On Moments

There was one big box, wrapped in polka dots and housing her 12th birthday present. I told her as she surveyed the seemingly sparse landscape: it’s a big one, I promise, so this is it. She opened it gingerly and took a suitcase out of the delicately unfurled paper. “Oh my gosh, I love this [...]

It’s a big world after all

Like many people my age, travel wasn’t a big part of my experience growing up. Our family vacations consisted of road trips and camping. The one epic journey of my childhood was when I was twelve, and all seven of us spent five weeks in a van, driving through “thirty-two states two foreign countries* and [...]

Rice and Beans

I am fresh off an excellent trip to Costa Rica with my husband. We celebrated our tenth year of marriage with many hours in a terrible BeGo SUV rental as we bumped along narrow weathered roads banked by gorgeous green hillsides, fields of banana trees and wild hibiscus. Our nights were steamy: in unair-conditioned jungle [...]

Splendid Isolation on Hinchinbrook

Day One “Welcome to Splendid Isolation,” says the large wooden sign posted over the dock. As our boat slows to a stop, I get my first up-close look at Hinchinbrook, the island just a couple of miles away from the Great Barrier Reef where my husband, our four children, and I will be spending the [...]

Unexpected Adventures

Today’s UP CLOSE post is from the trips and travels of Ellen Patton of Lexington, Mass. Late-night baking, antiquing and exploring New England are some of her loves.  She believes strongly in writing letters and mailing them with real stamps, spending time with friends, and enjoys photography. She adores her loft condo with 18 foot ceilings in a converted high school. During the [...]

Recent Comments

Find us on these aggregators