January 2026
BELLAIRE • MEMORIAL • RIVER OAKS • TANGLEWOOD • WEST UNIVERSITY

Travel Buzz

Travel Buzz is a monthly column by Tracy Barnett. See all travel-related stories here. Share your interesting travel story here.

Sarah Darlow, Matt Darlow, Hannah Darlow

Europe With a Toddler

One Family’s Big Leap into Slow Travel, Playgrounds, and Presence
By Tracy L. Barnett | December 27, 2025
People in this article:
Sarah Darlow, Matt Darlow, Hannah Darlow
January 2026
Tania and Skylar Campbell

Passport to Joy: 2025 Journeys that Inspired and Transformed

By Tracy L. Barnett | November 25, 2025
People in this article:
Valerie Dieterich, Tracy Dieterich, Jennifer Allison, Julie Chen, Lindley Arnoldy, Ann AyreTania Campbell, Skylar Campbell, Susan Tallman, Kim Jacobson, Nora McMordie, Laurie Fenner, Laurie Nuss, Jamie Breslow, Katie Rafferty, Michelle Rogers, Yvonne Stocker, Virginia Mampre, Erin Kimsey, Pamela Zane, Randy Zane, Andrea Feinman, Blake Feinman, Zane Feinman, Knox Feinman, Carolyn Johnson, John Johnson, Bina Dara, Anil Dara
Sam Johnson, Stephanie Tran, Eva Johnson, Alex Johnson, Flynn Johnson

From City Streets to Forest Trails

Connecting with nature – and family – in Yosemite
By Tracy L. Barnett | October 27, 2025
People in this article:
Sam Johnson, Stephanie Tran, Eva Johnson, Alex Johnson, Flynn Johnson, Ethan Huynh, James Huynh
Luca Paullo, Adrian Binnion, Jonathan Lackey, Alden Binnion, Diego Vasquez, Dustin Oglesby, Wyatt Binnion, Wyatt Smejkal, Matthew Le, Zach Parks, George Ellis, Don Paullo

When Boys Lead the Way

Houston Scouts Navigate Maine’s Allagash Waterway
By Tracy L. Barnett | September 27, 2025
People in this article:
Luca Paullo, Adrian Binnion, Jonathan Lackey, Alden Binnion, Diego Vasquez, Dustin Oglesby, Wyatt Binnion, Wyatt Smejkal, Matthew Le, Zach Parks, George Ellis, Don Paullo
Jerrad, Sara, Susan, Amanda, and Rebecca Bloome

Moments in Italy: A Multi-Generational Journey

By Tracy L. Barnett | August 23, 2025
People in this article:
Susan Bloome, Mickey Bloome, Jerrad Bloome, Sara Bloome, Rebecca Bloome, Amanda Bloome, Connor Bloome
Jake and Ed Wolff

Father-Son Zoo Road Trips Build Bonds, One Elephant at a Time

By Tracy L. Barnett | July 25, 2025
People in this article:
Ed Wolff, Jake Wolff, Katy Wolff, Tenley Wolff
Debbie Paseur, Jenna Paseur

Antarctica Adventure

A Mother-Daughter Journey to the End of the World
By Tracy L. Barnett | June 27, 2025
People in this article:
Debbie Paseur, Olivia Zimmerman, Jenna Paseur
Louise Parsley, Bob Parsley, Georgia McHenry

Vatican Secrets and Tuscan Villas: Following the Parsleys to Italy

By Tracy L. Barnett | May 27, 2025
People in this article:
Bob Parsley, Louise Parsley, Tatiana Perna, Jana McHenry, Georgia McHenry, George W. Strake Sr., John O’Neill, Tom Powers, Jeff Johnson, Dario Cecchini
Jung Shao, Stanley Shao, Jayden Shao, Angela Li

The Maldives: From Honeymoon to Family Getaway

By Tracy L. Barnett | April 27, 2025
People in this article:
Angela Li, Jung Shao, Jack Shao, Amy Shao, Jayden Shao, Stanley Shao
Diana Dang and Rahul Bijlani

From Houston to Portugal: A Love Affair with Culture, Cuisine, and Coastline

By Tracy L. Barnett | March 25, 2025
People in this article:
Diana Dang, Rahul Bijlani, Ramesh Bijlani, Susheel Bijlani
Joseph Allen, Victoria Allen, Amy Allen, Nathaniel Allen

Last Hawaii Hurrah

A Family’s Full-Circle Journey
By Tracy L. Barnett | February 25, 2025
People in this article:
Joseph Allen, Victoria Allen, Amy Allen, Nathaniel Allen, Anne Briggs, Garrett Briggs, Beck Briggs, Carol Dinkins
Raj, Sruba De, Asher, and Siona Guharoy, Ozzie Bloom, Kai Guharoy, Oliver, Sara, Jeff and Owen Bloom

On the Slopes: From Aspen to the Alps

By Tracy L. Barnett | January 27, 2025
People in this article:
Sara Bloom, Jeff Bloom, Oliver Bloom, Owen Bloom, Ozzie Bloom, Sruba De Guharoy, Raj Guharoy, Asher Guharoy, Siona Guharoy, Kai Guharoy
Leopold Oakes, Natalia Cokinos Oakes

Reversing Roles in Wales: A Mother-Son Road Trip

By Tracy L. Barnett | December 27, 2024
People in this article:
Natalia Cokinos Oakes, Leopold Oakes
Heather and Bob Westendarp

Northern Lights and Nordic Nights: A Journey through Finland

By Tracy L. Barnett | November 27, 2024
People in this article:
Heather Westendarp, Bob Westendarp, Rochelle Jacobson, Alan Jacobson, Gloria Bluestone
Ricky Silverman, Teri Gerber, and Sammy Gerber

