Regular visitors to my blog know that my kids are artsy! Our oldest is a professional pianist married to a professional violist. Our second son is studying fine art at UNC-Greensboro. And our daughter, well, she made her trumpet debut last night! Kinda funny, too, since my husband and I pursued more “traditional” professional degrees in […]
Performance of a lifetime
We entered the auditorium, scanning the rows to find seats in the middle section, about halfway between front and back. We settled in, hoping the seat in front of Ellie would stay open so she could see. We chit-chatted, about nothing and everything, while we waited for the concert to begin. The orchestra filed in, […]
Art and Clay on Main
In Downtown Lancaster, Ohio, historic buildings line Main Street, a true historical gem of architectural style long abandoned by modern developers who prefer ease over form. Lancaster could have succumbed to modern improvements, but the residents of this city chose the harder route, refurbishing these gems and preserving them for future generations. Within one of […]
Great Lakes Science Center
Planning a Cleveland family vacation? It can sometimes be difficult to find kid-friendly attractions that are also good for the rest of the family. Might I recommend a trip to the Great Lakes Science Center? This interactive museum and learning facility is the Cleveland attraction for families, full of hands-on learning experiences that appeal to […]
Some things I learned about Frank Lloyd Wright
On the Great Illinois Road Trip last year, Ben and I got the opportunity to visit TWO Frank Lloyd Wright usonian homes, a dream come true for me. Among all the other careers I never had but wanted, architect ranks high. Muirhead Farmhouse Our first stop was at Muirhead Farmhouse, located near Elgin, Illinois. About […]
Monuments by Moonlight: See DC after dark
**Thanks to Destination, DC for providing tickets for purposes of this review.** I live only 5 hours from Washington, DC and know there are lots of things to do in DC. We’ve made many treks up I-95 to enjoy the Smithsonian, Library of Congress and great food that the city offers. I had never heard […]
France with kids
Wouldn’t it be fabulous to vacation in France with kids? It’s something I always thought was out of reach (financially), but we figured it out and in 2012 took a dream family vacation to Paris. We love the city ~ the touristy spots, the museums and local neighborhoods too. When I’m asked what to do in Paris, I […]
Mardi Gras: 5 lessons we all can learn
What’s your first thought when you hear the words Mardi Gras? Do you think Bourbon Street? While that craziness might be what makes the national headlines each year, that’s not the whole story. I just got home from celebrating Mardi Gras in Louisiana, and the experience shattered my stereotypes! In fact, I think if we […]
The Hampton Waterfront: A family friendly destination
The Hampton CVB sponsored my trip to Hampton. All opinions are my own. Hampton, Virginia, a quaint port town just 30 minutes from historic Colonial Williamsburg and one really awesome under-sea tunnel drive from Virginia Beach, may be one of Virginia’s best kept secrets. Mind you, this Hampton is not THE Hamptons (for the geographically […]
Grosse Savanne Ecotours: Creatures great and small
The alarm woke me at 5:15 a.m., far too early for my night owl tendencies. While it was still dark, I dressed for adventure as a cup of strong coffee brewed on the credenza. With cup in hand, I headed to the van waiting outside the hotel — to be whisked away to, well…. someplace […]