Presidents' Quarters Inn- A Reflection of the Charm of Savannah

The Presidents' Quarters Inn is a charming, family friendly bed & breakfast located in the heart of Savannah, Georgia's historic district... 

This post may contain affiliate links. Purchasing through them helps support this website.

I would like to thank our gracious hosts at Presidents' Quarters Inn in Savannah, Georgia for our lovely stay. Other than providing our accommodations, I was not compensated for this review post in any other way. The opinions expressed below are 100% my own.

Almost 10 years ago I feel in love with the charm and architecture of Savannah, Georgia.  I visited the city once more after that, but knew it would not be my last visit.  

When my husband & I married over 3 years ago and then had our daughter a year later, I knew we would have to travel to this lovely city as a family.

We enjoy traveling to places that not only provide vacation fun, but that also tell a story.

And boy does Savannah have stories to tell! ;)

But there will be more about that in tomorrow's post...

Hidden View Bed & Breakfast: A Destination In & Of Itself in Loudoun County, Virginia

The Hidden View Bed & Breakfast can provide the most luxurious home base as you explore the Loudoun County, Virginia area, but it is also a destination in & of itself- perfect for a girls' trip, a couple's getaway, or when you just need a few days of "me time" to yourself...

This post was created in partnership with Visit Loudoun. As always, all opinions & thoughts expressed below are 100% my own.

I know that when you typically start to plan a trip or a weekend getaway you end up booking a room somewhere to simply serve as your home base while you explore the area. You want a clean and comfortable place to sleep and shower, maybe a pool on premise, and perhaps a free continental breakfast. Booking the accommodations is a starting point, but not usually the thing you are looking forward to most about your upcoming travels.

That cannot be said about the guest rooms at Hidden View Bed & Breakfast in Hillsboro, Virginia. In fact, you could possibly spend most of your time during your visit to Loudoun County in your room and exploring the grounds of this beautiful bed & breakfast and be totally content... but I wouldn't necessarily recommend that. Not when there is so much to see and do in the area, but that is for another blog post. ;)

A Family Friendly Guide to Virginia Wine Country {Where to Stay}

I know a bed & breakfast and Virginia wine country are probably not the first places you think of when considering where to the take the family for a road trip or vacation.  Usually those venues are reserved for couples and romance, right?  

In some cases, yes.

But there are family friendly bed & breakfasts out there!  And even family friendly wineries {gasp}... but more on those later this month. ;)

Recently we stayed at the Briar Patch Bed & Breakfast Inn in Middleburg, Virginia for a couple of nights during my son's spring break.

The main house of the Briar Patch Bed & Breakfast Inn

The Briar Patch is conveniently located directly off from the main highway that runs through downtown Middleburg, the John Mosby Highway (yes- easy to find and get to which is pretty important when you may or may not have some travel weary kiddos along!).  It is also wonderfully located for possible day trips to Washington, D.C., Manassas, or Harpers Ferry.

The inn is equipped with a pool, a hot tub, and satellite TV in the main house.  Oh, and have I mentioned that they are also pet friendly in case you need to bring your furry family member along? ;)

My husband and I actually stayed here almost two years ago on a little romantic pre-baby girl getaway.  We stayed in the main house that time.

But for our family friendly stay, we were given the cozy cottage for our two night stay...

(Most bed & breakfasts have policies against children of certain ages staying in certain rooms or areas of their establishment, if they even allow them at all.  Children younger than 8 are not permitted to stay in the main house at Briar Patch, but children of all ages are welcome at their cottage.)

The cottage at Briar Patch is equipped with a full kitchen and spacious living space.  Perfect if you were to plan a longer stay.  We all loved the bright, open rafters throughout the cottage.  They even had the cottage stocked with toys for baby girl, and a pack 'n play set up in the bedroom.  There was a fold out futon in the main living space which was perfect for my teenage son. 

My favorite room just may have been the bathroom for that gorgeous, deep sink-in tub. ;)

Barn & stables behind the Briar Patch- yes, they have horses! :)

A hot breakfast was served in the main house both mornings during our stay.  I am not going to lie- this just might have been one of my favorite things about our stay at Briar Patch.  A delicious breakfast, freshly brewed coffee, and a beautiful view?  And I didn't have to lift a finger?  Awwwwww... yes. :)

The daffodils at Briar Patch provided the perfect backdrop for baby girl's Easter photo shoot. ;)

We had such a lovely and relaxing time at the Briar Patch Bed & Breakfast.  They were so generous and accommodating to our little family. I really cannot thank them enough.  I had emailed them about receiving their off-season rate since we were missing it by just one day, and one of the owners went above and beyond that simple request for our short stay in Middleburg.  I truly cannot express enough gratitude to them.  :)

If you are looking for a romantic getaway, a breathtaking wedding venue, or a just a lovely place to stay during a family trip through Virginia wine country, I cannot recommend the Briar Patch and their staff enough. 

