On a late-summer (2008) trip to Minneapolis, I had the opportunity to visit North Dakota. No, North Dakota was not on my way, but I hope to one day bring my states visited count up to 50 and I couldn’t fathom one single reason why I would ever actually go there. Now I don’t

Not all four-letter words are bad. For example, the word "LEFT" is pretty important when navigating through big cities such as Philadelphia.

Not only are the answers, my friend, blowing in the wind, according to Bob Dylan, but you can find answers to questions you'd never hoped to ask from people off the street. Strangers. You know, the ones your mother told you not to talk to. On our recent trip, I discovered why. The set of wind

On a 2-week road trip, staying in a different city nearly every night, the odds of successfully recalling your room number every time (or even your hotel name, for that matter) are 4,517,642 to 1.

Mount Vernon was one of our favorite stops on the 2009 Mother/Daughter Trek. This shot of the plantation's stables shows a glimpse of a unique building in the background. I had just pointed out the lovely structure to my daughter and suggested we walk around to view it from the front. A building marker informed

Our trip was an educational one. In fact, in addition to all the historical information we collected,  Miss-I'm-about-to-graduate-from-college, learned that mountain streams produced from spring snow melts are, well . . . cold!

While walking along the streets of Boston's Beacon Hill, our tour guide introduced us to Rex, who apparently has not moved from the position pictured here since Clinton was president. Of course, daughter claims I am mistaken and that the dog's name is actually "Max," so I may have gotten my facts mixed up. Rex/Max

Always confirm your motel reservation before 5 p.m. -- even if you're booked in a huge metro area that has a seemingly endless supply of motel rooms, such as Minneapolis/St. Paul. Oh, and never visit the Twin Cities during their annual festival of cars. That is, unless you wish to sleep in yours.

If you opt to wear special audio tour headgear available at many popular attractions, be aware that to those tourists not participating in the audio tour, you appear as though you've been assimilated into the Borg collective.

Although long showers are an invigorating way to begin a new day on the road, before turning on the water, make sure the drain plug is not hopelessly lodged in place. Especially if you can't see well enough to gauge the depth of the tub.