Ryn is the main character, and she's a badass gravedigger who also slays bone houses (living dead) in her spare time. This YA fantasy reads like a step back in time but it packs a modern punch. Ryn and her siblings live on their own in a small village surrounded by an iron fence built to keep the bone houses out. Much of the folklore surrounding the bone houses in Colbren is viewed as just that - old stories, but Ryn knows better. She comes upon a mysterious man named Ellis being attacked by one of the risen dead, and after she saves him (hooray for females who do the saving) she finds out he's a mapmaker who has gotten himself lost. I felt very distant from the characters when I first started reading this, and the magical elements felt too separate from Ryn's story, but I stuck with it and was not disappointed. In fact, I was riveted. Things pick up when Ryn and Ellis team up to figure out why the bone houses are suddenly attacking in mass. Some of the plot elements surprised me so much that I had to reread parts to make sure I was understanding what happened. I love when books take me by surprise.

I especially love how both Ryn and Ellis' characters were developed slowly and expertly. Ellis may have some physical weaknesses but Ryn's strengths make up for it, and they complement each other in a way that doesn't leave one overpowering the other. They become a team that isn't based on stereotypical gender roles. When Ellis is tender, Ryn is tough. They bond as orphans and the agony of not knowing exactly what happened to one of their parents.

Without spoiling anything, there's also a zombie animal that plays a big part of Ryn and Ellis' journey to stop the bone houses. This decaying pet becomes their savior in many ways and was a fascinating supernatural element. Bravo to Emily Lloyd-Jones for a fantasy zombie book that is so satisfyingly unique and special.

This is a prototypical, young adult, dystopian series that leaves teen girls swooning in a science fiction love triangle between Cassia and two super hunky, brooding boys. All is not as it seems in Cassia's world where young people are paired up with their spouses at age 17 at a special banquet. She's matched with her best friend, Xander, but when she views her Match video giving information about Xander, a picture of mysterious Ky flashes into view and makes her question whether the Match is destiny or not. The Society has close control over romantic partners, death, jobs, and food intake, and Cassia begins to wonder why everything is chosen for them. Matched is an interesting YA exploration of free will and how a tightly controlled environment always has dirty secrets lurking in the shadows. This was a very popular series when it first came out, and a classic constant in the dystopian genre.

This is a young adult romance with a contemporary twist. There are tons of books out there with teenagers battling rare and complicated illness while falling in love with someone. This one is a little different so it's nice to see some plot changes within the genre. 

I promised the girls we would go do something special together this weekend, and we settled on glow bowling. I ended up getting a mild stomach virus on Friday and spent the evening curled up in the fetal position on the couch with cramps. I had booked a lane for Saturday evening and knew they would be really disappointed if we didn't go. So I felt mostly better Saturday afternoon and decided to chance it. I packed a trusty box of Immodium and got through the evening feeling relieved that if I crapped my pants, at least the place was dark, and I could slink out of there without anyone knowing. I'm happy to report that I walked out with clean clothes and a memory of a fun night unmarred by the stomach bug's vengeance.

Rocky Springs is located in Lancaster on Millport Road. In addition to bowling lanes, they have laser tag and an arcade. They also have a restaurant and bar called Red Pin Bar & Grill. I had drinks there before with friends but didn't try the food. It's a nice, small restaurant and much nicer than what you would normally expect for a bowling alley.

They have glow bowling every weekend evening from 4pm to close.  The girls loved the atmosphere. They have giant TV screens with music videos playing and loud music thumping through the building. My youngest was baffled by the big hair in the 80s music videos. You can have food delivered directly to your lane, but we didn't get anything this time. This place is clean and had a steady stream of people coming in to enjoy a fun night out. This is a perfect family fun night or a different kind of place to hang with friends for some drinks and laughs.

I can't think of anything glowing without immediately thinking of both the historical fiction YA book, Glow, and the nonfiction Radium Girls that follows below. I enjoyed both of these books so much and couldn't stop thinking about the brave women who worked for these companies who cared nothing for their well-being. Company owners were presented with evidence time and time again of the harm that radium was causing their employees, and they choose to do nothing except cover it up and continue to deceive their workers and the public. It's a shameful time in history but one full of lessons and the courageous bravery of so many women who stood up to save those that followed in their footsteps.

A Few General Notes:

Safety - We did our research and stayed in areas that had good reviews for safety and security. Miraflores is one of the most affluent districts of Lima and has tons of hotels, apartments, shopping, restaurants, and bars.  The Airbnb we chose in Miraflores had a doorman with a secure entrance. We felt extremely safe in this neighborhood at all times, and we walked to everything. It felt like there were police and private building security on every block. We walked everywhere day and night and didn't even use Uber until we were closer to the end of our trip.

