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When we first made the decision to hit the road for an indefinite amount of time the idea of what to pack was extremely daunting. I took a deep, deliberate breath and quickly devised a strategy of how and what to pack. The most important aspect of a packing plan was focusing on what we really would need along the way. - When the pandemic hit things like disinfectant cleaners, toilet paper, flour, yeast, etc... were hard to come by. In fear of a second surge, and limited supplies hitting stores again, I packed two huge fresh direct bags stuffed with toilet paper, hand sanitizers, surgical masks, flour, yeast, clorox wipes, and disinfectant cleaning supplies along with some of my favorite cooking condiments that are not always easy to find. These bags take up a lot of space and have become a nuisance but they certainly make me feel safe and prepared if we encounter limited supplies again. - Two saxophones. It was important to us that our boys continue with their instrument practice while we are away so these were considered significant items to pack. Too bad we couldn't throw a piano into the trunk for our daughter! - A backpack that stores a basketball. We have definitely shot some hoops along the journey and the backpack is part of our daily routine storing our water bottles, hand sanitizers and disinfectant wipes while we are out and about exploring. - A medium sized duffel bag filled with our vitamins, a garlic press (I really hate using other people's garlic presses they never seem to be cleaned correctly), a pastry brush ( dislike sharing these too), items needed for Shabbat (siddur, challah cover, candles, etc...), a menorah for Hanukkah, red string from Rachel's Tomb (we need as much protection as we can get as we travel during 2020's path of insanity), Halloween cupcake liners (I had a bunch at home so I brought them along) and pastry bags with tips for those fun baking projects. - Each child packed their own carry on and back pack filled with their summer clothes, toiletries, and books. In their luggage, they were encouraged to pack five outfits, two pajamas, and seven socks/underwear, flip flops, a hat and two bathing suits. If they had any extra room they were allowed to add whatever else they wanted. They all chose to add their sleeping doll buddies that they've had since birth and have traveled with everywhere we've been, two of the kiddos chose to include their gumball machines, one added a baseball mitt and baseballs, and our daughter packed two dance uniforms which came in handy since we signed her up for virtual dance classes. I loved seeing what was important to them and what they chose as essential items to pack. In their backpacks they were asked to pack as many books as possible. Except for my hubby, we are all devout readers so books are definitely essential items we cannot live without. - For myself, I packed a large suitcase filled with seven summer dresses, sneakers, two pairs of sandals, flip flops, three pajamas, light cardigans, three bathing suits and cover ups and four workout outfits. This has gotten me through two months on the road easily. In fact, I may have even overpacked! The rest of the real estate in my large suitcase was reserved for several of my books, a journal, one large toiletry bag, two smaller toiletry bags, and whatever my husband couldn't fit in his duffel bag, like his large toiletry bag. - My husband packed a medium sized duffel bag. So easy. Did we overpack? It's amazing how little we really need to be comfortable. I think of all the clothes and shoes in my closet back home and get nauseous at the superlatively of it all. Despite the relatively light packing we managed, there are things we didn't need at all. Like our sons portable baseball net and baseball tee stand. I knew this was a bad idea but he begged me to bring it along and promised me he would use it. In two months he has maybe used it six times. This takes up lots of space under their feet and we may just have to leave it behind. I probably didn't need my gym outfits. Sadly, I haven't been working out but I do like having them nearby just in case I catch my fitness bug again soon. Summer is over, so what to wear next? Since we didn't know how long we would be traveling for, I prepacked clearly marked boxes according to seasons so that our incredibly helpful doorman can send us the boxes we need when we need them. There are four boxes waiting to be shipped along the way: Fall clothes, Winter clothes, Ski Gear, and a box with more books and a printer. Next week we will have our Fall clothes and books/printer sent to us and we will in return ship our summer clothes and all the books we have already read over the past two months. I'm excited for the swap and even more excited to see what I packed two months ago. I have a feeling that what I considered essential then is not what I consider essential any longer. Overall, less is really more. On this trip I have truly learned that all we really need is to be healthy, surrounded by people we love, great adventures, a laundry machine and excellent WiFi. COVID has taught me that everything else is insignificant. Packing eight more outfits and three more pairs of shoes would not have enhanced our experience in any way. On the contrary, more "stuff" would have just bogged us down. Keeping this in mind, when you pack for your next journey remember that the only thing you'll need is a full heart, an open mind and a few pairs of clean underwear.

