Henrico, Virginia!

Alright, so I have been to this city multiple times by now, considering it is where my grandmother and I have been staying for my internship at the Poe Museum in Richmond. Henrico, just fifteen or so minutes away, is quite a nice little town, so I thought my buddy here and I would share it with y'all!

Unfortunately, you cannot see a lot of the town considering I am merely at a hotel room point-of-view...I will try to take more photos when I can. 

Henrico is located in Henrico County, which was founded in 1611 and is one of the oldest counties in the United States. Located near the Commonwealth of Virginia, and being the fifth-most populated town in Virginia, this historic county was named after Henricus, a community founded by Sir Thomas Dale in 1611. According to my number one site of information (AKA Wikipedia), Henricus was destroyed by the Powhatan Confederacy during the Indian Massacre of 1622. Henrico County was, later, named after Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales. 

On the south side of the James River, in Chesterfield County, is where the original Henricus is located. Henricus Historical Park has now been developed around this historic site since its discovery in the twentieth century.

During the Civil War, Henrico County was the site of several battles during the Peninsula Campaign, including the battles of Seven Pines, Oak Grove, White Oak Swamp, and Malvern Hill. The Richmond National Battlefield Park is a nationally protected area.

Other key points of interest regarding this city include Henrico County being the location of Richmond International Raceway, home to NASCAR races twice a year. Also, Henrico County is one of only two Virginia counties that maintains its own roads.

Over all, this charming city is a mixture of hidden history and good suburb living. Many stores and malls are conveniently close by, and although I have not eaten out in this town, there is a great Starbucks down the way! (I sound so pretentious, don't I.)

So, if looking for a quaint area to stay that has all of the close comforts of city living, I recommend Henrico as your base for staying in Richmond area. Richmond is only a short drive away, and from there is Chesterfield and a short drive to Petersburg.

-Kelly and Teddy

Sunny North Carolina!

We are in beautiful Cary, North Carolina! I apologize for the lower quality photo, I tried to get the best picture off of our balcony without Tedster falling off. That would be a three-story drop!

Cary is the third corner of what they call "The Triangle," made up of Raleigh, Chapel Hill, and Cary. This area is diverse in culture, from the shops, to the art, to the people. A rather charming city!

Key spots to the town include my personal favorites:

-Taziki's, a Greek/Mediterranean restaurant
-Cary Towne mall (I adore shopping, what can I say)
-Downtown Cary area, which includes eccentric stores such as a lovely Victorian-esque antique store, soap stores, an Irish store, etcetera.
-Apex, a strip highway that runs around Cary and showcases a plethora of stores

Although Cary is a suburb of Raleigh, a major city, and thus includes the stereotypical "city" shops and restaurants, it has its unique places! If you're willing to look for them, they will find you. :-)

Now, for a history lesson!

Cary was named by a farmer and his wife after an Ohio congressman, back in 1854. Page, the founder, became mayor of the town in 1871, and thus the town came to be! It is notable for such companies as Deere and Company, Oxford University Press, Caterpillar Inc, LexisNexis (government and software company), and Epic Games, few which I am sure many will recognize.

Over all, the history is not too expansive, however if I receive local stories in the future, I will be sure to share them throughout my travels!

-Kelly and Teddy

The Teddy Diaries

Join me on my travels with my dearest teddy bear, Tedster, as we show you all around some different places here in the United States! We hope you enjoy!


(Blogger's note: My name is Kelly, I am a Junior Art History major in college, and I have had my beloved teddy bear for seventeen years now. He is near and dear to my heart; we've been through everything together. Along with every entry, I will try to include a small blurb about the day, whether it be historical, intellectual, or personal. Please enjoy and give me feedback if you wish! This is for my personal purposes of fun.)