We’ve been to Vegas quite a few times over the last few years. Tickets from Seattle are cheap, the weather is usually good, and the food is EPIC. I eat so well when we are down there. Like so well. And I love a good hotel sleep. So it’s the best of all the worlds - hotel sleep + ridiculous amounts of food.

We don’t gamble so we don’t know anything about that. I literally go for the food and the sun.

EATS

Best Friend - in the MGM Park - Roy Choi’s Korean fusion restaurant is epic. We go every time we’re there!

Giada - at the Cromwell - Phenomenal Italian food with even better service. Totally surprising for a celeb TV chef restaurant. There are plenty to choose from, but this is tops.

Lago - in the Bellagio - Has a great brunch! And you can see the fountain. Don’t miss the Bloody Mary.

Bardot Brassierie - in the Aria - Another great brunch! The hash browns are like giant tater tots and I’m totally here for it.

DRINKS

Chandelier Bar - in the Cosmopolitan - three levels of a fun space, with a great martini

Rhum Bar - in the Mirage - great for mai tais and an outdoor patio that’s cute, not on the strip

Mama Rabbit - in the MGM Park - a tequila bar that’s epic. Tell your bartender what you like to drink, the custom drinks are perfection.

Vesper Bar - in the Cosmopolitan - order the Vesper.

SIGHTS

Meow Wolf - a wild art installation in Area 15 that’s worth the Uber ride

Wayne Newton - Mr. Vegas himself still puts on a heck of a show.

LOVE - Cirque du Soliel meets the Beatles - it’s super fun if you like 60’s music

Taco Bell Cantina - a night club in a Taco Bell. Are you kidding me?

Fremont Street - Vintage Vegas at its finest. But don’t stay long.

Eataly - Less produce and actual groceries than the NYC outpost but way more food to snack on.

---

POUR YOURSELF A COCKTAIL

I was lucky enough to live in Rome when I studied abroad in college. It was easily my favorite place and still is in the top ten. It’s such an amazing city filled with history, culture, and AMAZING food. If it’s an option, I can’t recommend visiting the Eternal City enough.

We took the kids last summer and spent a few days in Rome. It’s never enough. But we did enough to hit the best parts, see the hidden gems, and make sure they had a real understanding that this is a city that is older than Jesus. (really good perspective for Catholic kids)

These are our favorite highlights that we all agreed we would not miss if (when) we go back!

EATS

Do a food tour with Katie Parla. Do not miss this. We had the best experience, ate a few things we might not have tried, and found the best of other things we had already tried. The bar was set high.

Antico Forno Roscioli - the perfect slice of pizza

Popi Popi - A favorite from when I lived up the street, it’s still perfect.

La Campana - Unbeatable and not filled with tourists

Giggetto Al Portico d’Ottavia - The best fried artichoke in Rome, but only when they are in season!

Cafffe Camerino - Their tiny pastries are made in house, go for the pistachio ones

Gelateria della Palma - Lots of people will claim they know the best gelato place in town, but unless it’s this one, then they are wrong.

Campo di Fiori - The best farmer’s market you’ve ever seen in your life. Buy the dried spices (above) and make the sauce of your dreams when you get home.

SIGHTS

This feels like a major “duh” because the sights are as historic as anything in the world. But there are a few sneaky places I definitely recommend.

Bocca della Verita - The mouth of truth. It was a storm drain from the Roman era, but priests revived it in the Middle Ages and would “bite” the hand of a liar. Very Middle Ages. Test your luck.

Basilica di Santa Maria del Popolo - A church you would otherwise not stop in, but it holds a Caravaggio painting that is extraordinary. Church art is a great way to see amazing art without the museum stop.

Piazza Navona - This is my favorite. I adore Bernini and love the contrast of his fountains and the church behind. There are also epic roof top bars nearby that give an amazing view of the city.

Santa Maria sopra Minerva - A church next to the Pantheon. Since you are obviously there already, pop in and look up. The ceiling is what the Sistine Chapel looked like before Michelangelo painted. Also, the cutest elephant lives outside the church. (Also, “sopra” means “over” because this church was built OVER a temple to Minerva, the Roman goddess)

---

My favorite Italian cocktails

---

My favorite Italian inspired recipes

Here’s my Apple Guide to Rome

Here’s what I packed for Italy

La Tavola Marche

If you’re looking for something totally different and amazing, check out my friends Cooking School + B&B in the Marche region. It’s literally the best time ever.

Last year we went to Washington DC for Thanksgiving and we had the BEST time! I think Thanksgiving is a weird holiday so we have started bailing on it and doing something more fun with our kids. The kids have a few days off so we have planned some epic little trips to get away for a few days.

Washington DC is on Jud’s list of places to visit and it was an amazing choice. To prepare, I studied a ton of online resources and asked a friend who lives in DC. Together, we compiled an amazing trip. It’s all below for you to take from it what sounds fun to you!

Travel safely!

Side note, I ADORE clam chowder so I ate it when ever it was possible. You’ll find that every restaurant we visited has a great chowder.

