ROAD TRIP FUN FROM TENNESSEE TO MICHIGAN...

 We went on a quick trip recently to meet friends in Michigan.  My DH needed to work a day in Nashville, so we drove north from there and made some fun stops along the way!  We also spent time at two national parks, Mammoth Cave and Indiana Dunes.  Every time we've tried to escape the Oklahoma heat this summer it always seems to follow us!  :)

Fountain Square in Bowling Green, KY, where we ate lunch

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First stop, Mammoth Cave NP

The cave is one of the longest known systems in the world, with over 400 miles charted.

We stayed nearby in Park City, KY at the Grand Victorian Inn

It was filled with antiques and very interesting!

We had an amazing suite!

While driving the next day, we stopped at Bernheim Arboretum to see Forest Giants!

Driving on through Indianapolis, IN, we ate at a fun German cafe with a long history!

After spending the night at Valapraiso, we explored Indiana Dunes NP the next morning.

Inside the park are the Century of Progess homes, kept from the 1933 World's Fair in Chicago.  That is an interesting story you should check out!

Making our way up the coast of Lake Michigan, we stopped at Oink's for ice cream!  It was a fun store with all kinds of pig decor all over!

We finally met up with our friends in Saugatuck, MI!  We stayed at a great B & B right on the water, Bayside Inn.  The next day our first outing was to Windmill Island, in Holland MI!  It's a great park with gardens, a real windmill and shops about their connection with the Netherlands.

Another really fun thing nearby are the Dune Rides!  It's like a roller coaster ride!  The guide gives a little history tour and cracks lots of jokes along the way.

One evening we rode on a paddleboat and watched the sun setting on Lake Michigan!  It was lovely!

This giant root beer barrel has been selling hot dogs and root beer for a long time - of course we had to go check it out!

Our last evening there we watched the sun set at Oval Beach, nearby.  It was again, a lovely sight!

Some other stops:

Lisa's Diner in Bowling Green KY

Bucky Bee's BBQ in Cave City, KY

Swingbelly near Mt. Baldy, Indiana Dunes NP

Coral gables in Saugatuck, MI

Marro Italian in Saugatuck, MI

Southerner in Saugatuck, MI

Saugataco in Saugatuck, MI

Uncommon Roaster in Saugatuck, MI

Crane Apple Orchard near Saugatuck, MI

CANADA WITH THE KIDS...

 Every couple of years we try to take our whole family (adult kids and spouses) on a trip together.  We all love to travel, so we don't have to twist their arms too hard to come!

My son who is recently a new father and I picked the location for this one - one where he and his family could drive their car with all the baby things and meet us.  We chose Canada!  They drove 6 hours to Spokane, Washington and the rest of us flew there to meet them.  The next morning we drove in a rental mini-van and their car to Golden, Canada, our base for the week.  We found a lovely 4 bedroom condo there at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort.  It was a great fit for us!

While there we took day trips out to different places, including Yoho and Banff National Parks.  We ate about half our meals in the condo and ate out too.  The kids found a coffee shop they loved in downtown Golden and we visited it several times.  We played games almost every night and worshipped together on Sunday.  It was sweet family time and the addition of our 1 year old granddaughter was fun for everyone!

A couple of things I spent a lot of time planning were the Via Ferrata and Lake Louise day.  I had learned about Via Ferratas in Europe last year and was disappointed they weren't open until June.  When I found out they had a couple near where we were staying, I was really excited!  Both days turned out to be lots of fun!

Here's a few pics from our time in Canada with the kids:

Wapta Falls in Yoho NP

                                                   With my DIL - notice what the sign says?

                                                            Loving the Via Ferrata!

Summit!!  After hiking down we ate at the highest restaurant in Canada (7700 ft), located right there beside us - Eagle's Eye restaurant in Kicking Horse Mountain Resort!

Beautiful waters of Lake Louise in Banff NP!

Just starting on the trail at the end of the lake...

2 hours later, we had made it to the Plain of Six Glaciers Teahouse!  We all got treats!

