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For this year’s summer outing, we headed 18 miles outside of Boston to the historic town of Concord. We spent the day walking the famous paths of the American Revolution and cooling off in the shady beaches of Walden Pond. Eric kicked it off by doing some extensive research at the Visitor’s Center (really, he didn’t have the heart to turn down any of the 60 brochures handed to him by the older gentleman manning the information desk).

(image: Eric fills in as designated tour guide and feels confident we're headed in the right direction)

(image: listening to the audio narration of the first battle of Independence)

With map(s) in hand, we made our way to the Old North Bridge where the “shot heard round the world” was fired. The walk itself wasn’t very long, but in the 90+ degree heat, we retreated to the former mansion of Major Buttrick from circa 1910 (aka the souvenir shop) for some lovely 21st century air conditioning.

(image: April's smiling because next stop is lunch)

We made a lunch stop at Main Streets Café, followed by a most necessary ice cream run at Bedford Farms next door. Choosing which ice cream flavor to get was probably the most challenging part of the day. What’s in Moose Tracks? How about Mississippi Mud? Ack, the pressure! I’ll just get a scoop of Vanilla, please. Unfortunately, inhaling an ice cream cone and taking photos are two things I cannot do at the same time. So you’ll just have to trust me that everyone was looking mighty happy at this part of the outing.

(image: playing dice and feeling bada** in the high school parking lot)

(image: checking out the replica of Thoreau's cabin and exploring the deeper meanings in ... Pokémon GO)

(image: sign marking the original site of Thoreau's cabin)

After being instructed we were a good 14 minutes too early to enter the parking lot, Deb taught us how to play Left Center Right as we waited for Walden Pond to open. Then we planted ourselves on a breezy nook at the far end of the pond, stopping by a replica of Henry David Thoreau's 1-room cabin and its original site on our way. To Ryan’s chagrin, the weak wi-fi signal made it impossible for him to catch any Pokémon.

(image: the shady side of Walden Pond)

For the rest of the afternoon, we lazed away on the beach, some of us dozing off and others dipping in their toes, most missing Sarah (who was sick at home), and all enjoying a day off work. Thanks for a great time, April and Eric!

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Nathan's mom laughed when I told her the story of how the rental car lady compared Telluride to heaven. Apparently, the name Telluride is a shortened version of the phrase "To hell you ride!" Back in the olden days, Telluride was known for being full of hellions (i.e. bandits, thieves, shady people) on top of being quite difficult to get to. Hence the not-so-heavenly saying they called out to wayward travelers making their way to town.

As I made my way to meet up with my friend Emma for the Telluride Bluegrass Festival, I soon found out that perhaps there is something to Telluride’s name. First, I discovered that the cell/wi-fi tower was down, leaving me with no way to reach Emma (and celebrate her birthday with her). Then I was denied entry into the campsite because I didn’t have my festival pass. In an attempt to retrieve said pass, I found out that it had already been used!

No campsite, no concert, no friends.

Faced with feeling sorry for myself, getting angry, or treating myself to some libations, I chose the latter. This led me to the historical New Sheridan Hotel, where a bluegrass band from Oakland, California (an anomaly if I've ever heard one) was playing. And despite my initial skepticism, they were very good! Later that night, I was fortunate to have made friends with a bunch of people from Dallas who spared me uncomfortable lodgings in my car rental.

Thankfully, the cell/wi-fi signals returned the next day, and Emma and I were united (and I was able to wish her a happy belated birthday). After some intense ticket troubleshooting and printing at the public library, all seemed right in the world once again and we headed to the main concert venue.

(photo by Emma McCleavey)

For the next three days, a myriad of bands performed on the main stage and free stage surrounded by nothing less than blissful scenery. Non-stop music, sunbathing, star-gazing, lounging, fresh brews, margaritas, Moscow Mules, chicken sandwiches, burritos, lovely conversation, silly conversation, and river dipping tied the days together.

