24 Feb
25 Nov
Competitive Birding: The Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge
A Day at the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Preserve So the government shutdown ended, the National Parks reopened, and we finally got to make our annual trip to the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Preserve last weekend. If you think birding sounds boring, then you haven’t done it with preschoolers. After some initial disagreement on the rules of the game–a duck is not a bird…yes it is…no it isn’t, etc– the boys spent the entire eight-mile driving loop diligently trying to spot a bird and then... Read More
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
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
22 Aug
