Travel this past year wasn’t just about seeing the sights. For many Buzz families, it was about celebrating milestones, strengthening friendships, and finding joy in shared discovery. From the sunlit cliffs of Capri to the misty trails of the Dolomites, from a Texas weekend to a German family reunion, these Buzz-area travelers found that the best souvenirs are the stories they brought home.
Capri Celebration – Valerie and Tracy Dieterich
Few birthdays are as memorable as Valerie Dieterich’s 50th, which she celebrated in grand style on Italy’s glittering isle of Capri with her husband, Tracy, and four close couples. The group spent four unforgettable days surrounded by turquoise water, lemon-scented air, and the kind of joy that only comes when good friends gather in a beautiful place.
The celebration began with a welcome dinner under a canopy of lemon trees – the perfect prelude to a weekend of “food, fun, and wine,” as Valerie described it. The group spent a carefree day at a beach club, then set sail for a day on the Mediterranean, enjoying the sun and sea together before returning for their “final-final dinner” at their favorite restaurant, Aurora.
There was laughter, toasting, and plenty of reminiscing – the kind of easy camaraderie that years of friendship bring. “Capri is the best place on earth,” Valerie said afterward, and her friends were quick to agree. For Valerie, the milestone trip was as much about gratitude as celebration– a reminder that the best memories are those shared with the people who make life sparkle.
Tania and Skylar Campbell soak up the sunsets and seaside charm of Paros, Greece, on their first mother-daughter adventure.
Mother-Daughter Magic in Greece – Tania and Skylar Campbell
When Tania Campbell’s teenage daughter Skylar dreamed up a mother-daughter getaway to Greece, she had one whimsical wish: to take pictures with cats. The two ferried from Athens to Paros, where whitewashed streets, deep-blue waters, and sunbathing felines greeted them at every turn.
Days were filled with reading on the beach (“I highly recommend Medusa’s Sisters [by Lauren J. A. Bear],” Tania noted), endless Greek salads, and matching sundresses for sunset photos. “Paros delighted both of us for its deep-blue water beauty, outdoor cafés, and cats,” she said. It was the perfect mix of beauty, simplicity, and connection.
For Skylar, a senior at Bellaire High School, the trip was a post-junior year reward and a time to unwind; for Tania, it was a rare chance to slow down and savor their bond before senior year begins.
As the Aegean sunsets turned the sky pink and gold, they realized that what made the trip unforgettable wasn’t the scenery – it was each other.
Susan Stallman (in red) shares a laugh with a stone “companion” along the Camino Portugués, where she completed her second pilgrimage with a group of women.
Walking the World – Susan Tallman
For Bellaire’s Susan Tallman, Spain’s Camino de Santiago is a path that keeps calling her back. Years ago, she walked it solo – a journey of quiet reflection in an era before smartphones kept everyone connected. This summer, she returned with longtime friend Kim Jacobson from West U to tackle the Portuguese Camino with a group of 10 other women, led by the travel company Spanish Steps.
“It was a completely different experience,” she said. “The first was solitary and raw; this one was cushy, communal, and full of laughter.” Two Caminos, two ways of seeing the world – both, she said, “life-changing.”
Nora McMordie (Memorial High School ’83) reunites with longtime friends at the Four Seasons in Los Cabos – from left, Jamie Breslow (MHS ’83), Nora, and Michelle Rogers (Kinkaid ’82). “When travel agents travel, everyone’s happy,” she joked.
Cabo Connections – Nora McMordie
Some friendships are best maintained under the Mexican sun. Travel advisor Nora McMordie (Memorial High School ’83) has turned Cabo San Lucas into her favorite reunion spot, traveling there several times a year with her longtime friends– many of them fellow travel buffs from her Memorial High days.
This year alone brought four different getaways: a 60th birthday celebration at Pueblo Bonito Los Cabos for classmate Laurie Fenner (MHS ’83); a girls’ trip to Casa Dorada with Laurie Nuss, Jamie Breslow, and Katie Rafferty (all MHS ’83); a stay at Rosewood Las Ventanas with Michelle Rogers (Kinkaid ’82) and Yvonne Stocker (MHS ’83); and a finale at the Four Seasons Cabo with Jamie Breslow, Michelle Rogers, and Nora herself – “travel agents traveling,” as she put it with a laugh.
“When travel agents travel with friends, everyone is happy,” Nora said. Her friends love that she handles the details while they “just show up and relax, shop, eat, and drink.” After so many shared sunsets and laughs, these trips have become something of a cherished tradition – proof that friendship, like fine tequila, only gets better with time.
Hidden Treasures Close to Home – Virginia Mampre
Not every getaway requires a plane ticket. For travel consultant Virginia Mampre, San Antonio remains one of Texas’ most rewarding escapes – close enough for a weekend yet full of history, flavor, and surprises. “Parts of it feel like old Spain or old Europe,” she said, pointing to the city’s Spanish missions, centuries-old architecture, and the ever-charming River Walk.
San Antonio’s layers of history unfold from the ancient to the Spanish Colonial era and to the present with modern sculptures, buildings, and a cross-cultural feel along with restored buildings from many eras. The Alamo, of course, anchors the story, along with the other four missions that were named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2015 – but Virginia noted that there’s an ongoing archaeological dig on the grounds, adding fresh intrigue to this iconic site. The city’s cultural landscape continues to grow, too, with world-class art museums, restored theaters, beautiful parks, and a dining scene that rivals the best. And then there’s SeaWorld, Fiesta San Antonio, and the many fiestas with river boat parades as well as street parades.
