12 Oct
25 Sep
The Curse of Hawk Mountain: Two Times is Not a Charm
Two years ago, in late October, we took Max and Theo to Allentown for a long weekend. It was beautiful. The weather was perfect and we enjoyed the Lehigh Valley Zoo and a great train ride through the country. There was pumpkin picking and a halloween parade. Quintessential fall weekend, etc, etc. We figured we would squeeze in one more activity before heading home on Sunday, so we drove (camper hitched and all) to Hawk Mountain, where we planned on a taking in a raptor show and enjoying a nice hike. Ha. Maybe they were tired from the weekend.... Read MoreThank You Vermont. We Can’t Wait to Come Back.
We came home from Vermont over two weeks ago, but part of me still feels like I’m there. It was one of my favorite road trips of all time–and I’ve been on a few. Here are my top ten reasons for still wanting to say thank you to Vermont: 1. For your family friendly hikes and swims filled with beauty and adventure. 2. For your underrated roadside barbecue joints. Vermont, the South has nothing on you! 3. For making me feel like Wordsworth ambling around the Lake District on golden summer days. I’ll take... Read More
03 Sep
My National Park Story Is Up…How About Yours?
I stumbled across–by way of a tweet–this great project by the National Parks Conservation Association. You can submit your National Park story to www.myparkstory.org and they have a bunch published on the site. As I read through them, I was really encouraged by how many families have built lasting, beautiful memories by enjoying one of the best investments this country has made. So, of course, I submitted my own story. I could have chosen from many important moments I have experienced with my children in a National Park. In the... Read More
31 Aug
Future Summer Camp Prospects? VINS, Quechee, Vermont
On our last morning in Vermont, we decided to let the campers stretch their legs before the long car ride home and headed to VINS, the Vermont Institute of Natural Science, which was right up the road from our campground. The center is perfectly designed to blend in with its natural surroundings, and the parking lot, buildings, and educational areas don’t distract from the beauty of the landscape. * The boys watched the songbirds being fed, and particularly enjoyed a visit to the bird hospital. The signs warned them to be quiet in the... Read More
29 Aug
Mt. Tom, Vermont (or the day that the “Precipice Trail” seemed like a great option for kids and baby)
When I went to talk to the Ranger about climbing Mount Tom, he took one look at our merry band of pirates and decided that wide paths and gentle upgrades were the way to go. As he highlighted a route to the summit, he specifically told me to stay away from the Precipice Trail. That’s a real trail, he said. Real narrow and steep. You’re best off sticking to the carriage roads. Like a good mom, I listened to the advice of experts and we climbed the two-plus miles up to the summit, sticking to the wide carriage roads. The trail did... Read More
25 Aug
