Family Vacation Destinations

There are numerous places to ski on Mt. Hood, the massive mountain near Portland, Oregon.  I have not had the pleasure of skiing all of them, but I have skied Summit with all three kids.  Our kids are beginner skiers despite having lived in the Pacific Northwest for years.  About the time they were getting the hang of it we moved to Florida and then to Nevada.  We never went skiing during those assignments.  We’ve been back in Oregon for a little over a month now and have taken the kids up the mountain a few times. 

I’m a native New Englander, who, since leaving Connecticut for college and a grown-up life, finds herself worshipping fried clams. I talk about them constantly and have even written about fried clams for Chicken Soup For The Soul. I’m obsessed. That’s probably because it’s not easy to curb the craving when you live in Pittsburgh. Sorry my Western Pennsylvania friends, but fried clams are not Mrs. Paul’s fried clam strips. Fried clams are juicy whole belly clams that the faint of heart shun and no restaurant in Western PA, Ohio, or West Virginia, has the courage to put on their menu. 

When you look beyond the street traffic, crowded sidewalks and neon signs, you'll discover Hollywood's glittering history.

The lowest spot on the face of the earth at more than 1,300 feet below sea level, and known for its healing qualities as a natural health spa, travelers shouldn't miss the opportunity to float in the Dead Sea for your family vacation or as a solo traveler. That's why when given the opportunity to travel to Israel, I didn’t want to miss the Dead Sea experience, even in January when the salty sea (really a lake) is quite chilly! And experience the Dead Sea I did – twice!

People often hear me say “I just love that little town” and it is true, I have unique fondness for little towns that pull together and strive to survive. There is something about walking into a small town and feeling the warmest welcomes ever!

Last summer on my families Missouri Roadtrip to the Missouri State Fair we stopped off in this little town known as Blackwater Missouri. Blackwater’s population less than 200, coolness factors a million plus! According to the information I gathered on Blackwater, MO in 1990 most of the downtown area was in deplorable condition and only four businesses were surviving. Members of the community joined together and has not only rebuilt their town, but they have created one amazing place to visit.