Category Archives: Travel

Dec5

A Paris Perspective: The City

Posted on December 5, 2013 by LookingfortheSweetSpot

When traveling, I randomly (and my family would say – excessively) shoot picture after picture after picture. My mantra excuse is always I never know quite what I will want to share about a city or place – what will stand out, make me laugh, make me want to return.

Likewise, I never know what Teen and Pre-teen are going to glean from our experiences. In my last post A Paris Perspective: The Monuments, I shared Part One of my photo perspective and Teen’s short but to the point assessment of Paris. Pre-teen, however, in a moment of rarity, was more loquacious on his impressions.

Pre-Teen’s 4 Parisian Summations:

1. Napoleon, as basically the only French war hero, pretty much has it made in the eternal “hero-worship” department.

2. The most memorable experience in Paris is climbing to the top of the Eiffel Tower where the telescope glasses allow you to stalk tourists in the plaza below.

3. Escargot tastes like, well, eating a snail.

Last, and unarguably the most important…

4. When in Paris, Nutella filled crepes should be consumed at every possible opportunity, morning, noon and night.

As for mine, again, Paris can speak for itself.

Part 2: The City

The carousel at Hotel de Ville

A city street

The Metro at Saint Michel

The Moulin Rouge

Jardin de Tuileries

View from the Pantheon steps

Galerie Vivienne

Inside the Galerie Vivienne

Place de Concorde

And yes, there is a Part Trois – Rivers and Bridges – coming next!

Other Paris perspectives:

A Paris Perspective: The Monuments

A Paris Perspective: The River and Bridges

Paris, the Walmart of Love?

For more Sweet Spot Travel Posts: Sweet Spot Travels

Dec3

A Paris Perspective: The Monuments

Posted on December 3, 2013 by LookingfortheSweetSpot

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There are three things to know about visiting Paris in November:

1. It will be cold – meaning many of the fountains will be dormant for winter and the gardens will be limited to a fall array of colors and falling leaves.

2. BUT – There will be no lines or crowds for anything, anywhere, no matter what the monument, museum, or historic landmark!

3. No matter what the time of year, every corner you turn in Paris will take your breath away.

This was our first time in Paris and as I labored over what to write it finally dawned on me (in much the same way as discovering no matter how prepared or what they are called, Escargot is still a snail) – Paris can quite effectively speak for itself.

Part 1: The Monuments

View from the top of Notre Dam

Arch de Triumph

Eiffel Tower

The Louvre

Les Invalides with Napoleon’s Tomb from inside Rodin Museum Gardens

Notre Dame and the River Seine

And because it is impossible for me to leave without just one joke…

Mom: “Teen, what did you think of Paris?”

Teen: “It is a great city – but the cheese is too old and the meat too raw…”

Stay tuned for Part Deux…(that is two years of high school French at work!)

For more of Paris:

Part 2. A Paris Perspective: The City

Part 3: A Paris Perspective: The River and Bridges

Paris, the Walmart of Love?

For more Sweet Spot Travel Posts: Sweet Spot Travels

Oct24

Mini-Break in Monterey, CA

Posted on October 24, 2013 by LookingfortheSweetSpot

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Old Fisherman’s Wharf – Monterey, CA

Actually, the mini-break was my trip out to Northern California – a familial inspired excursion (which is a fancy way of saying, I went to visit my parents). The Monterey portion of the trip was more like a one day jaunt when a happy circumstance arose to meet up with friends in the coastal city. So, I guess that makes my trip to Monterey, CA more of a “micro-break” (a totally made up concept, which makes me some sort of trend setter, in my own mind anyway).

So, what does one do with friends and only one day, or rather several hours to spend in Monterey, California? Duh, go where the food is, of course! More particularly, Old Fisherman’s Wharf for the clam chowder!

Why is that guy’s floating head in my photo?

And in case you are one of those people who does not do any research on restaurants in advance (like me), not to worry! For, as we walked down the wharf every restaurant offered us a sample of their version of clam chowder, daring us to consider each the best on the wharf – which made me feel a bit like Gordon Ramsay, with cuter shoes but not near as coiffed. Finally we settled on a restaurant mostly because they clearly had the best chowder that day, but also so I could raz my husband, who shares the moniker (ok, he is making me clarify, “only the Jim part”), about it later.

Hey you people, get your mitts off of my samples!

With the remaining time, I took a walk over to the neighboring pier on San Carlos Beach.

