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Issue 53 | Find Your Happy Place May/June 2026
Publisher Victoria Wise
Editor Lee Virden Geurkink
Associate Publisher Jennifer Kieta
Contributing Writers
Angela Clifton
Kari Crowe Seher
Tabetha Weeks
William Wise
Illustrator
Trish Wise
Lead Design
Conor Dardis
Cover Design
Victoria Wise
Madeworthy Magazine is an extension of Tanglewood Moms, LLC., and serves to tell community stories for a family audience. For website and magazine advertising opportunities, please contact: Victoria@MadeworthyMedia.com
Looking for more copies of Madeworthy Magazine? You can subscribe at TanglewoodMoms.com for free or pick up copies at Central Market in Fort Worth.
QContributors Question
What was your childhood happy place?
My happy place is anywhere with family. Here I am in San Francisco with my parents and brother. As I write this, I’m traveling with my husband and kids, and nothing makes me happier.
A Le er from the
Editor
by Lee Virden Geurkink
“Find your happy place.”
Since the mid-1990s, we've been told to fnd our happy places. "Find your happy place" became a popular mantra, a way to escape the stresses and strains of life by visualizing and meditating on a place where you once found happiness. And, to be fair, fnding your happy place can alleviate stress.
When I was little, I had two happy places. The frst was my grandparents' place in East Texas. Affectionately called Heaven Hill (in honor of my Southern grandfather's favorite bourbon and the fact that the hill the house stood on was the highest point in the county), it was 100 acres of meadow and pine forest located just south of Winnsboro. They built a house big enough to contain their many grandchildren and friends, which was
fnished in the same year I was born. (No, I'm not going to tell you that it was 1971. That would reveal my age!)
My family and I went to Heaven Hill at least once every month when I was growing up. My father would pick us up from school, one of a series of Suburbans already loaded up and ready to go. We would head out, the radio set to KERA to catch Susan Stamberg, Bob Edwards, Noah Adams, Renée Montagne, and Robert Siegel on All Things Considered. (My sister and I were the most well-informed students in preschool.)
We would stop in either Quitman or Emory at the Dairy Queen for a small cherry Coke and a bag of Fritos before making the fnal push to Heaven Hill. My father would invite either Rachel or me to “drive” up the winding road from the gate to the house.
My favorite memories of Heaven Hill include the tire swing that hung off the limb of a big old pine tree just off the back porch, bouncing on the “riding tree,” a pine that fell over during a storm and continued to grow
grandparents' place in East Texas (see photo above) or summer camp by the Pecos River in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.
horizontally, listening to my sister, my mother, and my grandmother (card sharks, the lot of them) playing Spite and Malice in the evenings, and listening to whip-poor-wills and owls as I fell asleep. My aunt and mother sold Heaven Hill in 2014, but I can still see every single inch of that house and hill if I close my eyes.
My other happy place was the camp on the Pecos River where I spent eight magical summers. After enduring the summer of 1980 (the hottest on record in Texas) in the Piney Woods, my parents decided I needed to go to camp in the mountains. After a visit to some family friends' place in northern New Mexico, we found Brush Ranch Camps.
As the old Bluebird school bus rattled across the wooden bridge spanning the Pecos River on that June day in 1981, I had no idea that my life was about to change for the better. Brush Ranch, located in Tererro, New Mexico, became my refuge. I became the person I wanted to be, leaving behind the goofy know-it-all that my peers either pitied or bullied, as I rode
horses, hiked through the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, and sang songs around campfres. The days were sunny and warm, and the nights were cool and laden with shooting stars.
After spending a month in paradise, my family would pick me up from camp, and we would head to Lake City, Colorado, to spend a couple of weeks with my aunt and uncle, stopping in Santa Fe and Taos along the way. The only bad part of that annual summer trip was driving home to the Texas heat.
For this issue of Madeworthy, we asked our contributors to fnd their happy places, and boy, did they deliver! From Mackinac Island to New Braunfels, from Colorado to Idaho to the Pacifc Northwest to Alaska, our contributors are a well-traveled bunch. If you’re looking for ideas for your next adventure, you will fnd all sorts of inspiration in these pages.
We hope you enjoy this issue, and we hope you get out and travel the world. Who knows? You might discover new happy places.
Trish
Wherever I could climb a tree with a book in my hand!
Kari
Any place outdoors is (and has been!) my happy place.
Angela My childhood happy place was anywhere I could be with all the neighborhood kids on our bikes or in the forts we built by the creek.
Victoria
Tabetha I grew up in Corpus Christi. The beach was my happy place. Here I am in my childhood happy place with my children.
Lee
Either my
Summer Getaway in Grapevine, Texas!
Fort Worth Events - May/June 2026
Through Mar 1
Cowtown Marathon cowtownmarathon.org
Through May 3 Mayfest mayfest.org
Through May 3
Monty Python’s Spamalot basshall.com
Through May 16 Rent circletheatre.com
May 1
Grapevine Main Live! First Concert grapevinetexasusa.com
May 1
UNT One O’Clock Lab Band Spring Showcase basshall.com
May 1 & 2
Jay Jurden Standup Comic Residency amphibianstage.com
May 2
Fishing Seminar for Kids fortworthzoo.org
May 2 Cinco de Mayo Run runsignup.com
May 2
Middle School Open House: A Day for Deep Thinkers themodern.org
May 2
Family Workshop: Found Photos cartermuseum.org
May 3
Cinco de Mayo Celebration lagranplazamall.com
May 6
Tessa Lark & Misha Namirovsky cliburn.org
May 7-10
PBR World Finals fortworthstockyards.org
May 7
Florence + The Machine dickiesarena.com
May 8-10
TCU vs Utah Baseball gofrogs.com
May 9
Mother’s Day Sip ‘n Shop facebook.com/ wanderingrootsmarkets
May 10
Mother’s Day Brunch fortworthzoo.org
May 10
Mother’s Day at Café Modern themodern.org
May 12
Mother’s Day in the Stockyards fortworthstockyards.org
May 12-17
May 15-17
Swan Lake texasballettheater.org
May 15-17
Spirit of Mexico Rodeo fortworthstockyards.com
May 15 & 17
2026 Hidden Gardens of Fort Worth Tour historicfortworth.org
May 15
Beastro fortworthzoo.org
May 16
Concerts in the Chapel: Goldpine southsidepreservation.com
May 17
ARTsense kimbellart.org
May 17
Sound Bath Under the Stars fwmuseum.org
May 20 Log Cabin Story Time southsidepreservation.com
May 23 & June 11
A Poem for Deep Thinkers Open Mic Night themodern.org
May 25-28
Rangers vs Astros Lone Star Series mlb.com/rangers
May 25-31
Charles Schwab Challenge charlesschwabchallenge.com
May 27
Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Evening dickiesarena.com
May 29 through June 28
Sassy Mamas jubileetheatre.org
May 30 through June 7
Come From Away casamanana.org
June 3- 27
Sherlock Holmes and the Adventure of the Ghost Machine stagewest.org
June 3 through July 29
Art Tales cartermuseum.org
June 3 & 6
The Playboy of the Western World ntlive.com
June 5-7 Hadestown basshall.com
June 5-21
The Wiz theatrearlington.org
June 6
American Cornhole League Fort Worth Signature Open facebook.com/ iplaycornhole
June 6
June 7
Drawing from the Collection for Children themodern.org
June 9-29
Yacht Rock: It Rocks… But Not Too Hard casamanana.org
Nate Bargatze: Big Dumb Eyes World Tour dickiesarena.com
Fresh Family Recipes
There are few things more delightful than eating delicious food in a glorious, far-fung locale. Sometimes, however, travel isn’t possible. So what do you do when you need to get out of town, even for a few hours, and you're hungry? Head to Mingus and Beneventi's Italian Restaurant. Madeworthy friend Jan Underwood shared three delightful summertime dishes that are sure to please everyone.
