I tend to plan trips to the minute–a tendency that has only gotten worse since having kids. Sometimes, though, you just have to let go and enjoy the ride!
Last summer, we had planned a relaxing weekend at my in-laws vacation house on Long Island’s North Fork, just one hour from our home. Between work and the kids, we forgot to clear it with my Mother-in-Law, who was having guests that weekend!
So, instead, we made a last minute switch to drive to upstate New York and ended up having an epic adventure.
Our first stop was Bear Mountain, where I picnicked as a child.
We checked out the zoo and drove to the top of the mountain. We live on Long Island so the kids rarely get to see an actual mountain. They were just awed by the view!
Wind whipping through our hair, we could see for miles. The observatory has a cool map that tells you what you can observe from the top.
What child doesn’t want to dance on a mountaintop?
We drove on because my husband had one of his own childhood memories to check out: the Herkimer Diamond Mines.
At Herkimer, you can chisel ad hammer away at rocks to find perfectly formed crystals that look like diamonds.
What’s more exciting than a treasure hunt? A treasure hunt where you might find “diamonds!” This is the stuff of show and tell legends, folks.
An overnight stay at a hotel, with a pool, of course, and we were off to our final adventure on the trip. When I was a little girl, my grandfather took my to Howe Caverns. I remember being completely amazed by this underground cave system and its stalagmite and stalactite formations. My kids were no different, marveling at the colors, the perfect reflections in still underground ponds, and their trip along the River Styx. Talk about epic adventures–the kids chattered about how they had been to Hades and lived to tell the tale!
On the way home, we were able to stop at my parents house and the kids got to see my grandfather–the man who originally brought me to Howe Caverns.
A visit with Great Papa? Priceless.
Whether we’re turning a hurricane into a party, a blizzard into sledding, or mixed-up plans into a journey from mountain top to the depths of the caverns underground, I know I’ll have an epic adventure with my crew.
Every day is an adventure and with Quaker® Perfect Portions I know I am providing my family with the fuel they need for their epic adventures.
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This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Quaker®. The opinions and text are all mine.
