Schooling on the EAST COAST!

Part of the reason I wanted to try homeschooling is because it allows for flexibility to get out and learn in the real world, to go on trips, visit places that teach far better than sitting in a classroom. This year, since we've been studying U.S. history in addition to Susan Baur's History of the World, our homeschool trip was to visit the East Coast! My mom came with us. She's been helping us with English, and giving soooo much help. Really, she's been doing so much. We flew into Washington D.C. and rented a car so that we could experience all the places between Washington D.C. and Boston! It was about an 8 hour drive, and I worried about bringing Vivian, who is about 8 months old and still nursing, but with help from Aleesia, Grant and my mom, it was great. Vivian seems born to travel and explore, she was always ready to get back into her carseat to go on another "trip"!

First stop was Washington D.C. We loved the museums! There are so many free museums. We saw a few and used and learned the transit system (which is a new experience for us). From D.C., we drove to Philadelphia and saw the liberty bell and museum, the Museum of the Revolution and Independence Hall.

Next stop was the Statue of Liberty. It was so big and beautiful!

In Boston, we saw the Boston Tea Party Ship Museum, walked the Freedom Trail and saw Paul Revere's home, The Old South Meeting House, Bunker's Hill among other things. Then, we headed to Plymouth Rock. The town was beautiful, the rock was tiny.:) The kids were able to see the home of Priscilla and John Alden, our distant ancestor on the Packard side who came over on the Mayflower. They had their home and mannequins of John and Priscilla and family set up inside.