Once to the end of the pier, I found massive amounts of Sea Lions just “chillin’” in the sun. Stuffed as I was with sample clam chowder, bowl of clam chowder, bread, calamari and the most amazing oyster crackers ever, I was vastly tempted to join them…they, however, did not seem entirely receptive to the idea.

Not the most hospitable group of mammals…unless you are big, brown and have flippers.

In conclusion, I came away with four pertinent pieces of information from my Micro-Break in Monterey, CA.

1. Sea Lions are major posers.

Posers #1

Poser #2

2. If you are planning on leaving your boat or yacht in the harbor, beware! Although the Sea Lions are vastly fastidious when it comes to leaving their rock lounge in order to shall we say, answer the call of nature, when they get onto your boat, they are not overly concerned about it – giving a whole new perspective on “swabbing the deck” (Thank you conservationist guy who had nothing better to do than answer my stupid questions).

3. If you go to Monterey and don’t at least sample the clam chowder you should be drawn and quartered…or at least made to swab those decks.

Old Fisherman’s Wharf. Monterey, California

4. I will be back.

For more travel posts: Sweet Spot Travels

Aug20

Puerto Rico Island Travels Part 3: The Big Cajones Tour

Posted on August 20, 2013 by LookingfortheSweetSpot

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Castillo de San Cristobal

“Balls” is a recurring theme on Sweet Spot – abused in Word-up: We’ve Got Big Balls, reminisced about in DodgeBall State of Mind and even my trip to New York last December could not escape some body parts humor. And we are certainly not above bantering a Weenus around now and again.

You see, from my vast in-the-field experience (although, admittedly my focus group is limited to my boys and visiting more-than-happy-to-contribute friends) I have discovered that almost all humor can boil down to some sort of genital or body part innuendo – and the rest can finish with a potty joke (don’t you wish you hung around my house during these learned occasions?).

I fear without the raucous humor, our life would hold few distinctions. Therefore, it was an especially good thing we decided to visit two forts in Old San Juan, on our trip to Puerto Rico– Castillo San Felipe del Morro and Castillo de San Cristobal – or we may very well have tragically missed the opportunity to include some phallic humor in our recent travels.

Visiting Castillo San Felipe del Morro and Castillo de San Cristobal, built by the Spanish as protection against foreign invasion in the 16^th century and 18^th century respectively, we learned a few things (a very few, unfortunately) about life as a Spanish soldier serving at a fort in those long ago centuries.

The views were pretty fab.

View from Castillo San Felipe del Morro

Castillo de San Cristobal

San Felipe del Morro

Castillo de San Cristobal

The accommodations pretty much sucked.

Castillo de San Cristobal

And even better than having some really big guns to shoot,

Castillo San Felipe del Morro

Having really big balls, or shall we say…cajones.

Castillo San Felipe del Morro

And on that note, Puerto Rico Island Travels is now concluded.

Honestly, after that, what else could there possibly be?

Puerto Rico Island Travels Part 1: The Lost Tour

Puerto Rico Island Travels Part 2: The Clothing Optional Tour

For more Sweet Spot Travels: Go Here!

Aug13

Puerto Rico Island Travels Part 2: The Clothing Optional Tour

Posted on August 13, 2013 by LookingfortheSweetSpot

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My Pre-Teen son lives by a code of ideas and directives (A Decade of Wisdom and here). It is not a lengthy list, but nonetheless, it is definitive. One of his most formidable edicts is Never Sit on the Couch at a Nudist Colony (think about it). Which I suppose means if he ever has occasion to find himself at a nudist colony, he will have to spend his time there standing. However, to my surprise, on our recent trip to Puerto Rico, this particular “code” was sorely tested.

One day, while on Palomino Island off the coast of Fajardo, Puerto Rico, Pre-Teen and I decided to go hiking in the hills above the beaches. We had been hiking trails for some time when we came upon a sign:

That “Naturist” can sure make a mean sign!

Intrigued, Pre- Teen quickly headed off on the trail, which was all downhill. I was less enthusiastic being that what goes down must come back up again. But as I could see there was no stopping Pre-Teen, I was forced to follow him (or risk having to explain to my husband why Teen was going home an only child).

When we got to the bottom of the hill, right where the trail opened out onto a beach entrance we saw this:

Bilingual nudity.

and this:

Long live recycling.

But, we also saw this!

Yeah, resist that if you can…

Ok, possibly this would have been a good time to turn around, but I was hot, the water looked inviting and duh, we were just plain curious (and yes, I know how that all worked out for the cat).

We found ourselves completely alone on a beautiful, secluded and yes, nude beach. We began to explore.