Lemon Ricotta Ravioli with Scampi-Style Sauce
Ingredients
For the ravioli dough
2 cups four (240 grams)
2 eggs
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon olive oil
1 to 2 tablespoons cold water
For the ravioli flling:
2 cups ricotta
2 tablespoons chopped parsley
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (approximately the juice of 1 lemon)
For the ravioli sauce
2 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
1/4 cup dry white wine
1/4 cup heavy cream
Zest of 1 lemon
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme leaves
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
Garnish (optional):
Chopped fresh parsley
Shaved or fnely grated parmesan
Directions
For the ravioli dough
Boursin, Fig, and Pistachio Dip
Ingredients
1 5.2-ounce package Boursin
Garlic & Fine Herbs cheese
1/3 cup fg preserves
1/4 cup shelled and salted pistachios, roughly crushed and lightly toasted in a dry skillet over medium heat
Hot honey for drizzling
Crackers or crostini for serving
Add all the ingredients except the water to the bowl of a stand mixer and mix with a dough hook. Slowly add just enough water to the mixture to form a dough. Continue with the dough hook, kneading for 4 to 6 minutes until smooth. Cover the bowl with a clean kitchen towel and allow the dough to rest for 30 to 60 minutes. Cut the ball of dough in half, and with a pasta maker or a rolling pin on a foured surface, roll the dough out into thin, rectangular sheets (#5 or #6 on a pasta maker).
For the ravioli flling
Add all the ingredients to a bowl and mix until smooth. Chill for at least 30 minutes. Just before flling the ravioli, drain any liquid that has formed from the flling.
To form the ravioli
Lay one of the dough strips fat on a lightly foured surface. Mentally divide the strip of dough in half, and add teaspoons of flling to the bottom half of the dough, spacing them approximately 1 ½ to 2 inches apart. Fold the top half of the dough over the teaspoons of flling, and cut around each teaspoon of flling. [Editor’s Note: Jan suggests using a futed pasta cutter; I simply cut between each ravioli with a knife.] Press the two pieces of pasta together to remove air pockets and to seal the edges. Repeat. You should have 24 to 30 ravioli pieces. Set aside while you make the sauce and bring a pot of salted water to the boil.
For the sauce
Directions
Place the Boursin on a small serving plate or shallow dish. Gently press and spread the cheese to form an even layer on the dish. [Editor’s Note: Jan suggests allowing the cheese to sit at room temperature for about 15 to 20 minutes for easier spreading.] Spoon the preserves over the top, spreading them to cover the cheese evenly. Sprinkle the crushed pistachios over the preserves.
Drizzle the dish with hot honey and serve immediately with the crackers or crostini. Serves 6 to 8 as a starter.
Caprese Salad – Still the Summer’s Best!
Ingredients
2 to 3 ripe Campari tomatoes, sliced and drained on paper towels
6 to 8 leaves of fresh basil
6 to 8 slices of fresh mozzarella or 3 to 4 mozzarella ciliegene, halved 2 to 3 tablespoons balsamic glaze (available in grocery stores or see recipe below)
1 to 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
Salt to taste
Freshly cracked pepper to taste
Directions
Arrange the tomato slices on a serving plate in a single layer.
Add a basil leaf to each tomato slice.
Add a slice or half of mozzarella on top of each leaf of basil. Lightly sprinkle with salt and pepper. Drizzle with olive oil and balsamic glaze and serve immediately. Serves 2 to 3.
[Editor’s Note: Jan suggests using squeeze bottles for the extra-virgin olive oil and for the balsamic glaze for that professional fourish.]
Heat the butter and oil in a large sauté pan or skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and sauté just until you can smell it (no more than 30 to 45 seconds). Add the wine and reduce for 1 to 2 minutes. Add the remaining ingredients, lower the heat, and simmer for 2 to 3 minutes. Keep warm while you cook the ravioli.
To cook the ravioli and fnish the dish
In the pot of boiling salted water, cook the ravioli until they foat, about 3 to 5 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the ravioli directly to the pan of sauce. Simmer over low heat for 2 to 4 minutes to bring the dish together. Plate with the sauce and garnish with the chopped fresh parsley, shaved or fnely grated parmesan cheese, and a lemon wedge.
Serves 2 to 3 as a main dish.
Balsamic Glaze
Ingredients
1 cup balsamic vinegar
1/2 tablespoon honey, optional
Directions
In a saucepan over medium-high heat, bring the balsamic vinegar and honey (if using) to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the volume is reduced by half. You’ll know it’s done when it coats the back of a spoon and you can draw a line through it with your fnger. Remove from the heat and allow to cool before storing in the refrigerator in an airtight container.
By Lee Virden Geurkink
Illustrations by Trish Wise
ar t tales
Wednesdays in June and July 10 a.m.–noon | June 3 through July 29 | FREE
Join us every Wednesday in June and July for family friendly storytime fun. Hear stories, play gallery games, create artwork, and enjoy performances inspired by artworks in the Carter’s collection.
June 3: Things that Go
June 10: Read All About It
June 17: Weaving Wonders
June 24: Chuckleheads
July 1: Moovin’ and Groovin’
July 8: Take a Hike
July 15: Color Craze
July 22: Whatever the Weather
July 29: Recycling Roundup
Made in Fort Worth: La Pulga
Spirits
by Madeworthy editorial team
Fort Worth has become home to quite a few premium spirits and liquors. Several years ago, Sarah Castillo, Andrew De La Torre, and Stephen Slaughter decided to develop a new brand of premium Mexican liquors. In the years since La Pugla debuted, their tequilas, sotol, and mezcal have engendered a loyal following. We talked with Sarah Castillo about La Pugla. [Editor’s Note: This has been edited for space. The full interview will publish on our website.]
Madeworthy: What inspired you to start La Pulga Spirits, and what was the moment you knew this idea had real potential?
my vision. That moment sparked the beginning of La Pulga.
MW: “La Pulga” is a distinctive name. What does it represent to you?
SC: The name “La Pulga” was inspired by the vibrancy of Mexico's and Texas's openair markets, where community, culture, and celebration come together. It’s the same sense of connection and shared experience captured in every bottle of our spirits.