(photo by Emma McCleavey)

Standout moment of the festival? Emma's friend, Mikey, who hasn’t missed the festival for the past five years, won a free pair of custom made skis for participating in the car pool raffle! I've never seen any individual so excited in my entire life!

Standout performances for me were The 'Lil Smokies, Sara Watkins, and Pokey LaFarge. The 'Lil Smokies played a set worthy of any traditional Bluegrass aficionado's praise. Not to mention it’s a tradition that their fans hurl marshmallows when they perform. Sara Watkins' vocals whispered the crowd into a calm. And Pokey LaFarge really knew how to keep the audience on its toes, borrowing musical nodes from genres like Rockabilly all the way to 80's pop.

Amidst all of this, I even managed to go on a run up to Bridal Veil Falls (I figured after my crash course with altitude poisoning in Aspen, I'd be okay). It was gorgeous. Someone even has a pretty little piece of real estate right atop the fall (though it must be a pain in the you-know-what for the owners to go on grocery runs).

As much as I hate to admit it, I thank you, rental car lady, for making me take the sports utility vehicle for the following reasons:

1) I was able to transport Mikey's skis since they did not fit comfortably in any other vehicle.

2) We were able to stop for breakfast at Kate's Place in the quaint town of Ridgeway where the official Grammys are made (yes, those gold phonograph trophy thingies are made right outside of Telluride).

3) We may or may not have encountered some torrential rain and a landslide detour on our way to Denver. Despite the terrifying and simultaneously awe-inspiring lightning and thunder, we managed to make it back safe and sound and in good spirits.

After dropping off Emma and her friends, I hit the gas and steered toward Boulder (more specifically, Longmont) to make it in time to a summer solstice dinner held by my friend Chaz and her husband Clayton Cole.

Stay tuned for Part 3: Boulder!

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Last month, I made my first trip to Colorado. It was a place I've been wanting to check off my travel list for a while, and upon arriving in Denver, I got to check off another milestone. PICK UP MY FIRST EVER RENTAL CAR! HELLO, ADULTHOOD! Well, sort of, if that means getting hosed by the fast-talkin' woman who allotted me my vehicle. 

I opted for an economy sized car upon initial registration only for the following conversation to ensue:

"Where ya goin' hun?"
"A few places really. Aspen to visit my friend Nathan. Telluride to go to the Bluegrass Festival and meet up with my friend Emma and her friends. And then Boulder to visit my friend Chaz and her husband."
"Oh hun, Telluride's beautiful. Gorgeous. Been to Red Rocks? Gorgeous. Went there last week. Saw a concert. Haled like crazy. Waterfall down the outdoor rock bleachers. But worth it."
"Oh yea. I've heard good things about Red Rocks."
"But Telluride's gorgeous. If there's a heaven, it looks like Telluride. You traveling by yourself, hun?"
"Yep."
"Oh. Well, hun, you can't make it to Telluride in this economy size car. You need at least 6 horsepower to get through those hills on your way there."
"Really? I can't take the (way more affordable) economy sized car?"
"No, you'll be going like 20 miles an hour up those hills. You won't make it. Believe me hun. You'll thank me later. I'll give you the corporate discount. You need that red sports utility vehicle out there. That one. Yep. You have insurance? You'll need this and this and this and this . . . "

And before I knew it, I was holding the keys to a red sports utility vehicle that put more of a hole in my credit card balance than did the round trip ticket to Colorado. But oh well, I was off to Aspen!

The drive to Snowmass, a small town just outside of Aspen, was a beautiful 3.5 hour drive along forest-lined winding roads. I arrived to the warm welcome of Nathan and his family surrounding a game of dice and the communal duo of salsa and tortilla chips. (A little back story: Nathan was part of the Smudge Ink team until he left to work at the Aspen Music Festival). Shortly after introductions, Nathan and his mom showed me around their family’s cattle ranch. Taking in the fields of dandelions, lush greens, and snow-capped mountains in the distance, I fully intended on spotting Maria/Julie Andrews temporarily escaped from her nunnery (a round of Do Re Mi, anyone?). That did not occur, but we did see an elk! 

