August 27, 2019

Reflections On Our First Vacation Without Kids

August 27, 2019/ Meghan Oaks

Clearly, we love traveling with our girls, and are big proponents of traveling with kids in general. We usually take our girls everywhere and, typically, if we can’t afford to take them, then we simply don’t go. We don’t have family nearby, so the daunting task of coordinating logistics to take a trip without them has always been a deterrent. Plus, I want to show them the world! And see their little faces light up when they experience it! There’s a bit of #momguilt that tugs at me when I consider not taking them along. So, in the 3.5 years we’ve been parents, we’ve been taking our daughters along for the ride. Except for recently. In July, we took our first ever trip without kids since becoming parents. And let me tell you, it was glorious. Amazing. So. much. easier. While I still love my girls tagging along, and we haven’t sworn off family travel completely, I will admit that this trip was pure luxury.

September 30, 2016

Stolperstein: a Subtle, Beautiful, Poignant Memorial

September 30, 2016/ Meghan Oaks

If you've been to just about any major city in central Europe, you've probably seen them. They are small, inconspicuous little brass plates placed in the sidewalks. You can easily walk over them and never have any idea what they are. We did it for months. I imagine that many of them in more well-walked parts of cities are no longer legible. Sometimes it's just one replacing an older cobble stone. Sometimes there are more. So what are these Stolperstein and why devote an entire post to them?

June 10, 2016

Itinerary: 10 Days in Germany

June 10, 2016/ Meghan Oaks

It's June and summer is often a time when people hit the road, either literally or figuratively, and travel. Many people head to Europe to take advantage of the long days and nice weather, of which Germany is a popular destination. From the Black Forest to the Glockenspiel in Munich, from Brandenberg Gate in Berlin to the dom in Cologne, there is a ton to see and do in Germany. If you're planning a trip to Germany this summer, here is the ultimate itinerary to get the most out of your time here.

December 23, 2015

Christmas Market Round Up

December 23, 2015/ Meghan Oaks

Tomorrow is Christmas Eve and most of the Christmas markets are either already closed or will be today or tomorrow. Some will stay open through the new year, but only a very small portion. Last year, Aaron and I spent our weekends in December hitting up some of the bigger, more famous Christmas markets in Germany - Munich, Cologne, and Heidelberg. This year, we switched tactics and tried to visit smaller, more local markets. It was nice to see the big ones last year, but I really think I like the smaller ones better. For one, there are fewer people in general (though not always), and they are usually much less overwhelming than the giant ones found in the bigger cities. But my favorite part, I got to see some new places that I probably would not have visited before, and a couple have been added to our, ''We need to come back here'' list.

November 27, 2015

10 Tips for Attending German Christmas Markets

November 27, 2015/ Meghan Oaks

Christmas market season has officially started in Germany! The market in Mannheim opened on Wednesday, and many of them open tonight, and will stay open until Christmas. The main market in Mannheim is just down the street from our apartment. I can literally see the lights, hear the music, and smell the food from our apartment door. It's a massive effort in self control to not head down there for dinner, a waffle, or a Glühwein (or, in my case, the non-alcoholic, slightly less satisfying, version) every single night. In case you are planning a trip to a local market, or taking a vacation to Germany to explore them, we wanted to share some tips with you that we have picked up.

November 17, 2015

Steiff Museum Visit

November 17, 2015/ Meghan Oaks

On an unusually warm November day, with some friends of ours, we set out to visit the Steiff Museum in Giengen, roughly an hour and a half east of Stuttgart. Steiff is a pretty much the inventor of the stuffed animal and the Teddy Bear, even though the name sake for the bears was Teddy Roosevelt. With a baby on the way, I thought it would be a sweet idea to get a Steiff teddy bear to take monthly pictures with as the acorn grows up, and as an ode to the fact that he/she will be born in Germany.

November 11, 2015

10 Christmas Markets to Visit in Germany This Year

November 11, 2015/ Meghan Oaks

Christmas market season in Germany is upon us. It's one of my favorite German traditions and one that I am so so glad I get to experience for a second time. I love the smells of the German street food, the warmth of the Glühwein as it seeps through the small ceramic mug it's served in, warming you from the inside out, the sounds of people shopping at the stalls for ornaments, gifts, or smoking men, and the refreshing, crisp, winter air, even better if it's dotted with snow! Last year, I made a list of markets I wanted to visit, and fell woefully short of seeing them all. This year, being older and wiser, I have made a revised list of Christmas markets that I would like to visit.