The Mother of All Trips started in June 2008, as my family was preparing to go on a two-week trip to Paris. Really though, it started five years earlier, when my husband Matt and I spent 13 months traveling with our then one-year-old son Tommy. I wrote a book about that experience, and you'll also find that lots of the stories from that time turn up here. Throw in my many dreams of places I'd like to visit, the day trips we often take, and a host of posts about the best places to eat ice cream and you'll find there's a lot to read.
Looking for something specific? Try searching for it:
Or you can browse the archives by category:
- We've been here
- Travel books
- Photo Friday
- MidAtlantic Wednesdays
- Italy
- Giving back
- Giveaways
- Family travel tips
- Eating on the road
- Dreaming of
- Day trip adventures
- Awards
Or if you prefer, you can see the posts chronologically:
- September 2010 (1)
- 03: Taking kids on the Tube (2)
- August 2010 (10)
- 31: Teatime with kids at Fortnum & Mason (6)
- 30: Mondays are for dreaming: Looking up in Oxford (3)
- 23: Mondays are for dreaming: Endless summer…not! (4)
- 16: Mondays are for dreaming: Views of London (7)
- 13: Castles, dinos, and birdhouses on the shores of Lake Champlain (4)
- 09: Mondays are for dreaming: A trip to the other side of the world (5)
- 06: Just another kid playing piano (6)
- 05: Seeing London in a new way with Fat Tire Bike Tours (4)
- 03: Eating out with kids in London: Wagamama (6)
- 01: Mondays are for dreaming: A departure from your regularly scheduled program (6)
- July 2010 (8)
- 30: Taking kids to the British Museum (9)
- 28: Nostalgic candy, British style (6)
- 26: Mondays are for dreaming: Returning to London (6)
- 23: What’s more fun: The real Tower Bridge or the one made of LEGOs? (7)
- 18: Mondays are for dreaming: Surprising the kids at LEGOLAND (1)
- 14: Wish you were here (and would watch the kids for a bit) (7)
- 11: Mondays are for dreaming: Colonial Williamsburg (and beyond) in the Truckster (4)
- 05: Mondays are for dreaming: London by bike (3)
- June 2010 (10)
- 30: Wagon Queen Family Truckster stop one: Virginia Beach (4)
- 29: Mondays are for dreaming: Future nomads (10)
- 25: You’d think I had time on my hands (1)
- 21: Mondays are for dreaming: Your family travel questions answered (2)
- 17: Your top 5 questions about riding in the Truckster answered (0)
- 14: Mondays are for dreaming: Turning 40 in the Truckster (5)
- 11: Welcome summer! (8)
- 09: MidAtlantic Wednesday: Is it Delaware or Delphi? (7)
- 07: Mondays are for dreaming: An overnight at Willow Valley (8)
- 03: Skipping with the steam engines (3)
- May 2010 (14)
- 31: Mondays are for dreaming: The London Eye (11)
- 27: Everyone needs a travel angel (6)
- 25: MidAtlantic Wednesday: Much more than trains at the Choo Choo Barn (3)
- 25: And the winner is… (0)
- 23: Mondays are for dreaming: Summer road trips (4)
- 20: Trip Planning: Using Go Cards in Los Angeles (2)
- 18: Get some travel tips – help spread clean drinking water (2)
- 16: Mondays are for dreaming: Win a family vacation in San Antonio (108)
- 14: Welcome to Texas: We’re glad to have you! (7)
- 12: MidAtlantic Wednesday: Mommy and Ted’s excellent adventure (3)
- 09: Mondays are for dreaming: A family-friendly stay at the Hill Farm Inn (1)
- 07: A mother and children at Taliesin West (4)
- 04: The birth of a traveling mom (9)
- 02: Mondays are for dreaming: Cruising with kids (9)
- April 2010 (15)
- 29: What my mother taught me about travel (25)
- 28: A return to Tuscany with Frances Mayes (1)
- 25: Mondays are for dreaming: Romance in Rome (9)
- 23: “Screen time” on the road – or an ode to my own hypocrisy (7)
- 21: MidAtlantic Wednesdays: The best ice cream in America at Woodside Farm (6)
- 19: Mondays are for dreaming: Summer trips (3)
- 16: The return of Lovey Bear or where to stay at the Philadelphia Airport (7)
- 14: Eat at Joe’s (Farm Grill that is) (7)
