Esme, filling out her ‘Jr Secret Service’ booklet with some help from her friends FDR and Eleanor Roosevelt, at Springwood in Hyde Park, NY.

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It was an emotional start to our big, round the country road trip. After a life time of dreaming, 18 months of planning and a week of packing, it was hard to believe that the day was finally here. We made our way through MA and into New York, stopping in Hyde Park just after lunch. We visited both the Home of FDR NHS and the Eleanor Roosevelt NHS at Val-Kill, Eleanor’s cottage. We also made a quick visit to the Vanderbilt Mansion exterior and visitor center since we pulled into the property by accident! All three were fantastic and worth the stop.

A swim, dinner and ice cream in New Jersey with Jenn and family rounded out a lovely first day on the road!