Freelance writer and photographer specializing in vivid, deeply reported stories about food, travel and family.
Have you dreamed of taking your kids to a magical place for real family adventure? Not the plastic adventures of Disney World, but real mountains, real rapids and real trains. Put Durango, Colorado on your must-list, because this town has that, and much more to keep a family actively entertained. Durango is a medium-sized…
See the World on a Ducky Tour After wiping saucy eggplant parmesan off my face and simultaneously marveling at the bargain price of the enormous sandwich I bought on “the Strip,” I decide to hop a ride on a Just Ducky Tour. When the metal tank heaves itself into the water, the kids onboard hold…
The Delmarva Peninsula is an optimal place to spend your days on the road, and I don’t mean traveling: staying close to home and grounded…on a bike. The roads and trails of the Eastern Shore are ideal for active travel. The sparse traffic, the flat streets and the pedestrian friendly towns cry out for you…
Before I dated my husband, the closest I came to fireworks was viewing them on the Washington Mall with strangers. My husband is a devoted family man and works long hours as a surgeon saving lives. But when it comes to fireworks, he’s really charged. This man drives to every show in town and some…
Attention all Washington Area residents: Go Do Something Fun! Surprise yourself with a moonlight stroll among the Presidents. I love taking the Metro downtown to the Smithsonian stop or L’Enfant Plaza. Both drop you close to Constitution Avenue. Point yourself in the direction of Abe or perhaps Thomas. Wander among Franklin and his companions, Eleanor,…
Walk the festive streets of this must-see destination, and you will step back and forth in American history. Wander the streets unhurried, and you will be treated to conversations with pleasant, informative street vendors selling handmade art. This is a pedestrian friendly city with beautiful parks scattered throughout. Santa Fe has the more outdoor sculptures…
Read more Sante Fe – Besides Great Architecture and Food, Jewish History too!
Heather Stouffer is living the life made famous in Diane Keaton’s movie “Baby Boom.” When entrepreneur Stouffer, 32, was pregnant, she said the most pressing issue on her mind was feeding her baby. Stouffer comes from a family of foodies; her brother started the gourmet grocery store, Balducci’s, and her mother was a chef. At first…
Tell your kids: Get out a “handbag,” it’s time for some retail therapy! You know that pile of toys, books and clothes lying on the playroom or bedroom? You may actually see the floor again with this game. These games, created by my mom, Mary Lu Johnston, GrandMa Extradorinaire, are a fun way to clean up the…
What makes the Washington Area home? Living in the Nation’s Capital feels like sharing an apartment with a daunting giant who rules the world while we, his roommates, go quietly about our business. We live in the shadow of power. While some of our neighbors make decisions that affect the globe, we’re trying to remember…
Travel and Dish