forge

 We left Roanoke and decided to head to Pigeon Forge (where Mr Charley’s Hillbilly bus Tour is). Since we booked the 10:00 am tour for Friday, we figured we’d just find the place & then book a room nearby. We found a Best Western, since we were pleasantly surprised with the one in Roanoke. Of course we got here too early to check in, so we drove around (after a small lunch stop) until 3:00 check in time. This Best Western has a balcony, which is nice, but not sure we’ll use it since we’re on the first floor. 

They have Tánger Outlets here, so we went there so Mr Charley could look for a new jacket.  He found one (of course) and then we just “cruised” the strip. After the bus tour tomorrow we’ll do the drive to Gatlinburg & Cades Cove. 

I didn’t take a lot of pics on the drive Virginia was beautiful state to drive through. 

Fall is coming to Va

Smoky Mountains in the distance  

Smoky Mountain Knife Works 

You know you made it when you see the Smoky Mountain Knife Works & then the Hatfield & McCoy dinner show‼️😂

Tomorrow the Hillbilly Bus Tour, so stay tuned‼️

10/21/2026 DC Road Trip -moving on

 So anyone that knows Mr Charley, you know he has the “gift” of changing his mind. He saw an ad that came across his Facebook feed about The Redneck Comedy Bus Tour in Pigeon Forge, Tn. So…….we decided to skip Philadelphia and head down south. Although Roanoke, Va is the halfway mark, we’re just gonna keep on until we’re ready to stop. 

The hardest part was getting  out of DC. The road signs & “Hey Google” gave us a challenge, but we did it!

Riding along I took a few pics, this is the Pentagon from the road:

The Pentagon

The Pentagon

The Pentagon 

We really got the “Navigation” Google frustrated changing our mind between heading to Roanoke or just head us straight to Pigeon Forge. At one point he told me to “be alert & pay attention” to the directions 😂 

So we decided to head to Pigeon Forge and just stop when we were ready. We stopped in Roanoke😂

Got a room at the Best Western & ate dinner at the Chinese Restaurant nearby. 

We passed the Basilica of Saint Andrew located in Roanoke. My brain wasn’t fast enough to grab my phone & get a pic since I was so amazed at the building, so I pirated a pic:

Basilica of Saint Andrew 

Architecture: Built in a High Victorian Gothic style, it features striking twin spires, buff yellow brick, Ohio sandstone, and a prominent position sitting high on a hill overlooking downtown Roanoke.                                    

Also saw this along the way & knew we were going to be OK 

Next stop, Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge TN. 

10/20/2026 DC Road Trip - National Archives and Arlington National Cemetary

 Itinerary today was the National Archives and Arlington National Cemetary. The biggest challenge for us is getting a cab. My daughters told me to get Uber, but I honestly don’t want to get & learn a new app. I’m also leery of individuals driving their own car to pick me up. I think I’m just getting old. It’s not hard to hail a cab, but honestly there are plenty to choose from here at the hotel. They loaded Mr Charkeys scooter and got us where we needed to go. I also got his name & number to call him when we were ready to be picked up. 

We arrived at the National Archives and I can honestly say I am not only proud of our Country but amazed at our Founding Fathers and all the thought that went in to our Constitution. I pray we don’t allow our Country to lose what we have been so blessed to have. 

Here’s some pics:

The National Archives Building (I love the architecture)

Our Founding Fathers

The Declaration of Independence 

 

I love remembering how blessed we are to have been born & raised in this Country. I wish people would wake up and see how fragile our Countrys freedoms are right now. 

After we left the Archives, we went to Arlington National. Just seeing all those hundreds of headstones  made me realize  how many people have given their lives to protect & defend our Country and Freedom. 

We were fortunate enough to watch the changing of the guards at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. 

Here’s some pics:

Change of plans. Instead of heading to Philadelphia tomorrow we’re making our way down to Gatlinburg. I’ll tell you more about that in the next post. 

It’s been great in DC, but it’s time to make our way South. 

10/19/2026 DC Road Trip - Smithsonian Air & Space Museum

 We walked over to the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum. It was the first real test for Mr Charley’s new scooter. It worked like a charm for not just the “walk” to the museum, but through it & back to the hotel. My foot on the other hand, was challenged  but I muddled through. 

Although we had both been here many many years ago, they have renovated it nicely & added a lot more interactive exhibits for the kids (and us older folks). Everything was easily accessible & clean.

