Monthly Musings Summer Vacation Edition

 It's the last Thursday of the month and time for Monthly Musings with Patty and Holly. I already had a post set for today (this delicious chicken pesto sandwich recipe) but when I saw this months questions were all about vacations I couldn't resist joining in! 


 1. We have a very late summer trip (AFTER Labor day) planned to Glacier National Park. It's just me and my husband. We did take Alec to Acadia in spring/early June but neither of the other two boys seemed interested in any trips this year. 


2. When it's just my husband and I we don't have much post-vacation laundry and since we each do our own we're normally caught up by the next day. If all 5 of us are going on vacation we rent an airB&B/VRBO so we have a washer and dryer and just wash as we go. 

3. Well, we've only been on a handful of summer vacations since we always took vacations in the off season; we live on a lake so summer is our favorite season at home plus with homeschooling and that flexibility it was nice to see places when things were less crowded and much cheaper too. 

It was only the 4 years that Alec was in public school that we took official family summer vacations. In 2021 we drove to Carolina Beach in North Carolina to visit my sister and family. In 2022 we went to the Smoky mountains and then Disney with the younger two boys (Ian wasn't interested in going again). In 2023 we took the younger two boys to Shenandoah National Park and last year we skipped a summer trip for our winter Hawaii plans instead. 

Of those three Smoky mountains would be my favorite since all 3 boys were with us and we got to see my sister and nephew too while also crossing another national park off my list! 




My husband and I have planned lots of small weekend getaways or little 4 day trips during summer; usually to somewhere in Maine or Cape Cod/Nantucket Massachusetts but I think my favorite summer trip with just the two of us had to be the time we went to Charleston, South Carolina. It was so HOT in August but look at that pool!


 


 4. We do a bit of both eating out and cooking while on vacation; it just depends on the trip and what our schedule ends up looking like. Usually we do eat dinner out most nights and just make our own breakfasts and lunches. 

5. I try not to over pack but I am always packing extra things "just in case"-- in case it rains I have a raincoat, in case we want to eat somewhere fancy I pack a dressy outfits, etc. I typically use my carry-on size suitcase w/3 packing cubes for any trip up to 7 days long. Longer than that I use 2 carry-on sized ones (or a trip like my cruise where I felt like I needed a different change of clothes for dinner each night plus outfits for short excursions and bathing suits, etc.-- then I used 2 even though it was only 7 days). 

packed for a girls' trip

packed for family beach trip

6. We aren't picky when it comes to vacations and we've taken trips to all three!

Beaches: We've been to Hawaii, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Rhode Island, Maine, etc. and enjoyed beaches all along the Eastern coast. 

Big island of Hawaii

 
Tampa, Florida



Myrtle Beach, SC

Carolina Beach, NC

Mountains: Acadia National Park in Maine, Smoky Mountains in Tennessee, Shenandoah Mountains in Virginia (just to name a few)

Acadia National Park, Maine

 
Smoky Mountains, Tennessee

Shenandoah Mountains, Virginia 

South Dakota 

Lakes: we don't vacation nearly as often to lakes since we live on a lake but we've been to Lake Winnipesaukee. We've also kayaked around various lakes on our mountain trips or taken boat rides on lakes just to get a break from hiking. We made sure to see Lake Erie when we went up near Niagara falls, things like that. I love being on the water!

7.  We do a bit of both; typically we only drive if it won't take us more than a day/day and half to get there. Any further and we fly. 

8. Our favorite vacation activities include hiking, swimming, body surfing/boogie boarding, visiting amusement parks, touring caves/caverns, check out local zoos, museums, and aquariums, eating and shopping and exploring. 

Alec and Ben at Disney

 
aquarium in New York

Niagara power museum- New York

Tampa zoo

Alec at King's Dominion

Luray caverns

Shenandoah

Universal Studios

 9.  I don't have any great packing tips; I do try to plan out an outfit for each day with some easy swaps for weather changes. I tend to stick to neutral bottoms in black and denim that can be swapped out with any/all tops for lots of mix and match options. 

10. I don't have any favorite road trip songs; we tend to take turns listening to various playlists we all have but mostly I just read a book or color and tune out what's going on in the car altogether. 


Linking up with: Thinking Out Loud, Spread the Kindness, 

 


Comments

  1. Patty Good Better BestJune 26, 2025 at 5:51 AM

    You always have the Best photos. I love the Smoky Mountain photos. Thanks for joining us!

    ReplyDelete
  2. HollyJune 26, 2025 at 6:12 AM

    You are so so lucky to live on a lake- it must feel like vacation all year! Love your hiking pics as always :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Kathrine EldridgeJune 26, 2025 at 6:32 AM

    All of these vacations sound wonderful! We do National Parks too and have done several as a family. I miss those vacations know that they are grown up!

    https://www.kathrineeldridge.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne June 26, 2025 at 9:35 AM

      Yeah, I can definitely feel our trips coming to an end.. our oldest rarely comes with us anymore and it sounds like Alec might not come home next summer if he can help it.

      Delete
  4. Maria RineerJune 26, 2025 at 6:42 AM

    Enjoyed reading about all your various travel destinations. You've been to some great places. I haven't been to the Smokies in a long time but your pictures are making me want to go back! Abby will be living near there so I will get to see them hopefully a few times in the next year or so.