- 12: Mondays are for dreaming: The view outside my own window (4)
- 09: Practicing paleontology at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum (10)
- 08: Dispatches from the road: Tips for crossing the desert (8)
- 06: Los Angeles: One day, two kids, three great things to do (with a bonus side of pie) (6)
- 05: Mondays are for dreaming: Pastries and fishes (2)
- 03: Dispatches from the road: Coming into Los Angeles (4)
- 01: Spring cleaning and live blogging (2)
- March 2010 (12)
- 31: Oeufs mayonnaise on the Rue du Bac (3)
- 29: Mondays are for dreaming: Flying fearlessly (3)
- 25: Pelicans, penguins, and seals – oh my! Exploring Kangaroo Island with kids (3)
- 24: Where to stay (and put your car) at JFK Airport (2)
- 21: Mondays are for dreaming: Vinalhaven (5)
- 19: Napping on the go, Venice Beach (5)
- 18: Travel planning: A quick trip to Los Angeles (6)
- 15: Mondays are for dreaming: Where a passport can take you (6)
- 12: A coin in the Trevi Fountain (8)
- 10: MidAtlantic Wednesdays: Dinotopia at the Delaware Art Museum (2)
- 08: Mondays are for dreaming: Spring at Winterthur (3)
- 04: A return to Italy is a runner up (4)
- February 2010 (16)
- 28: Mondays are for dreaming: A return from the dark side (4)
- 24: MidAtlantic Wednesdays: The Petersen Urban Wildlife Refuge (4)
- 22: Mondays are for dreaming: The gray whale migration (3)
- 19: Trafalgar Square, Fall (6)
- 17: MidAtlantic Wednesdays: Skiing at Bear Creek Mountain (2)
- 16: To Atlantis or not to Atlantis? That’s the question. (8)
- 14: Mondays are for dreaming: Coram’s Fields (3)
- 12: The Atlantis Resort from top to bottom (4)
- 11: Racecars, pottery, and stuffed animals – oh my! (10)
- 10: LEGOs in paradise (7)
- 09: Atlantis Kids Adventure (7)
- 08: Mondays are for dreaming: Swimming with the dolphins (6)
- 05: Ski it if you can – wherever you are (4)
- 03: MidAtlantic Wednesdays: Skiing in the Poconos (4)
- 02: Mad River Glen: A skier’s mountain where everyone can be a skier (5)
- 01: Mondays are for dreaming: The 2010 Winter Olympics (6)
- January 2010 (11)
- 24: Mondays are for dreaming: Lost city of Atlantis (9)
- 22: And he’s off… (8)
- 21: Peter West Carey and the People, Places & Patterns Project (3)
- 20: Where in the world is MOAT? (2)
- 18: Mondays are for dreaming: Off to the Caribbean (9)
- 15: My favorite road sign of all time (9)
- 13: MidAtlantic Wednesdays: The Reading Terminal Market (3)
- 11: Mondays are for dreaming: Glendalough (7)
- 08: We have a Passports With Purpose winner (2)
- 06: MidAtlantic Wednesdays: Peeps Fest 2009 (8)
- 04: Mondays are for dreaming: Playing in the Vermont snow (9)
- December 2009 (6)
- November 2009 (11)
- 30: Mondays are for dreaming: Passports With Purpose (3)
- 23: Mondays are for dreaming: A school in Cambodia (5)
- 20: A trip back in time with Thomas and the Strasburg Railroad (9)
- 18: MidAtlantic Wednesdays: Toy Magic in Bethlehem (7)
- 16: Mondays are for dreaming: Oxford’s spires (10)
- 13: Trekaroo stops in Philadelphia and The Mother of All Trips is on board (1)
- 11: MidAtlantic Wednesdays: An enchanted garden and more at Winterthur (9)
- 09: Mondays are for dreaming: A spa vacation in Vietnam (6)
- 06: The teeniest pumpkin (14)
- 04: MidAtlantic Wednesdays: The National Canal Museum & Crayola Factory (4)
- 02: Mondays are for dreaming: Discounted tickets for the Big Apple Circus (1)
- October 2009 (8)
- 29: Halloween treats around the globe – UPDATED (17)
- 26: Mondays are for dreaming: Ladurée (11)
- 19: Mondays are for dreaming: Stoke Newington (10)
- 12: Mondays are for dreaming: Tea, peace, welcome, Vermont (6)
- 06: The Mother of All Trips around the Interwebs (4)
- 04: Mondays are for dreaming: The Great Barrier Reef (4)
- 02: Road trip tip: Don’t underestimate driving times (5)
- 01: Road trip tip: A detour can be your friend (6)
- September 2009 (14)
- 29: Road trip tip: Music, music, music (2)
- 28: Mondays are for dreaming: Nepal (2)
- 25: Road trip tip: Be a little sneaky (5)