The Gift of Travel: Scaling New Heights Together

By Tracy L. Barnett | October 27, 2024
People in this article:
Teri Gerber, Ricky Silverman, Sammy Gerber
Waterfall of the Gods

Adventures in Iceland, The Land of Fire and Ice

By Tracy L. Barnett | September 27, 2024
People in this article:
Kelly Frels, Carmela Frels, Carrin Patman, Jim Derrick, Cliff Gunter, Katie Gunter, Lily Chen, Shi-Tze Lu, Christine Wei, Andy Wei, John Beilue, Michelle Goldberg
Sam Lo, Eileena Wee, Corinne Lo, Conan Lo

Exploring Heritage: A Houston Family’s Malaysian Odyssey

By Tracy L. Barnett | August 26, 2024
People in this article:
Sam Lo, Eileena Wee, Corinne Lo, Conan Lo
TYING THE KNOT

Love on the French Riviera

By Tracy L. Barnett | July 26, 2024
People in this article:
Andrew Mintz, Jordan Mintz, Lauren Mintz, Caitlyn Fiebrich, Ally Mintz, Nick Duble, Evan Mintz, Melissa Mintz, Nicky Mintz, Jeffrey Fiebrich, Christian Fiebrich, Haley Manley, Emery Mintz, Reed Daniel, Stuart Dickerson
Amara and Jessica Lee Freedson

Itinerary Interrupted: When Travel Plans Go Awry

By Tracy L. Barnett | May 27, 2024
People in this article:
Jessica Cohen, Jessica Lee Freedson, Amara Freedson
Nick, Mary, Susie, Woody, and Carol Senkel

Roots Revisited: Unearthing family ties in Greece

By Tracy L. Barnett | April 27, 2024
People in this article:
Carol Senkel, Larry Senkel, Natalie Kirklin, Nick Senkel, Efthymios Koutsanelos, Lauren Kirklin, Annabeth Kirklin, Woody Senkel, Mac Kirklin, Susie Senkel, Mary Senkel, Maria Valvis
Joe Keathley, Lynne Langdale, Scott Langdale

Countdown to Totality

Houstonians Prepare for Rare Solar Eclipse
By Tracy L. Barnett | March 27, 2024
People in this article:
Joe Keathley, Ike Diamond, Scott Langdale, Lynne Langdale, Farell Diamond, Carolyn Sumners, Tekla Sanford, Richard Sanford, Pat Keathley
Sandy Seth, Matt Hoffman, Rajiv Pandya, Utpal Mehta

The Bellaire Birthday Boys go to Sea

By Tracy L. Barnett | February 27, 2024
People in this article:
Sandy Seth, Matt Hoffman, Bela Hoffman, Holly Seth, Utpal Mehta, Samita Mehta, Rajiv Pandya, Hina Pandya, Apu Thekdi, Vinny Khosla
Nishi Kothari, Ravi Amin

Argentina: Adventure at the Bottom of the World

By Tracy L. Barnett | January 27, 2024
People in this article:
Nishi Kothari, Ravi Amin, Germán Martitegui
Descendants of the Stemporowski and Szalinska families

A Holocaust Survivor’s Story Lives On

By Tracy L. Barnett | December 27, 2023
People in this article:
Joe Keselman, Szulim Keselman, Loda Szalinska, Lidia Keselman, Kayoko Keselman, Julie Keselman, Oskar Schindler, Yad Vashem, Alissa Keselman, Julian Stemporowski, Julia Stemporowski, Mietek Stemporowski
Mauro Melena, Annalisa Maci, Claudia Melena, exchange student Rori Domenghini, and Federico Melena

At Home in Two Worlds: The Melena-Maci Family

By Tracy L. Barnett | November 27, 2023
People in this article:
Mauro Melena, Annalisa Maci, Claudia Melena, Rori Domenghini, Federico Melena
Rama Iyer, Raijini Iyer, Kasen Jonna, Arti Jonna, Karthik Jonna, Ahayli Jonna, Thea Nair, Aparna Iyer, Avani Nair, Arjun Nair, Roshan Nair

The Iyers: Traveling the Multigenerational Way

By Tracy L. Barnett | October 27, 2023
People in this article:
Rama Iyer, Raijini Iyer, Kasen Jonna, Arti Jonna, Karthik Jonna, Ahayli Jonna, Thea Nair, Aparna Iyer, Avani Nair, Arjun Nair, Roshan Nair
Trevor and Kayla Boffone

Dancing through the Chaos

By Tracy L. Barnett | September 26, 2023
People in this article:
Trevor Boffone, Kayla Boffone, Steward Savage, Takia Palmer, Talia Palmer, Olivia Baba
Joseph Agris, Terry Agris

From Wartime Nicaragua to the Polar Plunge

By Tracy L. Barnett | August 27, 2023
People in this article:
Joseph Agris, Terry Agris
Tracy Dieterich, Valerie Dieterich, Madison Dieterich, Reagan Dieterich

World Travel: The University of Life

By Tracy L. Barnett | July 27, 2023
People in this article:
Tracy Dieterich, Valerie Dieterich, Kelly Dieterich, Madison Dieterich, Reagan Dieterich, Monica Levine, David Levine
Lisa El Hafi, Salah El Hafi

A Moroccan Love Story

By Tracy L. Barnett | June 25, 2023
People in this article:
Lisa El Hafi, Salah El Hafi, Adam El Hafi, Mia El Hafi, Said Balafrej, Anissa Balafrej