Today was a snowy beautiful winter wonderland in the capital of Vermont - Montpelier! We learned a lot about Vermont- including that it is illegial for billboards or skyscrapers to be in this beautiful state, keeping the views gorgeous no matter where you look. 

We visited the capital in the snow so Dan could get a shot, and had an awesome dinner at the Mad Taco. The town of Montpelier is adorable with tiny shops and tons of personality. 

​Our show at the Savoy Theatre was a blast! The audience was small due to the knee-deep storm, but mighty in enthusasium! 

After the show, we had two very special presentations. First, the Quilt of Valor for Vermont was award to Vietnam Veteran and Bronze Star Recipient, Mark Kaufman. After that, we awarded 2 of our 50 challenge coins to two extremely special friends, Bob McNabb, who we met in Normandy, France and he has been with us all across the Northeast volunteering in the lobby, helping with load in and load out, and even making us homemade cookies. The other was our good friend and Letters From Home board member, Jerry Bryant, who has been a supporter of Letters From Home for years! We love both Bob and Jerry and are so happy they joined us at the show tonight. 

Thanks, Vermont. 

Dan and Erinn got up this morning early for sunrise at the Portland Head Light- one of the most beautiful lighthouses in the entire country! It was extremely cold, but completely worth it. Wait until you see Dan's shot (he should be posting it any moment now on Dan Beckmann Photography)!

The team went out to eat at Miss Portland Diner where we had a delicious meal (Jack finally got his clam chowder in this area of the country)! After a coffee stop on the way out of town, we drove to Vermont, where we checked into our "official Vermont home", the beautiful Home2 Suites! We are so grateful for the sponsorship we have with Home2Suites and the entire team is looking forward to the pool, the gym and the soft beds. 

The day started out "easy like Sunday morning".... Jack and Myra went on the hunt for a great lobster roll (which they found at Luke's Lobster), Erinn and Dan had brunch and homemade doughnuts at an INCREDIBLE restaurant (The Front Room Restaurant & Bar) and Tyler & Grace met Erinn and Dan for coffee at Coffee By Design. They all saw the observatory, and walked through the soft snow of Portland. Dan fell in love with Maine and wants to move! 

The show in the evening was a BLAST at St Lawrence Arts, the audience was responsive, fun, interactive and simply wonderful! Past swing and good friend of Letters From Home, Brynn Lewallen was in attendance, and our Quilt of Valor Recipient, Kenneth Aldrich, who was a personal friend of our president, Gerry Bryant. The staff and volunteers at St Lawrence Arts were tops, and we fell in love with the company for our official 15th show on tour in the lovely state of Maine. 

Today we drove out of New Hampshire. Dan and Erinn split off from the team so Dan could capture his New Hampshire shot (there was no time with back to back shows)! 

We ended up finding some beautiful places along the coast! And having our first cup of Clam Chowder in New England. It was marvelous! 

We drove over the border into Maine and stopped at the awesome town of Kennebunkport. 

At the house, we did interviews with the team now that we're 14 shows in for the documentary. Tomorrow, we'll be performing in Portland, Maine at the St Lawrence Arts center, and can't wait to see everyone there! 

We quickly got into New Hampshire today, as it was our first back-to-back show day of the tour. The Amato Center for Performing Arts were outstanding hosts for the show! 

We had several reenactors come to the show and also an incredible quilting presentation by the Quilts of Valor for our New Hampshire quilt. The Vietnam Veteran they quilted was incredible! Smiles, hugs and hope all around. Erinn and Dan also met up with Karen and Richard who they had met on the American duchess last year! 

It was a long, cold day, but we were thrilled with the audience response to the show and are grateful to be doing what we're doing in every little corner of this country. 

Dan's Tour Birthday! 

The day started out at the beautiful DoubleTree hotel, our incredible sponsors and official "home" for Massachusetts. The hotel boasts not only comfortable rooms and amazing service, but an indoor pool, hot tub, waterpark, arcade and restaurants! 

Dan enoyed a birthday massage, and Myra, Jack and Grace joined him. 

At the show, we had so many incredible reenactors, many from Battleship Cove. Also, the recipient of the Female Veteran of the Year Award was there, as well as our good friends Susan Rapier, and Gerry and Barb Bryant.

After the show, we had a poker party in the room with Dan for his birthday. Overall, we loved Massachusetts. Even though we hit snow for the first time on the tour, we sure did have warm hearts! 

We checked into our BEAUTIFUL hotel, the DoubleTree hotel in Danvers where the amazing staff took great care of us! Then, we headed to Salem, Massachusetts with the entire team where we had a delicious dinner at Rockerfellas (a haunted restaurant!), then we walked down the famous Essex Street where we went into several fun shops, and the Salem Witch Memorial and graveyard which paid tribute to the 20 victims of the witch trials of 1692.

We got bubble tea and macaroons, walked around more and got back to the hotel to take advantage of the pool, gym and soft beds before the show at the Cabot Theatre tomorrow.  

Our 12th stop on the 50-States Tour was Providence, Rhode Island! 

The state motto of Rhode Island is "hope" and how fun it was to do the show at the lovely McVinney Auditorium! Several reenactors came to the show, and some incredible veteran, including veterans from the Iraq, Korea and Vietnam era, and also one very special WWII Veteran.

The Quilts of Valor once again did a very special double presentation.

Back at our Rhode Island "home", we got to spend some time with our incredible hosts, Lauren and Tom. Rhode Island will forever have a place in our hearts! 

After an interview, we ate at the CUTEST diner this morning in Connecticut called Muddy Waters. The food and coffee and atmosphere was all top notch.  

After a short drive, we arrived in Rhode Island and checked in with Lauren and Tom who we're staying with on this leg of the tour! Erinn and Dan met them on the American Duchess, and they're an amazing couple. Erinn, Dan, Myra and Jack went to Newport to see downtown, the Breakers and the lighthouse at sunset while Grace and Tyler went to Tyler's old stomping grounds at Brown University in Providence.

We saw very cold surfers catching waves and an incredible sunset. After, we went to downtown Portland where we ate at an incredible restaurant- Jacky's Waterfront! The best part was that we got served by a robot cat named Bella! 

We left New York and headed to beautiful Connecticut! 

Upon arrival, Jack, Dan and Erinn drove out to the coast for sunset where there was an amazing lighthouse but no public access. We knocked on the door of a beautiful home, and the owners were gracious enough to allow us to go into their backyard beach to collect Dan's official Connecticut shot! (Be sure to follow @DanBeckmannPhotography on facebook to see his incredible shot in the next couple of days)!

The evening was filled with great tastes and laughter. We ate dinner at a locally owned & operated restaurant called Mystic Royal where we had amazing Indian food! The owner grows her own hot peppers and most of the food is farm-to-table.  The food was AWESOME! ​ Back at the hotel, the gang had a smash tournament in the hotel room. 

Our show at The Kate (The Katherine Hepburn Performing Arts Center) was outstanding! We were thrilled with the full house, the laughter and audience interaction, and especially the amazing staff at the venue! Some of the best folks we've ever encountered in all our touring! 

Our hotel sponsor and official "home" for Connecticut is the beautiful Hilton Garden Inn in Gorton, Connecticut.  We couldn't do this tour without the support of so many amazing hotels across the country and we thank you for your hospitality!