- 23: Road trip tip: Eating on the road (13)
- 22: Goodbye summer…but before you go, a few road trip tips (11)
- 18: Old (and new) friends on the ferry (6)
- 16: My interview at Wandering Educators (1)
- 15: MOAT takes Manhattan: Day three (7)
- 13: Mondays are for dreaming: The places my stroller has gone (4)
- 11: A very different trip to New York (15)
- 08: MOAT takes Manhattan: Day two (7)
- 07: MOAT takes Manhattan: Day one (5)
- 04: Start spreadin’ the news… (9)
- 01: My year in Florence at Italiakids.com (1)
- August 2009 (11)
- 31: Mondays are for dreaming: The Empire State Building (8)
- 23: Mondays are for dreaming: Mont Saint-Michel (3)
- 18: Summer treasures: 111 and counting (9)
- 16: Mondays are for dreaming: A country fair (3)
- 14: Miniature golf with a view – Vermont style (9)
- 12: For the love of maple (8)
- 10: Mondays are for dreaming: Lake Champlain (2)
- 06: “Mommy, don’t help me!” More on traveling with big kids (4)
- 05: Faerie houses at the Vermont Festival for the Arts (3)
- 04: Suddenly I’m traveling with bigger kids (8)
- 02: Mondays are for dreaming: The children of India (59)
- July 2009 (16)
- 31: Clearly I need to add North Dakota to our destinations list (1)
- 27: Mondays are for dreaming: Vermont (or should I say “the driveway moment”?) (5)
- 23: A solo trip to blogger heaven (5)
- 22: The Magic House: A little less than spellbinding (6)
- 21: True confessions of a road tripping mom (11)
- 20: Mondays are for dreaming: Melbourne, Australia (9)
- 17: A beautiful day at the Missouri Botanical Garden (2)
- 16: The Mother of All Trips wins a Tripbase.com Award (2)
- 15: The great custard comparison (6)
- 14: Free fun at the Crown Center (5)
- 13: Mondays are for dreaming: Rest stops in Iowa (6)
- 10: A clown train (8)
- 09: Road trip with kids: How’d they do that? (5)
- 05: Mondays are for dreaming: Home sweet home (3)
- 03: Three little monkeys (5)
- 01: Guest post: The best family-friendly accommodations in Europe (4)
- June 2009 (13)
- 29: Some road trip stats (1)
- 27: Take me out to the ballgame!!! (9)
- 26: In disguise at Miller Park (5)
- 25: Pioneer history at the Milton House (7)
- 23: Wild turkeys and tame tigers: A (mostly free) day out in Madison (3)
- 22: Dinner at the Midway Oh Boy Restaurant (10)
- 19: Playing catch on the PA Turnpike (20)
- 17: Chaos & confusion (3)
- 15: Mondays are for dreaming: The road ahead (14)
- 11: Good old Ben – Franklin that is (8)
- 10: Christ Church Philadelphia: A quick trip back in history (4)
- 05: Invasion of the autosaurs! (14)
- 01: Mondays are for dreaming: 13 months on the road (7)
- May 2009 (12)
- 29: A bit of Marie Antoinette’s folly (6)
- 27: Introducing our 60-mile-per-hour fabulous *budget* adventure (8)
- 25: Mondays are for dreaming: Fenway Park (6)
- 22: Getting ready to hit the road (8)
- 15: My children aren’t the only ones who ride carousels (12)
- 13: A giveaway winner, a guest post, and some great writing (2)
- 11: Mondays are for dreaming: A trip through the archives (5)
- 08: Florence, Italy 1980 (18)
- 07: Trip planning: *Traveling With Kids* giveaway (19)
- 05: Writing about travel: It runs in the family (6)
- 04: Mondays are for dreaming: Philadelphia (3)
- 01: Never step inside a fairy ring… (10)
- April 2009 (16)
- 27: Mondays are for dreaming: Copperwynd Resort (3)
- 24: There are no children in this picture (10)
- 23: Keeping it simple, even on the road (4)
- 20: When kids get jet lagged (6)
- 17: Spring break, Arizona style (7)
- 16: Trip planning: Consider the smaller airports (3)
- 14: Out and about with kids: Calvert Farm (6)
- 13: Travel tip: Let the kids pack (4)
- 10: Pretty as a picture at Giverny (12)
- 09: Trip planning: For the grownups (1)
- 07: We have a winner! (0)
- 06: Mondays are for dreaming: Barcelona (6)
- 04: Sharing the Mother of All Trips Love (18)
- 03: Grabbing the brass rings (9)
- 02: So did you notice the tabs? (2)
- 01: It’s here! The *new* Mother of All Trips (8)
