Family First Adventure

Pleasant Pond, Litchfield, Maine

2026-07-27T01:07:58.167-07:00

Who: Family and Friends

What: Half-Ironman weekend

Where: Augusta, Maine

When: Mid-July

Why: To enjoy the outdoors and cheer on the half-ironman athletes

Family and friends met up in the Augusta, Maine region to participate in and cheer at the mid-July Augusta half-ironman event. We opted to stay at lakeside cabins and houses rather than rent hotel rooms. That was a great choice especially since our cabin included many kayaks, paddle boards, canoes, floats, and a wonderful landscape, fire pit, and dock. We had a great paddle from one end of the pond to the other and spent some good time simply relaxing in and along the lake during the day and in the early evening. I read the cabin's log and found that visitors have enjoyed this rustic, clean, and cozy cabin in all four seasons so we may be back again.

The half-ironman was an inspiring event that spanned downtown Augusta and nearby towns. The athletes swam in the Kennebec River, rode their bikes through the hilly countryside, and ran along the Kennebec river trail. The biggest challenge for cheerleaders like me was finding our way to the many viewing spots along the race course. At the end of the race there was a big tent with refreshments in a beautiful park where we had the chance to learn all about the race as we congratulated our friends and family members who competed.

New Paltz, New York Biking Weekend

2026-07-12T04:44:00.794-07:00

Who: Family, friends

What: Biking Wallkill Valley Bike Trail

When: Spring or fall

Where: New Paltz-Kingston, New York area

Why: Beautiful landscapes, great food, interesting location

How: weekend car trip

Our children gave us a weekend in New Paltz for a holiday gift. We stayed at the beautiful, adults-focused Watergrasshill Bed and Breakfast. I chose the first floor room which was close to the shared living room and kitchen areas. A Watergrasshill stay included a delicious homemade breakfast, a beautiful landscape, and close proximity to the Wallkill Valley Bike Trail.

During our stay, we biked the sometimes gravel-covered and sometimes paved path all the way to Kingston, and then we road off-trail through Kingston to have lunch at the Blue Duck Brewing Company for a delicious lunch. My husband opted to not to take his racing bike, and brought a road bike with fatter tires instead which was a good choice since much of the trail is covered with gravel. Riding through the Kingston streets was a bit treacherous, but we took our time, and I walked the bike now and then at busy intersections. The trail, however, had many beautiful vistas including farms, caves, waterways, bridges, marshes, and part of the New Paltz SUNY campus.

For dinner, after our ride, we ate a cozy little French restaurant, Runa, which had great food. There were great places to eat everywhere in the area which is not surprising since New Paltz is near the renown Culinary Institute of America. If we visit again, I'd like to eat at their restaurant.

There's lots to do in the New Paltz area including biking, hiking, kayaking, swimming, and touring historic sites. If we return, we'll likely explore more.

Scarborough State Beach

2026-07-12T04:30:21.483-07:00

Who: Families, friends

What: Day trip

Where: Scarborough State Beach, Maine

When: Spring, summer, fall, or even winter

Why: A relaxing day in a beautiful setting

How: by car

Sadly, a sewerage leak on the Merrimack River meant that our favorite day-trip beach, Salisbury State Beach, was compromised, so we drove an hour and a half north to Scarborough, Maine to explore Scarborough State Beach for the first time. We arrived just before 9 a.m., and lined up with all the day-visit cars. The lots fill up quickly at this beach so I recommend an early arrival.

The beach is long and flat. The sand is hard and easy to walk on, and the water was quite warm. There wasn't much of a surf, but that was due to the weather, not the beach. I'm sure there's a big surf at times.

There was a snack bar (we didn't try it), rustic bathrooms, lifeguards on duty, and boogie board and surfboard rentals.

We had a typical beach day of relaxing at the beach, walking, reading, swimming, and lots and lots of people-watching. The crowd at the beach was peaceful, and the beach is long enough to allow you a private spot if that's what you want.

On the way up we picked up sandwiches at Tasteme, a Vietnamese-American sandwich shop. The sandwiches were nicely spiced and delicious. On the way home we stopped at nearby Pine Point's Bayley's Seafood Restaurant on the Pine Point pier. I had a delicious lobster and my husband had the delicious scallops. There are many seafood restaurants at and around Pine Point Road, and if we visit again, I'll probably do a bit of research about which restaurant we will try again. I like the fact that we could sit on the pier at Bayley's and the service was great. The price was fair considering the current cost of seafood and they had a large range of beverages available too. On the way home we stopped at The Maine Scoop on Pine Point Road to get an ice cream.

Pine Point Beach gets great reviews, but we didn't explore that. Perhaps we'll do that at another time.

Scarborough State Beach is a great beach for a family or friend day trip. The ride is a bit long from central or Eastern Massachusetts, so if I visit there again, I may combine it with a stay in Portland. There's the Winslow Homer Museum at nearby Prout's Point which would be very interesting to visit and it looked like a great area for a fall or spring bike ride. If you have a family that wants to try surfing, it would be a fun beach too since the rentals are right there on the beach.

Travel organization

2026-02-17T02:46:00.000-08:00

If you organize your travel equipment and clothes, you'll save money and you'll be ready to go when the opportunity to travel arrives. What kinds of travel equipment do you need? That depends on the kind of travel you like to do. As I thought about this today, I created a list of items related to our favorite travel events.

