Sixtysomething-year-old newlyweds travelling the world together – Adventure Awaits!
I first heard about Carlsbad Caverns when I was just a kid. In the storied way of Americans in the 1960s, neighbors of ours took a family trip out West in their station wagon, as in "See the USA in a Chevrolet." One of the daughters came back brimming with stories of the trip, especially … Continue reading Carlsbad Caverns: An exquisite labyrinth
How many times had we planned and canceled trips to Big Bend National Park, I wondered? Four times, maybe? Or five? I can’t remember. And then, in late August, our friend Rick suggested that we plan a trip together to Big Bend for the October 2 new moon. The Big Bend area is the largest … Continue reading A Train Journey to Big Bend National Park
We started our week on Washington's Olympic Peninsula in Forks, WA, a hamlet on the Olympic Highway, which is famous in some circles for the steamy vampire romance series, "Twilight," which is a series of both books and films, all set in Forks. In the early days when Twilight was new, it wasn't unusual to … Continue reading The Magical Diversity of Washington’s Olympic Peninsula
I considered naming this post "Dodging wildfires on the Pacific Coast," or "A really unfortunate detour," but those sound so alarmist, sad, and, well, dangerous, which misses that we really had a good time on the Oregon Coast, and in the California Redwoods. Well, we mostly had a good time. All except for the unfortunate … Continue reading The Oregon Coast, Yachats, and Yachats Revisted
We began our visit to the Oregon Coast at the northernmost point of U.S. Highway 101 in Oregon, and that is the quaint and historic town of Astoria. Astoria sits at the mouth of the Columbia River and is known for quite a bit, including its history as the oldest city in Oregon, being founded … Continue reading Charming Astoria, Oregon
Seeing a single California Redwood, especially for the first time, is astonishing. As the tallest trees on the planet, which some call sacred or holy, they never fail to impress. Walking among an entire forest of these giant trees is an unforgettable experience. As the walk goes on, the memory of what anything other than … Continue reading A Walk Among the Giants
Tropical garden at the Audubon House In our first 24 hours in Key West, we visited a place called The Audubon House that Audubon never lived in or even visited, went to Mallory Square for a fabled sunset celebration known for its street performers, including jugglers, clowns, psychics, artists, and musicians, that was, in reality, … Continue reading Relaxing days in the Conch Republic: Key West, Florida
We are at the beach house of our friends Larry and Laurie. They are in Italy for two weeks visiting their son, who works in Rome, and touring the country. We are here caring for their sweet, easygoing pup, Banjo. The house is on Oak Island, a barrier island in the Brunswick beaches off the … Continue reading Nothin’ could be finer: A dog’s life in North Carolina
I spent a summer during college working at the Many Glacier Hotel in Glacier National Park. At the time, I had barely travelled outside of the Southeast and I was awestruck by the park. It was simply the most beautiful place I’d ever seen. Fast forward to now, many years later, and after visiting nearly … Continue reading An Accidental Reunion in Glacier National Park
Two of the most beautiful and iconic national parks in the U.S. are next door neighbors to each other: Grand Teton and Yellowstone. We booked early – and got lucky – and were able to line up in-the-park lodging for both. In Grand Teton, we stayed in a charming, historic cabin in the Colter Bay … Continue reading Grand Teton and Yellowstone mid-pandemic
You and Me, Odyssey 