How many of us are still locked down even though the government lock downs have been lifted? Has the pandemic changed you and most of the people you personally know or are you/they in a continued mental lock down? Personally it feels like many I converse with are on the same self-imposed mental lock down they were in previous to the pandemic. Over the past few months I have been more aware of the patterns and behaviors in those around me. I have always been conscious of the trends people gravitate towards but lately I have been examining them more closely. School pods. Moving to Hamptons during pandemic. Posting BLM and RBG references on Instagram, at the same exact time everyone else does. What makes us need to follow others rhythms rather than creating our own? I am not a sociologist and will have a rather simplistic analysis compared to someone who studies human behaviors would, but I would love to share some of my thoughts and how these realizations have helped me in my personal journey. When Ruth Bader Ginsburg passed last night, everyone immediately took to Instagram to pay tribute to the iconic Supreme Court Justice. I found myself wondering why this was happening. Why didn't anyone, at least on my feed, ever post wonderful things about her while she was alive? Similarly, everyone took to their social media when the BLM campaign reached new heights. Beforehand, no one I personally follow, ever expressed anything regarding how blacks are mistreated in our society. I never even heard of BLM until then and would argue that many posters didn't either. There are many organizations that raise awareness against inequity, but we all jumped on the same bandwagon and didn't take the time to research other equally important organizations. We just supported the one everyone else did. Do these people truly care about BLM and RBG or do they care more about how they themselves are perceived if they stand apart from the trends around them? Would there ever be trends if people weren't so locked down in the way they think they should behave?How would our communities be if they were comprised of big thinkers with individual minds that are not clouted and locked down by a deep routed need to conform? I would have loved to see posts on my feed over the years commending Ginsburg's important work. Instead there was silence until the silence was broken only after she died and then somehow that triggered a need for everyone to suddenly praise her work at.the.same.exact.time. There is an obvious significance in raising awareness collectively but I wonder why people don't take time to think about important people and movements individually and express their thoughts along the way, not only as part of a movement. I am not sure what all this means, I'm just ranting and pointing it out. Similarly, with NYC schools going mostly remote, many families decided to create pods for their students. This too is a new trend. Someone started a pod and then everyone wanted one too. People are spending up to $12,000 for their child to be taught by a teacher for four hours a day over twelve weeks with seven other kids who join the pod too. It's like a mini private school designed by the parents. I am trying to understand why these parents, who have financial freedom and flexible work schedules which allow them to work remotely, are all locked in to this pod idea. There is so much they can do and experience with their financial security and ability to work from anywhere but instead, they follow the trend and the patterns and create a pod for their kids and their friends. To be clear, I am speaking specifically of people who can afford to travel, pay for these pricey pods AND can work remotely while paying for a babysitter to assist. I am very aware that most Americans don't have this luxury. I just grapple with why the ones who do, choose the trend over the endless possibilities they have at their disposal. Voices in numbers are definitely crucial in confronting changes that need to be made. There are plenty of people who speak against racial biases and advocate for equal rights among races and genders on a regular basis. The majority of people who I know though, do not. They only do so when they get the cue, on their Instagram feed, that it is time to do so. I am not discounting the impact of their support or judging their posts with the masses, I am sincerely trying to gain a deeper understanding of how we think and behave. So why are we locked in? What tethers us to conformity and patterns? How would we all be different if we reflected on our own patterns and their authenticity? What potential do we have waiting to be unlocked if we did not lock ourselves down by others and the ways we think we are expected to behave within social pressures of patterns and trends? Are we even aware of these patterns and expectations in our lives or do we think we are controlling our own choices and decisions of how and when to respond? I know that while I lived in NYC, pre-Covid, I was locked into a pattern of business. Busy, busy, busy! Everyone around me was busy so I had to be busy too. I was also locked down by materialism adding to my Valentino shoe collection at every opportunity. My shoes and bags are now all locked in my closet in my unoccupied apartment. Things I once believed I needed, I realize I never needed at all. In retrospect, I definitely succumbed to the influences and patterns around me and ran around life in my expensive shoes and just found myself exhausted at the end of the day with achy feet. I have been so uninspired lately. Oddly enough, I am most inspired by my sundaystrolling Instagram feed where I get lost in the way people live their lives breaking the norms and living their fullest lives through travel. No pod posts. No RBG posts. No BLM posts. Just inspirational posts of people who visit places I have never even heard of effecting my mind to imagine an infinite world waiting to be discovered. There are no rules - from luxury hotels to tents in the desert, from a trip to Philadelphia to a stay in Indonesia, its a bunch of people who are doing what they want, when they want, in a way they can afford and making it work without any sense of competition or judgement in where or how they travel. I am sure there are many, many groups like this on social media; ones that push the envelope and break the trends outside of travel but in a way that matters to them. Individually they inspire a common thread. They are not though affected by imposed collective patterns. How are we living our best lives if we are really living out a scripted one? What could we really achieve individually and collectively if we followed our own rhythms? If we weren't chained to the ideas of how we should live, how would we really live? Could we randomly post an anti-bias message when no one else is? Could we take Disney up on its teacher led classrooms at their resorts? Could we move to Costa Rica and live in the jungle while our kids learn remotely with the help of a Spanish speaking sitter and maybe learn a new language? Is it possible to live our most authentic lives without caring at all how others judge our comments, movements, decisions...etc.? I don't know about you, but I am certainly going to try to move forward, in my own life, with a microscopic lens inspecting each decision I make and why it is made. Moving forward I hope to be as genuine as possible and truly dig deep into why and how I make my choices and to be aware of the choices I think I make versus the ones that are actually made for me by external influences. For now, I will try to march to the beat of my own drum and see how that feels for a while. Who knows, I might just end up missing the band or maybe I'll learn that a solo gig isn't too shabby.