Sarah Castillo: Having spent years in the restaurant business, I’ve tasted a wide range of tequilas, but many of the larger brands never truly resonated with me. I was searching for something more authentic – a small-batch tequila, crafted with consistency, quality, and all-natural ingredients. That pursuit led me to my partners, Stephen Slaughter and Andrew De La Torre, who shared
MW: This is our travel issue. If you planned a Mexican tequila expedition, where would you send our readers?
MW: How does your heritage infuence the favors and storytelling behind La Pulga Spirits?
SC: Mexico is part of my family heritage, and I carry a deep sense of pride in it. It shapes our respect for tradition and our commitment to authenticity. My background in the hospitality industry has also had a strong infuence. Hospitality professionals are the backbone of our communities, working without much recognition. That perspective is central to how we think about La Pulga, and that’s why we call it “The Spirit We Share.” It refects our belief that tequila should be inclusive, approachable, and rooted in connection, something that brings people together and can be enjoyed by everyone.
SC: By law, tequila can only be produced in fve states in Mexico, but the heart of it all is Jalisco, home to most tequila distilleries and the birthplace of tequila itself. For anyone planning a true tequila expedition, Guadalajara, the capital of Jalisco, is the perfect starting point, offering world-class restaurants, beautiful hotels, historic architecture, and a deep connection to tequila heritage. From there, you can venture out to the Jalisco Highlands, where La Pulga Tequila is produced, or to the region's lowlands, where the town of Tequila is located. For anyone looking to truly understand tequila, Guadalajara should be at the top of the list.
with subtle oak infuence. And for whiskey drinkers, La Pulga Añejo is a great bridge. I'd also encourage people not to overlook our mezcal. It's a very distinctive expression, less smoky than many expect, with more vegetal notes, like green pepper, that make it incredibly approachable and unique.
MW: The spirits industry has historically been male-dominated—what has your experience been as a female founder, and what changes are you seeing?
MW: If someone is trying La Pulga Spirits for the frst time, where should they start?
SC: If you gravitate toward something perfect for sipping on the rocks or mixing into a great margarita, start with our La Pulga Blanco Tequila. If you prefer something a bit more rounded and expressive, La Pulga Reposado offers that balance of agave character
SC: While the spirits industry has historically been male-dominated, I’ve never really felt like an outsider. We were intentional about building a team that included strong, talented women, and we're seeing that across the industry. More women are founding, leading, and infuencing spirits brands than ever before. As new brands emerge, the leadership behind them is becoming more diverse, more dynamic, and more representative of the people who actually enjoy these products. There's still progress to be made, but the shift is happening.
MW: The sub-theme of this issue is "Happy Place". Please tell us where your Happy Place is and why.
My happy place isn't a specifc location; it's a moment. It's wherever I'm gathered with friends and family, sharing a bottle of La Pulga, being present with the people who matter most, creating memories together, one pour at a time.
HVAC Services
Where Is Your Happy Place?
When I travel, I always struggle to choose between wanting to try someplace I've never been and returning to the mountains I fnd most comforting. No matter where we go, our travel style is always the same. We love adventure, the dirtier, the better. The more rugged the place is, the more curious I am. Danger doesn't scare me.
For years, our happiest places have been far-fung mountain tops, remote waterfalls at the end of a long trek with camping gear in tow, and tents pitched on the side of a cliff with a view that money can’t buy. Places you can’t get to in a car. Give me a dehydrated meal and a sunset over the Rockies, and you’ll never fnd someone happier. Sneak some pastries into my pack, and I’ll be your best friend.
Last year, my husband and I changed our travel style. We invested in an off-roader camper van to be our home on wheels. It was the start of a longawaited dream, a sabbatical from the rigors of owning our own business. After a decade of building MELT Ice Creams and being deeply committed to the people we work with, we prepared our team and went on the road and off the grid for a season of rest. Adventure rest.
We left Fort Worth at the end of June and headed for the mountains.
We had a few agreed-upon destinations but only a very loose itinerary. We didn’t know where we would sleep or how many nights we would be there. Each day, we’d scroll through apps rating national forest campsites or BLM [Bureau of Land Management] land, and we would drive along washed-out roads, hoping the spot we chose was level and safe and with a good view.
Because we didn't plan each leg of our trip, we could let the magic of the road unfold before us. We promised ourselves that we would always detour for three things: people, pizza, and pastries. And low-intervention wine. (Please note that ice cream is included in the pastry category.)
Every day, we sought out long hikes with our dog, Mills (named after Milford Sound in New Zealand, another adventure destination we love). Every night, we came back to the van – our tiny, mobile safe place. We made our meager dinners and sat outside to stargaze until we drifted off to sleep. In this way, we made our way across the Rockies.
In Colorado, we shared many meals and hikes with friends. We even celebrated the Fourth of July above the freworks with the publisher of this magazine! People shared hot showers and hot meals with us. We learned pretty quickly that when someone offers you a shower or access to a
washer, you never say no. Water is the greatest luxury in van life.
We rock climbed for the frst time without a guide and met strangers who encouraged us, gave us tips, and kindly built our confdence. We had dinner with the owner of MELT’s headquarters building as we passed through Aspen; he welcomed our smelly dog and our dusty selves into his home and treated us like family. The next day, we hiked 18 miles to the nation’s highest hot springs.
We met people everywhere we went.
We met them on trails, climbing fourteeners [mountain peaks with an elevation of at least 14,000 feet], and at the top of summits, sharing pocket tamales while keeping Mills from chasing marmots over the edge. We met other Vizsla owners and let our dogs romp together. I thought that when we left Colorado, we would see fewer people and would settle into the silence of rivers and forests. But everywhere we went, another interesting person seemed to appear.
When we made our way to Idaho, I was stunned by the scenery. The Sawtooth Mountains towering over endless green prairies didn’t feel real.
One day in Idaho, we fueled up on hot coffee and oatmeal, packed our PB&Js, and hiked a 22-mile backpacking loop. We stopped for
lunch at an alpine lake and submerged ourselves in the icy water. Mills refused to get into the water but happily rolled in patches of snow. We draped ourselves over sun-warmed boulders to dry off.
On the trail, we met a women's hiking group who return every year to the same beautiful trail. We ate fried chicken at a tiny restaurant recommended by the New York Times restaurant critic. (The chicken was excellent.) We had the worst pizza of the trip in Stanley, Idaho.
Because we didn't have an itinerary, we decided to stay a few extra days to explore. We watched sunsets as elk bugled on the ridge above us. We found a hot spring that fed into a river, surrounded by wildfowers, and we had it all to ourselves. At night, the stars stretched across the Sawtooths in a display that made shivers run up my spine.
I had no expectations for Idaho, and it was stunning.
In the tiny Washington town of Mazama, we found pastries that shocked me with their favors. We stopped at a trailhead in the North Cascades to stretch our legs on a short hike to a crystal-clear lake, when I heard a familiar voice. Thousands of miles from Fort Worth, and yet here was our neighbor, standing at the same alpine lake surrounded by forests
by Kari Crowe Seher
courtesy photos
with no cell service. We laughed, took photos, exchanged travel stories, and walked back to our separate vehicles, shaking our heads in disbelief.