Me: “Hey, Pre-Teen, go lay on one of the lounge chairs and let me take your picture.”

Pre-Teen: “What? No way!!”

Me: “Why not?”

Pre-Teen: “Mom! You know – Never Sit on a Couch at a Nudist Colony!!!”

Me: “Yeah, So?”

Pre-Teen: “Well, the same goes for Never Lay on a Lounge Chair at a Nudist Beach!”

However, standing next to the lounge chair was apparently ok (for a short amount of time only and not too close):

Hurry up and take the picture already!

As we explored the beach we came upon the yellow marker indicating the “best ocean access”. Apparently if you are going to swim with your what-nots flapping in the wind, you have to look for the safest, least abrasive, place to do it.

Fancy, ain’t it!

I realized at that moment, I had to swim at the nudist beach. If I had a bucket list, surely that would be on it! However, not really trusting how my girly parts would behave in a free-to-be-you-and-me atmosphere, and seeing the look of horror on Pre-Teen’s face when I revealed my plans, I swam in my bathing suit. As for Pre-Teen, well apparently Never Swim in the Water at a Nudist Beach was another addendum to his rule – he watched at a safe distance from the beach.

Upon exiting the water, we saw a (clothed) man striding towards us. When he reached us, he introduced himself as “Brian”, explained he was the caretaker of Hidden Beach Cove, and welcomed us to stay as long as we liked. As we were about to walk away, Brian added, while digging in his pants pocket,

“Hey, you want me to show you what is so special about this beach?”

Being this was a nude beach, Pre-Teen and I were both more than a little worried what exactly Brian was about to pull out of his pants pocket. But thankfully when he whipped his hand back out, he was only holding these,

Much better than seeing Brian’s tallywacker and nuggets in his hand.

A sea-glass “ring” and sea urchin skeleton. Apparently, gems like these commonly wash up on this particular beach.

Brain then excused himself to retire to his “lean to”,

To disrobe?

and emerged (phew) still clothed, although barely, I am pretty sure for our benefit.

We went back to exploring; now searching for treasures like the ones Brian had showed us (although dubious about the whole sea-glass ring thing, I decided not to question a man with no tan lines). And Brian set to work grooming his beach.

Watch out for ‘bend-overs’.

After a while, we decided best not to tempt fate, or rather naked sunbathers sure to arrive soon. Upon our departure, knowing we had been unsuccessful in our search for treasures, Brian presented us with a sea-glass ring and sea urchin skeleton to take with us – which more than made up for the random flashes of his great white (well, tan actually) shark we had been treated to every time he bent down to pick up a rock or batch of seaweed.

We thanked him openly for his generosity and secretly for his attempted modesty.

As we headed back up the trail leaving Hidden Beach Cove, we looked back to see Brian still hard at work on his island paradise, just waiting for the moment he could at last rip off his encumbering piece of restrictive nylon. At least, thanks to Brian, we had a few pieces of paradise to take with us and Pre-teen and I can now say we “hung out” at a nude beach…

even if our ‘hoo haws’ did not…

Hidden Beach Cove, where not everything is hidden.

Puerto Rico Island Travels Part 1: The Lost Tour

Puerto Rico Island Travels Part 3: The Big Cajones Tour

For more Sweet Spot Travels: Go Here!

Aug7

Puerto Rico Island Travels Part 1: The Lost Tour

Posted on August 7, 2013 by LookingfortheSweetSpot

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It was probably just a coincidence that after spending half the summer on a speed marathon through the entire 6 seasons of LOST, we ended up choosing to vacation on an Island…or was it?

Teen, after breaking his arm and being banned for a good chunk of summer from all worthy pursuits, ie baseball and swimming, began watching the series, LOST. Soon, Pre-teen was completely hooked as well. I, having already experienced the whole mind blowing journey (and by mind blowing I mean wishing my mind would blow up so I wouldn’t have to contemplate anymore unanswered questions) upon original airing decided “what the heck”, maybe the second time around it will actually make sense… and cool Mr. Echo will defeat the smoke monster and not ‘be voted off the island’ so soon – it didn’t and he didn’t.

Nonetheless, when vacation time came we found ourselves boarding a plane for the island of Puerto Rico, questioning the providence of our choice. However, never ones to mess with destiny or the frustrated attendant taking our boarding passes, onto the plane we went.