The next morning I was awoken in the best way possible: sunlight shined through the large glass windows as a puppy named Bernie nestled at my feet and a cattle dog named Tinker nudged my dangling hand. After a cup of tea and some home-made yogurt parfait, Nathan and I left to hike Haystack Mountain. No big deal … just a mountain you can climb that happens to be on his family's property. Our packs were stuffed with Kind Bars, PB&J, water, beef jerky, iced tea, Fig Newtons, jalapeño kettle chips, sunscreen, windbreakers; we were prepared! Or at least I thought we were.

We parked at the base of the hike, and beautiful views called us further up Haystack. But soon the Sound of Music musical playing in head morphed into more of a life-or-death adventure novel as the 2,500-foot incline progressed. But I kept my cool, especially after Nathan told me about his uncle being one of the first men to climb to the top of Denali in Alaska in negative 48 degrees. After a few breaks we finally made it to the top! It was breathtaking; I tried taking photos, but nothing could really do justice for what I saw before my very eyes.

We signed a hiking journal to serve as documentation for completion of the hike. Nathan wrote something very poetic in true Nathan fashion. I wrote, "YAY PB&J SANDWICHES!" followed by my name. Needless to say I was hungry.

In the distance we peered out at another mountain, Capitol Peak. Nathan stated longingly that he had yet to climb to the base of it. Feeling emboldened, I persuaded him that we should go for it. We set off, and the trek became snowier as we ascended further. For the icy stretches, Nathan found shards of rock to gouge the frozen snow and create extra friction to keep us from sliding.

We made it to our second hiking destination. To one side of the peak, a gradual rolling hill. To the other, a more than 300-foot vertical drop. In my head, altitude poisoning was setting in. I should have realized it when I tried to take a picture of the precarious vantage point to send to my parents. But alas, the recognition was suspended long after a splitting headache took hold and I began to speak Spanish. Was I drunk?

As if things couldn’t get any goofier, Nathan found a pink aluminum balloon as we descended and carried it along the remainder of the hike. Back at the base, I had never been so happy to sit in a car. Now fooooood.

After our 8-hour hike, we freshened up and zoomed on over to Aspen to see Nathan’s lovely concert pianist friend, Mandy. To my stomach’s good fortune, a delightful dinner of salmon and rice awaited us. Conversation consisted of music lessons, running groups, and agricultural upbringings. The night took us into town where I ran into someone from my hometown (small world run-ins I'll say) and ended with freshly fried mini donuts and a final attempt by Nathan and Mandy to get me to move to Aspen. Side note: I am tempted. 

Stay tuned for Part 2: Telluride!

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(image: inside the White House)

In April, Pete and I took our girls to Washington D.C. It was a near-perfect family road trip. On the way, we stopped in Philadelphia to see some good friends and their baby boy. We ate some amazing deep dish pizza at a place called Square Pie and then swung by Reading Terminal Market to grab a few Amish doughnuts!

(image: Mount Vernon mansion)

From there, we headed straight to Mount Vernon on about the most beautiful day ever. My older daughter, Abigail, is into the presidents at the moment, and she was super excited to see George Washington's homestead.

(image: Avery and the Washingtons)

I would definitely recommend the "enhanced" tour so that you're able to check out the basement and the attic of the main house. Another cool building is (the recreation of) the barn at the Pioneer Farm site—a 16-sided barn designed by GW himself. We had the best day of wandering around the whole property; our only regret is that we didn't have enough time to take it all in!

(image: Abigail and Avery check out the Air & Space Museum exhibit)

Once in DC proper, we settled in and went about doing most of the touristy things that tourists can do. The pandas at the National Zoo—check! The Wright brothers’ first airplane at the Air & Space Museum—check! Family photo op at the feet of Abraham Lincoln—check!

The Hope Diamond and the Butterfly Pavilion at the Museum of Natural History—check, check! We were doing it all! 

