For my son’s 8th birthday, we decided to break open our piggy banks and take him to Disney World. Eight is pretty much the perfect age, by my estimation. Old enough to walk around by himself — no carrying or strollers required. Old enough to remember the trip and treasure the memory. But still young

The Costa Brava, or the “Brave Coast” of Spain, is, seemingly, oddly named. What does courage have to do with the lovely rocky coastline and sandy beaches of this northern Spanish region? Well, it’s a confused translation. Brava means brave, yes, but it also means “fierce” or “wild,” and that is completely appropriate. Wild, for

By Alexandria Nolan-Miller Sometimes it isn’t better or worse — it’s a third thing entirely. Interesting. A lesson. An opportunity. My family is currently in Spain. We’re on the coast about an hour and a half from Barcelona, in the Costa Brava. We’ve been here before, but usually only as a day trip. The last

Lately, we have been trying to dip into vacation mode with a little more regularity. However, this has been met with no small amount of difficulty. With plane ticket prices so high, gas prices through the roof, and everything more expensive than it used to be, we have instead tried to find staycation opportunities closer

My husband is an athlete. When we were in high school together (though I was two years his junior), he seemed like some kind of minor god to me. I’d watch him from the stands at Holy Redeemer Field, my history teacher—the football coach—invoking his name and comparing him to the English Navy darting around

We recently ventured down to South Padre Island for a getaway. Honestly, I wasn’t sure what to expect. When I was in high school, it was a popular destination with my peers. In Michigan, that made it seem like the island must be something special — why choose it over anywhere else if it wasn’t

By Alexandria Nolan-Miller Isn’t it funny that one of the best parts of travel is the anticipation long before the trip begins? You aren’t there yet, the bags aren’t packed, and still the magic has already started working on you. The promise of new places, different scenery, and an alternate rhythm of life, even if

By Alexandria Nolan-Miller Sometimes, even when we think we know how a trip will go, we still manage to be surprised by how different it turns out. The last time I traveled to England, I thought I knew exactly what I was in for. After all, I had been to Yorkshire several times. I had

By Alexandria Nolan-Miller Often, a significant life event is marked with a trip of some kind. Not always to a far-flung or exotic location, and not always in a way that looks impressive from the outside. Sometimes these moments are celebrated more simply, closer to home. Still, again and again, transitions and accomplishments seem to

A new year is usually filled with resolutions, and mine often contradict one another. Save more money, but travel to new places. Start a more disciplined workout routine, but take more time to rest. Eat healthier, but also enjoy life’s most delicious pleasures. My goals end up clashing, and I’m left debating who I am

Home for the holidays. Nostalgia curling around you like steam from a mug, snow-slicked streets, a tree hung with ornaments you once made with glue-sticky fingers, warm cable-knit sweaters, fireside conversations with the people who raised you. But what happens when home for the holidays no longer means any of those things? Your parents sell

Traveling is a lot of things. It’s liberating — you are no longer confined by the self and circumstances of your everyday life. It can be affirming and meaningful, revealing parts of yourself you might never encounter in your regular world. Traveling is a break — a moment outside of regular time — giving you,