Hello, Reader. There's a garden in Indianapolis that's been growing for more than 100 years. It started in 1907 as a private, 26-acre estate. Today it's a 52-acre public garden and cultural destination, threaded with winding paths, fountains, and (depending on when you visit) a completely different mood each time. I'm talking about Newfields. IMA Galleries On the same grounds is the Indianapolis Museum of Art. I've wandered the gallery many times, and caught The Lume when it was here (I...
10 days ago • 2 min read
Hello, Reader. Fall is right around the corner and while we have our sights set on Europe, there are some great peak- and off-season destinations right here in the U.S. Last fall, we spent a week in South Carolina. The days were warm, the evenings were comfortable, and Myrtle Beach was quiet. If off-season travel pulls at your heart (and budget), this is a great option. We wrote a whole blog post about it, featuring 16 Fun Things to do in Myrtle Beach, ranging from golfing to hiking to the...
17 days ago • 3 min read
Hello, Reader. Have you ever paddled through a lake that was once a glacier? That's exactly what we spent two days last week doing at Indiana's Chain O' Lakes State Park. Ready for a recap? This one’s been a long time coming, but it was worth the wait. 🩵 I heard years ago about the 9 Lake Challenge and, since we love kayaking, it has been on our radar ever since. What I didn't know, is the history of Chain O' Lakes State Park and how much more it has to offer. Chain O’ Lakes is made up of 13...
24 days ago • 4 min read
Hello, Reader. Last week we left you hanging a little. We mentioned having a 6-day weekend coming up and plans starting to unravel. Well, as we thought may happen, Chicago never quite solidified into a yes. No stunning skyline, no deep-dish pizza, and no day spent cheering on the White Sox. Instead, we loaded the kayaks in the truck and headed to Chain O' Lakes State Park for a challenge we'd been eyeing for a while. Nine lakes, connected by narrow water passageways, paddled in one go. In...
about 1 month ago • 3 min read
Hello, Reader. Week after week I pop into your Inbox with information about places we've been or places we're planning to go. I share ideas for how to plan your next trip, things to do, and general inspiration in the hopes that you take the next step to experiencing somewhere amazing for yourself. But what about the in-between times? This is one of those weeks… I've got 6 of the next 7 nights on the work schedule (close enough to feel all-consuming), followed by six nights off. Yep! I've got...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
Hello, Reader. I know, I know… it's still technically summer. The A/C is still running, the pool floats are still out, and yet here I am, standing in my kitchen, baking sourdough and daydreaming about flannel and pumpkin spice like the basic fall girl I proudly am. I walked out of work at 7 a.m. the other day and the Indiana humidity hit me like a wall. I just stood there thinking, "I can’t wait for cool, crisp fall mornings." Even though the calendar says we've got plenty more of summer...
about 1 month ago • 4 min read
Hello, Reader. Watching Saturday night's fireworks with the national coverage on in the background, my mind drifted back to another celebration, one where the guest of honor got her own cake and a crowd gathered to celebrate a panda’s birthday. If you’ve been with us for a while, you might recall late last summer when we talked about plans to visit Washington, D.C., and attend Qing Bao’s birthday party at the National Zoo. If not, I can’t wait to bring a smile to your day as I tell you about...
about 2 months ago • 3 min read
Hello, Reader. Everyone's talking about America's 250th birthday and that's got me reminiscing about some of my favorite Fourth of July celebrations over the years. When I was in my teens, my family loved to watch the fireworks over Lake Tahoe. Nestled in the Sierra Nevada mountains on the California-Nevada border, Lake Tahoe is one of my favorite places. We'd stake out a spot on the beach, wait for darkness to fall over the mountains, and then watch the sky light up over the water,...
about 2 months ago • 2 min read
Hello, Reader. I hope your week is off to a great start! Keeping up with our walking theme from last week, I thought I'd share one of our favorite ways to explore new destinations. You guessed it... Walking! Sometimes it's just wandering streets or trails, turning whichever way the moment strikes, but sometimes we're a little more strategic. A while back we took a road trip to Pittsburgh, PA. We had a whole day to explore the downtown area and driving in we were struck by the number of...
2 months ago • 3 min read