Venice, Florida – One of our favorite annual activities is birding at the Venice Rookery. Just before sunset, hundreds of birds come home to roost on this tiny island, managed by the Venice Audubon Society. This outing offers prime bird…
Winter Break Escape
Sarasota, Florida – It’s that time of year again, when we fly south for a winter break escape with the grandparents in Florida. Poor Daddio was sick as a dog when we left. He managed to drop us at the…
Red Sox Spring Training
Fort Myers, Florida – For Daddio’s birthday we took him to a Red Sox game. Sometimes we take Daddio to a baseball game for Father’s Day, but we usually can’t do it for his birthday in February. But this year,…
Winter Break Escape
Sarasota, Florida – This week the twins joined all of the other grandchildren of Massachusetts, making our annual winter break escape to Sarasota, Florida. I don’t love Sarasota: there are too many strip malls and traffic jams. But how I…
Something for Everyone
Clermont, Florida – A long, long time ago (before twins) I used to do triathlons. In recent years, I have contemplated taking up this hobby again, though I was afraid to commit. This year, Daddio answered this lingering question for…
Universal’s Volcano Bay
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.…
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,…