Transportation - Driving in Peru is bonkers. Car horns are used instead of turn signals and stop signs. The traffic noise is grating and made me really appreciate the quiet of the rural area we live in. The constant honking and blaring was something I just couldn't get used to and by the end of our stay in Lima, I kind of wanted to bash my head into a wall. We wouldn't have felt comfortable renting a car here and trying to get around on our own. From Jorge Chavez International, look for the official airport taxi companies to take you to your next location (Taxi Green, Taxi Direct or Taxi 365). For around 60 soles, (approximately $18) they will guide you out past the exit gates directly to your driver. Finding an Uber here would be a challenge. When you exit, there's a mob of people trying to give you rides, sell tours, and look for arriving guests. It's insanity. There's a tiny opening in the exit gate and then they are upon you like vultures on a carcass. The $18 is worth making it out unscathed and unfrazzled. We actually ended up getting the airport driver's number, and we used him for private transport for several more trips. We also used Uber at least 3 or 4 times and it was incredibly cheap. Our longest trip (about 45 minutes) cost around $12.

Money - Peru's currency is the sol. We chose to order soles from our bank ahead of time. There is a shortage of small coins in the country. Try to carry as many small coins as possible and use them whenever you're shopping or eating at small stands. Use your big bills in hotels and nicer restaurants.

Tipping - Tipping is not customary in Peru; however, we definitely tipped people that went out of their way to have great conversations with us, kindly tolerated our poor Spanish speaking skills, gave us great recommendations, or were just generally cool people. Since we met a lot of awesome drivers, bartenders and tour guides, we ended up tipping a lot.

El Malecón
The Malecón is a 10km walkway that gently curves along the Pacific coastline high above enormous cliffs with spectacular views. There are little cafes, parks, statues, strolling couples, runners, and humorous outdoor exercise equipment (check my Insta for the elliptical video).

Keep pace on the Malecón, and you'll see a take-off spot for paragliders. You'll also eventually come across el Parque del Amor (Love Park). In addition to a little fence area where you can hang the requisite lover's lock with you and your partner's initials, there's a giant, romantic statue called El Beso (The Kiss). The park is lined with glittering mosaic benches and walls and is a perfect spot for a rest with your lover and maybe some PDA (only a little - control yourselves people).

Huaca Pucllana
Uncovered in the middle of a residential neighborhood in Miraflores, this pyramid made of clay bricks is a fascinating juxtaposition of old against new as the city buildings tower all around it. The Pre-Incan people of ancient Lima made this structure for a variety of purposes including burial grounds for leaders and a location for religious rites and sacrifices. We toured the ruins at night, and it was mesmerizing and even a little spooky. A guided evening tour costs about $5.50 (a dollar more than a day tour) and is well worth it.  They also have a restaurant on the grounds that allows you to dine in view of the ruins. We didn't try this out the night we were there because it was closed for a swanky, private party.

Parque Kennedy
Kennedy Park is huge and located in the direct center of Miraflores, surrounded by restaurants, shopping, and street vendors. The thing I liked the most about this park is that there are cats everywhere: cats in trees, cats in flower pots, cats stretching, cats sleeping, cats staring creepily at nothing, cats playing tag, cats getting back rubs, cats riding bicycles ... wait sorry that last part's not true. I got carried away. I just find it fascinating that this park is completely overrun with cats, and everyone's just cool with it.

We consistently found that when we did eat at restaurants or had drinks, Peruvians take food service seriously.  Bartenders take pride in creating drinks with fresh ingredients and present drinks as an experience.  We went for drinks two nights in a row at Pitahaya just because the bartender was so incredible. He gave us tastings of all the different Peruvian liquors, and had us smell each of the ingredients he put in our drinks before mixing and serving.

Larcomar - Larcomar is a shopping mall with a killer view. This multi-tier shopping center is built into the cliffs boasting a view of the Pacific. It's gorgeous and worth a stop whether you want to shop or not.

Indian Market (on Av. Petit Thouars) - This artisanal market was our first introduction to Peruvian shopping and haggling. There are tons of stalls. We didn't end up buying anything here because it was too early in the week to start adding to our luggage weight, and we had another flight to Cusco in a few days. My suggestion is to wait to make purchases in Cusco because it's much cheaper.