If you're looking for a more authentic cowboy/girl experience while in Texas, head on over to Fort Worth! This small city definitely has a big personality! Four hours gave us a nice glimpse into the city's vibe and what is available to its' residents and visitors. The neighborhoods below are listed in the order we visited them. They are not walking distance from one another but you can easily walk through each one. Fort Worth Stockyard Historical District For the most bona fide western experience Fort Worth Stockyard District is a must! You are welcomed by the town's original signage hung one hundred years ago and lured to enter its' path comprised of a long row of saloons, restaurants, an active rodeo colosseum and even a herding ranch where you can view real cowboys in action! We were blown away that places like this still exist! Next time we'll be sure to visit in our cowboy/girl hats and boots! Fort Worth Water Gardens The Water Gardens are an oasis in downtown Fort Worth boasting three pools that tantalize the senses. They are perfectly designed for those seeking a quiet moment or two in a beautifully relaxing landscape. Sundance Square As soon as we walked into the main square my daughter thought of an Italian piazza. It is reminiscent of a town square in Milan but once you veer off you are guided into perfectly maintained streets filled with high-end stores and restaurants. It is truly a beautiful area to stroll and get lost in for the afternoon. HG Sply For grub we headed to HG Sply for yummy, clean food in a vibrant atmosphere. The outdoor seating area is on a river adding to a lovely experience. The menu has an abundance of vegetarian and gluten free options and each and every bite was relished by all of us! Although Fort Worth is much smaller than Dallas it has a lot to offer and is an easy forty five minute drive from the big city. It is definitely worth a stop to explore its' various neighborhoods and all they have to offer.

I did not have high expectations of Dallas but I was immediately won over and blown away by the city's abundance of beauty and the many alluring neighborhoods that it is comprised of. Seriously, I knew this was a special place as soon as we drove towards its skyline. Dallas was an unexpected stop on our itinerary. We were originally heading to New Orleans but found out at 10:00 pm the night before that they were under a hurricane watch. Dallas was our Plan B and I am thrilled that fate connected us! Dallas has one of the most impeccably clean downtowns we have ever visited and the cheerful folks here live up to the state's "friendship state" motto. People care about their community and wear masks, keep social distance guidelines and everywhere we went there was a plenitude of hand sanitizer. Dallas was love at first sight and continued to impress us as we dove deeper into the city. Historic Downtown This neighborhood reminds me of Tribeca in NYC with its vast streets dotted with converted warehouses and trendy corner restaurants. There are historic points throughout this area as well, including the site John F. Kennedy was assassinated and where Oswald found his place to shoot from the sixth floor of the Dallas County Administration Building. Art District Dallas has developed the nation's largest art district encompassing sixty-eight acres of city streets. From a symphony center and an opera house to a museum of art and a sculpture center, art lovers will get lost in the district's twenty square blocks that are all sparkling clean, well maintained and pedestrian friendly. There is a lot of construction going on in Dallas. It is obvious that the city is preparing for a growth in population and that there is a demand for new, luxury buildings throughout the downtown area. What I particularly loved is the juxtaposition of old architecture preserved alongside new developments, a building plan that definitely adds to the allure and charm of the city. Four Seasons, Las Colinas After exploring the several downtown areas in big cities that we have visited, we decided to choose a hotel outside of the main hub of Dallas since downtowns have proven to be barren or ridden by the homeless populations. The Four Seasons is a twenty minute drive from downtown Dallas and is a stunning resort property with a golf course and all the amenities you could dream of. One of the biggest perks of traveling off season and during the pandemic are the lower than usual rates and very low capacities at many luxury properties. In addition to a great rate, the hotel also upgraded our rooms to their villa suites which are spacious, more secluded, and have large balconies overlooking the golf course. Suite! Oops, I mean sweet! As expected, The Four Seasons offers top notch facilities and service with no detail overlooked. This is a gorgeous property that I highly recommend when visiting the Dallas area. Toyota Music Factory in Irving This is a huge entertainment and eating complex in Irving, just a five minute drive from the hotel. We were exhausted after our long drive from Memphis and we opted for a nearby establishment that offered a plethora of restaurant options. We chose Yard House for its' great reviews and outdoor seating availability. When we arrived, I was skeptical since it seemed like a typical sports bar but boy was I wrong. The nachos were one of the best we ever noshed on, my son's vegetarian burger was incredible, my hubby loved his pineapple chicken and my oldest son gobbled up his steak tacos. This is not your typical sports bar menu. Yard House is a perfect spot to watch a game while enjoying great food. Ellen's Ellen's Downtown location served us the most incredible breakfast on the cutest