ROAD TRIP

we asked

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE WAY TO JUMP-START YOUR DAY?

WAKE UP AND WORK OUT I go to a cardio kickboxing class at 5:30 in the morning. It gets my heart pumping, the music’s terrifi c, and I feel amazing when I’m done! Laura Payton Holts Summit, MO

MAKE SOMEONE’S MORNING Three days a week, I go to the coff ee shop drivethrough, and I often buy the customer behind me a cup, too. It gives me a big boost of happiness in the morning, and I’m hoping to show my daughter, who’s usually with me, how bringing others joy will improve your life as well. Lauren Matter Ballston Spa, NY

CUDDLE UP WITH A BOOK Reading books and snuggling with my two girls, ages 3 and 6, in my “big bed” starts my day in a relaxed and happy way. I keep a stack of their favorites reads nearby for easy access. Tanya Foster Sandy, UT

PLAY A PODCAST Listening to podcasts while walking the dog always inspires me for the day ahead. Some of my favorites are Power of Moms Radio, Brilliant Business Moms, The MOM Podcast, Beyond the To-Do List, and The Productivity Show. Kimberly Tate Snohomish, WA

SPEND TIME JOURNALING To get my creative juices fl owing, I spend time with my visual journal, a spiral-bound sketchbook in which I doodle and write. Watercolor, colored pencils, pens, chalk ... really anything goes. I also use it for my daily to-do lists and tracking my calendar. I’ve tried traditional day planners, but this works best. Lynné Sleiman Dallas, TX

SOAK IN SOME BUBBLES I like to wake up before everyone in my family and take a 10-minute bubble bath. With fi ve daughters, I need all the positive mojo I can get! Joanna Camino Providence, RI

DO A BREAKFAST DATE My hubby leaves for work before the kids are up, but I get up with him so we can eat breakfast together. That precious half hour when it’s only us talking, laughing, or just enjoying the silence is so important to our marriage. Spending quality time with him is a great way to start my day. Kristin Irwin Florence, SC

explore

IDEAS FOR GETAWAYS BIG AND SMALL

worth the trip

HIGH ABOVE THE FRAY

Dramatic overlooks, lush gardens, places to sit, and a 1½-mile walkway have transformed the High Line, a former elevated railway on Manhattan’s West Side, into a vibrant urban oasis—and a favorite destination for the Landises of New Canaan, Connecticut. “The whole idea of it is amazing,” says mom Meredith, who grew up just around the corner and still has family there. “My kids love that it used to be a railroad through the city. They love the chaise lounges, the grasses, the views of the river, and all the people.” Artwork, kids’ programs, performances, and food vendors fi ll out the scene. Free; hours and off erings vary seasonally; 212-2069922; thehighline.org

History, adventure, and offbeat attractions mark a road trip through corn country. BY KRISTEN J. GOUGH

Clockwise from above: Ohio pride writ large; plotting a route through Hocking Hills State Park; feeding a giraffe at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium; the hike to Old Man’s Cave at Hocking Hills State Park; Kalahari’s waterslides; a slice of Berardi’s Strawberry Nut Crunch; a freight train wends its way through acres of farmland.