Austin is a special place. In general, yes—but especially to me. It was my first landing after leaving Michigan, my introduction to life outside the mitten. And it was spectacular. Austin, back then, was different. Not just in the way every city shifts over time, but different in its bones. It was a big city

Perched high above the Amalfi Coast, Ravello is a hilltop jewel – without a beach, a little harder to reach than its seaside neighbors, and long adored by golden-age movie stars who knew how to escape the crowds. It feels enchanted, as if it’s been quietly guarding its magic for centuries, waiting for the right

On the Amalfi Coast, there’s a small town called Minori. It’s the kind of place that’s easy to miss – a blink-and-you’re-past-it sort of town. And our stay there was completely accidental. Since my first visit to the Amalfi Coast in 2008, I’ve been back six times. I’ve stayed in Amalfi, Atrani, Ravello, Conca dei

I always loved school. I loved the routine, the consistency. Lunch was always at the same time, followed by recess. Library on Thursday, music on Tuesday, computers on Friday. I loved learning, so that part of school was a win for me, too. I loved to learn and I loved to succeed – so to

We recently found ourselves back on the road to New Orleans – a long weekend trip was just what two burned-out adults and one six-year-old, who couldn’t believe school was still going on, needed. Five hours in the car passed a little quicker with good conversation, great podcasts and our favorite tunes. And just like

Are you a pool person, or do you prefer the beach? In my opinion, this is an important question – it reveals a lot about someone. I tend to associate “beach people” with sand. They love the feeling of it between their toes, the wildness (or calm, depending on the day) of the sea or

One of the best parts of any trip, for me, is reading. Honestly, I think reading is one of the greatest joys of life; but there’s something especially magical about a book by the water. It’s one of those top-tier experiences. I can’t recall a vacation when I didn’t have a book or several, or

When I was growing up, my family didn’t do Spring Break. We didn’t travel or go anywhere special. My parents worked, and if anything, Spring Break was more of a hassle. It meant finding me a babysitter, or as I got older, making sure I stayed out of trouble – though I wasn’t much for

The winter holidays used to mean whirlwind trips to places like Paris, Napa and Copenhagen. They used to be about wandering through European Christmas markets, sipping spiked hot cocoa in the streets of York, or leisurely shopping along the Champs-Elysées. Those were the days. Someday, they may return. But for now, with a six-year-old and

We’ve stumbled into a tradition, quite by accident. It wasn’t planned or carefully thought out; instead, we jostled, bumped into and tripped over it. For the past two years, we’ve gone to Florida during the holidays, and I’m pretty sure this will become a regular thing. One year, we went to Siesta Key with high

With the holidays upon us, I find myself reflecting on the small, almost unnoticeable things that somehow bring the most joy into our lives. Many of these are food-related, as much of life’s pleasure often is. But beyond food, there are tiny comforts, miniature luxuries that hold unique significance. For me, many of these pleasures

Some years ago, I traveled to the French Riviera and explored about as much as possible – it was February, so not much was open. Many of the locals relocate to warmer climes, especially in the villages that mainly cater to tourism in the sunny summertime. This past summer on our trip to the French