One thing we did miss was climbing up the Washington Monument. The girls were disappointed but you need to be in line really early for tickets. I maaaay have been grabbing a cup of Starbucks at the time. I'm kidding!

We queued up at 7 am for the White House tour, which in my opinion trumps a walk up the Washington Monument (if you read not-even-that closely, there's an unintentional political pun in there).

(image: The Green Room of the White House)

The White House tour was definitely worth the email to our Congress person. And thanks to President & Mrs. Obama you can snap pictures like crazy in there!

(image: Abigail in wonderment of Gabriel Dawe's threaded installation)

Another highlight was the Renwick Gallery, located across Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House. It's an architectural gem saved by Jackie Kennedy back in the day. After a recent renovation, it currently houses an exhibit called "Wonder," which we—including the kids—found (pardon me) truly wonderful. Thanks for the recommendation, Clayton!

We had such a blast with the girls: they were troopers during the car ride (thanks in part to Apple, Inc.), and were as enthusiastic as we were about all the sights! Even just staying in the hotel was exciting to them, which I remember from being a kid (ice machine, anyone?). Our trip was bookended with a stopover on the Eastern Shore of Maryland to see friends. After a delicious dinner, good conversation, and a stunning sunset, we settled in for our last night of vacation and drove home the next day looking at pictures and taking naps!

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Earlier this month, I flew to Berlin and then Vienna with my mom for an eight-day birthday trip. Both of us celebrated milestone birthdays this year, and we decided that the best way to usher in a new decade was to go on an adventure abroad. It was a treat to spend quality time with my mom, leaving behind the usual logistical conversations and car seat swapping back home. Exploring both cities was invigorating and offered some much-needed perspective. 

Berlin is an enormous city, rich with history and impressive architecture. We got around mostly by foot, bike, and train, and also took a boat ride on the river Spree. Our local friend, Jan, drove us around a bit too. It was fun to see Berlin from so many different perspectives. The Boros Collection was one of two museums we visited and stands out not only for its contemporary art collection but also for how the art interacts with its setting, a World War II bunker (built by Hitler’s regime). I won’t forget the delicious lunch we ate at Neni. The incredible views, middle eastern inspired food, flowing wine, and hip and friendly atmosphere made for an unforgettable time. When talking to a young local a few days later, I learned Neni was his favorite hang out, so naturally I felt cool and of the moment (a rare thing these days). Other Berlin highlights are the Bauhaus Archive (stars aligning on the design front for me); Tempelhof, an airport turned park and location of the Berlin Airlift; and a big old bike ride we took around Mitte, Friedrichshain, and Kreuzberg.

(image: Boros Collection)

(image: more Boros Collection; walls within the bunker)

(image: outside the Bauhaus Archive with a certain special card)

After four days in a large, action-packed city like Berlin, it felt good to arrive in Vienna with its cobblestone streets and quaint flower shops. Seriously, we walked for three days straight following our noses around neighborhoods, in and out of shops, discovering for ourselves the city of music. My daily and significant intake of Austrian wine was countered by my exploratory morning runs along the Danube. And let’s not forget about those Vienna coffee houses! Although I couldn’t partake in apfeistrudel (apple strudel = gluten bomb), we did enjoy a few afternoon coffees contemplating our next Viennese adventure.

The biggest highlight was stumbling upon Feinedinge on our last day. What started out as innocent window shopping turned into a fascinating studio tour of this Vienna-based porcelain maker. The combination of a stunning color palette and delightfully simple forms made me swoon over every single piece. As much as I wanted to take something home, I knew porcelain would not last more than five minutes in my house full of boys. Other Vienna highlights were visiting the MAK (basically a design think tank) and the Vienna State Opera.

(image: Protea flowers in Vienna)

(image: Feinedinge's showroom)

(image: Feinedinge's work space)

Overall, I couldn’t have asked for a better travel adventure. I came home feeling inspired and grateful for the chance to step away for a moment from my everyday life.

(image: dinner on the Danube on our last night)

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