The USS Intrepid survived torpedoes, kamikaze attacks, and decades of military service before becoming one of New York City's most fascinating museums. Join our family as we explore the famous aircraft carrier, tour a Cold War submarine, navigate NYC by ferry, and discover whether the Intrepid Museum is worth adding to your vacation itinerary.

Road trips have a way of creating memories, both good and bad. After a difficult journey last year for my father-in-law's funeral, our family wanted to redeem the road trip experience by visiting my 91-year-old mother in New Jersey and attending a family wedding in Iowa. The solution was an unusual one: fly east and drive home in a rental Chrysler Pacifica. Along the way, we discovered the strengths and weaknesses of modern minivan travel. While the Pacifica delivered impressive fuel economy, strong highway performance, and plenty of cargo space, its touchscreen controls, overactive safety alerts, and cramped second-row seating made long days on the road less enjoyable for taller passengers. In the end, the van got us home safely, helped create new family memories, and proved that sometimes the journey itself is the story worth telling. 

What do you do when your pinewood derby car is built for speed instead of looks? You get creative. Follow the story of our “Gouda Speed” pinewood derby car as we turned a simple wedge design into an award-winning beauty contest champion using Cricut masking, airbrushing, and a lot of perseverance. Along the way, we discovered that determination and creativity can turn even a block of wood into a life lesson.