patio nestled in the Historic Downtown District. We loved every bite from start to finish. Highland Park Just outside the West Village lies a beautiful neighborhood called Highland Park. The roads leading to it are windy, lined with trees and even have some hills making it a unique neighborhood in comparison the mostly flat terrain around Dallas. If we were to move to Dallas, this would be my choice of neighborhood because it is well kept, in close proximity to a couple of charming neighborhoods and also seems to be pretty open-minded politically allowing residents to feel free to post pro- Trump and pro-Biden signs outside their doors without worry of conflict. One thing I am learning about NYC is how narrow minded the city is when it comes to politics; many people are shut down if they do not share the overall liberal point of view expected of them. While NYC strongly encourages diversity of cultures and nationalities, I am quickly learning that it shuns on diversity of political thinking. West Village This uptown neighborhood spans several blocks of high end retail shops, boutique stores and a bunch of restaurants with outdoor seating. There is a young family vibe here with many parents pushing strollers through the sidewalks. A major perk of living here is not needing a car as the main hub has everything you'd need on a daily basis. Bishop Arts District I was "wow'ed" by the character, charm, vibrancy and charm of this neighborhood whose outskirts are clearly gentrifying. There are huge, new developments being built in the area. It is easy to see why people would want to live in this chill, laid back location filled with trendy shops and delicious restaurants. Bishop Arts is approximately a thirty minute drive from Downtown, Dallas making for an easy commute for those who work there but want to live outside of the city's main hub. If we were to move to Dallas, I probably wouldn't live here (only because I would not want to do apartment living again) but I would definitely make this my weekend hang out spot. The streets are filled with art, good vibes and pops of color throughout. This is truly a special place. Taco Y Vino We seriously could not stop ordering tacos at this Bishop Art District establishment. We ate the best tacos we have had in a very long time, with great service, and an adorable patio. The funny thing is, the recipes are not so unique or complicated but the ingredients are so fresh and the tortillas are perfection. Taco Y Vino will be a memorable restaurant always! There are many other areas of Dallas that we were unable to explore. This city takes the lead as number one place we would relocate to, if we ever leave NYC. There is an energy here that is hard to describe. Simply put, it is a thriving city anticipating a big boom around the large business growth it is experiencing, there are an endless list of things to do and see here, people are extremely friendly, the skies are clear and overall it is just aesthetically pleasing all around. Adding to this, Grapevine Lake is just twenty miles outside of the city allowing for a less "landlocked" feel and offers local a huge lake filled with water sports and swimming as a reprieve on hot days. Ya'll, trust me- this place is magic!

I'm not going to lie. We did not connect with Memphis. At all. The city is a run down ghost town with very little that appealed to us. In fact, we opted to drive through the three main streets, rather than walking them, as we did not feel safe or inspired enough to get out of the car and explore the city. Our hotel concierge recommended we head over to Broad Street and have lunch at The Liquor Shop. After a three hour drive from Nashville we were hungry and ready to eat. Upon arrival we quickly decided to leave. We did not like the restaurant's location, crowd, service or lack of cleanliness. We drove further down Broad Street hoping to understand why this is a popular destination area. There is a cluster of cute retail shops, a yoga center, a Krav Maga site and a delicious looking bakery. However, even this well-kept cluster was not enticing enough for us to get out of the car. Next we headed to Beale Street, a street known for its' vibrant music scene. The strip is small and in the middle of a sketchy part of town so we opted to continue our tour of Memphis inside our vehicle. Finally, we drove towards the downtown area along N. Main Street and S. Maine Street. The buildings are not well kept, there was NO ONE around besides a few homeless stragglers and the area just gave us all the creeps. I was beginning to regret our decision to make a stop in Memphis. Luckily, I booked our hotel stay at The River Inn in Harbor Town instead of The Peabody in downtown. I actually was torn between these two well-rated hotels and do not regret my choice one bit as we would have been very unhappy in downtown. Harbor Town is an upscale, newly developed neighborhood over a bridge, on Mud Island, just a couple of minutes away from downtown but felt like we were transported to a whole new planet. As soon as we pulled up to Harbor Town, we all let out a huge sigh of relief. We were back in a happy place. Famished, we ran into the local market, grabbed grub and had a picnic along the Mississippi River. The River Inn has received many accolades and has won many notable awards like "Best Hotel in the South" by Conde Naste Traveler. This boutique hotel offers pampering touches for all hotel guests to relish like welcome drinks upon arrival, port and truffles at turn down, fresh coffee brewed each morning on every floor and a full breakfast at either one of the hotel's restaurants or delivered in room. While they don't have connecting