We made our way to Bellingham on the northern edge of Puget Sound and fell in love with the town. There were endless trails and fresh seafood. We took a sunset sail with Mount Baker standing behind us and the Canadian Cascades stretching out before us. We were freezing as the sun slowly melted into the sea, but our hearts were so full from the beauty around us and the people we kept meeting. The boat captain told us about the marine creatures he’s seen, his day trips to Canada to ski, and stories of nearby islands.
Bellingham became one of my favorite places to run on the trip – fowy trails, green everywhere, and the salty breeze of Puget Sound to keep me cool. The owners of a wine bar treated us like we were locals and told us where to fnd the best pastries in town. We ate local oysters, sipped crisp rosé, and devoured fresh bread with butter by the bay.
From Bellingham, we went to Orcas Island in the San Juans. We took the ferry, our van’s frst ocean voyage.
Arriving on a weekend, we found a shaded campsite by a small lake surrounded by tall, old-growth trees. Sitting on the campsite’s table was a vase flled with freshly picked pink and orange fowers – a quiet kindness from the camper before us. Far from the known, surrounded by nature, that small gesture gave me pause. Kindness can show up in the most unexpected ways. It was lovely to receive such a gift.
We decided to go on a whale-
watching tour, one of the few paid excursions on the trip. I packed little cans of Negronis, crackers, and cheese. We stood shoulder to shoulder with other tourists, all waiting and watching.
And then we saw them.
right people, time cannot change your connection.
Of all the places we visited, the Pacifc Northwest captured our hearts.
We slowly worked our way down the Pacifc coast on the way to California, stopping in redwood forests and
“” Our adventures were life-giving. !ey reset us. !ey gave us the solitude and rest we craved. But for me, the people we met are at the center of this story.
A pod of orcas, their black-and-white bodies cutting through the water just off the ship’s bow. We took turns with the binoculars, listening to the whoosh of their breath through their blowholes. For that moment, everything was still except for those magnifcent creatures. On the way back, we saw sea lions and sea otters playing in the waves.
On Orcas, we paddleboarded in cold lakes, Mills wearing a life jacket that matched mine. We hiked to the highest point on the island and ate seafood in a shack on the edge of the Sound. We played Phase Ten with other visitors while the dog slept in the sun, soaking up the island’s magic. On our last night on Orcas, we shared a table at dinner with two women celebrating family and friendship. We ate pizza and shared our wine.
One of the women was a widow from Bainbridge Island. She told us about her late husband – his life as a lawyer in Seattle, the impact he made on his community, and the cancer that ended his life too soon. She spoke of her daughter, an actress on a show that I've seen, her grandchildren, and their beautiful, bright blue eyes.
Her eyes sparkled, and she smiled as she spoke, and I was moved by the way she described her husband and the life they built together. How he didn't allow age to defne who he was or what he could do. She commended us for taking time to travel and just be.
I know so many details about her life. Yet, I don’t remember her name. But I remember her overwhelming love for her family.
Orcas Island is a special place; it's almost sacred. It feels like it exists in a different time. It also requires some planning, as lodging and dining reservations fll up quickly, but somehow, life is slower here.
From Orcas, we went to visit old friends outside of Seattle. We hadn’t seen them in years, and again, we were met with generosity and kindness. I had never met their children, but it felt natural to scoop up one of their daughters, holding her on my hip as she told me to smell the fowers in the garden and explained how bees pollinate them. With the
walking for hours along empty shorelines. In Big Sur, we stayed at the cliffside property of a new friend. She welcomed us into her home and made the most delicious meal. I still think about the compound butter she made with fowers pressed into the edges.
She served cider from her harvest of apples and pears. Delicious! She invited us to help with the grape harvest at her small vineyard, and we eagerly agreed.
A wine harvest in Big Sur with no machines. We cut the grapes from the vines. We sorted and de-stemmed them by hand. We pressed the grapes with our feet. I was completely
enamored with the process. We were surrounded by incredible people – farmers and cooks from a nearby retreat center who prepare organic meals three times a day for guests. We felt like the luckiest people on earth. Until our dog chased one of the vineyard cats, and we had to apologize profusely.
The farmers gifted us day passes to the retreat center, where we sat in hot springs overlooking the Pacifc Ocean.
Then we steered our van back down Highway 1, weaving our way to the Central Coast of California.
We met up with some friends for happy hour on the beach to watch the sunset. They invited us into their home, let us use their outdoor surf shower, and made space for us in their lives.
We have a circle of friends on the Central Coast because Fort Worth friends have introduced us to this special place and these special people. We parked the van in their vineyard, surrounded by acres of organic grapes, which in turn are surrounded by palm trees. We fell asleep next to the fower and vegetable garden, listening to owls hooting to each other. The next day, we helped them to bottle our favorite sparkling wine and joined their family for a meal, sipping wine and learning about their winemaking process.
Van life distills everything down to simplicity and necessity. Inside the van, space is limited, and everything is intentional. Outside, everything expanded – mountains, oceans, skies. Possibilities.
Our adventures were life-giving. They reset us. They gave us the solitude and rest we craved. But for me, the people we met are the center of this story.
The moments that live in my memory now aren’t just the landscapes. It’s the conversations, the shared meals, the unexpected connections I remember. The strangers who became part of our story. These are the memories my mind returns to on hard days.
I remember the sea lions, otters, whales, and eagles. I remember
mountain sunrises and ocean sunsets. The twinkling stars, frigid rivers, steaming hot springs, and day-long hikes; these will always stay vivid in my memory. But it's the people I shared them with that make them matter.
Maybe my happy place was never a place. It wasn't the mountains or the ocean; it was the people we met along the way, and the small, moving home that carried us to them.
photos by Walt Burns
Coastal Gems to Explore
There’s just something about a small coastal town that tugs at the heart. Whether you like the tide lapping over your toes, the freshest seafood imaginable, or just getting out of your routine to be with your loved ones, the United States has a plethora of lovely coastal hamlets to visit that are far from the madding crowds of the typical tourist spots. These towns are perfect for laid-back vacations, full of nature and lovely downtowns. As this issue is all about fnding your happy place, who knows? You might fnd your happy place on this list.
by Lee Virden Geurkink
Tremont, Maine
Located on what locals call the “quiet side” of Mount Desert Island, Tremont lies on the southwestern coast of the island. While Tremont and the villages of Bass Harbor, Seal Cove, and Gotts Island aren’t as well-known or as fashy as Mount Desert’s resort towns like Bar Harbor or Northeast Harbor, they are just as lovely and far less crowded. (Less expensive in the high season, too!) Tremont is also minutes from Acadia National Park, the frst national park in the eastern United States, which is home to some of the most beautiful hiking trails along the East Coast. Whether you want to hike in a national park or explore the little shops and local restaurants, this is sure to be a happy place for you.
New Castle, New Hampshire
Chatham, Massachusetts
Sitting on the southeastern tip of Cape Cod, Chatham is a quintessential East Coast beach town. If you have a serious angler in your family, Chatham is the place to visit, as you can charter a boat to go out to the southern end of the famous Georges Bank. There are charming inns and cottages to stay in as you explore the four villages that comprise Chatham. Whether you prefer art galleries or boutiques, you can spend a day shopping. If a day of biking is more your speed, rent a bike at one of the several bike rental shops and hop on the Cape Cod Rail Trail before ending the day at one of Chatham’s dockside restaurants, where the seafood is guaranteed to have been swimming just that morning.
