Travel Goals allows me to share my love of everyday things in far away places.

• Birthday Special: Rural Road Trip
  My mother in law (who is likely reading this) just had a birthday. This year she insisted on taking all of her children and spouses out for fried chicken. In… Read more: Birthday Special: Rural Road Trip
• The Canyon Remembered: Rural Road Trip
  We are standing in Palo Duro Canyon. A roadrunner follows us around the parking lot. He assumes an assertive stance on the red dirt hill just off the sidewalk and… Read more: The Canyon Remembered: Rural Road Trip
• Iconic Texas: Rural Road Trips
  Rolling down highway 40, our big rig pulls into Amarillo Texas in late afternoon. After miles of rough road and cross winds, the rv park is a welcome relief. We… Read more: Iconic Texas: Rural Road Trips
• Claremore At Last: Rural Road Trip Oklahoma
  Our first day on the road in our new rv has come to an end, and I should be excited. But, it has been a stressful day as we were… Read more: Claremore At Last: Rural Road Trip Oklahoma
• Pompeii: Tragedy on Tour: Rural Road Trip
  When I have time between grown up responsibilities, I like to make my own fun. This often involves random searches for “things to do near me” or “things happening this… Read more: Pompeii: Tragedy on Tour: Rural Road Trip
• Roses in Bloom: Travel Goals California
  This week, I am in beautiful San Jose, California. My lodging is in the rose garden district, so named because of a beautiful public rose garden. I get a warm,… Read more: Roses in Bloom: Travel Goals California
• Egypt in Cali: Travel Goals California
  When I travel for work, I like to squeeze in as many experiences as possible. Hey, I am here and I am technically retired. I might as well get a… Read more: Egypt in Cali: Travel Goals California
• Heading Home
  It is a strange sensation when you have lived in a temporary home for awhile and it is time to leave. Our retirement plans include seeing the world, one rental… Read more: Heading Home
• Ceide Fields: Travel Goals Ireland
  Once in awhile, I find myself in a place that feels timeless. I could be anywhere at all. Time stands still between the Earth and sky. At Ceide Fields near… Read more: Ceide Fields: Travel Goals Ireland
• Hike On: Travel Goals Ireland
  When the kids said they wanted to go to Ireland to hike, we gladly rented a farmhouse. I picked a part of the country known for iconic hikes. We went… Read more: Hike On: Travel Goals Ireland
• Return to the Holy Waters: Travel Goals Ireland
  It felt like returning to the scene of an accident. Earlier in our Irish adventure we visited St. Patrick’s well, but on the way there, we accidentally hit a curb… Read more: Return to the Holy Waters: Travel Goals Ireland
• Stairway to Heaven: Travel Goals Ireland
  Today we take an iconic hike in Ireland. The “stairway to heaven” or cuilcagh boardwalk trail is in county Fermanagh. It is just over the border into Northern Ireland and… Read more: Stairway to Heaven: Travel Goals Ireland
• Donegal Drive: Travel Goals Ireland
  My favorite days in Ireland are unplanned ramblings. We know we want to spend time in Donegal, but it is more of a general idea than a plan. We say… Read more: Donegal Drive: Travel Goals Ireland
• On The Road Again: Rural Road Trips
  As we head out on another adventure, I am oddly ambivalent. I don’t feel ill, but I also am not myself. Usually I am giddy with excitement. Today, I could… Read more: On The Road Again: Rural Road Trips
• The Rovers: Travel Goals Ireland
  Of all the things we could be doing in Ireland, my our son in law wants to go to a Sligo Rovers game. I was thinking music festival or dinner… Read more: The Rovers: Travel Goals Ireland
• Enniskillen: Travel Goals Ireland
  Some days despite my research, we reach a place and it is nothing like I anticipated. Enniskillen was busy. And it was raining…..again. All roads converged near Enniskillen castle and… Read more: Enniskillen: Travel Goals Ireland
• Mishap at the Holy Well: Travel Goals Ireland
