The Rockhouse Experience

by Sunny

follow me on Twitter @sunnylooksleaps

There are many different reasons to travel: business, pleasure, visiting, celebrating, exploring, and experiencing new cultures.  Now, we love to travel and love to sightsee.  We visit at least one new city a year and check off our list of “must-see” attractions just about everywhere we go.  Jimmy and I have raised a little travel trooper who at 6-years-old has walked Pike Place Market, the expanse of the National Mall, and Walt Disney World four times over.   More often than not, our travels are full of adventure from dawn to dusk.  Our most recent trip to Jamaica was anything but….and it was perfect.  Read on to find out how two sightseeing, schedule- packing travelers turned off their calendars, to-do lists, and devices to enjoy the peace and bliss of a truly relaxing vacation.

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Travel and Memory

by Jack
follow me on twitter @jacklhalsey

My dear aunt, a lifelong resident of Perth Amboy, New Jersey passed away earlier this summer. Instead of the traditional funeral, a memorial was organized at her favorite restaurant. Situated on the shank of a bluff overlooking the Raritan Bay, the large picture windows showcased the pastoral shore of Staten Island, just across the water. As the room filled with family and friends and I gazed out over the refurbished waterfront I was struck by the dramatic physical change to the town I had spent my early childhood in. Continue reading

My Favorite Reads of 2015

by Wendy
A couple of years ago, I realized I was spending a little too much time on CandyCrush and television reruns. So I set a goal of reading at least 12 books a year, kept a list and got back into a habit I didn’t realize how much I missed. As Sunny points out in her excellent post, books inspire trips and provide a window to unfamiliar lifestyles and cultures. When reviewing what I read over the past 12 months, I realized how many are translations or stories that take place in other countries. Reading is in itself a form of travel, and I have loved that aspect since I was a kid. Here are my top favorites from 2015. Not necessarily all published in 2015, but the best ones I happened to read. I haven’t written about books since school, so I’m out of practice. As a result everything below will be brief. Continue reading

Feeling at Home in Madrid

by Wendy
Follow me on twitter @wendylooksleaps

My husband Jack said I am a collector of cities. I love trying to find a connection to the energy and color and diverse daily scenes of cities I visit. Cities offer reinvention and reassurance. They spark imagination. You learn to share your living space with others, while you’re also challenged to showcase uniqueness. There is an art to living in a city.

Madrid is the city we’ve visited most often in Spain. It is magical to me. History and cutting-edge are side by side. The landmark plazas and modern restaurants. The seedy and the sophisticated. The architecture and museums. It can feel like New York City, a night owl’s haven, a refuge for the weird, a sense that there is always a new discovery no matter how many streets you wander. I’ve heard other visitors sound less enthusiastic, but I love Madrid and will always try to claim it as one of my cities. In my mind I pretend that I’m more than a tourist. Instead, Jack and I have a relationship with Madrid, we’re on familiar terms. There’s no real must-see must-do list. We keep the camera-crazy gaping to a minimum and instead, play it cool. Well we try. Here are some city scenes/observations from our recent stops at the beginning and end of our fall road trip. Continue reading

Welcoming Travelers at Home

by Wendy
follow me on twitter @wendylooksleaps

Jack and I lived in a one bedroom apartment in the heart of DC for about 10 years. Despite the limited space, we always enjoyed hosting family and friends from out of town. I think nearly 20 different guests crashed on our Ikea fold-out sofa in the living room – many during multiple visits over the years. I loved that apartment, but one of the best things about moving to a house is having a designated guest bedroom. Our rowhouse is not big, and everyone still shares a bathroom, but having a real bed and door that closes gives travelers a little more space during longer visits. My sisters April and Sunny and their families are our most frequent visitors, and I love that their kids consider our casa their home away from home. I’m still learning how to be a better hostess, but here is my strategy for making friends and family feel welcome. Continue reading

Packing Up the Kids…When They Aren’t Coming With You

by Sunny

follow me on Twitter @Sunnylooksleaps

My husband and I were counting the days.  We were booking spa appointments, shopping for sunscreen, and acting like the newlyweds we were 10 years ago.  Celebrating our 10th anniversary is beyond exciting, especially since we booked a reservation at the unique Rockhouse Hotel in Jamaica – a trip we’ve been planning since we returned from our honeymoon. Click on the link and you will instantly want to visit – Don’t say I didn’t warn you.  We packed up our daughter, too…to stay at my parents’ house.  It’s kind of bittersweet.  She’s traveled with us on every trip we’ve taken since she was born except for one.  We love traveling with her, but this trip was for the two of us.  Even though she stayed here, there was PLENTY of planning and packing that needed to be done for her.  Read on for tips about packing the kids when they are enjoying a “staycation” while you are on vacation!

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St. Jean de Luz: Princess or Surfer Girl

by Wendy
During our road trip this past September, we drove across the Spanish border to spend a few days in St. Jean de Luz. We were looking forward to seeing this small coastal town in the French Basque Region. We listened to Euskadi radio as we drove through mountain tunnels and watched the scenery turn greener. I’d say expectations were high. Continue reading

Pictures of Pamplona Post

by Wendy
Follow me on twitter @wendylooksleaps

Jack and I were in Pamplona for one night – probably less than 24 hours total. We usually try to avoid those kind of short stays, but it was a road trip with a full itinerary and we wanted to visit this famous capital of Spain’s Navarre region. Here are a few photos of our time in this elegant city.  Continue reading

Playing Hooky from Thanksgiving

by Wendy
A few years ago, Jack and I decided to do what we always talked about (and surely you have too) and go to the Caribbean for the long Thanksgiving weekend. We love our families, we love spending the holidays with them, we love the traditions, so this was a difficult choice (and one that can make you feel a little guilty). The previous months had been especially busy – work stress, a milestone birthday and resolved health issue – and it felt like the right time to take advantage of that extra day off after Thanksgiving and escape for a 4 day break. Continue reading