Palm Fronds & Nom Noms

So I made a vacation survey and forced my family to take it. Wait.  Let me back up a bit.   Adam, Caleb (then 14) and I went to Iceland in 2016. Noah (then 16) opted to stay home. We weren’t terribly surprised by this because he had never really seemed all that into traveling. We knew he was game for a trip to Disney World periodically or an all-inclusive beach vacation – but even then, there was borderline begrudging agreement and questionable enthusiasm. So we decided that for Iceland, and going forward, we would give him the option.   Noah politely sat through our stories and photos when we returned home, seemingly content that he had made the right decision for himself. I mention all of this to give you context. In the spring of 2020 Caleb will graduate from high school and Noah will graduate with an Associate’s Degree from college.  A perfect excuse for celebratory family trip!  We know Caleb will go just about anywhere.  Choosing somewh...

Some rookie international travelers are more brave and adventurous. One of my 20-something coworkers and his new wife chose Australia for their first international adventure. This post is not for them. This is really for the “I don’t speak the language...know the customs...understand the culture...is it even safe to leave the country?" crowd. Those individuals that are drawn to the idea of traveling outside of their comfort zone, but either don’t know where to begin or need a confidence boost to nudge them on. That brings us to Bermuda. The lovely little overseas British territory just off the coast of North Carolina. Though most people speak of it as a single island, Bermuda is actually a chain of 138 islands roughly 22 miles long and just a mile wide. Eight causeway and bridge connected islands comprise the larger fishhook shaped landmass that most people envision when they talk about Bermuda. I think it is wise to first address who should NOT go to Bermuda, if...

Mickey's Pantry at Disney Springs It is amazing to me how many people not only hold, but perpetuate misconceptions fully and reliably disproved by a 2-word Google search. A friend approached me last week and said, "I was at the office and heard a customer insisting there is nowhere that you can get wine anywhere at Disney World.  That can't be true right?" Right.  On a shelf, chilled in a cooler, at a restaurant, in a gift basket.  It's all there for the sipping.  Without it, the annual EPCOT Food & WINE Festival would be quite a letdown... A quick tap tap on the keyboard searching "Disney wine" and google served this right up: Can we purchase a bottle of wine to take back to the room ? on the Disney Mom's Panel page. Not only can you get wine at Disney World, but you can enjoy an impressive variety and caliber if you look in the right places.  Options and inventory may vary slightly, but you can readily purchase bottles at every...

One of my favorite work pals is planning her family's first trip to Disney.  You could argue that I peer pressured her into it... or brainwashed her with my own stories... but that would be discounting the fact that she is awesome and fully aware that her two little girls are going to loose their collective minds with the first princess sighting. So, it is with love that I dedicate this first post to the people who inspired it - my "Lets do this" pal and her "I'm not so sure about this" spouse embarking on their first family adventure to Walt Disney World. "So we have friends who went to Disney and they told my husband not to bother with the dining plan because ALL of the food at Disney is garbage..."  Cue my spiking blood pressure as I insist, "no, No, NO!!!  They are just WRONG!" in the middle of the staff office. Fortunately, my pal knows how deep my snobbery can run when it comes to food and travel and figured this could not p...