Cape May, New Jersey
Duck, North Carolina
On the northern end of the Outer Banks, Duck sits between the Atlantic Ocean and Currituck Sound. Explore the mile-long boardwalk or shop the waterfront shops before having a picnic in the 11-acre Town Park. One of the best ways to explore the area is to rent a kayak and spend the day on the Sound. If you're a history geek, explore Island Farm, a living history site, or head to Fort Raleigh, where Sir Walter Raleigh attempted to found a colony. If you really want to immerse yourself in the history of the area, spend an evening enjoying The Lost Colony!, an outdoor dramatic retelling of the story of the Lost Colony of Roanoke. Maybe you can fgure out what happened to those colonists.
Apalachicola, Florida
Dauphin Island, Alabama
Dauphin Island is known as the “sunset capital of Alabama,” and boy, does this family-friendly town deliver. Spend an evening picnicking on West End Beach to catch some of the most beautiful sunsets you’ve ever seen. Rent a bike and spend a morning on the seven-mile-long bike path around the island, or hike the trails of Indian Shell Mound Park. The Alabama Aquarium is open year-round, as is the Audubon Bird Sanctuary. (Dauphin Island has been voted “America’s Birdiest City” for the last three years.) There are charming boutiques and little art galleries, but the best thing to do in Dauphin Island is to grab a book and spend a day relaxing on the beach.
Palacios, Texas
The town of New Castle is the easternmost town in New Hampshire, situated at the mouth of the Piscataqua River. Stay surrounded by historic luxury in the 152-year-old Wentworth by the Sea hotel. This hotel is where, in 1905, Theodore Roosevelt hosted the Russian and Japanese delegations who negotiated the end of the Russo-Japanese War and the Treaty of Portsmouth. (President Roosevelt won a Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts.) Explore Fort William and Mary and Fort Stark Historic Sites. Hike or bike the Portsmouth and New Castle Scenic Loop. Or simply soak up the peace on Great Island Common.
One of the most beautiful Victorian towns in America, Cape May, while technically on the Jersey Shore, is about as far away from the traffc, crowds, and mess that the rest of the Jersey Shore is (in)famous for. Cape May's pristine beaches are the perfect place to look for “Cape May diamonds,” beautifully clear quartz pebbles that have been polished smooth by the tides. Take a trolley tour of the historic town, or if you’re brave enough, take a ghost tour at night. Are you a birder? Cape May is the crossroads of several migratory paths, and the Cape May Bird Observatory is the place to add to your Life List. And if you just want to spend a lazy afternoon, why not head to the Cape May Brewing Co. to enjoy an afternoon/evening of good beer, good food, and good music?
Let the tourists fock to the towns of 30A. If you want to experience beautiful beaches, art galleries, and possibly the best Gulf oysters you can fnd, you want to spend a week in Apalachicola and Florida’s Forgotten Coast. This historic fshing town is located on the shore of Apalachicola Bay and is a center for Gulf Coast eco-tourism. Stay in an historic inn or rent a house on the beach. Take a sunset cruise along the Apalachicola River or go snorkeling in the shallows of St. Joseph Bay. You can explore the John Gorrie Museum State Park, which commemorates the inventor of air conditioning. Whatever you do, Apalachicola is the perfect place for a quieter Florida vacation.
We're all familiar with Galveston, Corpus Christi, and Port Aransas, but if you want a slower-paced, less crowded vacation, head to historic Palacios. Palacios offers some of the best fshing on the Texas Gulf Coast, and birders fock to the town (see what I did there) for the spring and fall migrations. Spend the morning or evening fshing off the Palacios Seawall, and explore the City by the Sea Museum in the afternoon. Stay at the Peaceful Pelican Bed and Breakfast or rent a cottage by the shore. And if you’re not into fshing or birding or exploring, head to the Old Main Bookstore to grab a coffee and pastry while you browse the bookshelves.
Continued from page 13
Solana Beach, California
Just north of San Diego lies the city of Solana Beach. This walkable gem is perfect for a week spent hiking, shopping, and relaxing on the beach. Tide Beach Park is known for “table top” reefs and the eponymous tide pools, which are chock full of sea life when the tide goes out. The 2.3-mile loop of Annie’s Canyon Trail meanders through a sandstone slot canyon that opens out to stunning coastal views. Spend a day wandering through the shops, galleries, and cafes that make up the Cedros Design District, or explore the Cedros Avenue Farmers Market on a Sunday. There’s live music at the Belly Up Tavern, horse racing in the summer at the historic Del Mar Racetrack, and surfng at Fletcher Cove.
Cambria, California
Located almost directly between Los Angeles and San Francisco on the Pacifc Coast Highway, the town of Cambria sits amidst one of only three native Monterey Pine forests in California. Blessed with scenic beaches and rocky cliffs, Cambria is a paradise for the whole family. Want to shop? Cambria’s downtown is full of galleries and boutiques, but not full of tourists in the high season. Are you a nature lover? Kayak or snorkel in one of the nearby marine conservation areas, hunt for moonstones on the aptly-named Moonstone Beach, hike the numerous trails around the Fiscalini Ranch Preserve (alone or with a guide), or visit the elephant seal rookery at Piedras Blancas. (Just don’t ask why those rocks are white!) If you’re a history geek or movie fan, spend the morning at Hearst Castle, and then reward yourself with an afternoon tasting the award-winning wines at Cutruzzola Vineyards. The local surfng is great, the beaches aren’t crowded, and the town has charming bed and breakfasts to ensure you're well-rested for tomorrow's adventures.
Ferndale, California
Northern California is as different from Southern California as Galveston is different from El Paso. Instead of the palm trees and sandy beaches and lonely deserts of Southern California, Northern California is home to redwood forests and green mountains and foggy mornings. Ferndale is a beautifully preserved Victorian town at the mouth of the Eel River, off the beaten path. Whether you want to commune with the redwoods or shop in an authentic general store, Ferndale is your place. Take a spin down the Lost Coast Scenic Drive, a wildly remote and spectacularly scenic drive twisting through high alpine forests down to the Pacifc coast along a narrow, deserted highway. Or drive north to the Avenue of the Giants, and drive through a redwood in Humboldt Redwoods State Park. Regardless of what you choose, Ferndale is sure to become a happy place.
Neskowin, Oregon
Nestled between Cascade Head and Nestucca Bay on the unspoiled Pacifc coast of Oregon, the quaint hamlet of Neskowin is the perfect place to spend a laid-back week of exploring and relaxing. Unlike some of the other places on this list, Neskowin is best visited in winter. (Yes, you read that correctly.) During the winter, the low tides reveal the Neskowin Ghost Forest, a Sitka Spruce forest that, for whatever reason, disappeared beneath the waves over 2,000 years ago, making for an eerie yet arrestingly picturesque sight through the winter mists. The famous Proposal Rock lies just to the north of the Ghost Forest along the coast, and is a beautiful place to picnic, explore tide pools, or fy a kite (or, you know, propose). The whole stretch of coast around Neskowin is perfect for winter storm watching or whale watching, and the bird population at the Nestucca Bay Wildlife Refuge during the spring and fall migrations flls the tidal marshes and freshwater wetlands. Neskowin is also home to the historic, Neskowin Beach Golf Course. Opened in 1932 and in continuous use since, the Golf Course is a public, nine-hole course set in one of the most beautiful locales you’ve ever golfed.
