The Flowers Explore - Hershey's Chocolate World Pt 2 - 2021/08/28

Today we're visiting the Hershey's Chocolate World in Hershey Pennsylvania. We've already visited the Hershey's Factory Tour, but there's a whole other part of Hershey Chocolate World to explore!

Mustard Pretzel Taste Test Comparison - Snyder's of Hanover, Dot's Homestyle, and Pop Daddy Pretzels

Who likes Mustard Pretzels? These three like Mustard Pretzels. And since we've got three different brands of something, around here that means it's probably getting turned into a taste test!

For our sampling today we're going to be trying Mustard Pretzels from Snyder's of Hanover, Dot's Homestyle Pretzels, and Pop Daddy Pretzels. 

The Flowers Explore - Hershey's Chocolate World Pt 1 - Hershey Factory Tour - 2021/08/28

Today we're visiting a place that I've wanted to see for a while! It's a place that's all about chocolate. Welcome to Hershey's Chocolate World!

Opened in 1973, Hershey's Chocolate World is very well reviewed, holding a 4.6 of 5 stars with over 24k reviews! 

Pizza at Home - Maple Syrup Pizza with Couture Farms Maple Syrup

Mmm, I know this Sunday pizza day is going to be a good one. With the ingredients I'm picking today, I don't see how it couldn't be. 

It's Sunday and while our RV is parked in New Hampshire, we've taken multiple trips across the state line into Vermont, so I think it's totally fair that I should do a pizza tribute to the state of Vermont. 

Now if there's one delicious food I love from Vermont, it has to be their Maple Syrup. And the best Maple Syrup both Theresa and I have had has come from Couture's Maple Shop in Westfield Vermont. I will have a whole write-up coming for them in the coming weeks. And there's no added fillers or corn syrup here. This is Pure Vermont Maple Syrup, directly from the Maple Trees on the Couture Farm. 

The Flowers Explore - Hershey Pennsylvania Thousand Trails RV Pt1 - 2021/08/24-31

Today is a move day! And guess what? We're headed to some place chocolatey! It's time to go to Hershey Pennsylvania and the Hershey Thousand Trails Camping Resort!

"Welcome to Hershey! The Sweetest Place on Earth!"

We're staying in Pennsylvania, so there's no new states today. 

Snyder's of Hanover Factory Store - 2021/08/23

We're in Hanover Pennsylvania and Theresa had a sudden realization. Her favorite pretzels ever are Snyder's pretzels, and the bags don't just say Snyder's; they say Snyder's of Hanover. I wonder if that's this Hanover? Sure enough, it is! 

Utz Daisies - Chocolate Covered Pretzels

After visiting the Utz Factory and the Factory Outlet Store, I knew we'd likely come away with a few things to do a taste test with. 

Today we're going to be tasting the Utz Daisies. They are pretzels that have been covered in something tasty. 

Utz Cheese Balls taste test

Earlier we were able to visit the Utz Chip Factory in Hanover Pennsylvania and visit their Factory Outlet Store. Ian was super excited because his favorite Cheese Ball ever is the Utz brand. I think he remembers back in California getting a few mini-packages for Valentines day. 

From the Factory Store he was able to buy a giant barrel of the Orange Cheese Balls! And if we're going to be doing a comparison, we'll need something else to taste along with it. We're going to try it along with the Official Salty Snack of Major League Baseball, White Cheddar Cheeseballs, called Baseballs. And Utz is celebrating their 100th anniversary and they've released a few different Birthday Cake flavored items. This time they're making Birthday Cake Puff with Rainbow Sprinkles! Oh my!

Utz Factory Outlet Store - 2021/08/23

After having just gone on the Utz Factory Tour, we were all excited to head over a few blocks to the Utz Outlet Store. In the Utz Factory, they showed a whole bunch of different products they make, and we want to buy them! 

Utz Potato Chip Factory Tour - 2021/08/23

We're around Gettysburg for a few days, and while we were out doing our weekly grocery shopping, I noticed a sign for the Utz Factory. Do they make those near here? Yes they do! But do they have factory tours? Yes! 

Let's go!

Pizza at Home - New Hampshire Dairy Farms Ice Cream Pizza

Happy Sunday! Pizza day is taking a little bit of a different feel today. That's because we're in New Hampshire and one thing we've been seeing a lot of in New Hampshire has been dairy farms. We've stopped at 3 so far! Many of them have ice cream to buy, so for today, I'm making a New Hampshire Ice Cream cookie pizza!

The Flowers Explore - Gettysburg Cemetery - 2021/08/21

Today we're taking one more trip to the Gettysburg Battlefield. We saw the Battlefield, but there's one more place that has history in this location. Abraham Lincoln was here and gave his famous Gettysburg Address when the cemetery was dedicated on November 19, 1863. 

The Flowers Explore - Gettysburg National Military Park - 2021/08/20

For today's post, we're stopping by a place that's very important in American history. Chi has wanted to come here for years but never did make it. Now that we're mobile, they can come visit and go on some adventures with us! 

The Flowers Explore - Drummer Boy Campground in Gettysburg - 2021/08/17-24

It's another travel day and we're about to head north. 

From Virginia we're going from Chesapeake Bay resort, up through Maryland, and into Pennsylvania. It's about a 4 hour drive, but we're up for it. 

The Flowers Explore - Jamestown - 2021/08/12

Earlier in the day we visited Yorktown, the site where the pivotal battle of the Revolutionary War took place in America's quest for independence. Now we're jumping back in history by about 175 year to the site of the first permanent settlement. Welcome to Jamestown!

