A Century of Luxury & Legacy
Exploring the English Countryside Where Our Story Began
Published: May 24, 2026
Walking in My Grandfather’s Footsteps Through England
There is something special about going somewhere you have heard about your whole life, especially when that place is connected to your family story.
My wife and I recently returned from England, and I have been reflecting on what that trip meant to me. It was not just a vacation. It was an opportunity to see the countryside where my grandfather and great grandfather were born, to stand near the places where part of our family story began, and to imagine what life may have looked like generations ago.
As we continue celebrating 100 years of luxury and legacy at David Douglas Diamonds, this trip felt like another thread in that story. Our family’s journey did not begin in Georgia or Detroit. It began across the ocean, in England, with people who likely could not have imagined where their story would eventually lead.
Learning to Slow Down
I will be the first to admit that I am not always the best trip planner.
I have a little bit of FOMO in me. When I travel somewhere new, I want to see everything. I want to make every day count. I want to pack in as much as possible because, in my mind, this may be the only time I ever get to experience that place.
Over the years, though, I have learned that trying to do too much can take away from the experience.
I remember taking Emma to Italy one year. We were changing hotels nearly every night, moving from one city to the next, trying to see it all. It was an incredible trip, but it was also exhausting. There is a lot to be said for staying in one place for a few nights, getting comfortable, and allowing yourself time to really enjoy where you are.
That was one of the things I appreciated about this England trip. We spent quality time in a couple of different areas instead of rushing through every town and attraction we could find.
There is a lesson in that beyond travel.
Sometimes we get so busy trying to get to the next thing that we forget to appreciate where we are right now. We live in a fast food, drive through kind of world. We want things immediately, exactly the way we want them, and we do not always leave much room for rest, reflection, or simply enjoying the moment.
England reminded me that slowing down is not wasting time. Sometimes slowing down is where the real memories are made.
From London to the Cotswolds
We flew into London and spent our first night near the airport before heading out into the countryside.
London is such an incredible city, but once we got outside of that busy area, the landscape changed quickly. The pace seemed more relaxed. The countryside was beautiful, the people were friendly, and there was a peacefulness that felt very different from the normal rush of everyday life back home.
Driving in England was an adventure all by itself.
You are sitting on the right side of the car, driving on the left side of the road, trying to figure out roundabouts, speed limits, narrow roads, and a rental car you have never driven before. I am thankful that I only got honked at a few times, and I am even more thankful that the extra insurance I purchased was not needed.
I also want to give a shoutout to Enterprise Car Rental in London. I have rented a lot of cars over the years, and that was probably the best rental experience I have ever had. They made me feel welcome, walked me around the vehicle, showed me the documented condition of the car, and helped make a stressful part of the journey feel much easier.
From there, we headed toward the Cotswolds.
The Cotswolds were exactly what you imagine when you think about the English countryside. Stone buildings, hedges, winding roads, quiet villages, sheep in the fields, and scenery that makes you feel like you have stepped back in time.
One thing that stood out to me is how England treats its older buildings and structures. In America, we often tear something down and build new. In England, there is a much stronger sense of preserving what has been there for generations. Even when something has to be rebuilt, it often needs to fit the style and character of the surrounding area.
That respect for history was everywhere.
It made me think about the jewelry business. We work with precious materials, old designs, heirloom pieces, and stories that have been passed down through families. There is value in preserving the past. There is value in honoring what came before us while still making room for the next generation.
Quiet Walks and Polo O’Clock
Some of the best moments of the trip were not the big tourist moments.
They were the quiet walks in the morning or evening. They were the peaceful roads with almost no traffic. They were the times when we could simply look around and take it all in.
At one of the places we stayed, there was a horse that would come up near the hedge by our Airbnb. We had discovered these little mints they call Polos in England, and before long, the horse seemed to know exactly when it was time for a treat.
We started calling it Polo O’Clock.
That became one of those small, simple memories that you may not plan for, but you remember long after the trip is over.
My wife also enjoyed exploring antique stores along the way, looking for a little treasure or trinket to bring home. There is something fun about wandering through an antique shop in a place filled with so much history. You never know what you might find or who owned it before you.
Heading North Toward York
After the Cotswolds, we drove north toward the York area, where we stayed about 45 minutes outside the city.
Again, the countryside was spectacular. The drives themselves became part of the experience. You would get off the main roads and find yourself traveling through narrow lanes, stone walls, rolling hills, small villages, and fields full of sheep.
There were sheep everywhere.