rooms, they happily accommodated us by keeping our rooms directly near one another in a private little wing. Its' location is safe and beautiful. They also have three restaurants including award-winning Paulette's and The Terrace, a rooftop bar with views of the Hernando de Soto Bridge's nightly light show. Ironically, until we got to Mud Island our experience in Memphis was a murky one. This hotel was a lifesaver to what could have turned out to be a not-so-fun leg of the trip. Paulette's This was our first time dining indoors since Covid hit. We originally requested outdoor dining but due to a rain forecast we needed a plan B. Although they were fully booked for the evening the manager arranged a private seating area by the bar to rest my nerves. However, guests were walking into the "private" bar area, unmasked. We asked to have our table moved to a more isolated one. We were moved to the main dining hall with plenty of space between tables but I was not relaxed, especially with a nearby patron having loud coughing fits. Lucky for us the food was so scrumptious, we were easily distracted. We started with spicy, fried cauliflower bites and mushrooms stuffed with crab meat. Both instantly devoured. For mains we had lamb chops, vegetable gnocchi, and herb crusted salmon. Everything was extremely well prepared and the service was wonderful. After dinner we walked across the street to witness the most spectacular sunset over The Mississippi River and the nightly light show that runs from sunset until 10:00 pm. This was definitely a perfect way to end the evening. To be fair, Memphis has clearly been impacted by the pandemic. If more businesses were open causing more people be walking around, we could have had an entirely different experience. Of all the cities we have visited thus far, this one is by far the most visibly impacted. I have heard wonderful things about Memphis and I am quite aware that the timing of our visit was just not an ideal one. If you've been to Memphis, I would love to hear your experience.

If you listen closely while perusing the photos of downtown below you might just hear the blaring live country music oozing out of every venue on Broadway, an active street in downtown loved by all booze and music enthusiasts. It was so fun to sing along to the tunes spilling out of each bar we passed. While downtown was generally very quiet, Broadway was filled with folks looking to have a great time. Architecturally, Nashville is reminiscent of NYC with tall, modern buildings entangled with late eighteen hundreds structures. The city does an excellent job of marking historic sites with large informative plaques that recall its' role in how cruelly blacks were treated in the late eighteen hundreds to the mid nineteen hundreds in the state. There were over two hundred lynchings in Tennessee alone during this period. To their credit, the city is doing a fantastic job taking responsibility for its' past rather than shying away from it. You'll also find The Parthenon in Nashville. Yup. It's a full scale replica of the Greek original built for Tennessee's Centennial Exposition in 1897. Boots, country music, rowdy drunks, beautiful architecture and southern charm. This is Nashville. We absolutely loved it! Ya'll have to check it out for a fun weekend getaway! Downtown: Dinner at Liberty Common We unanimously enjoyed a delicious, southern inspired menu on an adorable outdoor patio overlooking the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge. We couldn't resist the many wonderful options and once again settled on trying everything that caught our eyes: macaroni and cheese, crispy Brussels sprouts, fried pickles, buffalo cauliflower bites, oysters, watermelon and feta salads, a grilled local trout with cheese grits, waffles and chicken with maple syrup, and a chicken sandwich that my hubby claimed is the best he ever had. Each bite was gobbled up and savored. The Hermitage Hotel A glamorous and romantic hotel indeed. The lobby is grand and beautifully appointed. The rooms are immaculate, spacious and some of them offer beautiful views of the State Capitol. The staff was easily able to connect a double Queen room with roll away bed to a King room, making it an extremely comfortable stay for our group of five. The Hermitage also just celebrated a 100 years since women won the right to vote; this hotel was at the epicenter of The Women's Suffrage Movement. Great vibes, although there are some who say the hotel is haunted. Luckily, we were only haunted by luxury and positive energy lurking from the great historical moments that occurred here. This was a perfect choice for our one night stay in Nashville. 12 South About a five minute drive from downtown lies this trendy little neighborhood bustling with stylish boutiques and fine dining restaurants. There was a young and vibrant crowd most likely comprised of the local college students. The main stretch, 12th Avenue South, is surrounded by a quiet neighborhood lined with cute bungalow style homes and felt very safe to explore at night. We passed an unattended/closed for the day farmer's market finding it remarkable that all the produce (squash and pumpkins) was left out overnight! A few steps down a college student was playing her violin on a street corner for those on their evening stroll. This neighborhood has a special charm and a distinct local town feel that will definitely appeal to most. Overall, Nashville won us over. Our oldest son has added it to his dream cities for college locations. We certainly will look forward to visiting him in such a wonderful city and embarrass the heck out of him by riding past his dorm on the ubiquitous pedal pub tours!