Beach travel

sunscreen
flip flops
beach cover-ups
umbrella
blankets
chairs
snorkeling equipment
boogie boards
beach toys

Hiking

hiking shoes or sandals
hiking polls
hiking hats, clothes
pills to make river/stream water safe to drink
safety equipment
whistles

Boating

sea sickness medicines
water shoes
life preservers
related clothing

Camping

tent
pads
sleeping bags
lanterns, flashlights

I'll likely add to this list over time.

Kauai

2026-02-17T01:23:00.000-08:00

Who: Couples, individuals, friends and/or families

What: A trip to the Hawaiian island of Kauai

Where: Kauai, Hawaii

When: February (Could be anytime during the year--depends on what you want)

Why: Sunshine, adventure, nature, celebration

About a year ago, we chose to visit Kauai. We chose Kauai because we had never been there; and it’s a beautiful, natural, warm setting with lots to do. Our choice proved to be a good one. We divided the trip in two with the first part as a couple’s trip mostly at the south side of the island, and the second part as a family trip mostly at the north side of the island.

During the couple’s time, we stayed in a small studio condo rental near the ocean. Then, for the family time, we stayed in a rental home in Princeville on the northern part of the island.

The trip’s highlights included hiking, kayaking, body surfing, relaxing at the beach, a snorkel/boat tour, beautiful views, warm sunshine (though it did rain a lot), and for our sons, surfing.

We mostly ate breakfast and some dinners at the rental. We often had picnic lunches. We did eat at restaurants a bit, and found that our favorite dinners out were at low-key, healthy restaurants and food trucks.

It was a wonderful trip well-worth the year-long planning and research. Should you decide to go, here'a snapshot of our Itinerary

Vacation Planning

2025-05-15T07:45:00.000-07:00

Vacation planning is a beloved sport of mine. I love considering all the possibilities as well as limitations when planning a trip. These are a few of my latest criteria for trip planning.

Expense

It's first best to consider how much you want to spend. A simple vacation to a same spot can range in cost from very little to a huge expense.

Priorities

Once you determine the price you want to spend, then it's time to consider your priorities. What's the first priority of your vacation? Your priority may be a favorite activity, a luxurious place to stay, a scenic view, walkability, bike/hiking trails, proximity to points of interest, good restaurants and so many more. Determining the priorities of your vacation will help you to choose the right place at the right price.

For example, I just booked a low-cost holiday and when I considered the priorities good reviews and biking/hiking proximity was number one, walkability second and after that came available parking and breakfast included. Low priorities include luxury and nearby restaurants for this trip.

Booking

I used to use third party sites often for booking, but now I'm finding that it's best to use those sites for the reviews, and then contact the lodging itself to get the best price.

Itinerary

Preparing an itinerary early helps you to be prepared and to make your trip as successful as possible. When you plan last minute, you usually spend more money. If you plan ahead, you ensure that you have the equipment, foods, and other prep needed for a great trip.

New York Weekend

2025-04-07T04:02:00.000-07:00

What: Weekend in New York

Where: Midtown

When: Spring

Why: Visiting Loved Ones/Enjoying the City

Who: People of any age

Since we have relatives that live in New York City, my husband and I have been visiting New York each spring and fall. Despite the dismal news you often hear about New York City, you'll find that a well-planned trip can be both affordable and lots of fun.

My mom and dad always spoke of their visits to New York as young adults. Dad was stationed on Staten Island when he was in the Coast Guard and Mom visited once. Dad used to spend his free time taking long walks all over the city then. Later when I was young, Mom and Dad took the whole family for a day trip to New York. We left very, very early in the morning, drove into the city then spent the day seeing a number of the city highlights. Dad had planned the trip perfectly. It was lots of fun.

If you're planning a trip to New York City, here are a few suggestions that I have.

Do your research

Before traveling I always read a lot about the location including any travel warnings. This helps me to have a safe, fun trip.

Make your reservations early

New York can be prohibitive due to the high cost of transportation and lodging, but if you make your reservations ahead of time you can have a somewhat affordable trip to New York.

Where to stay

I typically reserve my New York lodging via Priceline about six months ahead of time. You have to read the fine print so you don't have to pay a lot of extra fees. New York hotels are expensive, but if you look for a fair rate in a safe location with very good reviews, you'll likely find a good place to stay. Since we don't spend a lot of time in the hotel room, we often rent very small and somewhat affordable rooms that are rated as very safe, clean, and in close proximity to what we want to do.

Travel to New York

We've started taking the Amtrak train to New York City. The train is affordable if you get your tickets well in advance. The travel is very comfortable and reliable. Others that I know drive to New Haven or Stamford, CT, park there, and then take the less expensive trains into the city. Sometimes my children take busses to New York City which can be affordable too. If you drive, I suggest reserving parking via the app SpotHero ahead of time. Driving in during the early morning hours is not too tough.

What to do

Every time we visit New York City, we do something different.

Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island

This time we visited the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. We didn't make enough time for that as I wanted to join in the protest that day. It takes time to move around New York City so you have to factor that in when you make your plans. Buy your tickets ahead of time and plan to spend most of the day at on this trip.

Biking, walking, and running

There are so many great biking, walking, and running paths. If you choose to bike, read up on the Citybikes before you go. It's probably more affordable to get a day or weekend pass if you plan to use these bikes. Note that there are different fees for electric and non-electric bikes. The High Line is a beautiful walking path on west side. We rode our bikes along the West Side, East Side, and Central Park paths which was lots of fun.