Now that I’ve figured out how to get some pics uploaded, here’s a few:

The new exhibits and renovations were well thought out. Accessibility was easy to maneuver, great signage to help direct you and immensely clean with lots of  electric charging stations as well as USB. I say that in case we needed to plug things in.  

It was a good day, then back to hotel to rest & have dinner.  

10/18/2026 DC ROAD TRIP - DC NIGHT TOUR

 Last night we went on the DC Night Tour Bus of The National Mall and Monuments. It was long (3 hours), but well worth it. We stopped at some sites so we can get out & take pics and some we just drove by. 

Here’s a list of all the places we saw: 

1. National Archives (we have passes booked to tour inside)

2. US Capitol 

3. White House

4. Lincoln Memorial

5. WWII Memorial 

6. MLK Memorial

7. Korean War Memorial

8. Vietnam Memorial 

9. Vietnam Women Memorial

10. USMC Memorial 

11. Tidal Basin

12. Smithsonian Air & Space Museum (we have passes booked to tour inside)

13. Washington Monument

14. National Museum of African American History & Culture

15. Arlington National Cemetary (we have passes booked to tour)

16. Jefferson Memorial 

EXTRA BONUS: 

The USAA Special Memorial (there for a limited time).  

It was a great tour, got some decent pics, but more walking than my foot lets me do, so I had to pick & choose how close  I got. 

USMC Memorial 

US Capitol Building

Ulysses S Grant Memorial 

The meaning of the Lions around the memorial

WWII Memorial

WWII Memorial

Lincoln Memorial

Lincoln Memorial

USAA Special Memorial

The White House 

Since our tour was on Sunday night, they were waiting on President Trump to return to the White House, so we had to cut short our time there before they shut down the road. He actually landed about 10 minutes after we left. 

All in all it was a good tour. Got back to the room and crashed for the night. 

Monday…..Smithsonian Air & Space Museum‼️

10/17/2026 -landed in Staunton VA

 Mr Charley & I landed safely in Staunton, VA. We kept changing our mind between Staunton & Charlottesville (and I’m sure the “Hey Google” guy was quietly shaking his electronic head, but we decided to land in Staunton. 

I had no idea there was a Shenandoah National Park (which is 1 exit up from where we landed), so guess where  we’re going tomorrow‼️ That puts us over the 40 mark in our National Parks count. ☺️ 

It was a relatively nice drive. Traffic wasn’t too bad, except for my little rant about Charlotte, NC stealing 2 lanes of I-77 for their own “NC Quick Pass”!  

I was surprised the Fall colors just aren’t there. There were a few places along the way, but nothing like Upstate SC/N.GA “changing of the leaves”. Maybe on our way back. 

Here’s a few pics along the way:

I always have to read signs and keep Mr Charley “entertained” when he’s driving . Here’s a couple of my Google searches: 

Did you know there’s a Natural Bridge in VA?

That’s it for today. Not sure how the pics are gonna turn out. Blogger won’t let me upload my pics straight from iPhone, I actually have to Copy/Paste. So we’ll see once I “publish”

10/17/2026 DC ROAD TRIP‼️

 So….Mr Charley & I are planning a road trip to DC & Philly. It will be our first trip since 2023, and our first one without “the girls”. It’ll be different since we won’t be RVing, but….thats cool, we still split everything which makes it affordable for both of us. 

President Trump has made it a mission to “clean up” our Country & specifically, our Capital,  Washington, DC. So, I have had it on my heart to go visit the new, cleaned up version. Mr. Charley is ALWAYS up for a new adventure so, we’ve planned a Road Trip to drive to DC and Philadelphia, Pa. Although we’ve both been there, it’s been a long time since either of us has seen it. It’s also America’s 250th Anniversary year.

Here’s our Itinerary: 

Sat 10/17: 

Leave SC,  stay over in  Staunton, Pa 

 Sun 10/18:

1. Check-in after 3:00

Holiday Inn- Washington Capitol- National Mall 

550 C St SW Washington DC  

 2. Monuments at Night Tour                                            790 Pennsylvania Ave NW (booked on Viator)               7:30-9:30 pm

Mon 10/19:

Smithsonian Air & Space Museum       10:00-5:30                           650 Jefferson Dr SW  (free pass booked) 

Tue 10/20:

 1  Arlington Trolley Board @ Arlington Welcome Center 

1 Memorial Ave Fort Myer, Va 

Booked on Viator 

2 National Archives Tour (free passes)  10-5:00

701 Constitution Ave NW 

Wed 10/21 : 

CHECK OUT & head to Philly!