How is it possible that I never heard of Gatlinburg, Tennessee before? There are so many hidden gems in our beautiful country just waiting to be discovered! The main hub is a Disney-like stretch of tourist traps like Ripley's Believe it or Not, World of Illusion, suspension bridges, cable cars, trams, thrill rides, miniature golf, Dollywood and everything else you could hope for in great family getaway. Stores have very religious, Christian slants as well as some disappointingly deep rooted Confederate angles. Gatlinburg has provided the most culturally rich southern experience yet. It's definitely a quirky little place. All of this personality is tucked in a valley with sweeping views of the Smoky Mountains. This small city draws nine million tourists a year. With all it offers, I am not surprised. What was surprising is that here, even employees in stores do not wear masks. This is essentially a mask free zone during the pandemic. Also surprising was how packed the town was post Labor Day season on a week day. There is a great investment opportunity here as it is a year round destination and when we tried to extend our stay we were out of luck as all the homes we liked were booked through December! We didn't explore much in Gatlinburg. We were too comfortable in the amazing chalet we rented, Majestic View Lodge through Mountain Laurel Chalets. One of the perks of traveling off season are the great rates on incredible properties. This house had the most breathtaking views with wrap around decks on each level and unique amenities including an indoor home theater. We never wanted to leave and we barely did. But for those who want to venture out there are plenty of hiking trails, towns and scenic drives in the area. It was difficult to part ways with the the sprawling mountain ranges, great weather, luxury accommodations and peaceful environment. We found solace in knowing that there are many more special places to be discovered and off we went!

Imagine a place where the suburbs are only fifteen minutes away from a thriving downtown filled with street performers, booming restaurants, blaring music, drunk peddlers and captivating architecture all while having the vivid awareness that you are surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains. On any day you can hike an abundance of beautiful trails within a forty five minute drive or swim in fresh watering holes and rivers and then end the day with a delicious meal downtown. This is Asheville. We rented a house through Airbnb, called "The Nest". I strongly recommend families to consider renting this centrally located and spacious home when in town. The kids were enthralled by the indoor game room, most magical tree house and engaging back yard with swings and even a zip line! Grownups will equally be delighted by the house, helpful hostess and how well stocked and spotless it is. A four and a half hour drive from Kiawah Island, where we were surrounded by beaches, completely transported us to a mountainous terrain with waterfalls, rivers, creeks and the best weather we could ever hope for. The mornings and evenings are in the sixties and made us nostalgic for those perfect, sunny, Fall NYC days. Below is a glimpse of what you can expect if you ever choose to visit too. Asheville Urban Trail The best way to thoroughly familiarize yourself with a city is to walk its' sidewalks as much as possible. The Asheville Urban Trail takes you through downtown as you search for thirty art sculptures, historic landmarks and notable buildings. It takes about an hour and a half to walk the trail and it ensures you cover almost all of downtown while nudging you to notice little details you may miss otherwise. Downtown Asheville Downtown Asheville is vibrant and magnetic offering an eclectic mix of stores, a booming culinary scene, a mix of architectural designs, a plethora of street performers, live music on many corners, a rainbow of people from every race, gender, creed and age, and only has one notably negative aspect: a lot of homeless people who are both mentally ill and also clearly using drugs. They take up many corners and parks in down town and often walk up to people attempting to engage them. There is a major drug usage problem here and the city doesn't seem to care enough to attend to it. Our kids have been exposed to homelessness as NYC natives. The homeless population here is drastically different and scarier. This problematic situation along with the city's not-so-great public school system removed Asheville from first choice on our list of possible places to make a permanent move to. Tupelo Honey (Downtown Location) This well-known restaurant did not disappoint! Their unique southern menu made it difficult for us to choose so we just ordered a bunch of different things so we can taste everything that caught our eye! My son went for the Shoo Mercy Griddle which in true southern fashion included brioche french toast, buttermilk fried chicken, spiced pecans, powdered sugar and two fried eggs. He LOVED it. I devoured my blackened seared catfish and its' side of mac & cheese. The best dishes were the macaroni and cheese bites and fried cauliflower starter. The friendly service exceeded our expectations and the food was outstanding. Mable Slab Creamery Upon entering this neighborhood ice cream shop you suddenly begin to feel anxious- there are soooo many delicious flavors that you will become overwhelmed by all the options and which to choose. Adding to that, they can add toppings into your ice cream and mix them into your flavor choice for an even greater sugar high. The kids loved this place so much, they chose it over Ben & Jerry's twice! Social Distancing in Downtown Asheville Before I move on to some of the more nature related activities we enjoyed, I wanted to share with you some scenes from downtown. This was by far the busiest place we have visited since hitting the road in early July. There were swarms of people and very few of them were wearing masks. No social distancing guidelines were in place. We were extremely surprised by the scene. Asheville is known to be a very liberal city. The media has painted a USA where blue states wear masks and red states do not. Clearly someone has this message wrong. Historic Biltmore Village This charming village is approximately two miles outside downtown Asheville. It's filled with restaurants, people and