Escape From New York: Little Rock, AR

Published in Time Out New York, June 2016

Vacation followed wherever road took us

Published June 30, 2011 in the Commercial Appeal

About a week ago, we set out on our annual cross-country road trip. Rather than head West to visit family as we usually do, we went East to visit friends.

Our first destination was Northampton, Mass., where our friends Liz and Vanessa live with their 6-year-old son and 2-year-old daughter. It's about a 1,300 -mile drive, so we figured our ascent would take about three days. We didn't have any real stops in mind; we just decided to see where the road led us.

We lead such busy, over-scheduled lives that just packing up and hitting the road feels like a real escape for us. Our boys -- ages 7 and 9 -- like the adventure a road trip brings as well. We hit the road for a month with our oldest when he was just 3 months old.

We left Memphis around 9:30 a.m. and spent the entirety of Day 1 crossing Tennessee. We stopped for lunch at a trendy burger joint in Nashville called Burger Up because of its proximity to Las Paletas, a mecca for homemade ice pop fans. Fortified, we kept going until we didn't want to go anymore...(Read more).

Weekend trip to New York just what Mom needed

Published June 16, 2011 in the Commercial Appeal

Last weekend, I went to New York with a friend. It was my second "Girls Weekend" this year, which is completely unprecedented.

My husband has been working out of town a lot this year, which isn't actually anything new, but now that my boys are 7 and 9, I'm finding it easier to say yes when friends present opportunities like this.

We stayed in Greenpoint, which is in Brooklyn near the East River within walking distance of the very popular Williamsburg neighborhood. I haven't been to New York City in about 12 years, and I had never been in Brooklyn, so I didn't quite know what to expect, but my friend (who is also a mom) and I had plans to do all of the things that we can't usually do with our children -- eat in trendy restaurants, drink fancy cocktails, carry on long, uninterrupted conversations, shop, stay up late, and sleep even later...(Read more).

Yellowstone helps raise appreciation for wildlife

Yellowstone helps raise appreciation for wildlife
Published August 13, 2009 in the Commercial Appeal

While vacationing in Yellowstone National Park, my children (Satchel, 7, and Jiro, 5) participated in the Yellowstone Junior Ranger program.

It really helped them (and me) to understand the difference between wild animals living in a naturally protected area and animals living in captivity in a zoo. (It also gave my husband and former forest ranger, Warren, a good excuse to wake us all up at 7 a.m. every day.)...(Read more).

Road trip a 'Vacation' for a new generation

Road trip a 'Vacation' for a new generation
Published July 30, 2009 in the Commercial Appeal

For the past week, my family has been driving through the great plains en route to Yellowstone National Park. My husband, Warren, is the descendent of North Dakota farmers, so once every three years we drive across country for a family reunion. Thankfully, our boys, Satchel, 7, and Jiro, 5, love road trips...(Read more)

All Aboard, New Orleans

All Aboard, New Orleans
Published September 2008 in Memphis Parent

When my husband and I decided to take the train to New Orleans for a family vacation this summer, I worried about how we’d get around once we landed. But thanks to great public transportation, bike rentals, and our own two feet, it was a breeze. My 4- and 6-year-old sons especially loved using these new modes of transportation.

The kids are so excited about riding the train, they don’t even care where we’re going. Their enthusiasm is contagious enough to make our 5 a.m. wake-up call almost bearable. We board Amtrak’s City of New Orleans, and depart from the Central Train Station on South Main at 6:30 a.m. There’s a healthy crowd on this mid-July morning — young folks and old, traveling solo or with family. As we settle in, I notice the cars are clean and the staff friendly, the seats are even surprisingly comfortable. Outlets under the windows power up our electronics, which come in handy during this nine-hour trek...(Read more)