Raise your hand if you remember–or have heard of–Sunday drives. Families would pile into the car and set out to…well, just drive. Often, there was no particular destination, just a chance to roll down the windows and see the...
Springfield, IL: Lincoln & Corn Dogs
I promised my eight-year-old grandson, William, a summer adventure. Just him and me. But Covid-19’s tight grip eliminated most options. Finally, in mid-August, we had a half-open window of opportunity: Springfield, Illinois called and we went. Springfield happens to...
Solo Road Trip to Manistique, MI: A Beautiful Bargain
I confess: I was itching to get out again after nearly five months of sheltering-in-place. A solo road trip seemed like a good idea for several reasons: First, solo travel is my jam. Second, one’s own car is the...
Casey, Illinois: Tiny Town, BIG Things!
You probably wouldn’t give Casey, Illinois a second thought. It’s a very small town (population 2,635) not conveniently located in the East-Central part of the state. In fact, it’s a hundred miles closer to Indianapolis than Chicago. But Casey...
Seattle Space Needle: “Clearly” Improved!
The Seattle Space Needle is one of those icons that you’d think would hardly need more than a fresh coat of paint now and then. After all, why mess with a classic? At least that’s what I thought. I’m...
Meow Wolf in Santa Fe, NM: The “Multiverse” Awaits!
Trying to describe a visit to Meow Wolf in Santa Fe, NM, is like trying to describe “red” to a blind person: Impossible. Even the website can’t quite nail it. “Meow Wolf creates immersive and interactive experiences that transport audiences...
Winter Solstice: Where Christmas Traditions Got Their Start
Long before Christianity lured ancient cultures into December celebrations, there was the winter solstice, a time to mark the end of long, long nights. In order to boost church enrollment, early Christians just incorporated some of the pagan practices,...
Turning Kids into Travelers
How exactly can we go about turning our kids into travelers? We’ve seen those children on our own journeys: curious and cheerful. Interested in more than the next souvenir shop. Willing to eat more than a Big Mac. Understanding...
Georgia O’Keeffe Museum: A Woman and Artist Like No Other
I went to Santa Fe in search of Georgia O’Keeffe. As if to prove her own belief that “Colors and shapes make a more definite statement than words,” she created more than 2,000 oil paintings during her 60-year career....
Sandia Peak Tram, Albuquerque: The “Sky-High” Ride You Won’t Forget!
(Updated 1/28/20) Mention Albuquerque, and people will talk about the city’s famous balloon festival. Indeed, very impressive, for a couple of weeks each year. But the Sandia Peak Tram is available every day, waiting to take you up, up,...