When my children were in elementary school, they had a bus driver named Mr. Ernie. While most drivers recognize that young children have some anxiety around these first school experiences- particularly riding the bus- Mr. Ernie was not so enlightened. He greeted each bright-eyed, smiling child with a curmudgeonly scowl and a loud “sit daahhn” […]

Bright sunshine, warm sand and the relaxing sounds of the ocean that’s my idea of a perfect vacation. Roadside markers, historical sites and guided tours that’s my husband’s idea of a perfect vacation! Fortunately, our visit to Coastal Virginia met the mark for both of us (the kids had a fabulous time, too!). If you […]

The decorations are packed away and the holiday bills are arriving by bulk mail. Happy New Year! If you are an educator, you know exactly what the new year brings a crush of responsibilities and deadlines! The school year is now moving in fast forward, and covering curriculum, completing extra-curricular activities and wading through the […]

  If you’ve already checked out 5 Awesome Things to Do in the Smoky Mountains, you might want to find out what else you can do!  Here are 5 more awesome things to do in the Smoky Mountains. Family Fun On the must-do list is Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies. Voted America’s #1 Aquarium by TripAdvisor, […]

5 Things to Do in the Smoky Mountains Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, and Sevierville are outstanding destinations for families, students, sports, and performance groups. There really is something for everyone in this delightfully appealing region of the country.  Here are 5 things to do in the Smoky Mountains! Go “Glamping” Nestled in the heart of the […]

If you want to inspire, educate, or simply love this wonderful nation, plan a student trip to its capital. There’s no better civics lesson than a student trip to Washington D.C. You can visit the most prestigious address in the world, tour monuments, or stop at Arlington Cemetery to witness the changing of the guards. […]

The first time I visited Boston, I was fresh out of college and working for a non-profit. I directed a program in conjunction with public school librarians and had the opportunity to travel with them throughout the country. I distinctly remember leading the way through the Boston Public Gardens as a naive, bright-eyed 22-year old, […]

Last summer, our family was planning a series of quick jaunts. We wanted to jump in the car and spend a few days somewhere we’d never been! As we tossed around ideas, my husband suggested Branson, Missouri. I snickered a little, remembering the Branson trips Great Uncle Frank and Aunt Ruth had taken to hear […]

When my oldest child left for his first week of sleep-away camp, I worried. I worried that he wouldn’t eat well, that he would get a sunburn or be sick, or that he wouldn’t change his underwear (turns out that I had good reason to worry about that!) As parents, we worry incessantly when our […]

Group Travel Planning – Finding Stuff to Do The dreaded itinerary is… As I have previously stated, my family has a deep and abounding love for venturing into the unknown! Our 10 year old daughter begins with the globe (even though most our travel is in the continental U.S. sigh) and works her way through […]

I have the good fortune to be married to a man who LOVES to travel. He has given me two children who LOVE to travel. It seems we are in a perpetual state of planning travel! We learned long ago that the key to a successful trip is planning on a timeline. The same applies […]

You’re on a roll now! You have a solid purpose for traveling with your group and know exactly when you want to go; now you need to pinpoint WHERE you want to go.  As you begin group travel planning, choose your destination well! Where do you want to go? It’s easy to fall into the […]