We decided if fate should intervene, I would be the Kate- type person because, duh, all the cute guys are willing to die for her, she can kick butt and she never, ever has ‘bad Island hair’. Teen wanted to be Sawyer because, yeah he had a tragic childhood, but doesn’t get maimed as much as the rest, has great comebacks and always gets the girl. Pre-teen wanted to be Jin because he can beat up anyone when he needs to, is nice about it and is always there just when you need him. We decided Hubs would have to be John Locke – someone has to keep the faith (I do believe in fairies, I do , I do) and get us back off the Island (although hopefully he would not have to die and then be possessed by a smoke monster in order to do it). We all agreed, along the way we needed to find a Hurley for pure fun, and a Sayid for protection (because nobody messes with a former torturer if they know what is good for them)

As expected, we started out at the beach – you know, just in case we needed a quick helicopter rescue from a psycho marine, guy who talks to dead people or scientist who has done way too much experimenting on himself.

Isle Verde Beach, San Juan Puerto Rico

Isla Verde Beach, San Juan Puerto Rico

But eventually, as any stranded Islander, we felt the need to explore “the other island” – you just never know when you will be in need of a monkey cage, baby doctor, or well, baby daddy. Upon approach it surely looked like a place to fall into the hatch (push the button, brother), or come across The Others and the eternally young and mysteriously guy-linered, Richard Alpert.

Off the coast of El Conquistador, Fajardo, Puerto Rico

Approaching Palomino Island from El Conquistador, Fajardo, Puerto Rico

Nonetheless we disembarked from the boat (not Penny’s boat) and we were not sorry (just like Ben, although hopefully, we would not have to get pummeled on a daily basis for it).

Palomino – Is the island tilting, or is it my imagination?

Snorkeling in and around the rocks.

Exploring the beaches

And what is any three hour tour (oops, wrong ship wreck reference) without a hike into the jungle – because, of course, it is the only place to hear the whispers, see Walt appear out of nowhere – visibly aged by several years, and come upon random planes, trains and automobiles…or boats with explosives.

El Yunque Rainforest

El Yunque Rainforest – swimming in La Mina Falls

At the end of our week, we wandered if the Island would let us leave – we secretly hoped it wouldn’t. But in the end, it did (apparently, we were not on the list). We only hope the Island will let us go back again, soon. And then maybe, the next time, we will actually discover what lies in the shadow of the statue.

Coco Beach, Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico Island Travels Part 2: The Clothing Optional Tour

Puerto Rico Island Travels Part 3: The Big Cajones Tour

For more Sweet Spot Travels: Go Here!

Apr11

Thanks For the Memories, Mexico

Posted on April 11, 2013 by LookingfortheSweetSpot

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Taxco, Mexico

I love Mexico. Not for the obvious reasons, the beautiful beaches and coastal resorts, but rather for the fact that if it wasn’t for Mexico, our future family traveling experiences would have been vastly different. You see, my kids cut their teeth, in a travel sort of way, by experiencing the historic, rustic and colorful country that is Mexico.

Starting when our kids were 4 and 6, between the years of 2004 and 2007, we took several trips to Mexico. On each trip, we would map out a section of the country we had not seen before, fly in & rent a car, have on hand a slush fund for “extras” (aka payments-for-tickets-while-traveling- in-and-out-of-Mexico City-that-made-no-sense-whatsoever-but-satisfy-police-officer-so-could-proceed-on-our-way), and start driving.

We would go on the cheap – staying mostly in rustic and often historic little hotels as opposed to chain options and eating at the home cooked local street stands (we were never revenged upon by Montezuma). We would carry throw-away clothes that could be left behind in order to make room for all the cool hand-made swag we would accumulate at markets along the way. We would seek out colonial towns and cities, ruins, eco adventures, beaches, waterfalls, cathedrals and oddities of any kind (the mummy museum in Guanajuato filled with actual mummies excavated from a nearby cemetery a long remembered fave). We looked for local festivities and parades (they can carry a saint through town like nobody’s business). And we would travel for as many days as we could afford to be away– usually between 14 and 16 days.

After several years of experiencing Mexico’s culture, sites, language, people, colors, my kids (and myself) were officially hooked on the whole idea of foreign travel and discovery.

For this reason alone, Mexico will always hold a special place in my heart.

But honestly, it is so much more than that. For when I go back and look at all the pictures from those trips, it is as if my kids at 4 and 6 (ish) are somehow mysteriously still there, forever fixed in time at that age and in that place.

As if they are forever standing underneath the colorful hand crafted banners

Puebla

Forever chasing pigeons in the historic squares

Guanajuato, Mexico

Forever climbing the pyramids

The pyramids of Ek Balem, Mexico

Forever exploring the wilds of Mexico

Casa de Cortez, Mexico

And when I want to find them, laugh with them, be with them…

Bernal, Mexico

I always know just where to look.

