The next morning at 9, I stuff my drawstring backpack with essential supplies (phone, sunscreen, sunglasses, etc.) and dress for my secret journey to the island. My clothes consist of beige capri shorts, a blue and white floral tank top, and white strappy sandals with a floppy sun hat. One of the fashion tips in ...

I cannot return to my sleep; the flamingo in my dream lingers in my brain. I lie awake in bed for some time, twiddling my thumbs and watching the window curtains gently flutter. Then I notice an envelope hanging from one of the curtains with a paper clip. Tiptoeing so I don’t startle my escort, ...

My parents loved their country. I don’t mean in a way that they took a political stand or that they were patriotic in any way. What I mean is that my parents loved the land that we call America. They loved to travel and enjoyed sharing their experiences with their children. Something magical would happen ...

Derrick, Kally, and Taylor rumbled down the road in Taylor’s truck, dubbed Perseus. With every sharp twist and curve of the mountainous backroad, Derrick wished their destination would appear, or the vehicle would put itself out of its misery and break down. He glanced over at Kally, who was stuck between them and clutching her ...

My childhood memories end abruptly when the setting sun catches my eye. My escort and I decide to return to our hotel room and go to bed for the night. We fall asleep the instant our bodies lay in the soft beds. Once again, I find myself dreaming. I’m naked and floating in a large ...

Travel for us has changed a lot over the years. Whenever the dynamics of the family change, the strategy for preparing to travel follows suit. Likewise, I’ve seen changes in traffic and attitude while traveling over the past few decades. While there have always been impatient and rude people, it seemed to be the exception, ...

Author Thomas Wolfe wrote a novel titled, You Cannot Go Home Again. My sister, Tracy, and I learned the meaning of that when we visited our dad in Bremerton, Washington. We left Saturday morning, April 16th, and it was a gorgeous Arizona spring day. Perfect day for traveling, and that first day was uneventful. We ...