shops and has quaint English-manor influenced architecture at the entrance to the former Vanderbilt's mammoth 8,000 acre complex ; The Biltmore. We had a delicious Mexican lunch in Cantina's outdoor patio followed by a stroll through the small village admiring its' unique personality. Craggy Gardens This is a moderate, one mile hike that leads to a majestic look out point which has an elevation of 6,000 feet. We were literally over the clouds. Simply put, Craggy took our breath away. Blue Ridge Parkway An added bonus to visiting Craggy, and a few other sites highlighted below, is driving through the spectacularly windy roads of the Blue Ridge Parkway. No words can describe how exhilarating it was to share the drives with those who I love most in the world, with the sunroof fully open, radio cranked to some seriously good 80s tunes and a huge smile plastered on my face. There are hundreds of look out stops throughout the parkway and each of them promises a memorable perspective. North Carolina Arboretum This Arboretum has over four hundred acres of trails, bike paths, and stunning gardens designed by Frederick Olmsted, the same landscaper that designed Central Park and Prospect Park. We opted for the North Carolina Trail and the Bentwood Trail which took us about ninety minutes to complete and in return gave us a beautiful connection to nature. We passed by rolling brooks, beautiful butterflies, and endless trees that kept us shaded and comfortable. We spent approximately two hours here but you could easily spend a full day getting lost in the well marked trails throughout the property. Catawba Falls This hike is 2.4 miles and immediately teases you with small creeks along the way that build anticipation for what awaits you in the climb ahead. This was the most crowded trail we visited, although it was Labor Day so the crowds may not be indicative of what it is normally like. The trails are narrow and the majority of hikers did not wear masks. This was annoying as the steep inclines leave even the most fit breathing heavily. When we arrived at the falls we were greeted by a deluge of people who reached the peak before us. We were initially discouraged but we luckily spotted a small trail on the right that led us to the very top of the path, away from the crowds, where we were gifted with unobstructed views of this beautiful water fall. Mother Nature is so darn stunning. She never seizes to amaze us. Looking Glass Falls This waterfall is right off the road in the Pisgah National Forest and it does not require a hike to view its' alluring and roaring falls. Skinny Dip Falls These water falls were probably my favorite. First, the hike was very manageable at .9 miles. Secondly, we had the falls and the pools all to ourselves, no other souls in sight. Finally, the scene is just so stunning and the falls cascade into many crystal clear pool formations that would be so wonderful to swim in on a hot summer day. The water temperature was ice cold which deterred my crew from entering but we couldn't stop staring and climbing the boulders to access different vantage points of nature's wonderful creation. Graveyard Trails We opted for the 3 mile hike to the Upper Falls. This was a pretty challenging trail with lots of climbing, muddy patches, rocks and the obvious challenges that come with a long hike. However, when we completed it I felt like a champion and left completely empowered. As soon as we began this adventure, we were greeted by a sign warning us of the many bears in the area. Our kids immediately went into freak out mode and I assured them that if we make some noise, which we do brilliantly on all occasions, that we would be safe. We did not encounter any bears. We did, however, walk along narrow pathways hugged by blueberry bushes. Sadly for us, it is not blueberry season but watching them prepare to ripen was exciting in itself! There are many trails to choose from here, at all levels. Lake Fontana Ninety minutes outside of Asheville awaits the most pristine lake tucked in the Great Smoky Mountains. The lake's waters are so clear and surprisingly warm; they were eighty two degrees on a slightly chilly morning. We rented kayaks from the Fontana Village Resort Marina and embarked on the most serene and spiritual journey feeling at one with nature and all her glory. Clingmans Dome Clingmans Dome is the highest point in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park at 6,643 feet. The Appalachian trail also runs through it and many hiking enthusiasts explore the various trails here. The .5 mile hike to the observation tower is quite difficult as it is a continuous incline. Once you get to the top, you quickly forget about your efforts as you are distracted by sheer awe. You are literally in the clouds. After seeing some pretty spectacular clouds on this road trip our kids have recently expressed curiosity about how they feel like. They now know. Clingmans Dome is almost two hours away from Asheville but very close to the Great Smoky Mountain region of Tennessee which we are heading towards. Asheville and its' surroundings are undoubtedly stunning and visitors will be instantly entranced by its' energy. We had the most incredible time here connecting with nature, being extremely active and enjoying the outdoors from morning till evening. Speaking of time, I have another special memory in Asheville. I connected with a childhood friend that I have not seen for thirty years. When she mentioned how much "time flies", I thought "not really". There we were, thirty years later, talking like no time has passed. More and more I am learning that time is a construct created by humans to measure what should just be an unmeasured continuum that ends at different moments for different people. Yes, it unarguably expires. There is no timeline for when death occurs so why do we want to plot every detail of our life on a time line? Life is life until it is death. I am more determined than ever to live my best life, as the best version of me, and to see and share as much as I can. The beauties and wonders of nature are humbling me in a way I never expected. I am also committed to continue to reach out to old friends in cities we visit along the way. If I am thinking of these old friends in reality they have never left my life at all. In the grand scheme of things time can actually stand still depending on how we look at it.