For more Sweet Spot Travels: Go Here!

Apr1

A Trip More (or Less) Ordinary

Posted on April 1, 2013 by LookingfortheSweetSpot

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A trip is a trip. From where I stand, any trip is a good one. The minute I board a plane, there is the excitement of unknown adventures and happenings ahead. The longer I go between trips, the more I begin to feel like a bird with it’s wings clipped – or, just really bored.

But the truth is, not all trips are created equally (although in the interest of hurt feelings, we try not to talk about it – we like our trips to feel good about themselves). Where some trips are about adventure, unique experiences, seeing new places, or lounging on beaches – others are about spending time with family.

Over our spring break last week, I grabbed my kids, jumped a plane (well, walked onto it) and headed out on one of those spending time with family types of trips – fun and enjoyable, but in a more sedate, ordinary kind of way.

For example, every morning, we made coffee,

Desperation is the mother of invention.

We regularly walked to the store and hijacked stranded shopping carts,

Look out, here comes the “po po”.

Played hours and hours of backyard wiffle baseball – that is until all our wiffle balls had been lost to the bushes, trees and neighboring backyards.

Anyone for lemon ball?

Watched Manuel the cable guy climb a power line pole to fix the internet connection, (I swear he is up there, somewhere…I think).

Can you see any of the wiffle balls from up there?

Hey Manuel, can you see any of our wiffle balls from up there?

Went to a museum. But before we could enter, we had to be briefed by Obi “Sean”…

May the force be with Billy Dee Williams?

…be reminded that Billy Dee Williams was in fact in a Star Wars movie…

I must have blinked while watching Star Wars.

I must have blinked during that scene in Star Wars.

…and battle the dark force before we could proceed into the museum.

I think I can take the guy behind him...

I think I can take the short guy…

Oh and by the way, once we did actually make it into the museum, we sensed there was something amiss…

I suspect conspiracy.

So, aside from picking up some new one liners from the movie “The Amazing Burt Wonderstone” like

“He put a puppy in my pants!”

“Your skin makes me cry”

“He has more urine in him than blood…he should be dead.”

And the guy who passed out on our airplane and had to be escorted off by police and paramedics.

Paramedic: “Sir, have you done any drugs today.”

Passed out guy: “umm, nooooo.”

Plane erupts in laughter.

This is probably what the guy looked like the night before boarding the plane.

This is probably what the guy looked like the night before boarding our plane.

It was just an ordinary trip… more or less.

For more Sweet Spot Travels: Go Here!

Mar4

Spring Break at The Devil’s Bridge

Posted on March 4, 2013 by LookingfortheSweetSpot

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Along the hike to The Devil’s Bridge

Around this time last year, I shared some of my favorite pictures and moments from our Spring Break trip to Las Vegas, the Grand Canyon and Sedona, Arizona – more particularly, the highlight of The Devil’s Bridge!

However, I never really got around to telling the story of how we actually got to the Devil’s Bridge – or rather almost didn’t get there – until now!

Thanks to my fabulous writer friend Sherri Kuhn (whom I have known since the dark ages – i.e. when I still had braces) I am sharing the story over at SheKnows.com as part of a multi-writer contribution article about most memorable Spring Break vacation trips!

Find out what turning 50 (please, NOT ME – my husband) and a quest for The Devil’s Bridge have in common.

Go here to jump right to my story of how we strayed off the beaten path!

Go here to start at the beginning and read all contributing articles!

Really, it’s all good!

For more Sweet Spot Travels: Go Here!

Feb13

“We Got to Let Love Rule”

Posted on February 13, 2013 by LookingfortheSweetSpot

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The Love Locks – Venice, Italy

I think I may have mentioned we were in Italy last November (I promise to shut up about it after this post, maybe). But one day, walking across the Accademia Bridge in Venice, my sons and I noticed rows of padlocks lining the hand rail up and down the bridge. We were intrigued (‘cause what is cooler than a bunch of unexplained hardware on a historic landmark?) On closer inspection, we discovered the locks were inscribed with names and sentiments of love – which I found adorable, and my boys found just plain embarrassing for the poor schmucks involved. As we began to notice these locks secured on other historic bridges around Venice, including the famous Rialto Bridge, our curiosity grew.

And thus, through deep investigation (aka google search) we were able to solve the mystery of what we found out was called The Love Locks.