- March 2009 (11)
- 26: Trip planning: Desert Botanical Garden (1)
- 24: A rare post about gear (1)
- 22: Mondays are for dreaming: Pacific Grove (1)
- 16: Mondays are for dreaming: Zilker Park (0)
- 13: Is that a giant grasshopper? (0)
- 12: Trip planning: Arizona Science Center (0)
- 09: Out and about with kids: The Eric Carle Museum (1)
- 09: Mondays are for dreaming: a new and improved MOAT! (2)
- 04: They liked me! They really liked me! (1)
- 02: Mondays are for dreaming: Thailand (0)
- 01: Family travel in Venice (3)
- February 2009 (10)
- 27: Who wants to go to the movies? (6)
- 26: Trip planning: The Heard Museum (4)
- 25: We’re all connected – UPDATE (0)
- 23: Mondays are for dreaming: Jaipur, India (3)
- 22: Is travel relevant? This mom says yes (2)
- 18: Counting my blessings (1)
- 10: Multigenerational travel at Fodors.com (2)
- 09: Mondays are for dreaming: Santorini (8)
- 06: Riding the Red Line (7)
- 02: Mondays are for dreaming: Pasadena (4)
- January 2009 (11)
- 30: California dreaming (7)
- 28: Day out with kids: Madison Children’s Museum (4)
- 26: Mondays are for dreaming: Venice (2)
- 24: Guest post: Obama inauguration Part 3 (1)
- 22: Guest post: Obama inauguration Part 2 (2)
- 21: Guest post: Obama inauguration Part 1 (1)
- 18: Inauguration with the kids: Part two (4)
- 16: Travels with my parents: India (3)
- 13: Inauguration frustration – UPDATED (3)
- 12: Looking back…looking forward (2)
- 01: Why travel? Ask Matt (4)
- December 2008 (13)
- 30: A BIG thank you! (0)
- 28: Mondays are for dreaming: A trip around the blogosphere (0)
- 26: Wheeee! (3)
- 24: Happy Holidays! (0)
- 23: A change in plans (1)
- 21: Mondays are for dreaming: The Land of the Sweets (4)
- 19: Outside Charles de Gaulle Airport (6)
- 12: Big and little in the Boboli Gardens (6)
- 09: Passports with Purpose: Give to Heifer! Win a camera! Peep! (0)
- 07: Mondays are for dreaming: Christmas in London (4)
- 05: Riding the Santa Train (8)
- 03: An Advent journey (7)
- 01: Mondays are for dreaming: Flip Ultra anyone? (5)
- November 2008 (16)
- 27: Passports with Purpose: Giving thanks, giving back (1)
- 26: Dispatches from the road: Not so fast! (1)
- 25: Dispatches from the road: A surprising day on the NJ Turnpike (1)
- 23: Mondays are for dreaming: Mad River Glen (7)
- 21: Strolling on the Common Road (6)
- 19: The top 5 reasons to travel with children (9)
- 17: Mondays are for dreaming: Hotel Lancelot (5)
- 16: Guest post at WeJustGotBack.com (4)
- 14: George Washington’s breakfast (9)
- 12: A little love for MOAT (0)
- 10: Mondays are for dreaming: Seattle (5)
- 08: Water, the White House, and words for Obama (4)
- 07: We’re in Washington DC…what time is it? (3)
- 05: We’re going to Washington DC! (11)
- 03: Mondays are for dreaming: A new world (10)
- 01: How you know your 3-year-old has travelled (5)
- October 2008 (20)
- 29: It’s Blogapalooza time! (17)
- 29: Carnival of Cities (4)
- 27: Mondays are for dreaming: Florence (8)
- 26: Spooky happenings at MOAT this week… (0)
- 25: Out and about with kids: Please Touch Museum (5)
- 24: Local eats at the Farmer’s Diner (3)
- 22: Well now, we’re glad to have you: Austin eats (5)
- 21: Just say no to fast food (10)
- 20: Mondays are for dreaming: Paris eats (5)
- 19: Out and about with kids: Highland Orchards (2)
- 17: Baseball + grandpa = happiness (7)
- 16: Before and after (6)
- 14: Worst trip yet (12)
- 13: Mondays are for dreaming: London (6)
- 11: Out and about with kids: Children of the corn (3)
- 09: Sleeping like a baby in Boston (8)
- 06: Mondays are for dreaming: Boston (6)
- 04: Out and about with kids: Cape Ann, from the archives (2)
- 03: A little chick in the Temple of Love (7)
- 02: Boston bound (3)
- September 2008 (17)
- 30: Walking for a cause (1)
- 29: Mondays are for dreaming: Bali (3)
- 28: Out and about with kids: More dinos at the natural history museum (3)
- 25: Big dino, little dino (4)
- 22: Mondays are for dreaming: New York City (9)