Things I wish we had time for (for the next visit):

Bike rental on the Malecón - Get some exercise on the clifftops with a view of the Pacific.
Ceviche - Everyone said we had to get ceviche in Miraflores, and while we saw it everywhere, we just didn't get around to trying it.
Peña - A Peña is a venue that has traditional, live Peruvian music and dancing. There are many different restaurants and clubs that have this authentic folk scene including La Candelaria and Don Porfirio.

This is the book that motivated me to start Travel All the Pages. Set in several locations in Peru, the main character Nita starts off in Miraflores. I loved reading Nita's descriptions of the district. While I wasn't a big fan of this book, I do appreciate how it inspired me. This book is pretty gruesome for a young adult selection, but I think there's definitely a market out there for this type of supernatural/horror combo. It gets pretty good reviews overall in the book world. It just wasn't for me.

I've been to a lot of Christmas lights displays, and this is one of my favorites for its simplicity. Christmas Magic is located in York County, PA in the Rocky Ridge County Park and has a lot of cute touches that make it perfect for families looking for a quick holiday experience to share. It's a flat 0.5 mile trail through lights and several enclosed, heated pavilions. It's small but quaint and exactly the low-key thing we were looking for at the time.

This place is entirely reasonable in price. Adults are $10, and kids are $5. You have to purchase timed tickets online. The timed ticket sales cut down on massive hoardes hitting the lights trail all at once and guarantees a nicer night. There's nothing magical about slowly shuffling through a herd of people, dodging heads and bodies to see everything.

Five Heated Pavilions
We visited on a deathly cold night, and the break from the frostbite was huge. One pavilion had a real fireplace to warm up beside, and the atmosphere couldn't have been any more perfect.

Train Displays
There are two different train displays with all sorts of tiny figurines and scenes to spend time looking at.

Santa
Kids can climb up into the giant sleigh to sit with Santa and Mrs. Claus. The duo spent time talking to our girls about their hopes and dreams for Christmas, and they allow you to take pictures for free. I can't stomach it when places charge you to take pictures with Santa. This is one of the most egregious holiday sins.  You can't put a price on a picture with the big guy, and this Christmas Magic does it right. They also gave the girls little gift bags after their Santa visit which was a really nice surprise. It consisted of some candy and a Turkey Hill ice cream cup and spoon - just adorable.

Music
One of the last pavilions we strolled through had picnic tables and a live band playing holiday hits. We had some snacks, enjoyed the tunes, and prodded the girls to get up and dance to no avail. The York Revolution's baseball mascot, DownTown, made an appearance and shook his butt all over the tables, causing the girls to double over with hilarity.

At first glance, this book appears to be about summer and you're probably wondering how this could possibly be paired with Christmas Magic. The real magic of this story lies in the chapters that cover the winter months of a family in the off-season and the tragedy that has them scattering in all directions through a lonely Fall only to find their way back to each other by Christmas.

Ahhh New Orleans, how I love you. This was my second time visiting this city, and it's just as glorious as I remember. Is the partying and rows of churning, syrupy drink mixers all that NOLA has to offer? Hell to the N.O.  Stumbling down Bourbon is hilarious and a rite of passage for first-timers but there is so much more to this intoxicating, culture and history-rich place. Absolutely do Bourbon but venture beyond if you have the time. Both of my trips here were short, and I couldn't see nearly as much as I wanted. I admit I spent more time on the party street than I probably needed to, but with that said, I still got a little beyond the Bourbon black hole.

If I were stranded on a desert island and could only bring one thing to drink, it would be this frozen cup of heaven and not water. Erin Rose always has friendly bartenders, terrible bathrooms where your knees scrape the door as you squat over the filthy toilet, and a collection of bizarre bar decorations that will keep you laughing and entertained for hours.

Molly's at the Market [French Quarter]
Molly's also has the frozen Irish coffee nectar of the gods and is basically a larger version of Erin Rose. We loved Molly's because they had tables and a little more room to sit with a group. They also have a few stools under an open window that looks out on Decatur and is a perfect spot to people watch, make friends, and take in the NOLA vibe.

Central Grocery [French Quarter]
The muffuletta is a thing to behold. We've eaten this at other places but no one does it like Central Grocery. This sandwich is a big, round beast filled with sliced meats and an olive spread. I don't even like olives. Why would I try this? The feel of this tiny grocery store packed with people waiting in line made me forget my hatred of those little green ovals. I love the crowded lunch counter set-up in the back of the store and eating the muffuletta in-house is part of the appeal.

Cafe du Monde [French Quarter]
Everyone goes nuts for this place because of the beignets, but they're really just ok. It's a fried, puffy donut with powdered sugar on it. We tried them, and they were fine but nothing I'd rave about. The nice thing about Cafe du Monde is that it's open 24 hours and has a really big outdoor eating area.