Psssttt... the cherry blossoms will be blooming soon!  Virginia wine country is gorgeous when in full spring bloom.  I believe we only missed that by about a week or two.

Of course if your travel plans do not take you to the Loudoun County, Virginia area, then be sure to research bed and breakfasts in the area that you will be staying at before you just book that room at a cookie cutter hotel.  Often times, B&B's will run budget friendly specials and packages.  And never be shy about calling or emailing an establishment about a special request- you just may receive a very pleasant and unexpected surprise. :)

*The opinions above are strictly my own.  Yep, all 100% me, myself, and I.  I was not obligated to and was not compensated for this post.  I just really appreciate the hospitality and generosity that was afforded to myself and my family during our stay, and wanted to share our experience with my readers.  

Hillbrook Inn & Spa- A European Style Country Inn in the West Virginia Hills

Enjoy a taste of European charm & elegance with a side of country hospitality at the Hillbrook Inn & Spa, a bed & breakfast tucked into the hills of eastern West Virginia...

The Hillbrook Inn & Spa graciously provided the accommodations for our blogger retreat. All opinions & thoughts expressed below are 100% my own.

If you follow me on Instagram, you may have noticed that I attended & hosted my first ever blogger retreat earlier this month. Yes, folks- I planned and hosted a local blogger retreat! :)

The idea had been nagging at me for well over a year, and when an idea nags at me that long I know it is the universe trying to tell me something. So I listened, and in February I got in touch with my fellow food blogger friend, Karyn from Pint Sized Baker and brought her on board with the retreat planning. After a few months of legwork and networking and emails, Sip, Dine, & Shine 2016 had become a reality. 

We chose the Harpers Ferry area of West Virginia as it was an easy drive for all those invited. That was one thing I really wanted in a blogger retreat- no plane tickets, no travel hassles, no added expenses, no fuss. 

Just a little getaway with a few like-minded (& very talented) food bloggers in a laid back, country setting where we could sip on wine, chat all things blogging (and all things not blogging as well), and return home & to our blogs rejuvenated, inspired, and ready to shine.

Guesthouse Lost River- A Mountain Getaway

Gorgeous views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, a chance to unplug and unwind, and nearby access to the great outdoors makes the Guesthouse Lost River the perfect weekend getaway...

The Guesthouse Lost River graciously hosted my husband & I for a weekend getaway. All opinions & thoughts expressed below are 100% my own.

Nestled in the mountains of West Virginia just south of the eastern panhandle lies a tranquil & picturesque getaway from everyday life. Though the Guesthouse Lost River has been welcoming guests since 1982, innkeepers Gary Robinson & Jesse Halpern have been taking this bed & breakfast to a whole other level of relaxation & sophistication since 2012. They have expanded the original 6 room inn into a 16 room lodge with 3 separate cottages, as well as opened Lost River Valley's first fine dining restaurant within the main building.

When my husband and I were offered a chance to stay at the Guesthouse for a weekend getaway, we jumped at the chance. We had not visited the quaint mountain town of Lost River before, but found ourselves intrigued as we were browsing the Guesthouse's website. Gorgeous views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, a chance to unplug and unwind, and nearby access to the great outdoors were more than enough to convince us to make the 2 1/2 hour drive.

Drink Like a Local in Charlottesville, Virginia with Cville Hop On Tours

Offering guided winery, brewery, cidery, & distillery tours, Cville Hop On Tours takes the guesswork out of planning your next boozy tour of the Charlottesville, Virginia area...

This post was created in partnership with Visit Charlottesville & Cville Hop On Tours. As always, all opinions & thoughts expressed below are 100% my own.

This post may contain affiliate links. Purchasing through them helps support this website.

Oops, I did it again... ;) I planned, hosted, & attended my second ever local bloggers retreat in Charlottesville, Virginia last month. Some of you all may recall my first Sip, Dine, & Shine retreat in Charles Town, West Virginia back in 2016. This year's venue may have changed, but it was awesome to get the ole gang back together again (Erin from Delightful E Made, Brianne from Cupcakes & Kale Chips, & Karyn from Pint Sized Baker). Nicole from Mediavine & Or Whatever You Do joined us as well on this year's retreat, and boy we were glad to have her!