    ReplyDelete
  5. JoyceJune 26, 2025 at 6:54 AM

    That picture of your little guy at Disney is precious. My hubs grew up in the foothills of the Smokies and we have family there still so have lots of happy Smoky Mountain memories. Enjoy Glacier...we've never been but it's on my list. Two different friends here who both lived in RV's for a year traveling the country say Glacier is their favorite.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne June 26, 2025 at 9:36 AM

      Aw, thanks! Alec always had such an expressive face so he was a fun one to get quick "over the shoulder" photos of on rides. I've been hearing from so many people that Glacier is their favorite!

      Delete
  6. Dara @ Not In JerseyJune 26, 2025 at 8:30 AM

    You've taken some great vacations!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Julie's Creative LifestyleJune 26, 2025 at 9:21 AM

    I enjoyed reading your answers and loved this topic. You are so lucky to live at the lake and enjoy your summers on the water. I hope you and your family have a great summer.

    ReplyDelete
  8. onceuponatimehappilyeverafter.comJune 26, 2025 at 9:51 AM

    You have enjoyed some terrific trips and little getaways. I always like reading about your adventures. But like you said, you can have a vacation by just walking out your backdoor!! Those views, that lake. I am partial to the Smokies and Rockies. Would love to hike the Smokies with PC one time and maybe do Dollywood or Gatlinburg. Haven't been there in years.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne June 26, 2025 at 1:57 PM

      We loved Dollywood so much but we're a bit amusement park family to begin with. That park was so clean and everyone was so nice and that cinnamon bread was amazing.

      Delete
  9. JeanneJune 26, 2025 at 11:13 AM

    I love this post! Great photos, and it's nice to see how you pack! We have been to some of the same places but I have never been to Hawaii.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Hall Around TexasJune 26, 2025 at 11:49 AM

    The Glacier NP will be amazing! I can't wait to read all about it. I miss the Smoky Mountains. It's time to plan a trip back!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne June 26, 2025 at 1:58 PM

      Thank you! I am getting to excited for it but trying so hard not to wish our summer away.

      Delete
  11. mireilleJune 26, 2025 at 12:50 PM

    I don't love our summer vacays as it is hot but somewhere cool would be nice or unless we go to Europe. We just started discussing whether we want to rent last years house or the prior years condo for our Thanksgiving beach trip. No decision yet, but we will figure it out by the end of July.
    www.chezmireillefashiontravelmom.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne June 26, 2025 at 1:59 PM

      I much prefer traveling somewhere warm when it's cold here than leaving our usually pretty nice summer weather to end up stifling hot somewhere else.

      Delete
  12. Everyday MaddieJune 26, 2025 at 3:42 PM

    It looks like you have taken some really amazing trips!!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Tanya June 26, 2025 at 3:46 PM

    Our packing style is very similar. What a great benefit from homeschooling to travel at other times of the year.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne June 26, 2025 at 5:07 PM

      It was a really great benefit-- dare I say my absolute favorite?! LOL

      Delete
  14. Jodie's Touch of StyleJune 26, 2025 at 4:32 PM

    The packing..."just in case" I consider a smart thing. You just never know what the weather will bring (even if you think you've studied the weather forecast app). It's better to take extra than having to buy stuff when you're out there...then again, I never mind shopping, LOL
    Love all of these memories.
    XOOX
    Jodie

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne June 26, 2025 at 5:08 PM

      Yes, the weather can be so unpredictable even with all the forecasts and not having the right clothes can really make or break a trip. But I don't mind an excuse to shop either. For YEARS my mother in law and I left all our sweatshirts at home so we'd have to buy a new one on our trips!

      Delete
  15. MarshaJune 26, 2025 at 10:43 PM

    Except for my trip last year to Ireland/Scotland, I don't pack just in case items. If something happens, I'll buy whatever I need to fix the problem. One thing I don't have are those packing cubes. Do they really save space? I roll many items and think that saves some space. My biggest space taker upper is hair and skin care products. It takes a lot to look this fabulous (hahaha)!

    https://marshainthemiddle.com/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne June 27, 2025 at 8:11 AM

      I have always rolled items and I still roll them inside my packing cubes as well. I don't think they save a ton of space but I do like that I'm able to keep things nice and organized and separate clean from dirty clothes while traveling. As you can see I don't take much hair and skin products with me at all (in fact I needed to "borrow" hair spray from Marilyn on our girls trip when my travel sized bottle broke).

      Delete
  16. nicole orriensJune 27, 2025 at 3:27 AM

    I don't travel much, but when I do I take as little as possible. I like to travel very light, thinking that if I run into problems I can buy something.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne June 27, 2025 at 8:08 AM

      It depends on where I'm going; if we have a car and we're in an area with lots of stores I don't really worry about it too much but when we're on a cruise ship or in the middle of a national park area I like to be prepared.

      Delete
  17. MarilynJune 27, 2025 at 7:17 AM

    Y'all have been to some fabulous places! I love that Tennessee was one of your favorites though :). Have a good weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  18. BrianneJune 27, 2025 at 8:23 AM

    I've never been to Glacier but it looks so beautiful & I would love to go someday!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne June 27, 2025 at 10:43 AM

      It really does look so pretty in all the pictures I see. I can't wait to see it in person.

      Delete
  19. JeanieJune 27, 2025 at 12:44 PM

    Wonderful images, all of them! What terrific trips you have enjoyed, and all so beautifully photographed. I try to always do carry-on (at least on the way over). I didn't used to and suffered badly for it. Somehow we made it through three weeks in the UK with carry-on. (We did have laundry the first week through and of course hotel sink-washing of undies and such!) I don't think I could do it in winter, though. Too bulky!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne June 27, 2025 at 2:29 PM

      Aw, thank you! 3 weeks with a single carry-on is quite impressive!

      Delete

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