Boat rides

There's a wide variety of boat rides that you can take in New York City. Next time I visit, I want to try the inexpensive East Side ferry.

Theater

I love seeing the theater when I visit New York. You can usually get last minute tickets to good shows at a reduced rate. If there's a show you really want to see, secure those tickets ahead of time.

Museums

New York is filled with Museums--do your homework to figure out which museums you want to visit, how much they cost, the hours of operation and any other rules related to those visits.

Comedy

We love comedy and New York has some great comedy shows.

Music

Of course there are all kinds of music venues - again, figure out what you want to hear and research the best venues.

Food

There are eateries and food shops everywhere--do your research to figure out where you want to eat. Prices range depending on where you go. We tried a the new Mediterranean restaurant in midtown East side, Lunetta. The food was great, prices a bit steep, and portions somewhat small. We also enjoyed delicious pastries at a little Patisserie on the East side, Raman noodles, and a good breakfast at Friend of a Farmer in the beautiful Gramercy Park neighborhood.

Visiting New York during any season can be lots of fun--if your trip is planned well, a visit will brighten your days. Reach out to friends and family who live in New York or have lived in New York for trip tips.

St. John, U.S. Virgin Island Adventure

2025-03-19T02:53:00.000-07:00

Who: Families, Couples, Friends

What: Family/Friend Fun and Adventure

Where: St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands

When: When it's cold up north is a great time to go

Why: Rest, Relaxation, Fun and Adventure

How: Planes, ferries, cabs. . . . .

We saved our air miles and planned a week's vacation in St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. We chose this vacation spot because it's a beautiful, warm place that's home to a wonderful National Park where you can boat, swim, snorkel, hike, relax, and meet lots of wonderful travelers.

Lodging

The island offers a wide variety of lodging including rental homes, condos, hotels, and a National Park campground. We chose to stay in a cabin at the Cinnamon Bay Campground. We chose this lodging because it's located on a wonderful beach with ready access to hiking, boating, paddle boarding, swimming, transportation, food and more.

Transportation

We flew to Philadelphia, then to St. Thomas. From St. Thomas we took the people ferry over to Cruz Bay, St. John. In St. John we rented a jeep for the week. A jeep was recommended since the St. John roads are very steep and narrow.

Activities

We planned an adventure for each day including a kayak/snorkel trip, sunset cruise, several beautiful hikes, lots of swimming, and touring the island's gorgeous beaches and restaurants. We didn't take part in the island's fine dining, but opted for casual eateries and lots of beachside picnics instead. When we were not adventuring, we spent a lot of time reading and relaxing at the beach. I read the third book of Elin Hildebrand's Paradise trilogy which takes place in St. John--it was a great beach read for a visit to St. John since the book provided a lot of background information about the island as well as essentially a travelogue of the island's wonderful attractions.

Foods and Drinks

We had many delicious drinks and foods while on the island. The ice cream from Scoops in Cruz Bay was wonderful. We also enjoyed many seafood dinners as well as local recipes.

For Mike and I, the vacation was mainly an active good time with lots of swimming, hiking, and snorkeling. We met lots of friendly tourists throughout the week from all over the United States. This is a link to our itinerary should you decide to go.

2024: Fourth Annual Extended Family/Friend Reunion

2024-07-18T03:36:00.000-07:00

A beach is always a great place to meet-up!

Years ago at a family funeral a cousin remarked that we should get together at happy occasions too. Also a number of relatives suggested a beach meet-up as a way to get together. Then four years ago we started a tradition of an annual beach meet-up. The first year we chose a beach with giant sand dunes. While beautiful, it was a beach that wasn't easily accessible for anyone who had trouble with stairs or walking. The next year we chose an accessible public beach with a bathhouse and plenty of parking. This year we'll meet at that beach again.

Why a beach meet-up?

When I was young, our large extended family groups got together a lot. We typically gathered at uncles and aunts' houses for cook-outs and holiday parties. We had so many terrific times. Then as I grew older, our family grew exponentially larger. With 56 first cousins, many of whom married and had families, gathering our family group in any one location has become prohibitive with regard to space and cost. A beach meet-up is a low-cost, casual way to gather friends and family who want to stay in touch.

Last year about 50 family members and friends gathered at the beach. We had a good time catching up with each other via conversation, shared foods, swimming, and playing games. I'm not sure how many people will gather this year, but I do know that many of my close family members are coming.

How to plan?

First, it's important to set the date and location about a year ahead. That way people can plan on it and shop travel and lodging deals if need be. Then decide wih your closest loved ones how you'll attend the event--will you drive, bike, or take a bus or boat? Will you add a family dinner, overnight lodging, a beach fire, hike, bike ride, or other events to the meet-up? This year many of my family members are getting there by boat and bike. The beach we chose is easily accessible by bike, boat, bus, and cars.

As far as what to bring for the event, it's the typical beach day items such as a picnic lunch, beach toys, blankets, umbrealls, beach chairs, snacks, and water toys.

Add-ons

Our family rented a number of motel rooms. There's a pool at the motel so it's a fun place for after beach play. There's also a big picnic area which provides space for an apres-beach pizza party. We may do the same or something different next year. Time will tell.

Time to catch up

This is a low key, come-if-you-can event. Cousins from many parts of the country and world have joined us over the years. This year it seems like it will mostly be a local crowd.

Is a family reunion worth it?