So, this Valentine’s day, if you want to say I Love You Italian-style, here is how it is done.

Accademia Bridge – Venice, Italy

1. Choose a romantic and/or historic bridge as depicted in the 2006 novel responsible for the current craze, “I Want You” by Italian author Federico Moccia. The preferred romantic locations seem to be in Italy – Rome, Venice, and Florence – although bridges in other countries such as Ireland, Germany, France, Canada and Russia seem to qualify as well due to the locks massively appearing. Heck, a bridge anywhere will probably do the trick.

2. Get a padlock. Go fancy by engraving it with the name/initials of you and your lover and maybe some gooey sentiments. Or do a poor man’s version by hand writing names and message of everlasting amour on your padlock (sharpie , nail polish, whatever is handy). Then lock the padlock onto a historic/romantic bridge and throw the padlock key into the canal or body of water while thus swearing eternal love and devotion to one another.

But pay heed to #3…

3. Seriously, here is the most important part, so don’t zone out yet.

Once you have put your lock into place and thrown the key into the water, run like Willie Nelson from the IRS! You see, the truth is, putting the locks on the historic bridges is, in many places illegal due to the fact that they are considered by some to be an eyesore and also damage the old stone on the famous bridges as the locks begin to rust. Getting caught locking your love to a bridge could be accompanied by a heavy fine, and in some cases, jail time (um, you have seen Midnight Express, right?). All in the name of love.

However, don’t despair because…

While it is true that your padlock of eternal love could end up victim to massive bolt cutters in the night by authorities cleaning up and protecting the historic bridge (making the whole eternal thing a little less everlasting), there is still hope. In true love Italian-style, authorities have in some places near or on the preferred historic bridges begun to install fences or special bars on which to hang the locks of love legally, without damaging the bridges.

You know what they say (or, well, Lenny Kravitz says it – which is good enough for me),

“We Got to Let Love Rule!”

Happy Valentines Day from Sweet Spot!

Other Valentines Day Posts: True Love By Way of a Kitty Dance and a Bucking Horse.

For more Sweet Spot Travels: Go Here!

Jan29

The Travel Scavenger Hunt

Posted on January 29, 2013 by LookingfortheSweetSpot

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Brooklyn Bridge

We love to travel with our kids and…

…When they were little, the primary goal was just to get there and back again without losing our sanity. Be it by car or plane, the trip was deemed a success if accomplished with the minimal amount of tearing out of hair (our own) or disturbing the peace (a group effort).

However, as they got older, we began to want them to actually get something out of the experiences.

And thus, the Travel Scavenger Hunt was born…

I swear, it really works! Go here – over to ParentSociety.com – to my article about how it works and how to make your own Travel Scavenger Hunt – trust me, you kids will love it!

For more Sweet Spot Travels: Go Here!

Jan24

9 Free Activities to Do With Kids in Italy

Posted on January 24, 2013 by LookingfortheSweetSpot

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Travel: it costs money. Sometimes a lot of money. Scratch that, travel pretty much all the time costs a bucket load of money. Unfortunately for our pocketbook, my husband and I have developed an obsessive love for traveling, and we have successfully infected our kids with the obsession as well!

Today, over at ParentSociety.com, as a result of a trip to Italy in November, I am sharing nine of our favorite free (or practically free) activities to do with kids in Italy (believe, if you are planning a trip to Italy – with or without your kids – you are gonna need it!). Go here!

9 Free Activities to Do With Kids in Italy

Resolutions for 2013 – Sweet Spot Style

Posted on December 31, 2012 by LookingfortheSweetSpot

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Yes, it is that time again – Resolution time. Truthfully, I hold with the Non-Resolution style of ringing in the New Year. That being said, there is always something of value to be learned from history – ones own adventures and, well, misadventures.

Thus this year, I decided to scour the Sweet Spot Archives of 2012 in search of some well earned Resolutions for 2013.
I think I found some pretty powerful nuggets of advice for the New Year…

1. I will be sure to check my pants zipper (Life, the Ego-Sucking Siege) before entering any and all public establishments.

2. I will struggle on in my war against electronics (I Am Woman – Ode to Chris the Caveman) in the never ending battle for influence over my kids’ brain.

3. I will try to have a kindler, gentler approach to my vacuum (The Day I Killed the Vacuum) and well, for that matter all machines in general (Woman vs. Machine).

4. I will try to take Teens advice to drink water and recycle – preferably at the same time – (Teen Talk: Episode #3) and, of course, Pre-Teens advice to Never Sit on a Couch at a Nudest Colony.

