Author Archives: Amy E. Goodman

In late June, when ocean waves started summoning and whispering “beach trip” in my ears amidst a heatwave in Washington, D.C., I started planning a road trip to Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. Clocking in at approximately 8.5 hours driving time, it is the perfect distance for a getaway to the island’s famed beach life at the peak of summer. As I had visited only once and nearly a decade before, I knew there would be even more activities and adventures ahead to check out and explore. Also, with the average daily temperature for July and August hovering around 82-85-degrees, I looked forward to donning my bikini and trading indoor air conditioning for island breezes. Here are some highlights of my active and outdoorsy visit to Hilton Head.

When planning a trip to visit my daughter in Ireland where she is attending her frosh or freshman year at Trinity College Dublin, I decided to extend my journey to Scotland. I recently learned via Ancestry.com that I’m nearly 30% Scottish (I hail from the McDonahs), so I’ve been brimming with curiosity about the country. I knew that a trip to Edinburgh, Glasgow and northern townships would cross off a bucket-list destination and make for many wonderful adventures. Plus, traveling in mid-September meant avoiding the crowds of European vacationers in August, while still enjoying touches of sunshine and fewer rainy days than the winter season.

Here I share highlights of my artsy and energetic visit to Glasgow.