by Wendy
When manic weather swings from balmy to cold rain, and New Year’s motivation has left the party long ago, and you’re powering through the work routine in the daytime and hibernating at home in the evening, travel adventures can feel far away from reality. Looking back at old photos helps spark inspiration, as well as the reassurance to keep looking ahead. There will be beauty on both familiar and unfamiliar paths. Continue reading
The third anniversary of Looks and Leaps is celebrated in January! While we haven’t published as frequently during the past couple of months, we definitely look forward to sharing more stories this year. In the meantime, be sure to browse the archive – 2017 included posts on Banff National Park, Canada, Montana, Disney, Hilton Head, Paris, San Sebastian, Madrid, Philadelphia, Coronado California, a Game of Thrones theme dinner, New Mexico, Vermont, and many other destinations and topics. A special thanks to our writers – and of course, all readers! Cheers!
by Wendy
It has been busy. I miss writing about travel. I also miss Spain although Jack and I were just there last week. Continue reading
by Wendy
It’s funny and endearing how many Americans will call out, “Hey, where are you from?” when hearing an accent similar to their own while in a foreign city. Sometimes they even stop to have a brief conversation. Or ask if you’ll take their photo.
When surrounded by another language and doing your best to understand, your ears do perk up a little when you hear a fellow English speaker, native or otherwise. Especially when you overhear amusing comments, like these in Paris. Continue reading
by Wendy
In honor of March Madness, when basketball fans across the country try to predict which team will win the famous college tournament, I created a “travel bracket” for Jack’s amusement. Various destinations he’s previously visited face off against each other to determine his favorites.
This is procrastination at its finest. The diagram was drawn (badly) on the back of Spanish homework while I was supposed to be studying for a midterm. But it’s fun, and inspires memories of past trips and discussions on where to go next! Jack wanted to draft a travel bracket for me as soon as he saw it – with slightly different categories such as family trips, hotels, beaches and cities. It was a close competition, but in the end I guess it was no big surprise that Madrid won for both of us
by Wendy
Will recording personal resolutions on this blog make it more likely that I’ll keep them? Probably not, but here goes. Continue reading
by Sunny
follow me on Twitter @Sunnylooksleaps
Let me start by saying that most of our travels are pretty awesome if not very awesome. But every once in a while you get thrown for a loop and encounter a doozy of a fail that will be a standard in your travel story repertoire for years to come. Here are two of mine.
by Wendy
Follow me on twitter @wendylooksleaps
One of the rewards of visiting another country is the opportunity to observe and appreciate what is different – as well as noticing what is the same. These flashes of familiarity can make you feel very connected to a place in ways you did not expect. Dad talks about this a little in his Travel Epistle post, how senses are often heightened during travel, and how the basic human need of eating and drinking can help visitors get to know a new place.
The other week my eye doctor told me about a recent trip to Portugal with his sister. I’m a longtime patient of his, sometimes obliged to visit twice a year because I’m blind as a bat with unusually high pressure readings for glaucoma. Luckily this bat can see well with contact lenses and doesn’t get quite as nervous about these appointments as she did as a bat teen. It’s pretty routine, we shoot the breeze and I ask what cool trips he’s taken lately. Continue reading
by Sunny
follow Sunny on Twitter @Sunnylooksleaps
There is nothing better than picking out the perfect novel to take on your next trip. But wouldn’t you agree there are some books that inspire you to travel or get you super psyched to visit a new destination? Here are four suggestions for books to read before you travel to that new city.
by Sunny
follow me on Twitter @Sunnylooksleaps
Packed and ready to go!
You know that as serial nonrevs our motto is that “getting there is half the fun.” I would say that we also live for the anticipation of an upcoming trip. As adults, anticipating a trip is like a kid waiting for Christmas – it sometimes seems like it takes forever and will never get here, but when it does, oh boy, was the waiting ever worth it! Here are some ways to get you – and your kids – hyped up for upcoming travel.