- 21: Out and about with kids: Lions, bears, and purple tigers at the Philadelphia Zoo (2)
- 18: Summer dreaming (6)
- 15: Mondays are for dreaming: Kinsarvik, Norway (9)
- 13: Out and about with kids: Welcoming fall at Longwood Gardens (8)
- 12: Portrait of the artist in Paris (7)
- 10: I know we’re all tired of hearing about elections (3)
- 09: What I learned on my summer vacation #5 (2)
- 08: What I learned on my summer vacation #4 (5)
- 04: Out and about with kids: New Haven, from the archives (2)
- 04: What I learned on my summer vacation #3 (0)
- 03: What I learned on my summer vacation #2 (0)
- 02: What I learned on my summer vacation #1 (2)
- August 2008 (19)
- 29: Out and about with kids: Havre de Grace (1)
- 27: The journey to first grade (1)
- 26: A tale of two Vermonts (6)
- 25: The old swimmin’ hole (5)
- 21: A return to Giverny (3)
- 16: Goodbye summer (3)
- 14: Pizza with heart (1)
- 13: Summertime, pure and simple (0)
- 12: A few mud puddles (1)
- 10: A little family togetherness (0)
- 08: We {heart} Shelburne Farms (0)
- 07: Aunt & Uncle = Happiness (0)
- 07: Hello muddah, hello faddah (0)
- 05: A day of accomplishments (2)
- 04: Maple creemees (5)
- 03: Juggling in the rain (0)
- 03: Something a little different (0)
- 02: Rain, rain…and a cold (0)
- 01: Conservation, in all its forms (1)
- July 2008 (22)
- 31: I could’ve had a large-screen TV (2)
- 30: Ahhhh, Vermont (2)
- 28: A change in the itinerary (0)
- 27: On the road again (0)
- 24: A little travel wisdom (2)
- 19: Paris in its proper order (5)
- 17: Ah, Austin (5)
- 13: Au revoir (4)
- 12: Paris is our oyster (2)
- 11: It’s good to be queen (1)
- 10: A royal trip (0)
- 09: No time for The Thinker (1)
- 08: Every carousel in Paris? (2)
- 08: Day out in Paris with Daddy (or the homicidal orangutan) (1)
- 07: Le train bleu (4)
- 07: Not for the kiddoes (0)
- 06: Amusement, French style (2)
- 05: Le p’tit poulet (4)
- 04: The magic of Monet in Giverny (2)
- 03: Sweet Caroline (or how wise I was to bring help to Paris) (3)
- 02: A day at the Musee d’Orsay (2)
- 01: An urban hike on the Promenade Plantée (0)
- June 2008 (8)
- 30: A day with kids in Paris calls for la perspective (3)
- 29: We made it to Paris! Now for the good stuff (2)
- 28: Long day’s journey into Paris (0)
- 27: One more post… (6)
- 26: Armed and ready (0)
- 25: Taking the family to France: Le plan de Paris (1)
- 23: Passport pix, take two (0)
- 16: A little background… (1)
Well, the world is indeed a fast-changing place. I just learned today (4/30/2009) that the Copperwynd has closed its doors suddenly. The pools and tennis courts will still be available to the members who rent timeshares, but the hotel and restaurant are shuttered. Such is the effect of the economy being shambles. And although I’m [...]
I’ve been writing short posts this week that share lessons I learned on a recent family trip to Arizona. This is post Number Three. I hope you’ll visit Number One and Number Two. My tip today is really super simple. It’s for all you intrepid traveling parents. All of you who love to throw baby [...]
I promised some pithy posts this week about traveling with the kids – what I learned (or relearned as it were) on our trip to Arizona last week. Here’s post Number Two in the series. I wrote earlier in the week about jet lag and how tricky it can be to go backwards in time [...]
I have lots to share about our recent trip to Arizona, but the unfortunate thing about a terrific vacation during which one goes completely offline for days at a time is that things tend to pile up a bit. And since many of these things are actually remunerative, I need to attend to them. So [...]
One of the great joys of our spring break visits to Grandma and Grandpa is the opportunity to ride in a golf cart. This photo was taken about a half an hour after our arrival. We got off the plane, picked up our bags, drove a bit, removed those pesky layers of clothing, and headed [...]












