I didn't think time would move so quickly in a dystopian world, but here we are...
With news headlines and community action happening constantly, I thought summer would drag and fill me with despair. Dragging it is not, full of despair, yes but hope and happiness too...
It’s been three weeks since I’ve sat down to send a newsletter due to traveling, but I am glad to write today. Since last time there have been trips to Chicago and Seattle, and so much else has happened in the world. I’m still processing how to talk about things like the 14th Amendment and Alligator Alcatraz, so I’m not getting into that today, but I do have some great things to share and some encouraging observations from the last few weeks. I have hope for good things for our family and country, and I’m holding onto that right now.
Even though we’ve been on the go so much this month, I’ve really enjoyed getting to write a lot. Writing helps me chill out from stress (and turbulence) and it’s also a nice form of escapism that I can just snap right into. Pouring my energy into helping other people plan their own travels really does bring me joy, which in turn spreads to my family. I wish I could say that I’m all sunshine and roses all the time, but my fam knows that’s not accurate, so when I get into a good track/vibe, they all appreciate it. With that, I’m thrilled to share what’s new on our websites!
Here’s what’s fresh and helpful for anyone planning trips this summer or fall (or that you can save for next summer if you’re already working on that). I know this is a lot to consider, but if you’ve got a minute and are open to some travel suggestions, there are tons of fun and beautiful ideas below!
2TravelDads.com - We just returned from Washington so I was able to put together a guide to enjoying a weekend in Seattle, doing all the things we’ve loved over the years. Also I reworked our Maine summer road trip plan, which is more than your usual lighthouses and lobsters. If you’re heading to NYC, we’ve got the full scoop on visiting the New York Public Library, including the beautiful Rose Main Reading Room. Lastly, I’ve added more to our long standing article about Pride and why Pride matters so much today.
MaineExplored.com - You know I love visiting and writing about lighthouses, and I know that’s what a lot of people visit Maine to see, so this week I was able to share all about the Nubble Lighthouse, Pemaquid Point Lighthouse, the Bug Light and a few more will be publishing this week. Two other fun articles to write were about the Matinicus Ferry, which is a very unique boat that goes to a remote community off the coast, and my favorite whale watching/puffin cruise in Maine, Cap’n Fish’s from Boothbay Harbor. I wanted to get these all published earlier in the year when people were planning their summer trips, but time slipped away quickly. Better late than never though.
MyAlaskaTrip.com - As we prep for our next visit to Alaska in a few weeks, that’s what most of my time that I allocate to this site has been focused on. We’re heading to Ketchikan, Juneau and Haines with adventures on ferries, seaplanes and rafts. There’s going to be so much to share! In the meantime though, now you can read all about visiting North Pole, Alaska and my top picks for Alaskan lodges we’ve gotten to enjoy.
TheKeysExplored.com - I think writing about the Florida Keys is as fun as visiting (maybe) so I’ve got lots to share. First up is snorkeling at Looe Key Reef, which most visitors skip over for the more famous sites. Next up is the glass bottom boat tours at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, which is cool if you aren’t a big snorkeling/water person. The History of Diving Museum is another interesting spot to visit in Islamorada, which is extra cool if you’re a diver or like to geek out over super niche interests. For a Key West visit, I’ve picked my favorite iconic Key West spots to visit, as well as reviews of both the Conch Train Tour and the Ghosts and Gravestones Tour. There’s so much to do and see here I’ll never be able to cover it all.
MyAlohaTrip.com - We head to Hawaii this week, so soon there’s going to be lots of fresh articles coming to this website. We’re visiting Oahu and Kauai, so stay tuned for all kinds of fun. Until then, I’ve been trying to work through our agritourism trip we did in February, so new to the blog we’ve got the Kona Coffee Living History Farm and the unique Volcano Winery (yes they grow grapes on the slopes of Mauna Loa). And have you heard of the jaboticaba berry? Yeah, me neither, but they use it in winemaking…
PaddleYourState.com - It’s been fun to work on kayaking stuff again. I’ve written so many articles that have just been sitting around, so finally getting to publish stuff about all the places we’ve paddled is great. Here in Florida we’ve got articles up about guided kayaking on Tarpon Bay over at Sanibel and clear kayaking at Shell Key Preserve in Tampa. We’ve got articles about kayaking in the San Juan Islands and other beautiful paddling spots in Washington. And then kayaking spots all around Anchorage (and lots of safety notes).
The End of Pride Month
This month has been very unusual in terms of what I expect from a Pride month. I didn’t do any work jobs relating to Pride, which is the first time in 10 years that’s happened, but that’s okay. This year we saw what companies and tourist destinations were solely performative in their support of Pride (and no, not based on not working with us, but in their utter lack of outward support). We saw what tidbits and chunks of rights and protections the government wants to chip away at. And we saw some of the biggest international showings of support for the LGBTQ community. While things are spiraling in the USA, other nations and groups are stepping up.
One of my favorite scientific quotes is “Homosexuality is observed in over 450 species, yet homophobia is only observed in one.” I think it’s safe to say that as our leaders here in the USA try to deny or avoid science and favor religious narratives created or interpreted by a few, that’s very much in line with the rise of homophobia in our country. Deny the effectiveness of vaccines? Let’s do that. Deny climate change? Why not. Deny homosexuality as being naturally occurring? For sure. It’s just right in line with the flow of life here. I hate that we’re taking such steps back on so many fronts.
What IS amazing though is how those cities and communities that have shown up for and loudly supported Pride have done it beautifully and inclusively. In the last few weeks I’ve been in Chicago and Seattle, which both are remarkable in their visible support and inclusivity of the LGBTQ community. Visiting places where you easily see representation and love all around felt very reassuring that people just might be good after all. Fingers crossed that impression and reality spreads everywhere else, especially here in the South.
What’s Upcoming in Our Family
We only have about six weeks until school starts back up for us. After having the last five years in a really wonderful, small school here on our little island both kids are going to new schools next year. Our oldest is actually starting high school, so that’s going to be an enormous change for him, but we’re confident that he’ll actually do great and will probably enjoy it. He’s actually looking forward to riding the bus and getting to have classes like digit art are Spanish.
Our littlest dude is going into 5th grade and will be doing so at our local public school (they’ve been in a small private school for the last five years). This was a hard decision for us because Island Prep where we’ve been has been so wonderful for both kids, but this is the right move for us. Elliott needs more of the physical offerings we get in public school, such as a bigger PE program, fresh new friends to engage with, music programs and other services larger schools can offer. He was really sad when we initially talked to him about it, but he quickly came around and he is now totally excited. He makes friends really quickly, so we feel good about him starting somewhere new.
I think all of this change is going to be difficult for me, as I spend a lot of time doing things with the kids’ classes and I try to be involved with field trips and stuff as much as possible. I’m not sure what that will look like in public school, but I’m going to try hard to be as involved and present, getting to know teachers as much as I can (without being annoying). Wish us luck!
I think that’s all I have to share for this week. We have a lot of prep work to do before heading to Hawaii and Alaska next month. We’re trying hard to maximize our time together before the kids are disinterested in us, and it feels like we’re winning at that. Stay tuned for updates from our travels and developments in what I’m learning about and observing with politics in the USA. Florida is a hot mess, but I think there’s a change in the wind that will be good for everybody.
Have a great week, and stay tuned on our Instagram for travel updates. There won’t be a newsletter next Sunday since we’ll be between islands, but soon after you’ll get the whole scoop. Stay healthy and safe, and have a happy 4th of July!