We took a day tour in a Mercedes Sprinter van through the countryside, and I really enjoyed having the chance to look out the window instead of focusing on driving. It was about a 120 mile trip, and it gave us the opportunity to see more of the area without worrying about navigating unfamiliar roads.
That is something I would recommend whenever you travel. Find a driving tour, a bus tour, or some kind of guided experience. It gives you a chance to see the area differently. You learn things you may have missed on your own, and you get to enjoy the scenery instead of watching traffic.
On that tour, we learned about the stone walls and hedges throughout the countryside. In many places, the choice between a stone wall and a hedge depends on the elevation and what can be grown or raised in that particular area. We also learned that it is generally the responsibility of the landowner to maintain those walls or hedges.
It may seem like a small detail, but those are the kinds of things that make a place come alive. You begin to understand that every part of the landscape has a reason, a history, and a story behind it.
Seeing Where Our Story Began
For me, the most meaningful part of the trip was being able to explore the areas connected to my grandfather and great grandfather.
When you grow up hearing stories about family, you picture those stories in your mind. You imagine the streets, the homes, the countryside, and the world they lived in. But there is something entirely different about actually being there.
I found myself thinking about what life might have been like for them over 100 years ago. What did they see each morning? What did the roads look like? What were the towns like? What did they dream about? Did they ever imagine that one day their family would be part of a jewelry business celebrating a century of serving people and helping them celebrate life’s biggest moments?
We may never know every detail of their story, but traveling to England gave me a deeper appreciation for where we came from.
Legacy is not just about a business name, a building, or how long you have been around.
Legacy is the collection of choices, sacrifices, stories, and relationships that connect one generation to the next. It is remembering those who came before us. It is honoring their hard work. It is also making sure that we pass something meaningful on to those who come after us.
The Journey Is Part of the Story
This England trip was beautiful, relaxing, meaningful, and at times a little stressful, just like most good adventures tend to be.
There were long drives, unfamiliar roads, different customs, and the normal surprises that come with travel. But there were also quiet mornings, friendly people, beautiful views, family history, good conversations, and moments that I know we will remember for a long time.
I am grateful we had the opportunity to go.
I am grateful to have seen where part of our family story began.
And I am grateful that, after 100 years, we still get to carry that story forward through David Douglas Diamonds.
Sometimes we need to get away from our normal routine to be reminded of what really matters. We need to slow down, look around, and appreciate the people and places that helped shape us.
For me, England was more than a trip.
It was a journey back to our roots.
There is something special about going somewhere you have heard about your whole life, especially when that place is connected to your family story.
My wife and I recently returned from England, and I have been reflecting on what that trip meant to me. It was not just a vacation. It was an opportunity to see the countryside where my grandfather and great grandfather were born, to stand near the places where part of our family story began, and to imagine what life may have looked like generations ago.
As we continue celebrating 100 years of luxury and legacy at David Douglas Diamonds, this trip felt like another thread in that story. Our family’s journey did not begin in Georgia or Detroit. It began across the ocean, in England, with people who likely could not have imagined where their story would eventually lead.
Learning to Slow Down
I will be the first to admit that I am not always the best trip planner.
I have a little bit of FOMO in me. When I travel somewhere new, I want to see everything. I want to make every day count. I want to pack in as much as possible because, in my mind, this may be the only time I ever get to experience that place.
Over the years, though, I have learned that trying to do too much can take away from the experience.
I remember taking Emma to Italy one year. We were changing hotels nearly every night, moving from one city to the next, trying to see it all. It was an incredible trip, but it was also exhausting. There is a lot to be said for staying in one place for a few nights, getting comfortable, and allowing yourself time to really enjoy where you are.
That was one of the things I appreciated about this England trip. We spent quality time in a couple of different areas instead of rushing through every town and attraction we could find.
There is a lesson in that beyond travel.
Sometimes we get so busy trying to get to the next thing that we forget to appreciate where we are right now. We live in a fast food, drive through kind of world. We want things immediately, exactly the way we want them, and we do not always leave much room for rest, reflection, or simply enjoying the moment.
England reminded me that slowing down is not wasting time. Sometimes slowing down is where the real memories are made.
From London to the Cotswolds
We flew into London and spent our first night near the airport before heading out into the countryside.
London is such an incredible city, but once we got outside of that busy area, the landscape changed quickly. The pace seemed more relaxed. The countryside was beautiful, the people were friendly, and there was a peacefulness that felt very different from the normal rush of everyday life back home.
Driving in England was an adventure all by itself.
You are sitting on the right side of the car, driving on the left side of the road, trying to figure out roundabouts, speed limits, narrow roads, and a rental car you have never driven before. I am thankful that I only got honked at a few times, and I am even more thankful that the extra insurance I purchased was not needed.
