Some of the rides in my amusement park:

MerleFest is one of the largest Americana/ bluegrass festivals in the United States AND it's located in my hometown. Named for Merle Watson, son of the great Doc Watson, MerleFest is the last weekend of April. Doc, Bela Fleck, Sam Bush, Tony Rice and others are usually on the schedule.

Tyler Place is a family resort in the tip-top corner of the Green Mountain State where I worked last summer. Just three miles from Canada and on Lake Champlain, the Tyler Place is pure magic, both for the guests and the staff who work there. I'll be returning to the world of playing with kids, kayaking, biking and relaxing once I graduate in May. And, yes, it is like the movie Dirty Dancing.

University of Glasgow is where the travel bug first bit me. I studied in Scotland during the spring of 1999. Glasgow is an energetic city full of free museums, shops, pubs and dance clubs that is often overlooked by travelers. I studied Scottish Literature, Scottish History and Theology at the University.

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is the first public university in the United States and home to almost 23,000 students. Some of my best memories of UNC have been sitting in my Crazy Creek chair on the Quad,dancing in the Bynum fountain and celebrating Carolina basketball victories on Franklin Street.

Roadsearching.com My friend Jane Lee gave me a copy of Prayer and the Art of Volkwagen Maintenance for my 22nd birthday. The author, Donald Miller, operates this Web site. His book proves that Christians can have awesome experiences and challenge their faith. I would say it's a must-read for anyone who is considering a road trip west (or has already been). It is especially for those Christians, like myself, who prefer the not-so-beaten path over the mainstream. The Web site follows that same vein.

This page was last updated 12 April 2001