I think it's important to keep in touch with your extended family/friend group. I've also noted that my children as well as grand-nieces and nephews enjoy being part of a large family group--they like to meet my aunts, cousins and friends. I also love to catch up with cousins and others who I don't see often--people I spent so many good times with as a child.

Further, a family reunion is a positive, fun summer activity especially if you choose a great location. Onward.

Family Reunion 2024 Highlights

The beach meet-up was a success in many ways including the following:

Sweet Savory

My husband and I began the day at Savory, a wonderful bakery and eatery in Truro.

Set up

We arrived at the beach around 8 a.m., set up the spot with beach chairs, blankets, and an umbrella. Then relaxed with our coffee. We had a number of nice conversations with other early morning beach goers.

The family trickled in

Beginning with Brendan and Karen, family members arrived throughout the morning hours. It was nice to catch up with my children, cousins, aunt, Dad, siblings, nieces, nephews and other friends and relatives.

Picnic

Most people brought a picnic lunch and some bought food at the snack bar--there was lots of food and cold drinks.

Play

My sister brought her paddle board which many people enjoyed. Others enjoyed swimming, water games, sand building, and ball games.

Apres-Beach

Like last year, many gathered at the hotel pool for swimming and a pizza/salad dinner. The pool area was grassy, not too busy and a good place to gather. Later, my son made a beautiful fire at the beach where we toasted marshmallows and played a scary story telling game. Other family members met up with relatives and friends at their homes or at local points of interest including a winery in Truro.

All in all it was a good day of sun and fun.

Tips for the 2025 Meet-Up

Papa Ginos is a great go-to place for food that's easy to transport and serve in a picnic setting. It's not much more money to purchase sandwiches and salads, and it's easier than making them in a motel room.
Having plenty of chairs, blankets, beach toys, and layers of clothing helps to make it a fun day.
Making reservations ahead of time assures a good restaurant in a good location.
The beach fire was a great way to end the day.

Travel deals and plans

2024-05-15T04:03:00.000-07:00

There are some places that we return to again and again. Acadia National Park is one of those places since it's a place where we can hike, bike, swim, boat, and enjoy the quaint Bar Harbor restaurants and sites.

After making a few small travel errors recently, I decided to organize the way I travel and the kinds of deals I take advantage of. I love to travel--for me, travel beats jewelry, clothes, new furniture, fancy restaurants, and more. When it comes to spending any extra money I may have, I choose to spend it on travel.

How can I readily use the deals out there and plan well in order to travel?

Credit Card Points

For many years, our family has used the same credit card and over time, we've earned a lot of points via that credit card. Those miles have afforded us a number of awesome trips. In fact, once we had enough miles to purchase 3/5 tickets to Brazil for a family reunion--it was awesome. In order to use those miles, we make a commitment to pay for almost everything with the credit card and to pay off the credit card reguarly.

Plan ahead, pay ahead

We are not in the financial bracket that allows us to travel all the time. Instead we're in the "pay ahead, plan ahead" category where we have to set our sights on a trip, make reservations way ahead to get the deals, and pay for it little by little before we travel. There's lots of benefits related to this kind of travel. First, when you plan ahead, there's plenty of time up front to anticipate the travel and read all about it. I enjoy both the anticipation and the research. Next, when you engage in the travel, there's few financial concerns since you've already paid for most of the trip. Of course there are some drawbacks too. For example, when you plan way ahead, you don't know what's going to be happening at the time of travel in your life. I have had to postpone or cancel a few trips due to unexpected family events, and a trip planned way in advance doesn't have as much serendipity and surprise as a last minute excursion may have.

Choose a few companies to assist your travel plans and events

When you join a few companies and aline yourself to their travel offerings, it's easier to make plans and you're more apt to know what to expect. For example you may decide that one airline, hotel chain, travel website or travel activity group is the one you'll mostly use. Once you make that decision and join, you'll receive regular emails, incentives, points, and other perks that may be helpful to your travel costs and plans.

Know your travel style

Earlier in life, I made a lot of travel mistakes. I made those mistakes because I didn't think enough about my preferred travel style or the style of those I travel with. The more you understand what you need to enjoy a trip, the better you'll plan. For example, beautiful natural settings are a high priority for my family's travel. We also need good food as I typically travel with very active people who require good food to stay happy and content during travel. I don't need fancy accommodations, but I do need clean accommodations, and since I'm a total scaredy cat, I need to stay in safe places. Every individual and group have specific travel needs, and the more you understand what those needs are, the better your trips will be.

Read about and follow other travelers, and keep a wish list

Many of my friends enjoy travel. There are always good travel articles in magazines, newspapers, and online threads. For example, a friend of mine is traveling through northern Europe right now. I'm enjoying his online share as that's a trip I may take someday. Also, recently my husband and I traveled to Burlington, Vermont to ride the bike trail along Lake Champlain. That's been on my wish list for a few years now, and I kept collecting ideas and resources related to the trip. We had a great time. When you're reading about travel, collecting ideas, and making your wish list, you're essentially engaging in "virtual vacationing" which is an enjoyable and fruitful pasttime.

Years ago when family members were taking trips I wasn't able to go on due to time and money, I must admit I was a bit envious, but by collecting points, making a wish list, reading a lot, and saving up, we are able to go on some wonderful, memorable trips. For that I'm grateful. Onward.

Burlington, Vermont: Weekend Getaway

2024-04-29T03:32:00.000-07:00

The sunset views along the Lake Champlain shore in Burlington, VT are beautiful.

