People scream as the huge mass of bamboo poles and tissue paper plummets toward them. At the last moment, it pulls out of the dive and soars back up into the air. Everyone keeps a watchful eye on the giant kite. I’ve heard enough stories to know that these things really can hurt.

Sometimes, even though history is unbearable to revisit, we must. We must to change the future, to honor those that have lost their lives, to make sure that this never happens again. One such history is the tragegy that is still unfolding in Cambodia.

A HALF DAY SEEING THE TERRACOTTA WARRIOR MUSEUM IN XIAN, CHINA

“Hi there.”

Oh no, not another guide trying to sell me his services, I turned around to give another resounding no but was greeted by…

“Don't worry, I'm not a guide.”

Ireland reaches out and grabs you. It lures you in with extraordinary green landscapes, good food and drink, and hospitable people, and keeps you there with history, music, and new friends. If you’re planning a trip to Ireland, or just thinking about things to do for St. Patrick’s Day, we’ve got you covered.

One of the questions I hear most often (besides how to teach your kids to love art) is how to combine science and travel. I have two words: Science Museums! We love them, we visit them whenever we can, and we have such fun.

Portugal had long been on my list to visit for many years, but somehow despite living in Europe for over seven years, I never managed to make it over there. I have heard so many great things about Lisbon that I knew I had to make it happen, so last year my boyfriend and I decided it was time to book our tickets.

There isn't much that I like more than visiting lighthouses during the summer. The sun, the sand, and sunny skies lend themselves to long lazy days walking along the beach, sun bathing, boating, and building sand castles.

We're lucky here in Michigan, where more than 110 lighthouses dot the coasts of the Great Lakes that surround our state's Lower and Upper Peninsulas, and I'm especially fortunate to have visited many of these historic beauties over the years.