If I could only have one...

  I have never been to the Grand Canyon. It didn't seem like such a big deal, but now in my 40s, it started to feel like an oversight. Also, my kid learned about the Mesa Verde in second grade, and has been wanting to see it ever since, so I figured we could spin the two things into one trip, since the Mesa Verde is pretty much in the middle of nowhere.  I'm going to warn you up front: this was definitely a trip, not a vacation, but pretty worth it. Also, now I've done all the research, so you don't have to.  When : We went during Spring break, which was mid-April this year. The weather REALLY ranged on our trip, from a high of 100 degrees in Phoenix to 30 degrees at the Mesa Verde. You want layers and lots of them. Every time I pack for a trip, I look obsessively at the weather, of course, but I also imagine what is the warmest I'll be and the coldest I'll be, and ensure I have clothes for both. Packing for this one was really tricky because I am adamant about ...

  I've been in a place recently of: "if not now when?" I think it's about getting older and realizing I'm not getting any younger or any more adventurous. And I've never been to Colombia, so why not?  Since we were going in February, I wanted to go somewhere warm and beachy. And with a kid, I find beach / pool to be more of a sure bet than a city vacation. My Brazilian friend, Mari, said that I shouldn't go to Cartegena--all of the Colombians go to Santa Marta. I dutifully looked into going to Santa Marta, but let's be real--Cartagena is accessible from New York with a regular direct flight on JetBlue, so that was going to be my choice.  To stay: I spent a full day panicking about which neighborhood to stay in. Based on my research, the primary "safe" options for American tourists are El Centro, Getsemani, and Bocagrande. (And, fwiw, I felt safe the entire time I was in Cartagena.) For the first time in a new city, I usually go for an known ...

Let's be honest: Unrivaled Basketball is one of the few brights spots in 2025. All the stars of the WNBA playing a super-fast 3:3 format? Yes, please, distract me from the disaster that is the new administration. We've watched pretty much every single game on Max, and idly looked at games / flights only to realize that nothing in the 8-week schedule was a fit. Bummer.  Then, while watching the 1:1 tournament on Monday, I noticed there were quite a few empty seats in the stands. Even though we're going to Colombia on Sunday, should I book a last minute trip to Miami to see the finals in person? As Alexis said: "this is so stupid, and I love it." There we go.  It was an excellent, stupid decision.  I'll admit, it was feeling more stupid than excellent when our 7:50pm JetBlue flight to Miami was 2 hours late and we ate the worst meal in memory at Terminal 5. Lesson learned: avoid the Custom Burger food court stop--go with the sit-down restaurant. Lowlights: the f...