Summaries

“Dream dreams and write them aye,
but live them first.”― Samuel Eliot Morison

We've got a lot of stories to share, so we've organized the last two decades of our life by our tour assignments. Each tour assignment summary contains the trip summaries for our travels during that time, but you can also find the bigger trips listed farther down on this page.

Pro Tip: List all our summaries in chronological order by clicking on the Summary tag/label.

End of Tour Summaries ※ State Assignment #3: Nicosia, Cyprus

We're just starting the first year of our tour in Cyprus, so check back here after all the dust has settled from unpacking.
※ State Assignment #2: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

And if our stories recounting the adventures we had in the region aren't enough to satisfy your interest in learning more about the local culture, religion, and history, we recommend these books and movies about Saudi Arabia.
※ State Assignment #1: Washington, D.C.

Our first post in the Foreign Service was actually a domestic assignment. Greg was assigned to support projects in Europe, so he got to travel quite a bit.
※ USAF Assignment #4: HQ Air Force Special Operations Command

There is a reason why they are called the "Quiet Professionals." This was Greg's last assignment in the military, so it also covers his military-to-civilian transition preparations.
※ USAF Assignment #3: Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany

Our first military assignment together. Lots of travel around Europe. Became a family of three.
※ USAF Assignment #2: Osan Air Base, South Korea

Greg's 1-year unaccompanied tour. Kacey joined him for a month long excursion through Australia and New Zealand.
※ USAF Assignment #1: RED HORSE, Hurlburt Field, Florida

Greg's first assignment in the military, along with his first deployment.

※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※

Our Travel Journals ※ Great American Western Road Trip: Summer 2018

4 weeks, 1 van, 3 kids, 16 different lodgings, 5400+ miles, X States, 12+ National or State Parks & Monuments: 1 Epic Adventure
※

Spring Break 2018: Lebanon and Israel

Beirut, Baalbek, Byblos, the Cedars, Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Rosh Hanikra Grottoes, and Caesarea

※ Our American Southwest Trip 2017

We drove from Albuquerque to the Grand Canyon, stopping along the way to see the Petrified Forest, the Painted Desert, canyon cliff dwellings, volcanic fields, and several other interesting places.
※ Our Excursions to Oman

Oman was our favorite destination on the Arabian Peninsula. We sailed up fjords on a dhow, hiked through the Wadi Shab canyon, and enjoyed the old world feel of Muscat.
※ Our Adventures in Sri Lanka

Safaris to spot leopards and elephants, swimming in the Indian Ocean, sipping tea in the mountains, and several more!
※ Our Nile Cruise

Starting in Cairo, we sailed to Luxor, Edfu, Kom Ombo, and Aswan.
※ Our Expedition to Jordan

Highlights included tracing the steps of Indiana Jones into Petra, following Lawrence of Arabia into Wadi Rum, and floating in the Dead Sea.
※ TDY to Turkmenistan

Greg had a short assignment to Ashgabat that gave him the opportunity to visit the Gates of Hell, make a stop on the Silk Road, and ride the same breed of horse that the Turkmen cavalry rode to fight the Russians near the border with Iran.
※ Discovering Turkey

We emersed ourselves in Istanbul, explored the white travertines of Pamukkale, and traced history through Laodikeia, Hierolopolis, and Cleopatra's Baths.
※ Gulf of Mexico Cruise

Kacey, Greg and several of Kacey's extended family departed from New Orleans on a Norwegian Cruise Line ship bound for Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico; Roatan, Honduras; and Belize City, Belize.
※ Greek Island Cruise

Kacey & Greg departed from Venice on a Costa Cruise ship bound for Bari, Italy; Katakolon (Olympia), Santorini, and Rhodes in Greece; and Dubrovnik, Croatia.
※ Baltic Sea Cruise (2009)

Greg and Kacey set sail from Amsterdam on a Celebrity Cruise ship bound for Warnemunde, Germany; Stockholm, Sweden; Helsinki, Finland; St. Petersberg, Russia; Tallinn, Estonia; and Copenhagen, Denmark.
※ Australia

Sydney, Alice Springs/Uluru, Cairns, and the diving the Great Barrier Reef.
※ New Zealand

Auckland to Queenstown and many places in between on the North and South Islands.
※ South American Tour

Greg and Kacey's first international trip together. We visited Chile, Argentina, and Uruguay.
※ Deployment #1

Greg's first deployment to Qatar, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, and Iraq.
※ Deployment #2

Greg's second deployment to Qatar, might as well have been a footnote.
※ Road Trip USA

Greg's 7,700+ mile road trip across the United States that took over three weeks and covered 26 states.
※ Europe 2002 (E02)

Greg's solo trip to Germany, Austria, Czech Republic
※ Europe 2001 (E01)

Greg's trip to with fraternity brothers Andy and McG to Iceland, Netherlands, and Belgium
※ Asia 1999 (A99)

Greg and his fraternity brother Chris spent the summer of 1999 in Hong Kong on an internship. During that time, Greg also visited Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Malacca, Beijing, Macau, and Bali.
※ Europe 1999 (E99)