The journey back home from a road trip is different than the journey to somewhere else. On the way back, I know that I am returning to reality. This fatigued schlep changes to enthusiasm, however, when I see that I am close to home. Suddenly I am filled with gratitude for things I once took for granted. At that point, everything becomes beautiful and new.
I had driven 1,227.2 miles from Utah to Minnesota and for a moment I thought I had finished, but then I realized that soon I would need to find my way back home. My challenge then became to notice new things on a familiar path.

Cedar Point – The World’s Best Amusement Park?! Why yes, indeed, it is…not only because of the 19 world-class roller coasters, or because it has been named that for the last 18 years, but because it’s just awesome.

You're in the right place - Michigan's Sunset Coast (aptly named, for the gorgeous sunsets!). The beaches on Lake Michigan are clean, sandy, and very swimmable. There are excellent restaurants, extraordinary artists, great music, and plenty of outdoor activities. It's my favorite place, in the whole world.

In 1989, I made my first trek to Salt Lake City’s famed Red Iguana restaurant.
 
I was just 14 then and had gone to the four-year-old Mexican restaurant during a solo trip to see my brother, who lived in the area.
 

 

Resilience is a many-faceted quality. More than bouncing back, more than making it through, more than stepping up to face a difficult situation, yet resilience may include aspects of all those things. It is a quality needed in day to day life. Events on the world stage and how they may impact that day to day life also call for resilience. It's a quality affected by one's resources, background, and perception. One way to increase those resources is to hear stories of how others confront such disquieting and challenging circumstances. 

It’s a calm spring morning and I’m wondering what the heck I’ve gotten myself into. In just three days, I’m leaving on a long road trip from Utah to Minnesota. The trip will take me 17 hours and 52 minutes if I never, ever stop for gas, eat, sleep, or go to the restroom. Since I know that won’t happen, I’m not going to make a commitment to any certain arrival time.  

I'm elated to share the extraordinary art of Rachel Alvarez, a native of Salisbury, Maryland. She received her BFA in Painting and Photography from Salisbury University in 2002. Her original work has been exhibited at a number of local galleries, and her prints, notecards, and decals can be found in shops across the United States. Her work is inspired by her 2 children. Each piece in her collection was completed during their nap times and reflects her family’s love for backcountry drives, beach outings, and hikes in the woods.

Water. At some point in social studies classes, we stop learning about water and start learning about economics, history, and even a bit of geography. Water winds up reserved for science experiments and sips from the drinking fountain down the hallway. I never really understood why. Humans and the earth are made mostly of water. We need to drink it to survive, and the land needs it to thrive.

Let's face it - a family vacation isn't the ideal setting for romance. But with a few thoughtful gestures, romance can still be alive and well, despite the rigors of travel and the exhaustion of caring for your kids in a new locale. Here are ten tips for keeping romance alive while you're traveling with your family.

Hocking Hills feels hidden, tucked away.
 
Unlike most state parks with large signs hailing the entrance and easy-to-find landmarks, you’ve got to work to find the ring of sites that make up the Ohio’s Hocking Hills State Park. (Need a place to stay? Click here for best places, rates, and availability.)