5. I swear never to utter the chant “Party at home plate” at my kids’ baseball games (Take Us To Warp Speed, Scotty), or do any of those other things that would qualify me for “bulldog” status as a Sports Mom (Bulldogs Don’t Wear Lipstick).

6. I promise, for Teen and Pre-Teen’s sake, to work in the words “Balls” (Word-Up: We’ve Got Big Balls) and “Weenus” (Word-Up: Show Me Your Weenus) into every conversation where possible but not necessarily appropriate.

7. In true Mid-West fashion, I promise to generously give the “no problem” wave, the “thanks for not honking at me even though I deserve it” wave, and possibly throw in the “I’m cool” head wave. (You Deserve the Wave Today).

8. I will seek out adventure every chance I get (Sweet Spot Travels), even the scary kind (Today’s Best Moment Thursday April 5.)

9. I will try to make someones day as often as possible simply by donning a pen and piece of rainbow stationary. (Go Ahead, Make My Day).

10. I will be sure to have plenty of stockings/pantyhose and pet hair removal devices on hand for whatever occasion may arise. (Bag Lady Goes a Job Hunting).

11. I will try to never, ever forget how good it feels to laugh (Destroy This Note After Reading).

And lastly, two lessons – clearly resolution worthy – from some recent experiences:

I will try to not take as a personal commentary the worker-monogrammed cups received at Starbucks:

And, I will remember to pee prior to attending a D-Box movie.

Happy New Year from Looking for the Sweet Spot.

Go get ’em!

Dec24

Merry Christmas 2012

Posted on December 24, 2012 by LookingfortheSweetSpot

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Merry Christmas from Sweet Spot

May your holiday be filled with Santa Claus (preferably sober)…

Santacon 2012 – New York City

Big Balls…(not necessarily together)

Rockefeller Center 2012 – New York City

Mysterious gifts…

I’m thinking, chicken leg??

and a really big Christmas tree…

The tree at Rockefeller Center – New York City 2012

Merry Christmas to all and to all a goodnight.

For more Sweet Spot Travels: Go Here!

Dec14

Just ‘Cause it’s Friday

Posted on December 14, 2012 by LookingfortheSweetSpot

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Cata – Lisa

Painted by a local popular artist in Venice, Italy. What’s that rumbling? Oh, yeah – that is Leonardo Da Vinci rolling over in his grave. I hear he does a lot of that these days. Still, it is kind of irresistible – or at least my son thought so!

Happy Friday!

For more Sweet Spot Travels: Go Here!

Nov28

A Boy’s-Eye View of Italy

Posted on November 28, 2012 by LookingfortheSweetSpot

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Italy is awesome! Or so, my boys have proclaimed. Seriously, what is not to appreciate about a country that has so much to offer a boy’s sensibility – especially from a Teen/Pre-teen boy perspective. Please, allow me to explain:

1. You get to learn about crazy people.

The Pieta (The Pity) Statue by Michelangelo, Vatican City. Yeah, yeah, this statue is beautiful, impressive, stunning, etc. But, did you know it is encased in a plastic protector because in the 1970s, a “mad geologist attacked the statue with a hammer.”? (say what??) Right, well, apparently, any way you slice it this story was clearly cool enough to spawn a steady laughter invoking exchange for the remainder of our trip such as the following:

“Hey Mom”

“Yeah?”

“I am a geologist and I am really MAD…GET ME A HAMMER!!!!”

ok, it still makes me laugh…

2. You get to throw stuff

Trevi Fountain, Rome. Let’s face it – any opportunity to throw stuff…legally… is well worth a long plane ride. But take note – don’t even waste coin after coin after coin trying to nail the Trevi seagulls, they are way, way too saavy to be caught by such an assault (and I suspect, have had to learn the hard way!).

3. You get a drink, for free, anytime you want.

Random fountain in Rome. Just pray, the water isn’t as ancient as the fountain…

4. You get to play in the dirt

The Colosseum , Rome. Sure, the whole Colosseum thing is crazily impressive and all,

But even better is collecting some ancient Colosseum dirt to bring home. Just be warned – apparently a bag of dirt in ones backpack is cause for suspicion and, if you hazard the attempt to bring home said souvenir, you will be detained at every single security checkpoint along the way.