Napoleon House [French Quarter]
Our first trip to New Orleans was in July, and we were not prepared for the heat. It's the kind of thick heat that makes you sweat through your clothes as soon as you step outside. We stopped at the Napoleon House to find some air conditioning and ended up loving their delicious Pimm's Cup. It's a gin-based liqueur drink with a cucumber garnish, and it's very refreshing. The historical elements of this place are worth taking in.

Lafayette Cemetery No. 1
Located in the Garden District, this cemetery is one of the few that allows visitors in without a tour guide. As of September 2019, the cemetery has been closed, and the sign on the gate says it's a temporary closure for maintenance, but I wouldn't be surprised if they start requiring tour guides for this location as well.
I was lucky to see this on my first trip and found it incredibly fascinating. The dead are revered in above ground tombs. Many are decorated with beads and other Big Easy style decorations. I found myself wandering around in here for so long, taking pictures, and taking it all in that I ended up having a little bit of heat stroke. We took the trolley here on a $3 day pass and just walked right in and strolled around.  It's a beautiful representation of the culture, history, vibrant style, and haunting richness of New Orleans as a whole. New Orleans is a feeling, and while it may sound strange, I felt it the most in this place.

New Orleans Historic Voodoo Museum [French Quarter]
We went here mainly because it was pouring, and we needed a place to get out of the rain. This could be fun with kids but if you're going as a couple, I'd probably advise you to skip it and spend your money elsewhere. We paid around $14 for entry and  spent maybe ten minutes walking through the rooms. It was interesting to learn about the history of voodoo, but this is clearly a tourist trap. Everything was dank, dark, and dusty. With that said, I would feel like I missed something without some kind of intro to the history of voodoo. I always find something to enjoy about each place we visit so my takeaway here is that they surprisingly allow you to take pictures, and they are pretty cool to look back at. It was like a musty, old art installation from another era.

Bourbon Street [French Quarter]
Bourbon is a blur of weirdness, nutty people-watching, endless bars, and general mayhem. It's fun to walk through at all times day and night with varying, bizarre results. We saw a naked guy getting arrested one night (he somehow managed to keep his black dress socks on) and then one block later  saw a dude dressed as Homer Simpson plopped on top of a  trash can. Further toward Frenchmen, we saw an impromptu dance party with one lone participant who stopped four-way traffic to bust it out for a good 8 minutes. Everyone just patiently let him do his thing and then carried on after he tired out. It's hilarious and fascinating but gets old after a few passes through.

French Quarter
Old Absinthe House - This place is historic, dark, and atmospheric. There are business cards plastered all over the walls which makes for a cool, haphazard vibe. We tried the New Orleans signature drink, the Sazerac, here.  It was awful and tasted like I imagine gasoline would taste. This is no knock on the Absinthe House - just not a fan of rye whiskey and bitters anywhere.

Pat O'Brien's - Get an iconic Hurricane here, and check out the dueling piano bar.

Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop Bar - Although this was our least favorite place in the Quarter, it is notable as one of the oldest operating bars in Louisiana. Bartenders were not the slightest bit friendly here, and the frozen drink machines snuggled against the aging wood beams of the bar kind of ruin the feel of the whole place.

French Market - open-air market with tons of shopping for souvenirs. I also had a really good fresh fruit smoothie at one of the food stalls.

Frenchmen Street - We spent a lot of our time here listening to live music. There are so many incredibly chill places that have music just rolling out the door and calling you inside. Check out The Maison, The Spotted Cat Music Club, Cafe Negril, and Blue Nile.

Garden District
Bakery Bar - This place is genius. They have brunch and savory food choices as well, but the draw for me is the dessert selection paired with a full bar. We stumbled upon this place by accident while we were just wandering around, and it was one of our favs.

Magazine Street - This street runs through more than just the Garden District, but there are so many great places to shop and stop for drinks, it makes your head spin.

There are oodles of places that I didn't get to and wish I had. These are just a few on my list for next time.

Willie Mae's Scotch House - Every single Lyft driver we had recommended Willie Mae's for the fried chicken. One driver even admitted using Willie Mae's chicken for family meals and passing it off as her own because she hates to cook.
Bacchanal Wine - This place looks to have a very fun backyard party feel.
Snake and Jake's Christmas Club Lounge - dive bar
Audubon Park and the Tree of Life
Commander's Palace
St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 - I think this is where Nicholas Cage has a pyramid tomb waiting for him to occupy. Creeptastic!
Swamp tours

The connection here can't be any simpler. This a young adult historical fiction set in New Orleans, specifically in the French Quarter.