  After a long day of sightseeing at Castle Coole and Enniskillen Castle, the light rain finally stopped. On the way home, I asked to stop at St. Patrick’s Holy Well… Read more: Mishap at the Holy Well: Travel Goals Ireland
• Glenveigh: Travel Goals Ireland
  James Bond is on my mind as I drive through County Donegal to reach Glenveigh National Park. It is eerily foggy as we wind through the hills. When I checked… Read more: Glenveigh: Travel Goals Ireland
• An Afternoon in Kiltyclogher: Travel Goals Ireland
  There is a comfort in community, ritual, and celebration. It helps us feel rooted in a place. It helps define our sense of belonging. At home, we participate with our… Read more: An Afternoon in Kiltyclogher: Travel Goals Ireland
• Sligo in the Rain: Travel Goals Ireland
  Sometimes in Ireland the rain sets in. There is nothing to be done except to find an umbrella and sing. We find ourselves in Sligo on such a day. Using… Read more: Sligo in the Rain: Travel Goals Ireland
• Becoming
  Yesterday was my birthday. It was a day much like any other. I went to work and took care of the tasks that needed attention. But my husband bought beautiful… Read more: Becoming
• The Great Lake: Rural Road Trip
  Sandwiched between a visit with our kids in Chicago and a work trip in Milwaukee, we squeezed in a day of enjoying rural Lake Michigan. After walking the granddogs to… Read more: The Great Lake: Rural Road Trip
• I Too Am America
  When talking heads try to define what it means to be an American with their endless flag waving , fireworks, and angry cries; I calmly lift a steady gaze. With… Read more: I Too Am America
• Somewhere Beyond the Sea: Travel Goals Ireland
  We visit Ireland for simple pleasures. Today was a classic Irish adventure. We took our time leaving the farmhouse. I had a nice chat with the sheep in the front… Read more: Somewhere Beyond the Sea: Travel Goals Ireland
• State Park Adventure: Rural Road Trip
  There is something very relaxing about a camping trip. I sound hypocritical to my own ears when I say that the trick is a minimalist mindset (we own a class… Read more: State Park Adventure: Rural Road Trip
• Character Matters: Educating For Sanity
  When we talk about “character,” we’re referring to the values and traits that guide how a person thinks, feels, and acts. It’s the compass people use to navigate relationships, challenges,… Read more: Character Matters: Educating For Sanity
• Along the Byway: Travel Goals Ireland
  Some of my best days in Ireland are simply unplanned drives in rural counties. I use google maps and find an area to which we haven’t traveled. A simple “things… Read more: Along the Byway: Travel Goals Ireland
• Is it true, is it necessary, is it kind?: Educating for Sanity
  Peter 2:1: “So get rid of all evil behavior. Be done with all deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and all unkind speech.” So much rancor in the world. So much unrest. There… Read more: Is it true, is it necessary, is it kind?: Educating for Sanity
• You know you are in Ireland when….
  Ireland may be one of my favorite places in the world. I feel at home as soon as I step off of the plane. From the moment I hit the… Read more: You know you are in Ireland when….
• Nature Heals: Travel Goals Ireland
  The world is in turmoil. Why, I can’t say. Much of the anger and hardship seems to be unnecessary and self induced. Manufactured crisis designed to make cold hard cash… Read more: Nature Heals: Travel Goals Ireland
• Revolutionary Countess: Travel Goals Ireland
  We visit Lissadell house on a warm summer afternoon. The family home of the Gore-Booths, Lissadell sits outside of Sligo, Ireland. It is now owned and lived in by Irish… Read more: Revolutionary Countess: Travel Goals Ireland
• Home Away From Home: Travel Goals Ireland
  When we travel, we try to rent locally. Ideally, we find a property that has been in the family for awhile. I look for local hosts who have great reputations.… Read more: Home Away From Home: Travel Goals Ireland
• The Shearing: Travel Goals
  When we travel, we prefer to stay local. We found a family farm that was willing to rent us the old homestead for a month. Our host and his father… Read more: The Shearing: Travel Goals