Orlando, Florida – Today is High School Senior Day at Universal Studios. Ugh. Staff advised that both “land parks” would be packed, despite our best efforts to come during a off-peak period. What a great opportunity, we decided, to check…
Wizarding World of Harry Potter
Orlando, Florida – Last year, when the twins turned 7, we hosted an all-out over-the-top Harry Potter birthday party, complete with a wand-making workshop, a potions class and a Quidditch match. It was too much fun. And too much work.…
Why I Love Moscow
Moscow, Russia–A city that people love to hate. It’s big, crowded and confusing, and people speak Russian there (eye roll). It is often appears near the top of lists of the world’s “unfriendliest cities” and this year it was the…
NEW Lonely Planet Guidebooks
Somerville, Mass – The NEW Lonely Planet guidebooks to Moscow and Russia are here, as is the first edition of the brand new Pocket Moscow & St Petersburg guide. This is the culmination of the first half of my summer…
Swimming Pool
Somerville, Mass – There are many keys to a successful family vacation: planning, flexibility, novelty, down time, etc. In our family, however, the most important element is not what you would expect. The surefire guarantee of a good time for…
Big Cat Habitat
Sarasota, Florida – We took a break from the beach to visit the lions and tigers and bears (Oh my!) at the Big Cat Habitat & Gulf Coast Sanctuary. It’s like a zoo, except all of the animals are rescues.…
Venice Rookery
Sarasota, Florida – This is birding at its best. Pull up a chair, pour yourself a glass of wine, prop up your binoculars, and the birds come to you! Actually, they are coming home to roost at the Venice Rookery,…
Nakomis Drum Circle
Sarasota, Florida – What better way to kick off winter break than feeling the beat at Nakomis Beach? Here, on Wednesday and Saturday nights, local drummers bring their instruments and provide the rhythmic accompaniment to the setting sun. Other revelers…
Kids Cultural Events in January
Somerville, Mass – The holidays are over and the presents are no longer new, and the weather is still frightful. As in, single-digit temperatures and–if you’re as lucky as we are in Boston–two snow days in one week. That makes…
Coco Key Water Park
Danvers, Mass – We have Caribbean Islands on the brain, thanks to the recent arrival of a box of books on the subject. We can’t go to the Caribbean this winter, but we can go to Coco Key, an indoor…