Playa Carrillo, Costa Rica – I strongly believe in the wisdom of “If it ain’t broke…” especially when it comes to kids. (Because let’s face it, it will be broke soon enough.) That’s why we decided to return to the…
Free Things to Do in Moscow
Moscow, Russia – The socialist dream has been officially abandoned, but it’s still possible to have fun for free in Moscow. Here are my top picks for spending your time in the Russian capital without spending your money. Read more…
Turtle Tour
Playa Camaronal, Costa Rica – A few years ago, somebody gave us this children’s book that follows the life cycle of a hawksbill turtle, Tammy the Turtle: A Tale of Saving Sea Turtles, by Suzanne Tate. The story tracks Tammy…
This trip just got a whole lot better
Playa Carrillo, Costa Rica – The grandparents are here! The grandparents are here!
Global Shopping Guide
Cambridge, Mass – It’s been nearly a decade since I have set foot in a mall between Thanksgiving and Christmas. And no, I don’t do all my Christmas shopping over the internet. Most of my shopping gets done when I am…
Westward Ho!
Puerto Carillo, Costa Rica – We survived a six-hour drive across the country to the Pacific Coast. Once again, Tres Hermanas BBQ was perfectly placed to be our stopping point. My restaurant review from last year still holds true. Bonus:…
Rio Sarapiqui
Chilamate, Costa Rica – Life in this part of the country revolves around the river. It has long been an artery for transportation and trade, a source for fishing and – most importantly for our purposes – the go-to destination…
Life in the Rainforest
Chilamate, Costa Rica – Our first stop in Costa Rica is Chilamate, located on the Sarapiqui River in the country’s Northern Lowlands, a rainforest-covered region that was in danger of being completely converted to banana and pineapple plantations. With the growth of ecotourism,…
Journeys & Arrivals
Alajuela, Costa Rica – One of my travel truisms is that all the best places are hard to get to. You can’t just take a direct flight to paradise. It requires multiple flights, perhaps on tiny airplanes. Or – even better – multiple…
Peter & the Wolf
Boston, Massachusetts – I always envy those people at the symphony who are sitting in their seats, completely enraptured by the music, and discreetly conducting their own private orchestra. They know the music so well–at least they think they know…