Ostional, Costa Rica – Exactly two years ago, we took a turtle tour to Playa Camaronal, where we witnessed one brave olive ridley turtle, as she diligently, laboriously, dug her hole, deposited her eggs and returned to the sea. Last…
Snorkeling the Nicoya Peninsula
Playa Hermosa, Costa Rica – Costa Rica is not much of a snorkeling and diving destination. I mean, there’s no reef here. For a tropical country with two coastlines, there is little to see–at least compared to Belize, which is…
Rincon de la Vieja
Liberia, Costa Rica – The twins were really excited about coming to Costa Rica. What were they most excited about? When I posed this question, Twin S answered unequivocally, unhesitatingly, that he couldn’t wait to go hiking. In fact, he’s…
Thanksgiving
Playa Hermosa, Costa Rica – We skipped Thanksgiving this year. Well, we didn’t totally skip it. We had a drastically scaled down, Thanksgiving dinner (with stuffing and pumpkin pie and, um, chicken) two days before the fact. But on Thanksgiving…
Someone Else’s Life
Provodenciales, Turks & Caicos – Just back from a long weekend in the islands, where I was staying in a luxury resort, lounging on one of the world’s most beautiful beaches, and indulging in gourmet food and drink, all without…
Boston City Guide
Boston, Mass – I barely remember working on the latest Boston City Guide, but here it is — now in living color. Ask for this fine piece of writing at your local bookstore. In honor of the occasion, read…
Cruisin’ Old Cape Cod
Just when you thought it was time to hunker down for winter… 4 days / 60 miles This trip runs from Sandwich, Cape Cod’s oldest town, to Provincetown, a breeding ground for artistic and alternative culture. Along the way, there’s…
Beware the Mummy’s Tomb
Somerville, Mass – I’m not sure where it came from–perhaps from reading the Magic Tree House series–but the twins have become obsessed with Ancient Egypt. It was a no-brainer that one of them would want to be a mummy for…
Free Things to do in Boston
Boston, Mass – Bostonians pay notoriously high prices for baseball tickets and real estate. But fortunately, budget travelers can experience the best of Boston without paying a cent. Here’s the scoop on 21 free (or nearly free) things to do, see,…
Esh Circus Arts
Somerville, Mass – Long before I had children of my own, I remember meeting an acquaintance’s bright 10-year-old child, who spent a portion of his summer attending circus camp. I was flabbergasted that a parent would waste valuable time and and…