Kiawah Island is designed for those looking to master the art of laziness. The island inspires its' visitors to slow down, connect with nature and stroll through the days with no cares in the world. You will be immediately enchanted and drawn into the present moment, you will never want that moment to pass. A typical day on the island looks like this: head over to village for morning coffee fix, walk on over to the beach, go home to relax, bike through the thirty miles of trails around the island. Repeat. The island has over ten miles of beautiful beaches. Since summer is practically over, we pretty much had the beach to ourselves and bathed ourselves in the warm waters for as long as we cared to or until we spotted or got stung by a jelly fish. On the first day I thought I saw a plastic bag floating in the water but upon closer inspection we realized it was a gigantic jellyfish, the largest one we have ever seen before. We ran out of the water, as fast as we could. However, that did not deter us from reentering the next day, the water is too inviting and just too tempting to pass on. Once again, jelly fish flirted with us and our oldest son got stung. Imagine this, despite the sting, he wanted to stay in the water- that's how magnetic Kiawah's beaches are. You can't seem to pull away, until your son gets stung a second time. So once again, we left sooner than anticipated but also not too soon, we had ample time soaking the sun and sea before its' critters toyed with us. As you can probably predict, we returned again the next day. Nothing could break the spell of the water's call luring us in to her magical embrace. There is something about the lush, Jurassic Park-esque landscaping that, like Hilton Head Island, makes me want to get fit and active. This island propels you into the outdoors at its' every whim. I am not a runner, I actually detest running but I decided we would all start the days running together for forty five minutes (with walking intervals in between). Of course my kids complained about this new routine but although they didn't officially acknowledge it, I can tell they felt empowered afterwards. I certainly did. Also, bribing them with ice cream later in the day at Ben & Jerry's in Freshfields Village, the town square, helped motivate them through their run. The village is so well maintained and offers a host of upscale shops with many restaurants that have outdoor seating options. Although we opted to cook at home for our meals, we really loved starting our day there at Java Java for coffee and an easy awakening. VayK Gear had our bikes delivered to our home before we even arrived and they also pick them up upon check out. Super easy. Riding bikes is the best way to explore the island and get lost in its' endless trails. Nothing is more exhilarating than cruising through trails with wind in your hair and your family in tow while you discover new things together. There is plenty of wildlife on the island and luckily mosquitoes have not been a problem here. We encountered deer on a regular basis and got a chuckle out of the alligator crossing signs smack in the middle of bike lanes. The Sanctuary Hotel is the island's five star golf resort. It is massive and boasts twelve restaurants and four pools. Although it is quite beautiful, I would not personally stay here. It was packed. So many people, not all wearing masks. We were uncomfortable with the crowds and rushed through our visit to Beaches & Cream, the hotel's ice cream parlor. We rented our home through ESPM Vacations and were very happy with their service and property selections and mostly having our own space, crowd free during Covid. For those who love golf, Kiawah has five golf courses all perfectly integrated into the island. On our last evening, we decided to head to the beach for a sunset swim and mark our last beach day of summer. Kiawah Island is definitely our favorite beach destination out of the ones we explored this summer. I cannot imagine moving here full time, I don't think many here are year round residents, but I can absolutely envision having a vacation home here and even retiring here. Kiawah Island is my top choice for a second home location or a place to settle down later in life. New Yorkers love the Hamptons, but Kiawah is a tick-free no brainer. A flight into Charelston and drive over to the island is quicker than a drive from NYC to the Hamptons on summer weekends. Its' close proximity to Charleston (45 minutes away), manageable size, abundant wildlife, easily digestible summer temperatures, lush landscaping, beautiful homes, quaint main village, abundant bicycle trails and spectacular coast makes it a destination I can totally imagine living in one day. Just not quite yet. Thank you Kiawah Island for your grace, warmth and beauty. You are remarkable.