Food, Drink, and Tourism on Grand Cayman

I love partaking in local cuisine whenever I travel, and Grand Cayman provided an interesting challenge in that respect. There was absolutely local island cuisine, but part of the Cayman DNA is also British (tropic British?). Also, several of the restaurants near our condo had a Mediterranean theme, for some reason–still great food and with … Read more

Snorkeling in the Cayman Islands

After experiencing snorkeling for the first time in Key West in 2022, I was hooked. There’s an entire world just a few feet underwater! I knew this conceptually but didn’t truly grasp how accessible that world is–all it takes is a mask and a tube for air. As special as Key West was, I was … Read more

Grand Cayman: Why Did We Go Here?

A few months ago, we were looking at a busy, cold holiday season, and we thought: What if we delayed the holidays for a few weeks and went somewhere tropical? Megan talked to her parents, brother, and sister-in-law about the idea, and it was well received. We all had different things we wanted to get … Read more

Have You Ever Relaxed on Vacation?

Most vacations I’ve ever taken have been purposeful. We’re going to this place to see these things, eat this food, hang out with specific people, etc. That’s even the case for more low-key vacations, like family reunions or trips to the Gamer’s Ranch. Partially as a result of this sense of purpose (added to the … Read more

Yellowstone, Grand Teton, and Biddy

For Megan’s parents’ 40th anniversary, they invited us and a few other family members to join them in Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming. Last week I spent 3+ days with them enjoying beautiful weather, stunning scenery, healthy hikes, dynamic disc golf, and amazing animals in both Grand Teton and Yellowstone. I’ll post a bunch … Read more

The Open Water

In yesterday’s post about our unexpected Thanksgiving vacation, I shared some of the highlights from our time in Key West. But a few memorable days were spent on the open water. I had never even been on a cruise before last week, so the experience of being out on the open water was new to … Read more

A Week on a Yacht

My father passed away in January, so this has been a year of firsts without him, which has been particularly hard on my mom (they were married for over 40 years and spent nearly every day together). So with Thanksgiving approaching, one of my mom’s brothers–a very successful architect–asked if she would like to get … Read more

Is the Ocean Good for You?

Every 2 years (with 2020 the exception) for the last 26 years or so, I’ve spent a week at the Outer Banks in North Carolina with my extended family. It’s usually somewhere around 25-40 people sitting on the beach, playing games, chatting, relaxing, playing games, and eating great food. Despite not being much of a … Read more

Gamers Ranch: An Amazing Experience

I spent the last few days with 20 friends at a place called the Gamers Ranch in the middle of Missouri (a two-hour drive west of St. Louis), and I’m here to highly recommend it to anyone looking for a geeky large-group vacation. The Gamers Ranch is built from the ground up for people who … Read more

Do You Subscribe to The Discoverer?

A while ago, a newsletter started appearing in my inbox. I can’t remember subscribing to it, but I quickly realized that I didn’t care: I’m captivated by The Discoverer. The Discoverer’s newsletter features lists like these: The Coolest Castles in Europe 9 Super Unique Airbnbs in the U.S. 7 Spectacular Clifftop Experiences 10 Must-See Spots … Read more