“It’s an interesting stop for families, couples, and solo travelers,” she said. And with San Antonio’s population projected to reach five million in the coming years, its growth and energy are palpable. For Virginia, it’s a reminder that sometimes the most fascinating destinations are just down the highway.
Erin and Shane Kimzey explore the Rhine Valley in Germany during a family reunion that brought together 150 relatives from both sides of the Atlantic.
A Reunion on the Rhine – Erin Kimsey
Some family reunions span backyards; others span oceans. This summer, Erin Kimsey’s extended family gathered in Germany, drawing about 150 relatives – 100 Americans and 50 Germans – to a scenic stretch of the Rhine River near Cologne.
The reunion retraced ancestral roots with a bus tour to the family’s original village and church, a hike to castle ruins, and an oompah band in a barn. Even the town’s mayor, a distant cousin, gave a welcoming address. “The oldest attendee was 94, the youngest less than a year,” Erin said. “Seeing them together was unforgettable.”
The event was a recreation of a reunion last held 45 years ago – and a reminder that the ties that bind can stretch across continents and generations.
Pamela and Randy Zane and family enjoy a hands-on encounter with elephants during their South African safari, part of a grand itinerary spanning Johannesburg, Kruger National Park, Victoria Falls, and the Okavango Delta.
Living Life to the Fullest – Pamela Zane
For Pamela Zane and her husband, Randy, every trip is a victory lap of gratitude. Nine years after her pancreatic cancer diagnosis – and amid his own rare eye cancer – the couple continues to travel widely, averaging about one trip per month.
This June, they joined their daughter and son-in-law, Andrea and Blake Feinman, and two grandsons, Zane and Knox, ages 11 and 8, on what Pamela calls “the most fabulous trip” to Southern Africa. Her daughter, a teacher and travel agent behind The Petite Cosmopolitan, planned a dream itinerary: Johannesburg and Cape Town sightseeing, safaris in Kruger National Park, and side trips to Zimbabwe’s Victoria Falls and Botswana’s Okavango Delta.
“The boys loved absolutely everything,” Pamela said. From feeding elephants and zip-lining over the Falls to fishing in the Delta, every day brought new wonders. “All our guides were exceptional, and our grandsons adored them,” she said. “It was nothing short of magical.”
Carolyn and John Johnson raise a toast in Rwanda with a local vodka maker after trekking to see the Amahoro Gorilla Family in Virunga National Park. Together, their travels reflect a year of wonder, friendship, and adventure across continents.
Face-to-Face with Gorillas – Carolyn and John Johnson
For Carolyn and John Johnson, Rwanda offered a once-in-a-lifetime mix of adventure and inspiration. Their summer journey began with four days in Kigali meeting local nonprofits that are transforming lives through education and community projects – experiences Carolyn described as “deeply moving.” But the highlight awaited in Virunga National Park, where the couple embarked on a seven-mile hike through misty jungle terrain to visit one of the park’s most famous residents: the Amahoro Gorilla Family, a 15-member group known for its calm and curiosity.
“It was like stepping into National Geographic,” Carolyn said. “I still get goosebumps thinking about it.” The trek took them through dense bamboo forests and steep, slippery trails, but every step was worth it when they reached the gorillas. “The patriarch was sitting there so regally,” she said. “You could see the intelligence in his eyes. It felt almost spiritual.”
For Carolyn, the trip was more than a wildlife encounter – it was a humbling reminder of connection and conservation. “To be so close to such magnificent creatures and to know they’re being protected was profoundly hopeful,” she said. “It reminded me how small we are – and how much we share this planet.”
After their gorilla trek, the couple stumbled upon this little gem: Kari Vodka, a new distillery founded and run by Karen Sherman, a native Oregonian. This award-winning vodka, made from little "unloved" potatoes left behind in the farmer's field, is filtered through volcanic rock, then bottled and labeled by hand by local women. What a win-win!
Bina and Anil Dara trek Italy’s Dolomites near Borca di Cadore, hiking past World War I trenches and celebrating the local Fešta del Dešmonte.
Prosecco and Perspective in the Dolomites – Bina and Anil Dara
High in Italy’s Dolomites, Bina and Anil Dara found their happy place – a mix of fresh mountain air, friendship, and history. Staying in the village of Borca di Cadore with their friend Nancy, a retired anthropology professor who knows nearly everyone in town, they were treated to an immersion in local life: homemade pasta, prosecco toasts, and nightly dinners with friends.
One highlight was their hike to Monte Piana, an open-air museum of World War I trenches at 8,000 feet. “Seeing and walking through the trenches taught me never to use the phrase ‘down in the trenches’ lightly ever again,” Bina said. Surrounded by snow-capped peaks, she reflected on “the sadness and futility of war.”
Before heading home, they joined villagers for the Fešta del Dešmonteà – the “cows coming home” celebration marking the end of summer grazing. “We breathed in the mountain air every day,” Bina said. “I’m hoping for some lasting benefits now that we’re back home in Bellaire.”
Reflecting on 2025
From birthday toasts in Capri to family reunions on the Rhine, Buzz families turned travel into something richer this year – a way to celebrate life, deepen bonds, and rediscover wonder. Whether the destination was a few hours away or halfway around the world, each journey left behind memories that shine brighter than any souvenir.
Editor’s note: Share your recent Buzzworthy travel stories with us! Email info@thebuzzmagazines.com.
