Tombstone Tripping

Like it or not, nearly everyone will visit a graveyard at some point in their lives (or shortly thereafter). But once you get beyond the initial apprehension many people feel toward graveyards, they are fascinating places to visit.

Whenever I go to a cemetery to visit a loved one, I invariably find myself strolling the rows admiring headstones. From the ornate marble and granite sculptures of the Victorian era to the simple stone slabs of homesteaders, cemeteries reveal quite a bit about the lives and times of the people they commemorate.

After asking around the office, I’m apparently not the only one who enjoys a trip to a graveyard. Whether you’re interested in genealogy, admiring funerary art, or just looking for a quiet spot to read a book or contemplate—check out these cemeteries featured in a few of our guidebooks. more >>

Fall Favorites: Pumpkin Patches, Corn Mazes, and Apple Orchards

Daylight hours get shorter and temperatures begin to drop with the arrival of fall and there seems an almost urgent need to get outside to enjoy every fair weather day before the arrival of winter.

I especially notice this behavior in myself. Perhaps it is a by-product from having grown up in the Pacific Northwest where, after the vitality of summer, clear, sunny days become something of a rarity.

Here are some of my favorite outdoor fall activities—and they’re family-friendly.

Visit a Pumpkin Patch

Much more fun than picking out a pumpkin at the local supermarket, and more affordable too, heading out to a pumpkin patch is an annual tradition. I’ll usually hit the patch at least twice in October. more >>