A few years ago we started a new holiday tradition in our house. Realizing how much we disliked the craziness that is the American Christmas season, Brenda and I decided to start taking our three kids on a trip, in place of buying gifts. We thought it would be a great way to connect as […]
It’s getting to be that time of year when Brenda and I start thinking about Germany. I know that may sound odd, but for quite a few years we were fortunate to visit Frankfurt, Germany every December. One of our vendors, a German company, participates in a large international trade show in Frankfurt that we […]
The older we get, the more we prefer warm weather. It might be because we’ve spent our lives growing up in Wisconsin, where there truly is a shortage of warm days. But whatever the reason, both Brenda and I are constantly seeking places that afford us long days of hot, humid weather. This certainly is […]
Osprey Porter 46, Tortuga, Minaal 2.0 For me, backpacks are like tattoos. I have more than I need and less than I want. I wouldn’t say it’s an obsession, but I am constantly looking for a better carry-on bag. A few bad travel experiences can leave a lasting impression. Brenda and I clearly remember what […]
Kurt Vonnegut once said that a step backward, after making a wrong turn, is a step in the right direction. For me, the step in the right direction after our wrong turn was to step back and take a few minutes to appreciate the remarkable day we just experienced. Brenda and I had only been […]
Playa Santa Teresa The phrase, ‘words can’t express…’ is certainly fitting when trying to describe our initial reaction to stepping out of the brush and onto the beach at Santa Teresa. It’s not like we haven’t seen our share of nice beaches, but Playa Santa Teresa was just different. We happened to hit the beach […]
I must admit, I had some baked in perceptions of what to expect for our first trip to Costa Rica. Lush jungle, beautiful beaches, hot humid weather, etc. All the things you’d expect after reading about this tropical paradise. But as is the case many times, our preconceived notions don’t quite match up with reality. […]