Long Beach, Washington
On the Long Beach Peninsula, jutting out into the Pacifc Ocean, Long Beach is the perfect headquarters for exploring Washington's Evergreen Coast. The historic town of Oysterville lies to the north of Long Beach and is the gateway to Leadbetter Point State Park and the Willapa National Wildlife Refuge. To the south, Cape Disappointment State Park offers beautiful hikes, World War II bunkers, and the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center, as well as spectacular storm watching in winter. If you're a fan of The Goonies, Astoria, Oregon, is just across the Columbia River. But the best thing to do in Long Beach (in my opinion) is to fy a kite on the beautiful, uncrowded beach that looks out over the Pacifc before exploring one of the craft breweries or local wineries.
Port Townsend, Washington
An exquisitely preserved Victorian seaport on the northeastern tip of the Olympic Peninsula, the picturesque town of Port Townsend has a little something for everyone. Walk along the beach to Point Wilson Lighthouse and then explore historic Fort Worden State Park (which served as the main flming location for 1982's awardwinning An Offcer and a Gentleman). If you are a festival fanatic, you will be sure to enjoy the annual Rhododendron Festival, Wooden Boat Festival, or Port Townsend Film Festival. Grab some delicious goodies at the Crusty Crumb Bakery (seriously, the cardamom buns are amazing) and have a picnic and toss a Frisbee in the beautiful Chetzemoka Park with its breathtaking views over Admiralty Inlet. Explore the Port Townsend Historic District, home to numerous charming Victorian homes and storefronts, and shop the local boutiques of Water Street. Any budding marine biologists in your family will love the Port Townsend Marine Science Center, and ghost hunters will want to stay in either Room 302 or 306 of the Manresa Castle Hotel. Whatever kind of vacation you desire, Port Townsend has you covered.
Coupeville, Washington
The only town on this list located in a National Historical Reserve, Coupeville is probably best known as the flming location for 1998’s Practical Magic. Filming location aside, Coupeville is a beautiful town on the southern edge of Penn Cove, home of the world-famous Penn Cove mussels, on Whidbey Island in Puget Sound. Surrounded by the Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve, Coupeville is the perfect base for exploring Whidbey. Hike the bluff trail of the Historical Reserve for jawdroppingly beautiful panoramic views of Mount Baker to the east, Mount Rainier to the southeast, and the Olympic Mountains to the west. Visit Price Sculpture Forest or the Lavender Wind Farm. Explore Coupeville Farmers Market, one of the oldest farmers' markets in Washington State, or take a whale watching tour out into Puget Sound. Whatever you do, Coupeville and Whidbey will defnitely make your list of happy places.
Roche Harbor, Washington
Located on scenic San Juan Island, tiny Roche Harbor is just 20 minutes north of the bright lights of Friday Harbor on San Juan Island at the northern end of Puget Sound. This winsome hamlet is the perfect base for exploring all the island has to offer. To get to San Juan Island, you can take a ferry from Anacortes on the mainland, but if you want a real treat, take a Kenmore Air seaplane from Seattle to Friday Harbor. The views as you fy over the sound are astounding. Stay at the historic Hotel de Haro, the oldest operating hotel in Washington State. Grab lunch at the Lime Kiln Café and picnic in Lime Kiln Point State Park to watch the orca pod playing in the Sound. (There’s a reason Lime Kiln Park’s nickname is Whale Watch Park.) Shop the boutiques and art galleries in Friday Harbor or explore the two wineries or the alpaca farm on the island. Hike through the 20 acres of outdoor art in a beautiful natural setting at the San Juan Sculpture Park, maintained by the San Juan Islands Museum of Art. Whether you love history, the outdoors, art, or the sea, Roche Harbor and San Juan Island are sure to become happy places.
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What’s on your bucket list?
Photo safari in Kenya? Fly fshing on the Amazon? Sampling a Michelin three-star restaurant in France? BASE jumping Angel Falls, you adrenaline junkie? Whatever it is, it is safe to say there is probably travel on that bucket list.
Dr. Tracy Carrington’s bucket list is full of travel plans and dreams, and she’s thisclose to completing one of them.
A Fort Worth native, Tracy is a lifelong traveler. Her frst travel memory is of a road trip to Colorado with her family when she was three years old. Although she cannot remember specifcs, she assumes there were some side quests involved.
“My parents were always sure to include some historical sites in our road trips. We never just passed through a state without learning something about it or visiting a place of historical signifcance.”
Tracy and her sisters learned a lot through the years because their parents prioritized travel.
“We would do a long road trip every summer,” Tracy remembered. “From the time I was very little, my dad would put a mattress in the back of our Suburban, and we would hit the road. I remember a trip to Echo Canyon and the Four Corners. We drove to Florida one year and went to Disney World, and one year we drove to Maine and took a ferry to Nova Scotia. They took us everywhere, and they always made sure my sisters and I learned about every place we went. We were never ‘just passing through.’”
After graduating from Fort Worth Country Day School, Tracy attended the University of Colorado to run cross country and track before the University of Tennessee’s track and feld team
Reaching 50
by William Wise
We shall not cease from exploration and the end of all our exploring, Will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time.
- T. S. Eliot
recruited her as a pole vaulter. As an SEC conference champion and AllAmerican pole-vaulter, Tracy traveled all over the country.
Tracy moved from Tennessee to Michigan to earn her doctorate in kinesiology, specializing in performance coaching. She worked closely with the MSU athletic Department, spending time traveling with various teams. “Michigan was a surprise to me,” Tracy says. “I moved there to do a job and study. But I really fell in love with the whole state. I thought I had seen colors before, but the trees in the fall are just unbelievable.” She returned to Fort Worth after fnishing her dissertation and opened her own practice, Mind Game Performance.
As a natural explorer and adventurer, Tracy’s role as a self-employed sports psychologist is a perfect ft. Not only does she control her own calendar, but she also has plenty of opportunities to attend conferences and continuing education seminars. She piggybacks her own side quests onto these work trips, be it bagging a nearby mountain peak or visiting a local beach.
While Tracy usually has a big trip in the works, she’s always open to travel opportunities that arise. “Stan and I like to have at least one 'high commitment' trip in the works,” she
Tracy's Top 10 Happy Places
California - Yosemite National Park
Colorado - Red Rocks Amphitheatre
Hawaii - Big Waves in Kauai
Michigan - Upper Peninsula
Montana - Bear Tooth Mountains
Tennessee - Rocky Top
Texas - Big Bend National Park
Utah - Skiing in Snowbird
Vermont - Anywhere in the fall
Wyoming - Wind River Range
said. “We like to do one every two years or so. It gives us time to plan and save properly. We also like to take some low-commitment trips. That might be a quick skiing weekend in Colorado. Or one time we few to Las Vegas, rented a car, and drove to Zion National Park to camp and hike for a few days… we always keep ourselves open to random possibilities. It doesn’t always work out timing-wise, but if we get invited to go to a show at Red Rocks or something like that, we’re generally at least open to the idea.”
