October 31, 2011
I wonder what it would really be like to be a mom in Miami. Seriously, are they all svelte in their string bikinis while the kids enjoy the soft white sand and chase the sea birds along the water’s edge? I got a little taste of the experience – not in a string bikini however ...
October 30, 2011
I love flowers. I can’t grow them myself – my thumb is more brown than green – and I can’t keep bouquets in the house or my cat will consume them. But I love to tour gardens, whether it’s the enclosed National Botanical Garden near the Nation’s Capitol or a tropical paradise on Maui. I’d ...
October 29, 2011
In 1974 farmers in China unearthed a stunning necropolis built for Qin Shihuangdi, China’s first emperor after its unification dating back to the early 200s BC. This mausoleum was guarded by an army of life-size warriors meant to defend the emperor in the afterlife. Thousands of terracotta figures of various ranks were found, ...
October 28, 2011
The holiday’s are approaching. A little too rapidly for my taste, and probably for you, too. And you may be wondering if you really want to stay home and make that turkey or Tofurky. If you really want to invite Aunt Gladys and her Barber Shop Quartet for Christmas or Hanukkah. Instead, maybe you’re thinking ...
October 24, 2011
It boggles the mind. If William Faulkner and Elvis Presley had met, would they have been friends? Did they ever meet? That was the question my son asked as we traveled the deep south, enjoying Mississippi’s steamy greenery and historic sights ranging from Elvis’ birthplace to Faulkner’s home, Rowan Oak. Oxford Mississippi – Town Square ...
October 22, 2011
Okay, technically we’re talking about the Philadelphia Museum of Art, but my kids wanted to see this world class art institute initially because of its prominence in Sylvester Stallone’s Rocky movies. Yes, this is where Rocky jogged up those long, long steps and looked triumphantly out over the city. It’s also where a bronze statue ...
October 21, 2011
When you’re looking for a vacation spot, do you consider the ecological consequences? Are you looking for an environmentally friendly hotel as well as a family friendly accommodation? If you’re buying organic apples and BPA-free canned soup at the grocery store, are you also concerned with whether or not that hotel duvet your child is ...
October 20, 2011
Just in time for Halloween, spinning webs that must be seen, they gather there just like a coven, knitting silk intricately woven… The splendid spooky spiders are back at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County! For a limited time (now through November 6), this special exhibit features a walk-through pavilion where spiders spin ...
October 18, 2011
Usually I come to you with tales of the great times we’ve had, or the cities and events I can recommend as a scenic stop or vacation destination families will enjoy. Sure, occasionally I unleash a diatribe against discount airlines, or a less than pristine hotel. But this is the first time in this arena ...
October 17, 2011
Golden Gate Park on a beautiful October day. Six stages. Alt-country, folk, rock, bluegrass, just plain eclectic music. Food stands with everything from pizza to raw vegan fare. Senior citizens in tie dye shirts. College students by the score. And lots and lots of – families. Families with small children, big children, babies, too. Yes, ...
