Tag Archives: travel tips

Escape from the City: The Full Relax

by Jack

The perfect weekend getaway.
Often the effort and expense of these short trips can leave you wondering whether you would have been just as happy with a walk to the local watering hole followed by some Netflixation. Going somewhere new, centering on weather dependent activities, pushing the envelope on time, all bring in some risk to the trip, admittedly with no small reward if everything clicks, but often inviting frustration and disappointment. So it follows going somewhere tried and true, with numerous different activities, just far enough away to be considered a trip, is about as risk free as it gets. Continue reading →

Enjoy the Journey – even more activities for kids!

by April

Picture 001

Even with a light saber, would Mickey Mouse stand a chance against Batman?

 

As I’ve posted before, whether you are traveling by plane or by car, it always pays to prepare for down time when traveling with kids.  When you’ve exhausted the classic games and songs, here a few more fun (and free!) ideas for keeping everyone entertained on road trip – no extra packing required!

Continue reading →

The Lure of the Caribbean

by Joe
You say Carabean, I say Caribbean, but let’s not call the whole thing off… No matter how you say it, there’s nothing quite like it. It’s a place that transforms you quickly and forces you to relax, recharge, and reinforce the reasons you take a beach vacation. Continue reading →

A quiet guide to Copenhagen

by Wendy

I love reading travel blogs, and there are so many talented writers out there. While I like travel stories about exotic locations and adventures, I also like stories that celebrate more accessible experiences and find joy in simple things. During trips near and far, I try to balance the sensory overload and thrill of the journey with taking time to pause and appreciate the setting. With that, I give you my quiet guide to Copenhagen, Denmark. Continue reading →

The Hawaii Diaries: Days 10-12

By Joe

Day 10: Beach day and a Luau
After a long day yesterday of exploring the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, a relaxing day by the beach sounded beachy. Cindy and I ate breakfast at a Starbucks and headed for the beach. We tried to snorkel early but the water was not cooperating as it was not very clear. No worries, the beach chairs felt fine. Continue reading →

The Hawaii Diaries: Days 7-9

Lava Pit

by Joe
Day 7: Reposition Day
Later today we leave Maui and head to the Big Island. Our flight on Hawaiian Air does not leave until this afternoon so we have time for breakfast and a nice hike down to the black sand beach we found the first day we arrived. It’s in a state park and not many people there this morning. We packed up to leave a great hotel. The Makena Beach and Golf Resort is a wonderful place and highly recommended. Large rooms, beautiful quiet beach, great food and attentive and friendly staff. It is the last hotel in the string of great hotels in the Wailea area, but the further away you get from the mega hotels adds to the Hawaiian look and feel of the place. We’re sad to leave this spot but looking forward to visiting an island we’ve not seen yet.  Continue reading →

Escape from the city: Introduction

Another DC rush hour

Another DC rush hour

My husband has agreed to write a series of posts on some of his favorite weekend road trips. Jack (not Kerouac, though the style is similar) has always lived on the East Coast. While he loves cities, he also has a deep appreciation for small towns, country and coastal landscapes, mountains and woods – and has helped me appreciate them more as well. Combined with history and humor, this makes for a good read.
– Wendy

Escape from the City: Introduction
by Jack

It’s the weekend.
I want to trade the smell of bus diesel and the sound of angry commuters laying on their horns for scents more marine or arboreal in nature and maybe at some point something close to silence.

So I hit the road. Continue reading →

The Hawaii Diaries: Days 4-6

by Joe

Day 4: Tennis, snorkeling and shopping

The Makena Beach and Golf Resort has a tennis center with 6 hard courts of which 2 are lighted. $20 per person per day and they will work with you to get you on the court. Make reservations because it appeared to be a popular place. The courts were nice and the staff was very friendly and accommodating. We played at 10 am and it was already getting warm but a breeze kept you comfortable. After playing about an hour and a half we walked back to the hotel. We found a great place to enjoy the sun on a little bluff overlooking the ocean and beach. Continue reading →

The Hawaii Diaries: Days 1-3

Early morning in Maui

Early morning in Maui

The Looks and Leaps sisters have been recruiting other storytellers in our family to write for the blog. We’re so pleased that our dear Dad, Joe, has shared a wonderful trip journal from the tropical paradise of Hawaii! Hope you enjoy as much as we did! Stay tuned for further installments!

– April, Sunny, Wendy

The Hawaii Diaries: Days 1-3
by Joe

Prologue: Why we came
Late last year my beautiful bride Cindy and I were trying to decide where to go to celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary. We considered many wonderful ideas and finally decided to return to one of our most favorite places we’ve ever been (and the location of our 25th anniversary trip): Hawaii. Continue reading →