Who: Couples, families, singles, groups

What: Weekend (or longer) getaway

Where: Burlington, VT

When: anytime

Why: Great recreation, scenic views, wonderful food, friendly people

Thanks to a holiday gift from my children, my husband and I had the chance to travel to Burlington, Vermont for the weekend. The trip included good food, nice accommodations, and great recreation.

Accommodations

We stayed at the Hotel Vermont. The hotel is very pricey so we chose one of the least expensive weekends of the year. If I were to return, I'd seek accommodations that cost less. The Hotel Vermont was very nicel, but too expensive for our budget.

Hen of the Wood

Food

Also thanks to our children, we ate at Hen of the Wood which was a treat. Since we didn't make reservations in time, we sat at the chef's table which was very interesting since we got to see the chefs at work in the kitchen. The food was delicious and focused on fresh foods. We especially enjoyed their homemade ice cream. We also ate at American Flatbread, The Friendly Toast, Foam Brewery, and Henry's Diner all of which offered delicious local foods. We especially enjoyed the spread of Vermont cheeses at Foam Brewery. Reviewing the restaurants' websites and making reservations when needed was helpful.

Recreation

The reason Burlington, Vermont was on our list was the fact that we wanted to bike the Island Line Trail along Lake Champlain. We rented ebikes from Burlington Segways. We opted to rent ebikes since those bikes are great for groups with differing biking speeds, abilities, and endurance, however the trail is mostly flat so next time we'll probably use our non-electric bikes. Essentially the option to choose eco, tour, sport, turbo, or no settings allows you to match your biking speed with those you are biking with as well as your physical fitness abilities. We biked out to the end of the causeway and could go no further since the ferry to the island was not working yet. Then we biked back to the other end of the trail for a 27-mile trip filled with wonderful views of Lake Champlain, surrounding mountains, and countless parks. The many parks along the bike trail include playgrounds, benches, swings, tennis/pickle ball courts, exercise equipment, beaches, snack bars, restaurants, and more. At the end of the ride, we had a beer and snacks at Foam Brewery which is located on the trail.

The lake shore is framed by mountains.

Views

Watching sunset at the shore of Lake Champlain's mountainous backdrop was also wonderful. We paired that with a walk along the shore's edge. We window-shopped up and down Church Street as well. If we had more time, we would have visited the Fleming Museum of Art which was closed on Sundays and the Shelburne Museum which was not open. During past visits to the area, climbing Mt. Mansfield and visiting Ben and Jerry's headquarters nearby were great adventures too. Nearby Stowe also has a nice bike path and many hiking trails.

We took a beautiful, scenic drive down Route 7 to Rutland, Vermont and then over Route 4 to Woodstock, Vermont where we broke up the drive home with a short hike to the summit of Mt. Tom which offers a beautiful view of the area. Past visits to Woodstock included visits to the wonderful Billings Farm Museum and camping at nearby Silver Lake in Barnard, Vermont.

It was a great mid-spring getaway, one that can be customized for travel groups of any age or size. I recommend.

Portugal Adventure

2024-04-25T03:45:00.000-07:00

Cascais, Portugal

Who: Great for couples, adult groups

What: Scenic/Historic Tour

Where: Portugal

When: We went in March which was a perfect 50-70 degree weather for walking, biking, sightseeing

Why: Affordable w/respect to Europe, Scenic, Friendly, Historic

What: Beaches, cities, restaurants, historic sites, wineries, marinas, e-bike riding. . . . . .

This agenda provides the details for our wonderful adventure.

Weekend Getaway: Western Massachusetts/Southern Vermont

2023-07-17T02:46:00.015-07:00

Who: Anyone who enjoys beautiful vistas, gardens, good food, and history
When: Spring, summer, fall
Where: Southern Vermont and Western Massachusetts
Why: Less crowds, beautiful scenery, lots of history
What: Swimming, sightseeing, delicious foods, hiking

My husband and I took a drive out to Naumkeag, a historic house and beautiful gardens owned by the Trustees of the Reservation in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. The drive was easy and full of beautiful vistas. Naumkeag had wonderful gardens landscaped in creative ways. The house itself, a summer cottage for the Choate family, was wonderful to see and explore.

Lake Woodford State Park has a beautiful
lake for swimming.

Later we drove north on the beautiful, scenic Route 9 and Route 20 in New York along the Massachusetts border. The roads were uncrowded with beautiful vistas everywhere. After that we drove through historic Bennington, Vermont to Woodford State Park which had a wonderful spring-fed lake for swimming. We stayed there for a while to swim and relax, then traveled to the Mountaineer Inn in West Dover, Vermont at the base of Mt. Snow. The Inn was affordable and well kept with a beautiful backyard. There were many common areas in the inn to gather with others, and Patrick, the Inn Manager made a delicious breakfast the next morning.

There are many restaurants in the West Dover area. We chose the old stagecoach stop, The Sawmill Bar and Table, for a delicious farm to table dinner on their lovely patio.

The Mountaineer Inn is definitely a nice place to meet up with famiy members for a multi-day getaway that includes swimming, hiking, biking, dining, and sightseeing. We'll likely be back again. Next time I'd like to hike Haystack Mountain and explore the Norman Rockwell Museum and Bennington Museum.

The Mountaineer Inn's backyard includes a beautiful pool. While the Inn is a popular spot for Mt. Snow skiiers in the winter, in the summer it offers an affordable and beautiful place for friends and family to gather for hiking, biking, dining, swimming, and visiting.