Back to the bucket list. A few years ago, Tracy’s son asked her how many U.S. states she had visited. After thinking about it a bit, she replied, “It might be easier to count the few I haven’t been to.” And that got her thinking.
“It’s not something I’d contemplated before,” Tracy said. “It hadn't been a bucket list item or anything, but what if I could get to all ffty states by the time I turn ffty? The more I thought about it, the more it turned into one [of her bucket list items].”
Tracy has been to over a dozen different countries and 49 states. Her favorite travel destinations include the Wind River Range in Wyoming and Big Bend National Park. “When you see the Wind River Range, you just know that God spent a lot of
time there,” she said. “The scenery is absolutely breathtaking. It is true wilderness. It's so remote, we went days without seeing anyone outside our party. As for Big Bend, I remember being blown away by the fact that there is something like that in Texas. It seems like a different world. Stan and I spent our honeymoon there, and it will always be very special to me."
She continued, “I’d like to get back to Bryce Canyon and Zion. I’m always looking for excuses to go back to Wyoming and Montana. I haven’t spent enough time exploring the Pacifc Northwest, either. It’s so pretty up there, but I just don't know it very well yet. But where I really want to go is Alaska. It's my 50th state, and I think maybe I’ve saved the best for last. It seems like a really special place to fnish it off.”
Tracy turns ffty next year, and plans are underway for a very special trip to that last frontier. "It's impossible to see it all, of course, but we will hike, climb, and camp as much as time allows,” she said. “I have always wanted to go there and have actually had to turn down a couple of opportunities for practical reasons. I love mountains and wilderness, and Alaska has more of that than anywhere else. I can’t wait!”
And after that? "I'm not sure what will be next after Alaska. Ages ago, my son and I came up with the idea of going to the Lofoten Islands in Norway to see the fjords. I'd like to do some guided hut-to-hut hikes in Europe. Rock climbing and backcountry skiing are always high on the list."
Travel is the greatest gift we can give ourselves. It fosters well-being and connectedness. It clears the cobwebs from our minds and engenders a childlike wonder at the unknown and the unexplored. It does all of this because it is the opposite of routine.
Kauai
Yosemite National Park
Big Bend National Park
Wind River Range
Upper Peninsula
Big Bend National Park
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The Perfect Escape in the Heart of the Hill Country
by Angela Clifton courtesy photos
Sometimes you just need to get out of town for the weekend. But traveling with kids can be hard. No one wants the hassle of fying for just a weekend. Fortunately, New Braunfels is just an easy drive down Highway 281, but it's far enough away to make a weekend seem like a real escape.
The drive from Fort Worth drops you straight into a different rhythm of living — one flled with river foats, historic buildings, live music, and that Hill Country charm. For accommodations, I always try to fnd a cute rental tucked away along the Comal River or the Guadalupe River. There are charming little container homes and cozy cabins nestled into wooded properties, where mornings are peaceful and untroubled,
beginning with coffee on the porch and deer wandering through the yard.
From your rental, head straight to the historic district of Gruene, the iconic heart of New Braunfels and an essential stop for any frst-time visitor. Gruene feels like old Texas at its best — preserved but not precious, welcoming but never touristy. Its historic buildings are a reminder of the area’s German heritage, and its walkable layout makes for an easy afternoon wandering from shop to shop before settling in for dinner and an evening of live music.
At the heart of Gruene is the legendary Gruene Hall, the oldest dance hall in Texas and one of the best places to get your two-step on. Gruene Hall is not just a place to listen to music; it is a place to experience some of the best musicians Texas has to offer. The rustic, sawdust-covered wooden foors just beg to be danced on. You can catch country music superstars and bands that are just beginning their careers. If your two-step or polka needs a little help, you can take an afternoon class before boot scooting the night away.
Located next door to Gruene Hall, the Gristmill River Restaurant is a must. Built into the remains of an old cotton gin built by the original settlers of
Gruene overlooking the Guadalupe River, it is one of the most scenic dining spots in the area. I can’t imagine a better place to spend a lazy lunch, watching the river slip by.
Beyond the historic Gruene district, downtown New Braunfels is well worth exploring. Old buildings have been thoughtfully repurposed into locally owned restaurants and charming boutiques, but the town feels lived in, not just a place for tourists to buy souvenirs. McAdoo’s Seafood Company is one of our favorite restaurants, set in the city’s former Post Offce and serving a contemporary take on fne Texas cuisine.
While the restaurants and the boutiques bring plenty of people to New Braunfels, it is the music that gives the town its soul.
New Braunfels, like Gruene, is famous as a center of country music, and one of the best places to enjoy it is the Redbird Listening Room. If Gruene Hall is where you go to spend the night on the dance foor, “The Redbird” is where you go to get up close and personal with the musicians. The Redbird’s single room is set up with church pews that encourage the audience to settle in and focus on the artist, the lyrics, and
the stories being told between songs.
Even better, The Redbird’s BYOB concerts bring music lovers together for an evening of community, fun, and great music. Bring a cooler and some friends, and enjoy one of the most intimate live-music experiences in Texas.
Of course, there would be no New Braunfels without the water. The frst German immigrants to the area settled near the freshwater Comal Springs, establishing farms and building the town. Fast forward to the 21st century, and foating down the Comal or Guadalupe Rivers on innertubes is a Texas summertime tradition. Whether you go tubing with a group, canoeing with your sweetie, paddleboarding with the family, or simply picnic near the water, I can’t think of a better way to spend a summer afternoon in the Hill Country.
New Braunfels is my happy place. I love that my family and I can be there in less than four hours. We can leave the stress of jobs and school and Fort Worth traffc behind and just be together. Whether we spend a day on the river or a night dancing our boots off, it’s an easy trip that’s distinctly Texan.
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In April of 2021, our family traveled to Turks and Caicos. That trip was our favorite family vacation, and we’ve dreamt of returning to that little slice of paradise since then. This February, we made that dream come true. We mimicked our last trip, staying at the same resort and undertaking many of the same activities, so this trip was very familiar, but in some ways, it was quite different.
In April of 2021, the world was just coming back to life from the global pandemic and its travel restrictions. Turks and Caicos was particularly strict in their travel requirements. Negative Covid tests for entry and exit were non-negotiable. That, coupled with near universal reticence to venture outside, kept the crowds to a minimum, so we had the Windsong On The Reef resort nearly to ourselves. In fact, the entire island lacked the bustle we expected of a world-class tourist destination. Airfare and lodging prices were low and enticing. It was a great time to travel.
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A Return to Turks & Caicos
by William Wise courtesy photos
Fast forward fve years, and the travel landscape was quite different. Airfare and lodging prices are back, baby! And so are the crowds. Windsong was hopping, and while the food and service were still top-notch, this time we had to strategize for pool, beach, and dining spots.
