By Wendy
In recent years, overseas trips have centered on favorite places: London, Madrid, Paris, Rome – I could happily stay in these cities on repeat.
The day trip offers a way to explore a new spot while returning to the beloved familiar destination. To that end, we added a day trip to Brussels, Belgium during a week in Paris. Why Brussels? Continue reading
By Wendy
October settles in, the sun sets earlier and there is a chill in the air, and for some reason the atmosphere makes me think of Paris, March 2025.
I’m battling a cold. Me, who rarely gets sick, is hit with a bad cold the second day of an anticipated family trip to a favorite city. I had to miss part of an outing on Sunday and went to bed early. In Paris. Unacceptable. The next day I’m determined to rally. Continue reading
by Wendy
Travel has been happening, even if this blog has been in hibernation. Hope to share more stories soon!
by Wendy
We started the blog six Januarys ago. Posts have dwindled but I’m glad to have this record of past trips, especially during a pandemic. Some stories remind me of things I’d forgotten and bring memories into sharper focus, while others spark future travel inspiration. I look at a favorite photo of Madrid and think how fun it will be to walk into a bar where you stand shoulder to shoulder and choose tapas that are arranged on the counter and drink glasses of wine and practice Spanish with complete strangers. I read posts on London and feel optimistic knowing that sooner or later, our family trip will happen, and we’ll wander through museums and lively streets and navigate the underground and eat fish and chips in a pub. We will have beach and ski vacations and spring break and whirlwind weekends and visits with relatives and guests in our house and relaxing hotel stays and train travel. We’ll get there again.
by Wendy
Looks and Leaps blog launched in January 2015. In honor of the anniversary, I am sharing just a few of my favorite posts from our family over the past five years, in no particular order, covering a wide range of travel destinations and topics. This has been a fun archive to create and has hopefully provided a little inspiration or entertainment along the way.
Thank you to all writers and all readers! Continue reading
by Wendy
January is the anniversary of the Looks and Leaps blog project. Thanks go to family members who write and edit posts, and to readers (who are probably for the most part these same family members). Thanks to everyone who has offered a kind word of encouragement on or offline.
I read that fruit and flowers are traditional presents for the fourth anniversary, so I’ve pulled together photos on this theme from previous years of travel. Many of these were taken by family members, who I also thank for their superior photography skills. The top one depicts flowers outside a pub in London, where I wish we could gather to toast travel stories and travel with family and another year of both. Continue reading
by Wendy
One of my favorite work trips this summer was to St. Louis. Sure, the meetings I attended were interesting . . . but I was also able to meet Dad and my brother in law Jimmy for a baseball game!
Longtime Cardinals fans Dad and Jimmy arrived in St. Louis in time to catch a Tuesday evening game. After work wrapped up on Wednesday, I took a taxi to meet them downtown. Continue reading
by Wendy
During the past six months, I traveled to Utah four times. Once for skiing, twice for work, and most recently for an epic vacation with my husband Jack, parents Cindy and Joe, sister April, nephew J, sister Sunny, brother-in-law Jimmy, and niece MJ. Continue reading
by Wendy
What’s your favorite way to document travel experiences? Keeping a journal, photography or video, making a scrapbook, writing a travel blog? Continue reading
by Wendy
When manic weather swings from balmy to cold rain, and New Year’s motivation has left the party long ago, and you’re powering through the work routine in the daytime and hibernating at home in the evening, travel adventures can feel far away from reality. Looking back at old photos helps spark inspiration, as well as the reassurance to keep looking ahead. There will be beauty on both familiar and unfamiliar paths. Continue reading