I think I might have just completed my personal hiking challenge for this year: walking every step of every trail in Ohio’s Portage County (a.k.a. PoCo 2021). But then again, I’ve thought that before. Maybe you can help me in … Continue reading
For years, I’ve known that Summit County has a Fall Hiking Challenge. They call it a Spree, in fact. And they say it’s “the largest and longest-running event of its kind in the nation.” I’m not sure how exactly I’ve … Continue reading
The summer is the one time of year when I seem to have an American approach to cycling. Last week, Cor and I donned helmets, sunglasses, bright-colored jerseys, and spandex cycling shorts. We slathered ourselves with sunscreen and made sure … Continue reading
I’m coming to the end of another quest: to hike every trail in Portage County in 2021. If COVID-19 was going to “shorten my leash,” I figured I’d make the most of it! At first, I estimated that it would … Continue reading
We sing weird songs to children. And we do it without even thinking about it. In the process, though, I wonder how much we’re carrying culture without even knowing it. Old MacDonald had a farm: E-I-E-I-O What do those letters … Continue reading
I broke almost all of my regular vacation rules this month. Our two-and-a-half-week trip to the Pacific Northwest was lovely. But it seemed to be the antithesis to our typical vacation philosophy. We stayed busy! We covered a lot of … Continue reading
I enjoyed the experience of trying to distill our family’s trip from Ohio to the Pacific Northwest into a single hour. I chose an hour of togetherness. A focus on family (both historically and within our vehicle). And some particularly … Continue reading
Controversy can be fun! Well, at least if it’s about something as inconsequential as vacation observations. I know that I am making some flying leaps into subjective judgments based on extremely limited experience. But still… Why not?!? They’re all in … Continue reading
We just got back to Kent from our family’s vacation to the Pacific Northwest. It was a long drive! But I’m so glad that we got to get away — and I’m so glad that we made it back home … Continue reading
You’d be surprised how many Americans confuse “Ohio” and “Idaho” (and “Iowa,” too, for that matter). I guess it’s the vowel sounds. And perhaps the stereotype we’re all in some sense backwater. But the regions are very distinct: in climate, … Continue reading