I just returned from one of the most unexpectedly beautiful experiences I’ve had in a long time, a winter weekend in Yellow Springs, Ohio. And it got me thinking about how often we complain about winter. The cold. The snow. The gray skies. We count down the days until spring, wishing time away instead of living in it.
Read moreTag: Ohio travel
The One Thing That Makes Any Trip Extraordinary (Even With Kids or Teenagers)
Traveling with your partner and kids, especially teenagers, can feel like a logistical puzzle mixed with emotional negotiation. Different sleep schedules, strong opinions, short attention spans, and the constant fear of someone being bored or overwhelmed. But here’s the thing: travel doesn’t have to be perfect to be meaningful. In fact, the goal isn’t to do it all, it’s to experience it fully. To move, to explore, to disconnect from routine, and to reconnect with each other. This trip reminded me why travel matters so deeply and how, with the right mindset, it can actually be enjoyable… even with teenagers in tow.
Read more10 Magical Events to Attend with Kids Christmas 2025 in Toledo
It’s funny, I couldn’t tell you what I wore the Christmas of 1990 (I’m sure it was a gorgeous dress that matched my siblings and we all looked adorable Mom), or what gifts I opened from under the tree, or even if we had snow that year. What I do remember is sipping hot chocolate as we walked through the zoo at night (that in itself is pretty cool to kids) in wonderment at the Lights before Christmas with close family friends, rushing ahead of my parents in awe of the Christmas magic at Children’s Wonderland, touring the over the top decorations at Holidays in the Manor House with my grandparents, seeing the classic, A Christmas Carol, & watching the joy on my father’s face as he recited lines as we watched the classic, It’s a Wonderful Life. That’s the thing about Christmas; it really isn’t about the perfect gift it’s about the time spent with loved ones. So this Christmas let’s focus less on the number of goods under the tree and more on the quality of time spent making childhood memories that our children will cherish for a lifetime.


