Author: suzannerutledge

I think every American should be required to visit Normandy, France, once in their lifetime. Our Greatest Generation helped free Europe from tyranny during World War II. Without them, our world would not look the same as it does today. Oftentimes I wish those men and women were still here today to speak their wisdom, … Continue reading Normandy: What Every American Should Experience

Museums in London re-opened this week after months of lockdown. Who can even remember the last time we strolled the beautiful halls, gazing at extraordinary works of art or learning tidbits of history? Here’s a roundup of the top museums and how to find what you are looking for, depending on the day and who … Continue reading A London Museum for Every Traveler

After more than 100 days of lockdown in England, Mitch and I were thrilled to grab one of the first flights into Croatia on July 1 for a quick summer getaway. Luke was visiting family in the U.S., so we spent three nights celebrating the survival of quarantine and Mitch’s 46th birthday! Split is a … Continue reading A Peek Into Croatia’s Dalamatian Coast

You can enjoy an entire vacation in London and never leave the city center because there is such a wide range of famously-fabulous things to do. But, if you find yourself wanting to explore the glorious English countryside, there are several places you can escape for the day. Most lists name Oxford, Cambridge or the … Continue reading 5 Outdoor Day Trips around London

Portugal has long been on our wish list, so we decided to road trip the country from north to south during a February break from school. While not a popular time to visit, we would argue it was better than high or even shoulder season. We didn’t have crowds but everything was open. The weather … Continue reading 12 Things We Discovered during 12 Days in Portugal

It’s been three months. 90 days. Our personal lockdown started back in March when Luke’s school closed, and several days later the UK made announcements that changed our lives. While we’ve been blessed not to be physically affected by COVID, it touched literally everyone around the world in some capacity. And it’s not over. Even … Continue reading 9 Positive Skills Picked Up in Lockdown

I am not good at keeping a journal. As much as I love to blog about our travels, I find writing down our daily minutiae and my thoughts about it quite dull. However, I listened to several podcasters suggest that we all keep a journal of our times during the coronavirus, because it will be … Continue reading The Coronavirus Diaries

I don’t know about you, but I become slightly giddy when someone posts a request on social media for new book or podcast suggestions. YES! I immediately follow the thread and eagerly anticipate new titles to dig into. In the spirit of the New Year, and my love of reading with book club friends and … Continue reading 20 Books and Podcasts for 2020

I’ve wanted to visit Amsterdam for many years, but only seemed to pass through the (very nice) airport and never reached the city center. Ideally, I would go in the spring, but when we got the opportunity to meet friends there over the New Year, of course we said yes! You might not immediately think … Continue reading Two Days in Amsterdam – A Family Itinerary

London is on steroids during the holidays…in a very good way. Without our family, friends and requisite holiday parties and obligations in November and December, we’ve looked for alternative ways to celebrate the Christmas season. And you don’t have to look far. I dare say it’s my second favorite time to be in London (after … Continue reading Five Ways to Deck the Halls in London During the Holidays