Family Vacation: Bar Harbor

2023-06-05T03:57:00.011-07:00

Sunset cruise

Who: Family members of all ages

What: Hiking, biking, boating, dining, tennis, swimming, games

Where: Bar Harbor, Maine and Acadia National Park

When: Spring to Fall

Why: There's endless opportunity for family fun and adventure

I wanted to get our family of young adults and older parents together for a good time. I first started exploring all-inclusive resorts as those resorts offer a carefree atmosphere with countless activities and opportunity for individual and group gatherings. The costs of these resorts were high so I decided to create our own all-inclusive experience with the combination of a rental house that accommodated all of us in a location that offered lots of opportunity with regard to individual and group activities.

Once I found a house near town that accommodated our family of seven plus a dog, I began to research places to dine and individual and group activities. The house's proximity to town allowed us to walk and/or bike to restaurants, beaches, hiking locations, tennis, shops and more. This gave everyone in our family easy access to enjoyable activities. Next I researched family-friendly hikes, bike rides, and boating and then planned a loose-tight itinerary for our family including the following agenda:

Friday: Drive to the location including a number of possible mid-drive hikes and dining options in the Camden-Wiscasset-Belfast areas. My husband and I hiked the beautiful Beech Hill trail in Rockland. An evening happy hour at the rental and walk to McKay's, a wonderful in-town pub offered a great start to the four-day vacation.

Mt. Champlain Hike

Saturday: A multi-hour hike with an early start to avoid the crowds that included easy and more difficult scenic trails to and from the the Bowl and Mt. Champlain summit for a picnic lunch. Individual and small group afternoon exploration of Sand Beach, bking trails, tennis, and other cottage and in-town relaxation and exploration. Happy hour at the cottage, then a walk to the early evening BYOB scenic sunset nature cruise throughout Frenchman's Bay and dnner back at the cottage. I made the Italian dinner of meatballs, sausage, eggplant parmesan, spaghetti and salad ahead and kept the pasta dishes warm in crockpots until we returned from the sunset cruise.

Acadia Biking

Sunday: Many in our party began the day with an early morning hike/swim. Then we used the bikes we brought plus a couple of rentals inclusing an ebike and typical bike to bike 32 miles of the beautiful car-less carriage trails throughout Acadia National Park. We biked the hilly trails out to Northeast Harbor where we had a delicious lunch at Colonels, and then took many more trails back to town. After the bike, people relaxed, visited the beaches, and played tennis. Then at night we had a festive dinner at Geddy's.

Monday

We started the day with early bike rides and walks to the nearby Bar Harbor beach where some jumped in for an early morning swim. Later we biked and hiked at Sand Beach. Later in the day, some members of our party left for home while others relaxed and continued to explore Acadia National Park. In the evening we had dinner at the West Street Cafe which offered a varied menu.

Tuesday

Sunrise
engagement

Close relatives visiting the park at the same time got engaged after a sunrise hike at the summit of Cadillac Mountain that morning--that was a wonderful surprise that we were able to celebrate. Then we cleaned up the rental, packed up, and headed home by way of a scenic drive and brunch in the pretty town of Belfast, Maine.

In all, Bar Harbor did prove to be a wonderful family vacation spot. I loved the location of our rental since it was located in a quiet, pretty neighborhood with easy access to all of Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park's great amenities. The rental had great reviews and lived up to those reviews. We really lucked out with the Memorial Day weather since it was not stormy and it was wonderfully warm--that's unusual for that time of year--a time of year when Bar Harbor and Acadia are less crowded. The vacation fit our budget while offering the all-inclusive experience I was looking for.

Acadia Naitonal Park offers limitless
family adventures and scenic views

Next time, we'll create a loose-tight family schedule again that includes time for family fun and individual, small group adventures too. We'll likely rent another house near town, but perhaps a house with a view and bit more space. We'll continue to include hiking, biking, beaches, dining, and boating adventures, and likely vary those to experience something new. Also, as we did this time, we'll plan ahead so that most, if not all, family members are able to join us. We may replicate this vacation at Acadia or at another beautiful, scenic location that offers multiple outdoor adventures and limitless amenities and places of interest similar to that of Bar Harbor too. Onward.

Block Island Bike Adventure

2023-04-24T04:15:00.007-07:00

Clayhead Cliffs

Where: Block Island, Rhode Island

When: Spring or Fall

What: Biking, hiking, good food, beautiful scenery

How: Via Ferry

Why: Healthy, beautiful getaway

Several years ago, my family went to Block Island for a day trip to bike. At that time, there were many people and many cars on the island. The biking was tough due to the crowds, yet the island was beautiful. I wanted to go back off season to try the biking again when there were less cars and people.

This April, my husband and I traveled to the island thanks to a gift card from our children. They gifted us a few nights at the wonderful 1661 House which came with a beautiful room complete with an ocean view deck, sitting area, giant hot tub, complimentary wine, beer, soft drinks and nibbles in the late afternoon, and a delicious breakfast each morning.

1661 House

We left our car at the Point Judith, Rhode Island parking lot and boarded the ferry to Block Island with our bikes. The guest house was a short bike ride from the harbor, and once we checked in, we proceeded to take a bike ride to the North Light House and back. We stopped at the Odd Fellows Cafe in the Old Harbor for lunch. They served delicious sandwiches which we ate out front in the sunshine. Sean Mahoney entertained us with his comedy as we ate lunch. Later that day we walked a short distance under the starry sky to the Spring House Barn for a delicious dinner.