Mystery Mountain Dew 2021 - Mtn Dew VooDew

Happy Halloween (just a little early)! 

For the third year in a row, Mountain Dew has released a mystery flavor, 2021 Mtn Dew VooDew! Back in 2019, the mystery flavor was Candy Corn. Then in 2020, it was Fruit Candy Explosion, which we figured out was Skittles. What will it be this year? 

The kids were excited for this one, remembering past VooDew taste tests and reminding me of the previous flavors. They've got good memories, especially when it comes to candies and sodas. 

The Flowers Explore - Historic Yorktown - 2021/08/12

I love that we get to go around the USA and visit sites of historical interest. Today we're navigating the Historic Triangle of Virginia, including Yorktown, Jamestowne, and Williamsburg. 

Pizza at Home - New York Strawberry Cheesecake Pizza

Happy Sunday! Time for another pizza in the RV! Just about every week we're in a new location, and I'm trying to theme my homemade pizzas to the region we're visiting!

This week we're in New York. I already made New York Style pizza with the giant foldable slices when I first started this pizza journey over a year ago. Let's see, Big Apple, I've already done an apple pie pizza before. 

A look at google for "what foods is NY known for" shows the second most popular item listed is New York Style Cheesecake. Tonight I'll be making a New York Strawberry Cheesecake Pizza!

Lay's Flavor Swap 2021 - Cool Ranch Doritos, Cheetos, and Funyuns

I love it when Lay's comes up with something new! And here I thought that the Summertime Lays taste test we did a couple months ago would be it for the summer. But Lay's is doing a Flavor Swap with some very popular chips and I'm really excited to try something familiar but new! Lay's is swapping the flavor with Doritos Cool Ranch, Cheetos, and Funyuns!

Chesapeake Bay Virginia Thousand Trails RV Park - 2021/08/10-17

Today is another travel day! It's been a fun time in North Carolina, and it was a late night last night watching meteors in the Outer Banks, but it's time to pack up and head to our next destination. We're headed north toward the Chesapeake Bay in Virginia!

Today's drive shouldn't be too bad either. Just about 4 hours or so. 

The Flowers Explore - North Carolina's Outer Banks, Kites, Meteor Shower - 2021/08/09

It was such a good time visiting the Outer Banks a few days ago, we decided to drive the 2 hours back to spend the day again. There's a lot to do here, so let's get started!

The Flowers Explore - Fort Raleigh and the Freedmen's Colony in North Carolina - 2021/08/09

Today is our last full day in North Carolina and it's going to be a full one. We had such a good time in the Outer Banks a few days ago that we all decided to come back. Since we're here, the kids wanted to try to earn another Junior Ranger badge, so our first stop of the day is Fort Raleigh National Historic Site. 

The Flowers Explore - Bodie Lighthouse and the Atlantic Ocean - 2021/08/05

Earlier today we were at the Wright Brothers Memorial in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. That's not all there is to see out here though. There's also lighthouses!

Pizza at Home - Hershey Pennsylvania S'mores Pizza

Happy Sunday! I'm loving these pizzas that are themed to the locations we're staying. Currently we're in Hershey Pennsylvania and so of course I'm going to theme this week's pizza around Hershey Chocolate! I've had a dessert pizza in mind for a while and this seems like the perfect opportunity to try it. Today I'm going to make a S'mores pizza with Hershey's chocolate!

The Flowers Explore - The Wright Brothers National Memorial 2021/08/05

Today we're exploring a really amazing part of American History. We're in North Carolina at the birthplace of Aviation where the Wright Brothers successfully flew a heavier than air craft for the first time in history! For kids who like Space, this is what started it all. 

Twin Lakes Camping Resort in North Carolina - 2021/08/03-10

Today is another move day, so we've better get moving. We're currently in Tennessee at Pigeon Forge and our next stop is just over the border into North Carolina. Should be a nice easy driving day, or so I was thinking. 

Scorchin' Sour Cream and Onion Pringles

Could this be a case of "Ask and ye shall receive"? 

A little while ago we did a taste test with the original three Scorchin' flavors: Scorchin' Cheddar, Scorchin' Chili Lime, and Scorchin' BBQ. At the end of it, I was wishing that they would have made a Scorchin' version of my favorite flavor, the Sour Cream & Onion Pringles. 

Luckily for me, we've recently had Theresa's sister visit from Michigan and she brought me a tube!

These Scorchin' Sour Cream & Onion Pringles can only be tested against my favorite chip. Which one will reign supreme? 

Mr Pringles, aka Julius Pringles, or Mr. P, has steam coming from his ears on the Scorchin' tube. Are they really going to be that hot? 

The Flowers Explore - Cades Cove in the Great Smoky Mountains - 2021/08/01

After a fun time exploring the area around the visitor's center we started heading back to the truck. 

We meet people around the RV park when we take our random walks. One couple we happened to meet were a pair of school teachers from Texas who are enjoying their summer off. They even mentioned something called a Barndominium which is something you can park your RV in and live in too. We'll have to look into that whenever we settle down. 

Anyway, we randomly happened to see them in the parking lot while we were walking back to the truck. They mentioned just returning from Cades' Cove, an isolated valley and the most popular destination inside Great Smoky Mountain National Park. And while they were up there they even saw a bear up in a tree! 

It's going to take us at least 1:15 to get to Cades Cove and the roads are though the mountains and windy. Theresa asked if we should go and Ian responded with an enthusiastic YES! I guess that settles it!