I also want to give a shoutout to Enterprise Car Rental in London. I have rented a lot of cars over the years, and that was probably the best rental experience I have ever had. They made me feel welcome, walked me around the vehicle, showed me the documented condition of the car, and helped make a stressful part of the journey feel much easier.
From there, we headed toward the Cotswolds.
The Cotswolds were exactly what you imagine when you think about the English countryside. Stone buildings, hedges, winding roads, quiet villages, sheep in the fields, and scenery that makes you feel like you have stepped back in time.
One thing that stood out to me is how England treats its older buildings and structures. In America, we often tear something down and build new. In England, there is a much stronger sense of preserving what has been there for generations. Even when something has to be rebuilt, it often needs to fit the style and character of the surrounding area.
That respect for history was everywhere.
It made me think about the jewelry business. We work with precious materials, old designs, heirloom pieces, and stories that have been passed down through families. There is value in preserving the past. There is value in honoring what came before us while still making room for the next generation.
Quiet Walks and Polo O’Clock
Some of the best moments of the trip were not the big tourist moments.
They were the quiet walks in the morning or evening. They were the peaceful roads with almost no traffic. They were the times when we could simply look around and take it all in.
At one of the places we stayed, there was a horse that would come up near the hedge by our Airbnb. We had discovered these little mints they call Polos in England, and before long, the horse seemed to know exactly when it was time for a treat.
We started calling it Polo O’Clock.
That became one of those small, simple memories that you may not plan for, but you remember long after the trip is over.
My wife also enjoyed exploring antique stores along the way, looking for a little treasure or trinket to bring home. There is something fun about wandering through an antique shop in a place filled with so much history. You never know what you might find or who owned it before you.
Heading North Toward York
After the Cotswolds, we drove north toward the York area, where we stayed about 45 minutes outside the city.
Again, the countryside was spectacular. The drives themselves became part of the experience. You would get off the main roads and find yourself traveling through narrow lanes, stone walls, rolling hills, small villages, and fields full of sheep.
There were sheep everywhere.
We took a day tour in a Mercedes Sprinter van through the countryside, and I really enjoyed having the chance to look out the window instead of focusing on driving. It was about a 120 mile trip, and it gave us the opportunity to see more of the area without worrying about navigating unfamiliar roads.
That is something I would recommend whenever you travel. Find a driving tour, a bus tour, or some kind of guided experience. It gives you a chance to see the area differently. You learn things you may have missed on your own, and you get to enjoy the scenery instead of watching traffic.
On that tour, we learned about the stone walls and hedges throughout the countryside. In many places, the choice between a stone wall and a hedge depends on the elevation and what can be grown or raised in that particular area. We also learned that it is generally the responsibility of the landowner to maintain those walls or hedges.
It may seem like a small detail, but those are the kinds of things that make a place come alive. You begin to understand that every part of the landscape has a reason, a history, and a story behind it.
Seeing Where Our Story Began
For me, the most meaningful part of the trip was being able to explore the areas connected to my grandfather and great grandfather.
When you grow up hearing stories about family, you picture those stories in your mind. You imagine the streets, the homes, the countryside, and the world they lived in. But there is something entirely different about actually being there.
I found myself thinking about what life might have been like for them over 100 years ago. What did they see each morning? What did the roads look like? What were the towns like? What did they dream about? Did they ever imagine that one day their family would be part of a jewelry business celebrating a century of serving people and helping them celebrate life’s biggest moments?
We may never know every detail of their story, but traveling to England gave me a deeper appreciation for where we came from.
Legacy is not just about a business name, a building, or how long you have been around.
Legacy is the collection of choices, sacrifices, stories, and relationships that connect one generation to the next. It is remembering those who came before us. It is honoring their hard work. It is also making sure that we pass something meaningful on to those who come after us.
The Journey Is Part of the Story
This England trip was beautiful, relaxing, meaningful, and at times a little stressful, just like most good adventures tend to be.
There were long drives, unfamiliar roads, different customs, and the normal surprises that come with travel. But there were also quiet mornings, friendly people, beautiful views, family history, good conversations, and moments that I know we will remember for a long time.
I am grateful we had the opportunity to go.
I am grateful to have seen where part of our family story began.
And I am grateful that, after 100 years, we still get to carry that story forward through David Douglas Diamonds.
Sometimes we need to get away from our normal routine to be reminded of what really matters. We need to slow down, look around, and appreciate the people and places that helped shape us.
For me, England was more than a trip.
It was a journey back to our roots.