The next day after our wonderful breakfast at the Inn, we biked around the entire island and back up towards the North Light. There we stopped at the Clayhead Cliff Walk which included a few beautiful fields of daffodils. After the hike, we continued back to the North Light House beach where we hiked out to the Lighthouse where we watched the seals sunbathe. That night we ate at Eli's, another wonderful restaurant with delicious foods.

Fields of daffodils

We left on Sunday morning. It was a very wavy ride back to Point Judith, but that was a small price to pay for a wonderful off-season weekend filled with wonderful biking, hiking, good food, welcoming cozy lodging, and beautiful vistas. I recommend.

Cape Cod Canal Bike Ride

2020-09-20T04:28:00.005-07:00

Where: Cape Cod Canal

When: Any time of year

Who: People of all ages

What: Biking, walking, exploring a beautiful landscape and a historic place

Why: Natural beauty, healthy activity, time with family and friends

We're focusing on local adventures, and recently took a ride down to Scusset Beach State Reservation. It is a beautiful Cape Cod State Park that abuts the Cape Cod Canal Bike Trail. We parked the car, road up and down the 14-mile round trip trail and enjoyed a tasty picnic lunch at the beach's recreation area.

There's definitely lots to do from walking the beach or jetty, biking up and down the path, visiting the many playgrounds along the way, and enjoying other attractions. This is a must-do for anyone who enjoys people watching, biking, walking, the beach, and spending time with those you love in beautiful places.

Healthy, beautiful adventures inspire

2020-08-23T12:06:00.002-07:00

We all need to make time for healthy, beautiful adventures. Thanks to the efforts of many people in the United States, these conservation lands abound, and in these lands you may hike, bike, swim, boat, and explore nature in many, many ways. This is one way to stay healthy and inspired. It's important that we find ways to support this kind of healthy adventure for everyone in our country.

Fernald's Neck Preserve, Lake Megunticook

2020-08-23T11:52:00.003-07:00

Photo Reference

Who: People of all ages who enjoy swimming in lakes and hiking woodsy trails and grassy fields

What: A nature preserve alongside moderate mountains at the edge of a big, beautiful lake

When: Any time of year

Where: Lincolnville, Maine

Why: To enjoy nature in a relatively remote spot

We googled Camden Lake and found a route to Fernald's Neck Preserve to find a beautiful nature trail that led to a rocky shore, giant boulder, and large lake ideal for swimming.

After a day of swimming in the nearby ocean, boating, or climbing a rocky shoreline trail or nearby Mt. Battie or Mt. Megunticook, a dip into the lovely Lake Megunticook is a perfect finale. Fernald's Neck Preserve also offers a wonderful trails along the lake where you can hike, then swim, and hike again. There's lots to see. I highly recommend.

Biking North Haven, Maine

2020-08-23T11:27:00.006-07:00

When: Spring, Summer, Fall

Where: North Haven Island, Maine

Why: A beautiful, sparsely populated island with wonderful winding roads and terrific views of mountains, fields, and ocean.

What: Ferry from Rockland, Maine with your bikes. Pack a lunch. Bring your helmets. Ask for an island map from the Ferry Terminal.

With Whom: Anyone who enjoys biking, picnics, beautiful scenery, and healthy adventures

North Haven, Maine is a beautiful island that's a one-hour ferry ride from Rockland, Maine. Take your bikes for a day-trip or rent a room at the inn or a home to stay for a while. There's plenty of gorgeous coastline, rocky beaches, a park, harbor, brewery (check for hours), a grocery store, a couple of galleries, and a few other shops. The scenery is breathtaking. If you stay for a few days, plan to hike or kayak the coastline, swim in the cold waters, spend time at that harbor, fish, and engage in painting, drawing, or photography.

Dupont Circle: Great Eats, People Watching, and Lots to Do

2018-08-26T04:18:00.003-07:00

If you're an avid people watcher like me, a visit to Dupont Circle in Washington, D.C. will provide you with lot of entertainment, good food, and great places to stay.

My husband and I spent a few days at Dupont Circle in Washington, D.C. We stayed at The Wink which was super simple, comfortable, and accommodating. The price was right, the service terrific, and room comfortable--I recommend.

We used SpotHero to find reasonable parking nearby where we could take our car in and out. We had some great food too including inexpensive, tasty tacos at Tiki Taco, delicious fresh fish and veggies at Grillfish, and a farm fresh dinner at FireFly.

We also had a terrific opportunity to visit the Smithsonian's newest museum, The National Museum of African American History and Culture--a must-see museum for all people in the United States.

With a son attending college in the D.C. area I look forward to experiencing a number of different neighborhoods, sights, and events in the days ahead. Dupont Circle was a good place to start.

Lunches with Mom

2018-07-12T15:32:00.001-07:00

This summer I'm using some of my vacation time to have regular lunches with my mom. Close to 90 years old, my mother still enjoys going out to lunch, telling stories, and shopping so that's what we'll do often this summer.

Salem Cross Inn, West Brookfield, MA

To lengthen the event we typically take a beautiful drive and then eat at a wonderful restaurant. A couple of weeks ago we went to Salem Cross Inn in West Brookfield, Massachusetts. As we enjoyed a tasty lunch we looked out into the Inn's vegetable garden and beautiful fields. There's a patio there if you'd like to eat outside and space for weddings and special events too. Salem Cross Inn has its own bakery and both the bakery and restaurant use fresh fruits, vegetables, and other local ingredients. The service was wonderful.