5. You get randomly photo bombed.

Navona Piazza Street Performer, Rome. Anytime, anyplace, anywhere – you never know exactly when it is happening. It won’t be until viewing pictures at some later date you will realize you were, yet again, photo-bombed by a statue’s bare butt (or other random, bare body parts) making for endless amounts of humor opportunities. Ah well, you know, when in Rome…

6. You get to spit on stuff.

Venice, Italy. What better attribute does a hotel have to offer than the ability of customers to be able stick their head out of their very own hotel window and spit right into a not so clean canal of water that can’t be hurt by a few dribbles of spit, anyway. Pure genius, I say.

7. You get to handle wild animals.

Venice, Italy – some piazza somewhere. From a boys perspective, never underestimate the entertainment value of handling a rodent with wings (i.e. pigeons).

8. You get to eat good food.

Venice, Italy. Pizza for breakfast, Pizza for lunch, Pizza for dinner, Pizza with french fries…need I say more?

9. And some things, are just plain cool – graffiti and all!

The Rialto Bridge, Venice, Italy.

For more Sweet Spot Travels: Go Here!

Nov23

Travel Magic

Posted on November 23, 2012 by LookingfortheSweetSpot

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No matter how much I travel, it always seems like pure magic you can get on a plane, sit there for some hours, and arrive at a place like this:

Venice, Italy

Or this:

St. Angelo Bridge, Rome, Italy

And even though I may get cheated by a taxi driver (hey, I can now say I have been cheated on two continents!), have to sit by a guy who snores (I sleep next to one on a daily basis, so no biggie), get practically run over by a scooter (it is Italy after all, maybe he was hoping for more than a brush of the elbow?), or have to beg a waiter on bended knee for a few pieces of precious ice… I will continue to test the magic – time and time again.

For more Sweet Spot Travels: Go Here!

Sep5

5 Steps to Getting Your Kids to Stop Asking “How Much Longer?”

Posted on September 5, 2012 by LookingfortheSweetSpot

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If your kids never, ever ask this question, wouldn’t even think asking it, would die before this question passed their lips, then stop reading right now this instant. However if, as I strongly suspect, your kids are like mine and fully abuse the question “How Much Longer?” , you might want to check out my latest article on ParentSociety.com,

5 Steps to Getting Your Kids to Stop Asking “How Much Longer?”.

Alright, already, here is the teaser…

My son has an annoying habit of constantly asking the question, “How much longer?” How much longer will something last, how much longer until we get somewhere, how much longer until something arrives, etc. (OK, it isn’t annoying, it is cute, endearing, precious, just like him … now do I get my parent-of-the-year trophy back?).

Actually, the problem isn’t just that he asks the question…

Enough? Now, if you please, go here to get the rest of the ~~snarky~~ story.

5 Steps to Getting Your Kids to Stop Asking “How Much Longer?”

Oh, and if you need further laughs on this Wednesday hump day, I recommend this short and sweet vlog – Boy Meets Tree

For more Sweet Spot Travels: Go Here!

Aug30

6 Budget Activities to Do With Kids in the UK

Posted on August 30, 2012 by LookingfortheSweetSpot

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For those of you not sick of hearing about my trip to the UK yet (I hope there are at least 2 of you left), my article 6 Budget Activities to Do With Kids in the UK is running on ParentSociety.com today. It starts out like this…

Ok, here it is people: the truth about travel with kids. You can plan and plan and plan until you are blue in the face. You can research activities you hope your kids will find intriguing until you are bleary-eyed. You can root out every possible fun activity there is until your head is spinning. But no matter how much work you do to entertain your kids on a vacation, the sad reality is that in the end it doesn’t matter. No matter what you do, those slippery little suckers will end up liking some random activity better.

Now, come on, doesn’t that make you the least bit curious? Wee bit? Go Here!

6 Budget Activities to Do with Kids in the UK

Other travel musings:

Sweet Spots: UK

Leaving My Heart (& “the Cheeseman”) in Hamburg

Don’t Worry, I Speak the Language

Round ’em Up Son: All is Good in Wales

For more Sweet Spot Travels: Go Here!

Aug27

Round ’em Up Son: All is Good in Wales

Posted on August 27, 2012 by LookingfortheSweetSpot

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After a long trip, the question I am most asked by friends and family is “What is your name, again?” No, not really, the big 5 question is always, “What was your favorite thing on the trip?”

It is funny, but even though many activities and places will jump out as highlights on a trip, there is always one glaring favorite – the place I most want to go back to, soon. The place I want to be instantly instead of going back to work or doing laundry or cooking or cleaning or shaving or… well, you get the picture. For me on this particular trip, it was Wales.

While it is true that there are in inordinate amount of sheep in Wales (seriously, they could go Animal Farm and take over if they were thus motivated).