We all stayed in a restored 1790 cabin tucked away at the end of a long gravel driveway about 45 minutes outside of Charlottesville. And while we certainly loved the seclusion & peacefulness of our rental home, it definitely made us all appreciate the fact that we had decided to book a winery tour with Cville Hop On Tours even more! It was definitely a much better choice than trying to pile all of us into one of our cars & winging it on our own to try & explore the local winery scene. ;)

5 Unique Things to Do In & Around Harpers Ferry

Get off the beaten path and do something a little different during your visit with these 5 Unique Things to Do In & Around Harpers Ferry.  And bonus? Most of these are free to do!

The first time I visited Harpers Ferry, West Virginia was in May 2011. My husband & I had just got married, and we decided that a weekend getaway to this quaint, historical town would make the perfect little honeymoon. 

From our very first visit there almost 5 years ago, I think it is safe to say that I fell in love with the town, the breathtaking scenery, and the historical charm of Harpers Ferry. I have been back three times since, and I have two more trips to the area planned for this coming summer. 

Harpers Ferry is located at the confluence of the Potomac & Shenandoah Rivers making for breathtaking views and scenery from just about any viewpoint in the town. It is also conveniently located within walking/driving distance of three different states- Virginia, Maryland, & of course, West Virginia. 

The town is rich in American history serving as the site of the infamous John Brown's Raid in 1859 and playing a key role in the Civil War, changing hands between the Union & Confederate forces 8 times in 4 years.

If you have never been to Harpers Ferry before and are planning a visit soon, here are a few things you need to know about the town ahead of time:

Chai Tea & Pear Oatmeal

This hearty & creamy Chai Tea & Pear Oatmeal is perfectly cooked overnight while you sleep making it perfect for busy mornings...

A big thank you to Hamilton Beach for partnering with me today to bring you all this recipe & for sponsoring the giveaway.

I don't know how it is for you all the week of Thanksgiving break, but it is about to get pretty busy over here in my house. Both of the kids will be off from school the entire week starting Monday, and we also happen to host my family's Thanksgiving dinner each year. 

Let's just say that delicious & easy make-ahead breakfasts become my next best friends from here on through to the New Year. ;)

I always seem to have no problem getting the house cleaned and dinner guest ready (oh yes, I put the kiddos to work since they are off from school). And I always get the turkey day menu set and planned out at least a week in advance. But I always seem to neglect Thanksgiving morning breakfast. 

I mean, I have enough going on with getting the turkey in the oven, and starting a few sides in my slow cooker, and getting the table set, and the list goes on. But not this year! This year I will be whipping up a batch of this hearty and creamy Chai Tea & Pear Oatmeal in my brand new Hamilton Beach® Professional Sous Vide and 6 Quart Slow Cooker! 

The Top 6 Traveling Frugal Foodie Mama Posts of 2016

From travel tips to historical destinations to amazing family dining, here are the Top 6 Traveling Frugal Foodie Mama Posts of 2016 as clicked on & shared by you...

When I decided to publish my first ever travel post on Frugal Foodie Mama in 2013, I really didn't set out with the intention of merging my predominantly food & recipe blog with a family friendly travel blog. My family and I had stayed at a bed & breakfast in Virginia for a little weekend getaway, and I was impressed with how the innkeepers had went above and beyond to accommodate us. I wanted to show my appreciation and gratitude, so I thought why not write up a little review of our stay on my blog and share it with my social media followers as a way to thank them for their generous hospitality? I had no idea how my loyal readers would react to a travel piece, but I figured it was just one post so why not?

Luckily for me, my first ever travel review was well received by you all. But I wasn't entirely convinced that I should delve head first into travel writing, so it took me over a year to write and publish my second ever travel post. When that post was also pretty well received, it dawned on me that I might be onto to something here and Traveling Frugal Foodie Mama (or #TravelingFFM, as it is known on social media) was born! :)

Since that time, I have published a total of 39 travel posts to the blog- 16 of those being from 2016 alone. Yep, I really upped my travel game in the past year, folks. While I am not sharing all 16 travel posts from last year with you all here today, I am sharing my top 6 travel posts from 2016. Hopefully, you all will find a little family travel inspiration for 2017 below... 

