Introduction

I am a retired graphic designer, but my real obsession is traveling. Almost ten years ago I created this blog as a way to ramble on about our travels and have a detailed accounting of what we saw on our trips. I’m convinced that this process will help to keep my memories more vivid as I age. If nothing else, I can look back as needed for a refresher course.

Probably the most fun (for me anyway) is sharing my photos. I love to take pictures of everything so I can look back and “see it all again”. I remember some of the smallest details because I type them up at the end of each day (or every couple of days) and turn them into an official post shortly after returning home.

We work hard on our itineraries, and I always share them in case the planning part is not your forte. We think the planning is almost as fun as the trip itself – although that MAY be a stretch. Check the categories up top to see if your pastimes align with ours.

Click on the first photo in each group and scroll to see the square photos at full size.

My Story and I’m Sticking With It!

Born into Vacation Addiction

When I came into the picture (literally, above), my brothers were from one to five years away from leaving the nest. My dad was a carpenter, and every couple of years he would build us a new house and we’d sell the old one, so it seemed like there was plenty of time to squeeze in a getaway or two during his down time. I wish I had a final count on how many houses he built over the years. I think we would be amazed! And having our older parents all to myself was a definite advantage, since half the travelers meant twice the vacations!

We’d pack up the car and head off to see my grandparents, aunts, uncle, and cousins in California almost every year. Each time we’d travel to the same location we’d take a different route to see new things and make the most of the miles we’d rack up. I’m sure over the years we took every route that was available at the time – back in the olden days.

I was born within days of Disneyland’s opening, but the photo is my granddaughter hugging Timon on her first trip to Disney World when she was four years old.

Almost every one of my childhood trips would include seeing relatives in one state or another. My brother was stationed in Norfolk, VA so we saw the World’s Fair in New York City, the Liberty Bell in Philly and of course Washington, D.C. My brother and I climbed all 897 steps up the Washington Monument. Coming down was worse than going up, if you can believe that, because our legs were like rubber from the climb.

I had family in nine states, and we drove to each and every one. My dad was 80 years old when he died and never once stepped foot on an airplane. And in those days the roads weren’t nearly as wide and groomed as today. I have a vivid memory of the look on my mom’s face as we drove along the edge of a mountain, passing three road signs in one section of the road – hairpin curve, falling rock and steep drop off.

Fast Forward Twenty Years

When I was a rebellious 20-something, I moved to Arizona to get away from it all (it was the 70s – what can I say). Many years later, after moving back to the midwest, I found some AZ relatives on Facebook, and I got the urge for a visit. I saw a Brewer’s Spring Training game and reconnected with family and the Arizona desert, which I really came to love during my time in the state. A year later my husband and I returned for a couple more days and added on a couple of days in Sedona. Two years after that, we returned with friends for two weeks of scouring the state for its history and natural beauty, and Laurie suggested I write a book or at the very least start a blog. Check and Check!

Happy Trails,
Barb