North America

The blooming cherry blossom trees in Washington, DC are the official kick-off to spring in the region. The pink and white petals serve as a welcome to spring in the nation’s capital. Each year, the city hosts the National Cherry Blossom Festival which typically coincides with the trees’ peak bloom. Recently, the National Park Service announced its prediction for peak bloom this year, which is between April 2-5th. The three-week fete, that commemorates when the city…

THINGS TO DO IN TEMPE WITH KIDS Tempe, Arizona is a bustling college city (home of Arizona State University), located just outside of Phoenix.  This southwestern American city offers a bevy of options for traveling families: from outdoor adventures and natural wonders to attractions of historical and cultural significance to the local Native American people. Here’s a list of fun things to do with kids in Tempe. THINGS TO DO WITH KIDS IN TEMPE:  SEA…

A few short miles away from Miami’s world-famous South Beach, there’s a little-known historic gem ­— the Hampton House Motel. Once dubbed, the “first luxury hotel for Negros in the South,” this Negro Motorist Green Book establishment was the epitome of Black excellence in Miami, Florida in the 1960s. I’ve traveled the world on a quest to learn as much as I can about the histories of Black and Brown people across the globe.  As…

Need some ideas for your family’s spring break in 2021?  When planning a family vacation, you typically don’t have to work around a global pandemic. With travel restrictions still in place all over the world, domestic travel is more appealing than ever. Luckily, the United States is bursting with incredible destinations for the whole family to explore. From picturesque beaches to national parks, there’s beauty to be seen and fun to be had all over…

UNPOPULAR OPINION:  I like Elvis Presley. While I am not ashamed of this fact, I do understand that Elvis is a very polarizing character in the Black community. Long before I knew about culture vultures and racial appropriation, I discovered Elvis, the actor. As a latchkey kid, I watched a LOT of television and I loved musicals. At some point, I stumbled upon a campy “Beach Party”-isk movie starring Elvis and I was hooked. I…

We recently spent a weekend glamping at Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Resort-Camp in Williamsport, MD and it was an amazing experience that my family and I won’t soon forget. Initially we decided to cancel all travel plans for the rest of the year due to COVID. But when the folks at Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park invited my family to enjoy a staycation not far from home and assured us of all of the steps they were…