UNSEEN TRAVEL AGENCY

Did you know that most American adults spend 22 hours each day surrounded by four walls and a ceiling? What’s more alarming is that we’ve grown accustomed to a totally indoor and largely sedentary lifestyle. As a full-time freelance writer, I’m no exception to this trend. I love getting outside, but in reality, I spend more time in front of the computer than is good for me. I’m committed to making this year all about balance, and for me, that means spending more time outdoors and less time in front of a screen. Want to join me? I’m committing to closing my laptop and getting outdoors for at least an hour every day, with bigger adventures on the weekends. I’m not looking for a big workout, just some added fresh air and exercise. I’m looking for more sunshine. More mountains. More mud. More adventures. While there may not be research to confirm it, I’m a firm believer that spending time outside contributes to a healthier mind, body,...

When our kids were wee babies, my husband and I decided that the only way to stay sane in the winter was to get everyone outside every single day. We did this rain or shine for years and years, and even though our kids are teens now, I still throw them out regularly. The secret to providing your kids with fun and memorable outdoor experiences is starting with the right cold-weather clothes. We are lucky to live in a time when there is an incredible array of choices for winter clothes for kids.  After raising kids in Vermont for 13 years, we’ve got a lot to share about the best cold-weather clothing, from toddler snow pants and mittens to cozy base layers that won’t let you or your kids down.  There is no such thing as terrible weather, just inappropriate clothing. For our kids to enjoy being outside, they had to be warm. We experimented for years until we found the right clothing system for winter. Our babies always had rosy cheeks in the winter, but we kn...

Living here in Europe, I’ve become quite the victim of spontaneous purchases. Sometimes it’ll be a train ticket here or there, maybe a nice shirt when I’m out shopping… Other times, I seem to lose my mind and do crazy things, as I recently did when I got myself a shiny plane ticket bound for Morocco. After all, there was a RyanAir seat sale! It would have been irresponsible for me not to. At least that’s what I kept telling myself. Fast forward to the end of January, and there I was in a plane over the Sahara, with the biggest, dorkiest smile on my face. Stepping off the plane onto the tarmac, I became a giddy mess. Morocco has been one of my dream trips for so long and here it was: “MARRAKECH MENARA”, before my eyes in giant block letters. It hit me right then… Guys, I was in  Africa. Could life get  any better? We cleared customs rather quickly and soon found ourselves in a cushy shuttle, en route to ...