In 2021, we had been spoiled by what felt like exclusivity but was in fact a universal tourism depression. Oh well. We just had more people to share paradise with this time. In April of ’21, the water in TCI was gin-clear
with unlimited visibility. This time, our trip followed a biggish storm that had hit the area the week before, and underwater visibility suffered as a result. Oh well. We just had to look a little harder for the abundance of sea life that graces the waters around the island of Providenciales. I am happy to report that the weather was still perfect.
The biggest difference between our trips was in our travel companions. My wife and I hadn’t changed in our attitudes to exploration and relaxation. We were nerdily excited about boat trips and snorkeling. We were just as ready to relax by the beach and pool, reading books and catching rays. But something was different about our four children. Shockingly different. Annoyingly different.
being, but damn, they do make it diffcult sometimes. They’d rather stay in bed until 2 PM, “Snapping” their friends whose parents have also taken them on some fabulous vacation to commiserate about how boring it all is.
In 2021, our frstborn was just 13, the girl-child was 12, and the twins (Thing One and Thing Two) were a mere 10 years old. They were young, open to experience, and even expressed gratitude. The world was still mysterious and fascinating to their young minds, but most importantly, they were malleable. They generally did what we asked of them, usually happily. They boarded boats with enthusiasm, cheered loudly upon seeing dolphins and sea turtles, and swam tirelessly in search of sand dollars and conch shells. They were excited about the unknown.
Five years on, they’ve become insufferable, recalcitrant urchins. In short, they are quintessential teenagers. Don’t get me wrong. I still love them with every molecule of my
They grumble about walks on one of the most beautiful beaches in the entire world. They'd rather eat a mediocre pizza than explore the unique, and, might I add, delicious, cuisine of the West Indies. And now they want rum in their formerly virgin pina coladas. Rum! We are open to our kids trying new things, but am I the bad guy for thinking 15 might be a tad young for your frst mojito? One must draw the line somewhere.
It used to be that when we said “no,” they accepted our authority, knowing it was born out of hard-won parental wisdom. Now, “no” is a challenge to prove what they know with a depressing certainty – that their parents are complete morons. Despite having proved we have the wherewithal to have fed, clothed, and sheltered them for the entirety of their blessed lives, we are utter nincompoops.
We left Turks and Caicos this time with new hard-won knowledge. Parenting, even in paradise, is hard. Traveling with teenagers, even to paradise, is hard. But it is still fun, and it is still worth it. And we have the pictures to prove it!
What the heck is “Snapping” anyway, and who took my mojito?
Where Time Slows and Connection Grows
by Tabetha Weeks
Every summer, I look forward to this moment – when my family and I step off the ferry and into the past.
Mackinac Island is magical. There’s so much to see and do, and I love that my children get to grow up experiencing this little slice of heaven. I’m always giddy when we leave the ferry and walk towards the island’s famous fudge shops, where fudge is made by hand in front of you on large marble slabs. I always want to try every favor. Thankfully, the fudge shop proprietors let you do just that. These shops make ten thousand pounds of fudge a day during the summer. Every day.
When our editor asked what my happy place was, I had a hard time answering. I thought of my favorite places to vacation around the world. The one thing that each place had in common was a feeling of warmth, deep love, connection, and community. When I pictured each place, I saw my family with me, relaxing away from the cares of the world.
That is when it clicked. I love Mackinac because it pulls me back in time and away from today’s distractions. Without cars, life slows down. It seduces you into putting your phone away. (One year, I tried to capture a video while riding my bike and nearly crashed. I quickly put my phone away and did not pick it back up.)
Imagine a life without constant notifcations, where movement is slower, and meals are homemade. That simplicity feels rare.
My family talked for years about buying a home in Michigan. There was something about the island that stayed with us. It drew us back, year after year. The community itself is small, with only a few hundred year-round residents, but the residents are deeply connected to one another.
This connection is one of the reasons the island is so special. You feel it in the smiles of strangers, in the quiet kindness of a passerby, and in the way people acknowledge one another. Mackinac Island is not just beautiful, it is intentional, welcoming, and deeply human.
But back to a typical day on Mackinac Island.
Located near the fudge shops is my favorite cookie shop, the Mackinac Island Cookie Company. They sell traditional favorites like sugar cookies and snickerdoodles, but Michigan cherries are truly second to none, so the cherry chocolate chunk cookie is a must.
This shop is special for more than its cookies. It’s the person behind the cookies who gives it meaning. Kate Conlon lives on the island year-round now. As we talked about Mackinac, I could hear the excitement in her voice. She lit up as she shared how she had spent her summers there growing up and how she had always dreamed of living on the island.
“Everything feels so much more intentional here,” Conlon said. “There’s nothing that compares to Mackinac, and there’s just something living and breathing about this island that, once you feel connected to it, never leaves you.”
It makes perfect sense why someone like Conlon would choose to build a life on
Mackinac Island. I understood the pull. I feel it, too.
After a stop at the cookie shop and a few souvenir stores, we usually rent bikes. I rent a bike with a hitch for our four-yearold, and my husband rents a tandem bike for himself and our six-year-old. Then we usually head to our frst stop, a school playground right on the water with a beautiful view of the Mackinac Bridge.
The kids play on the monkey bars and chase each other around the playground. We always get pulled into their play, too, all of us smiling and laughing. After a while, the adults need a break, and we sit on a bench facing the water, eating cookies and taking in the boats sailing across Lake Huron.
After a short break, we load up the bikes and head along the west side of the island. There are other cyclists along the route, but it never feels crowded; friendly faces are always passing by. In the distance, we hear the sound of hooves. A horse-drawn carriage rounds the corner, heading back toward Main Street after dropping off overnight guests.
We pull off the road at a small turnout. Our younger usually falls asleep in his seat in the bike hitch, so we let him rest while our older explores and throws rocks into the water. We take a few pictures with Arch Rock in the distance before starting our hike to see it from above.
The steps are easy to navigate, just numerous. The climb feels long, especially while carrying a sleeping 35-pound toddler, but the view at the top makes every step worthwhile. The arch is tall and striking, and visitors gather in waves to observe and admire. My adventurous sixyear-old asks if he can climb the 146-foot arch. I point out the clearly posted “do not climb” sign and keep a close eye on him as we admire the view.
When the next group arrives, we head back down. The walk down is much easier, and soon we’re back on our bikes, continuing the eight-mile loop around the island.
We make our way back to Main Street, where we stop at Watercolor Cafe. They’re known for their homemade Pop-Tarts, which often sell out early (so get there early), and for their lavender lattes, which are unforgettable.
We sit with our coffee while the kids run freely through Marquette Park. In that moment, we’re not focused on the lovely historic homes or the sailboats serenely drifting across the water. We’re watching our children be children, reveling in their laughter, their freedom, their joy.
I can't help but think that this is what childhood should be. Connection – not to devices, but to each other and their surroundings.
This is the true gift of Mackinac Island. Beyond the horse-drawn carriages, the quaint houses, the fudge, and the breathtaking views, the island offers visitors a rare gift. It gives you time, presence, and uninterrupted connection with the people you love most.