EATS

Old Ebbitt Grill - The old school DC vibes you are hoping for with pretty good oysters and even better martinis.

Tabard Inn - A quirky little hotel with a darling dining room. Ask to be near the fireplace! And order the chowder.

Martin’s Tavern - A classic spot in Georgetown - it’s where Jack proposed to Jackie! And the food is SO GOOD.

Four Seasons Lobby - For a cocktail. And people watching. At the holidays it’s decorated and SO beautiful.

Carouso’s Grocery - I’m obsessed with grocery stores. This Italian one is to die for! And eat all of the things.

SIGHTS

We are pretty sure we saw it all. Here were the favorites.

Ford Theater Tour - Reserve a spot ahead and you can pop right in. Totally a facinating part of history.

American History Museum - Our family favorite - everything cool is here! Including Julia’s kitchen.

Air & Space Museum - No explanation needed

Capital Building Tour - It’s a giant group tour but still totally cool. If you can get in with your senator, then you get the fancier version.

White House Tour - These were closed over the Thanksgiving holiday. Check dates before traveling!

Georgetown - When I was a kid, my aunt lived in Georgetown and it was my favorite part of the city. It still is. Wander the streets, head up to the university, eat lunch in town.

National Mall Tour - we were surprised by how good the Korean War Monument was - hit all of the major ones, but don’t miss some of the less well known ones too

---

Things that remind me of DC

Six years ago I got a bee in my bonnet that I wanted to drive the Pacific Coast Highway and camp the whole way down. So we did it! Mr. Hedin’s parents had just bought a trailer that we could borrow so we loaded it up and headed out.

That trip started a tradition that still continues. We’ve road tripped to the Washington Coast, the Oregon Coast, Glacier Lake, Crater Lake, San Francisco, and this year we’re headed to Yellowstone.

These are our families favorite vacations.

It turns out that long hours in the car chatting about life, learning about the history of where we are at that moment, and even the arguing have created life long memories. Here are my tips for planning the perfect road trip for your family this summer.

Tip #1

For a ten day trip, choose a destination for your trip that’s about 10 hours away (if you drive straight there). You can add more hours to distance as your kids get older, but we’ve discovered 10-12 hours is the sweet spot. When we went to San Fransisco we took two weeks - fourteen days - to get there and back and it’s about 14 hours from our house.

Destinations from Seattle that are fun:

• Crater Lake

• Glacier National Park

• Olympic National Park

• Redwoods

• Yellowstone

• Banff National Park

TIP #2

If you’re taking a trailer (highly recommended) it will take longer to drive anywhere you are going than what maps tells you. I don’t know why. Plan on it. We discovered that no matter what we did we ended up getting to our campsite at 5pm.

Speaking of which, plan your campsites ahead, make reservations, and make sure you know what time you can arrive. We’ve arrived when the camp host is gone and we’ve arrived before we were supposed to. At least knowing if you are early or late means you can talk your way into or out of trouble.

Tip #3

Remember your audience. We started doing this when the kids were little. Jud was five when we did our first road trip. Which means we did not book five star restaurants - we debated who had the best tartar sauce on the Washington Coast. Our San Francisco stops were much different than if it would have just been Mr. Hedin and I.

Find a park. Find a goofy roadside attraction. Stop for ice cream. Find the best burger in town.

Tip #4

Teach!

I have a love of history anyway - it was my major in college - but teaching my kids a little something about where we are gives these trips a sense of purpose. The first year I did loads of research and made little packets for each of the kids with the history and games for them to play. No one read the history. Since then, I’ll print off the license plate game and a few word searches but the history pieces I keep on my phone and I read them off as we approach.

Some times it feels ridiculous and like only Mr Hedin and I are interested, but taking Washington State History is a middle school requirement in Washington State. This year my daughter has impressed me with what she has remembered from our drives. I wasn’t totally sure she was ever listening.

Share where you would go on your road trip! Or any tips you have for fun family adventures.

---

Here’s a snapshot of what I’m taking to Italy!

Italy out of Hand

If you’ve been to Italy before and you don’t need the basics, I love this guide. It’s enough of the “big spots” but with charming information from experts in their field.

Family Passport Holder

With five people, I cannot have everyone in charge of their own passport. That just seems like disaster. This has slots for all of the passports plus a zipper case on the side for lounge passes and cash.

Convertible Backpack Bag

I love a travel backpack when it can not be a backpack all the time. This bag has all the pockets you need and converts from a tote to a backpack.

Travel Dress

It’s going to be over ninety degrees in Italy while we are there. Summer isn’t the time to travel, but it’s when the kids are available. A breathable and packable dress is mandatory!

Travel Sun Hat

See above. If I squint, I will end up with major lines on my forehead. With sun like we are going to find, a hat is the only solution. And this one rolls up for travel.

Cute Luggage

I can’t help it. A practical bag that is cute to look at makes waiting in TSA lines seem better.

Non tank-tank top

Thin, but not too thin, and “tank” but not too revealing, this is the perfect tank. I bought every color that would look good on me (not yellow).

Non short shorts

Flattering shorts can be hard to find. Look no further, I found them!

---