Well Traveled, Well Read

My husband and I first visited Santa Fe about 10 years ago, and we didn’t love all the Southwestern art. I was busy with work at the time and didn’t do my usual research, and we left wondering what all the Santa Fe buzz was about. Fast forward to this winter when we had an opportunity for a two-night getaway, and we chose to give Santa Fe a redo. I am so glad we did because we had a wonderful trip! On this trip we focused on some of the incredible history Santa Fe has to offer. Where to Stay: La Fonda on the Plaza is in a fantastic location with easy attached parking, and is walkable to lots of shops, tourist attractions, and restaurants. The hotel also has a nice enclosed courtyard restaurant, a lovely rooftop bar with views, and a lobby bar with music on select nights. What To Do in and around Santa Fe for the History Buff: Bandelier  National Monument Monroe Gallery of Photography San Miguel Mission, the oldest church in North America Bandelier National Monument (about 45 minu

Broken Bow, Oklahoma is a wonderful getaway for families with elementary aged children, and this was one of the easiest vacations we have ever taken. It’s a pretty quick drive from Dallas (just over 3 hours), and almost everything we did once we got there was about a 15-minute drive from our cabin.  Where to Stay…  My afternoon reading spot.  I recommend renting a cabin through VRBO (most come with a hot tub and a fire pit, and some have playsets, outdoor games, or video game consoles). I loved sitting on the back porch of our cabin with a glass of wine and a book in the late afternoons. It was so incredibly peaceful. Note that cabins and activities are mostly located in Hochatown, Oklahoma rather than Broken Bow, so that can be a bit confusing when booking.  What to Do…  There are a wide range of outdoor activities. I recommend the following:  There are lots of hiking trails to explore, so I suggest using the AllTrails app on your phone to find ones appropriate for your family. This a

My dad and I did our first solo father, daughter trip this winter. We chose Big Bend National Park and surrounding areas as our destination.         Getting There & Where to Stay… Pop at the Gage Hotel bar with his new friend We flew into Midland International Airport and then drove a little over two-and-a-half hours to Marathon, Texas. Marathon is a dusty little town (population of less than 500) and doesn’t offer much except the lovely Gage Hotel. I suggest the Los Portales section of the hotel with rooms opening out into a little courtyard. The pueblo-style rooms feel like you are in your own private ranch house with rustic wooden doors and shutters, tile floors, small corner fireplaces and Mexican and western-style décor and furnishings. The hotel bar and restaurant were also bustling every night while we were there. I loved coming back and reviewing the day over margaritas in the bar followed by dinner in the restaurant. It’s Texas, so it’s a very beef forward menu. The ch