Booze & Brews with a View: 8 Must-Visit Wineries & Breweries in Loudoun County, Virginia

It doesn't matter if you are wine lover, a craft beer connoisseur, or if you happen to appreciate small batch spirits- you can craft the perfect booze-filled itinerary in Loudoun County, Virginia...

This post was created in partnership with Visit Loudoun. As always, all opinions & thoughts expressed below are 100% my own.

After almost a year of Covid-induced homebody-ness, I was finally ready to venture out on a girls' trip last month. A little road trip to one of my favorite areas of Virginia became the obvious choice for our first girls' getaway in over a year. Not only is Loudoun County home to some of the best wine country in the state of Virginia, but their local foodie scene has recently seen an explosion in growth when it comes to locally owned and operated breweries and distilleries as well. 

It doesn't matter if you are wine lover, a craft beer connoisseur, or if you happen to appreciate small batch spirits- you can craft the perfect booze-filled itinerary (responsibly, of course!) in Loudoun County, Virginia. Loudoun County boasts over 30 breweries, almost 40 wineries, and about 7 distilleries & cideries, but that number continues to grow every year.

While our two and a half day girls' getaway didn't allow us to try every winery, brewery, and distillery in the county, we did get to visit at least 8 on the list. All 8 of these wineries & breweries (plus 1 distillery!) had to meet certain discerning criteria to make it on our girls' trip list ;) :

• They had to have plenty of outdoor spaces and seating. I mean, what is seriously better than being able to sip on a glass of pink bubbles or enjoying a cold draft beer on a patio or deck?
• They had to be locally owned and operated.
• And being nestled in the rolling, green foothills of the Shenandoah, a beautiful view was definitely a must!

5 Family Friendly Outdoor Adventures in Anderson County, Tennessee

With it's rolling mountains & valleys, as well as serene rivers, & lakes, Anderson County in eastern Tennessee is the perfect family friendly destination for outdoor enthusiasts & adventure seekers...

This post was created in partnership with Adventure Anderson County. As always, all opinions & thoughts expressed below are 100% my own.

With it's rolling mountains & valleys, Anderson County in eastern Tennessee naturally sets the stage for a family friendly & adventure packed vacation. Whether you and your family members happen to be hiking enthusiasts, avid fishermen, nature lovers, or perhaps prefer something a little more adrenaline inducing, Anderson County is the perfect destination for outdoor enthusiasts & adventure seekers. 

My family and I spent 4 days in Anderson County discovering & exploring exactly what it's mountains, valleys, rivers, and lakes have to offer the adventure seeking family.  Below are my top 5 recommendations of family friendly outdoor adventures to experience in the Anderson County area of Tennessee...

Family Friendly Luxury at The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island

From AAA 5 Star-Diamond dining to an amazingly luxurious spa to a kids' club that goes above and beyond, The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island is sure to surpass the expectations of every member of your family...

This post was created in partnership with Amelia Island tourism & The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island. As always, all opinions & thoughts expressed below are 100% my own.

While exploring the wonderful & charming area of Amelia Island on the northeastern Atlantic coast of Florida, I was also afforded the opportunity to stay at one of the island's most acclaimed luxury resorts, The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island. 

As would be expected from any resort in the Ritz-Carlton family of hotels, the Ritz on Amelia Island offers its guests countless luxuries & accommodations. But what really took me by surprise is just how family friendly and accommodating The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island is towards their much younger guests. 

From AAA 5 Star-Diamond dining to an amazingly luxurious spa to a kids' club that goes above and beyond, The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island is sure to surpass the expectations of every member of your family... :)

10 Dorm Room Must-Haves

From organization to comfort to space saving, these are the 10 must-haves for every college dorm room...

This post may contain affiliate links. Purchasing through them helps support this website.

Okay, okay... I will admit it. I may be freaking out just a little over the fact that my son, my oldest "baby" is moving into his dorm & getting ready to start his college career this coming weekend. 

While I know I will most definitely worry about him & the house will for sure feel a little emptier, I am also excited for him. 

Excited for him to test out the waters of being on his own for the first time. Excited for him to start discovering who he really is as his own person. And excited for the path he is pursuing with the start of his college education in computer science.

We have been pretty busy over the past few weeks gathering together all of the essentials he will need for the dorm room he will be sharing with a roommate. These essentials will not only help his dorm room become his home away from home, but will also provide him with a little of his own space within his less than spacious accommodations for the next year. ;) 

From organization to comfort to space saving, this is our list of 10 Dorm Room Must-Haves...