We rented a car for the trip because 1, we don't trust our cars enough and 2, it was fun to have something new :)We decided to visit Ryan's aunt, uncle, and cousins in Virginia before school started so we took off from Lansing and crossed into
then 
and stopped in Pittsburgh for the night.
We ran into this pretty fog the next morning. We drove the next 5 hours where we crossed briefly into 
(Maryland) and West Virginia then finally into 
What a beautiful drive! Especially Pennsylvania-Virginia. We spent the next 2 days near Charlottesville at their family farm which only rekindled the fire on my longstanding desire to have a farm (by farm I mean zoo) someday.
They were very gracious to let us stay in their guesthouse which is the most picturesque little cottage you've ever seen!
Their home is straight out of a pottery barn catalogue and the property is beautiful! 
We spent time catching up with family, took a midnight swim,
roasted marshmallows, explored downtown Charlottesville,
and toured Montpelier which is James Madison's sprawling estate
.
Then we headed to Richmond with Ryan's cousin Joseph and his wife Bianca.
They were so nice to let us stay with them, especially since they just got back from 5 weeks in Columbia a few days before. We went to church with them in their branch
(gotta love the choice of Sunday socks), watched the Olympics, were spoiled by Bianca's cooking, and visited the coolest park where they rescue injured livestock/wildlife. That same rescue backs up to a beautiful property with an unbelievable Japanese garden and mansion that we had fun exploring.
It would have been a killer place to take bridal pictures :)
Looks like Baby may have a future in the Sulky business...
Just scoping out some future real estate options :)It sure was a fun trip and we were sad to leave but had to come home a day early because Ryan had an abscessed tooth (which explains his chipmunk look in some pictures). As much as I love to fly, it was definitely worth the drive!
8 comments:
What a blast!! I love road trips!
Looks like a lot of fun. I love those old mansions! Who had the puppies?
Looks like lots of fun and so beautiful too. Glad you were able to go on a little vacation!
Wow Steph. That looks like such a fun road trip. The little cottage/guest house you guys stayed in is beautiful, along with all of their property. I bet it's so fun to travel along the east coast and see so many different lifestyles rather than the "Utah norm". It's hilarious that you thought of bridal pictures in those gardens you visited. Haha. You are a Utah girl through and through!!!
What pretty scenary!
Oh Sis, you lucky girl. The pics are amazing. How fun! And that's so like you to think of bridals :-)
What did you do with the dogs while you were gone?
Fun trip, Steph. It's so fun to be able to just take off like that. Enjoy those experiences while you can. It's more difficult to be "last minute" with a family. (Families bring other enjoyable experiences, though.) What beautiful pictures too. Your little guest cottage is to die for! I love stuff like that.
I just read your profile again and it dawned on me that your birthday must be near mine if you got married 6 months later and it was in May. So, when is your birthday? And I have a brother named Tyler too! So much in common!
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