It was really steep and rocky the last 1/4 of a mile and I didn't know if I was going to have the energy for it, but the kids pushed me on and we made it!

Cooling off after the hike!

We did some other things but those were the biggies for me!  Being with the family was the best!

Activities we did:  Wapta Falls hike, Via Ferrata at Kicking Horse, Johnston Canyon hike, Banff Main Street, Art in Nature Walk at Banff, Lake Louise and the Plain of Six Glaciers hike, Golden Farmer's Market and shopping downtown, Golden Golf Club Miniature Golf, Whitewater rafting, and Thompson's Falls.  In Spokane we also saw the Urban waterfalls downtown.  

Restaurants we visited:  Good Grief, Idaho restaurant, Red Tomatoe Pies (takeout in Golden), Ethos Coffee shop in Golden, Eagle's Eye at Kicking Horse, Truffle Pig in Field, Reposados and Wolf's Den in Golden.  We also ate at Steamplant in downtown Spokane.  

Till the next time...

OUR FIRST RIVER CRUISE...

 We took a Viking Rhine River cruise for our 40th anniversary and I'm here to tell you, that was a wonderful way to travel!  

Here's my review:  Unpack once but every day you're in a new city?  Sweet!  Viking does a great job handling all the details.  Our longboat was clean and modern. We loved our larger room with living space and the bathroom with heated floor.  We slept well most of the time.  Meals were delicious and although we didn't take in all the entertainment they offered, the ones we did were good.  The included excursions (walking tours) were excellent and the couple of paid excursions we did were also very good.  Be prepared to see a lot!

We went with our friends, 3 other couples also celebrating 40th anniversaries. We laughed so much and enjoyed delicious meals, games, new cities and castles together.   Here's a few pics from each port stop and our special excursions:  

We visited Keukenhof gardens near Amsterdam before sailing!

A picture of Rolf, our longboat

Our accommodations

The windmills at Kinderdijk.

Cologne Cathedral

Love locks on the Cologne bridge!

St. Gereon's church - we loved this one!

Samson's life portrayed in the crypt at St. G's.

So excited to find Spaghetti Eis! (hadn't had it since 1985)

 

Our group at Marksburg Castle - we loved this one!  It was furnished with period items and even had suits of armor collected through the ages from various cultures.

This afternoon we sat on the deck as our boat sailed past many castles, and our cruise director told us about each one.

Strausbourg, France

We went to many other places but my blogger is acting up right now!  

WINTER BREAK AT ORANGE BEACH...

 This is about the 5th time we've gone on a winter break to the Gulf of Mexico!  Several times we have gone to Orange Beach, Alabama, and here's why...

Nice weather!

Great condos - We've stayed in different ones but we really liked The Breakers and Windward Point.

Clean beach - usually lots of shells too!

Fun biking trails - Hugh Branyon and Gulf State Park

Lots of restaurants to choose from!

Plenty of stores - Rouses, a local grocery store, is my favorite!

Lots of treat shops - Buzzcatz is the best!  We also like Southern Grind.

Culture - Friendly, and snowbirds are welcome!

Other fun stuff just a short drive away!

I guess after looking at my lengthy list, we like variety.  Not every day is suitable for the beach, so there's plenty of other things to do here.  Another thing we like is that we can drive - takes us about 14 hours to get here and we love a little road trip.  Give us an audiobook and a couple of fun restaurant stops and we are good!

A few of my favorite pics:

Flowers at Bellingrath Gardens near Mobile

Inside Bellingrath Mansion

Free cooking class on Fridays at Rouses grocery store - see all the snowbirds?

Farmer's Market in Foley

You know it's close to Mardi Gras when they serve Moon Pies with your fries!

Favorite seashells I found!

Mardi Gras night time parade right outside our condo!

Biking fun

Parade floats

Fresh seafood

Puzzle time

Blue jellyfish or Portugese Man O War?

The Coffee Shop that is really not a coffee shop.  

This is the best way to get a break from the dreary winter back home! 
I'm so thankful my husband can work remotely and we can come here. 
What do you like to do to get a break from winter?