Then today we went to Meadowbrook Orchards in Sterling, Massachusetts. We ordered delicious sandwiches which were served on homemade bread with farm fresh lettuce. Later we split a homemade raspberry tart. We ate on the beautiful patio that looked over the multi-acre orchard hills. Mom enjoyed watching the young families scurrying down the hill to pick raspberries and blueberries. We also enjoyed taking in the beautiful view during a spectacular summer day that had that just right blend of summer sunshine and a refreshing breeze. The smell of barbecue filled the air as well which reminded me that I had seen a recent Chronicle piece that featured Meadowbrook's delicious barbecue which I hope to try sometime soon:

In the weeks ahead Mom and I will continue our local adventures to farm fresh restaurants and cafes to enjoy delicious lunches and tell many stories. If you have a recommendation for us, please share.

Even short trips can be adventures

2018-07-12T05:14:00.000-07:00

Years ago my husband and I had a book of side trips and places of interest in our car. Whenever we got into the car to take a trip long or short we would pull out that book and look for good restaurants and places to see. It's been years since I've thought about those books and the great excursions they led to, but now with many small road trips on the schedule, I reached out to find similar books to help us make the most of the long and short drives ahead.

Rather than stop on the highway for snack, it's great to take an hour off during a long drive to see something of interest--that breaks up the trip and reenergizes you. So even small trips can be adventures if you approach those trips with the right mindset and information.

Meet vacations with an open mind

2018-07-07T09:12:00.002-07:00

It's true that I like to plan vacations. I've found that a well-planned vacation is typically more enjoyable as you think ahead about good restaurants and activities rather than choosing at the last minute.

Yet one can become trapped in the vacation plan without an open mind to what the vacation may hold with regard to the unplanned aspects of the event. For example, you mostly can't plan for the weather and the weather will affect your vacation. This week's vacation was an example of this--we had all kinds of daily events planned, but the weather was so beautiful that we ended up spending long days at the beautiful beach instead of the many other activities we typically engage in.

A good vacation is the right mix of planned and spontaneous events. An open mind to this mix makes for a memorable time.

A Trip Down Memory Lane: Simple Adventures

2018-04-19T03:58:00.001-07:00

My hometown is filled with three-deckers like the one illustrated by
Worcester artist and my cousin, Christine Lucey-Meagher

Who: Relatives and Friends
What: Memory Trips
When: Anytime
Where: Places that tell stories about your life
Why: To share family history stories
How: There are many ways to do this depending on whom you'll travel with and where you will go

Recently Mom and I spent time driving down Memory Lane. As we ventured out, we took a number of streets in my hometown that related to different periods of my mom's life. As we drove down the streets, she told me story after story about what she and her friends, siblings, and other family members had experienced and engaged in on those streets.

I learned about her childhood hikes with her siblings to the movie theater and swimming pond. I listened to her tell me the stories of her young adult years when she took the bus from her Grafton Hill three decker to her job at the magnificent downtown Worcester Court House. As she talked, I imagined her dressed up working in the beautiful building and then walking uptown to shop or meet her mother for lunch near Denholm's, a popular department store at the time where her mom worked. I listened to stories of good friends, dances and family train rides to visit family members in cities not too far away. She even showed me Audette O'Shane's brick apartment building where mom and my dad attended a party on the night they met back in 1948. Every roadway, bridge, old building, sidewalk, pond, and hill came with a tale. This is the kind of simple adventure that brings entertainment and togetherness for family members who have many stories to share and family culture to celebrate and strengthen.

Author's Picks

Cracker Barrel Restaurant
The folklore decor, traditional menu, and fair prices make this a great place to enjoy breakfast or lunch with a loved one who is taking you down Memory Lane.

Ogunquit: A Maine Treasure

2018-04-18T06:04:00.000-07:00

Who: People of all ages
What: Beach, dining, theater, walking. . . .
Where: Ogunquit, Maine
Why: Perfect getaway in a location that has wonderful walkability
When: Anytime of year, but best in spring, summer, and fall
How: An easy drive from any northeast location or from Logan Airport

When spring arrives, I always get a case of Maine fever--the state calls me. One great place to stay and experience Maine is Ogunquit, Maine which has something for everyone. First and foremost it's a quaint, walkable vacation spot. You can reserve a room on the main stretch of this vacation hub, park your car, and spend your time walking to and along the beach and beautiful Marginal Way, dining at a myriad of restaurants and take-out shops, shopping, visiting art galleries, and spending time with loved ones and other travelers.

There's a movie theater and a musical theater nearby too, and if you want to drive a bit, there's so much more to see and do such as visiting Kennebunkport, enjoying lobster at a seaside restaurant, enjoying an ice cream at Nubble Light, climbing nearby Mount Agamenticus, touring the Portland Art Museum and other small city places and events, and exploring a number of old forts and the beautiful vistas and scenery they provide. Of course there's multiple sea adventures too including kayaking or canoeing, going on a whale watch, evening dinner cruises, and scenic rides.

Author's Picks:

Breakfast at the Greenery Cafe: Terrific service and food.

Abalonia Inn: Located on the main road, walking distance to all tourist locations including the long, walkable beach. Clean, simple rooms in a historic house. Coffee and muffins in the morning and places to relax by a small pool and fire pit at night.