How to Cope with the Not-On-Vacation Blues

How to Cope with the Not-On-Vacation Blues

We’ve been home for 7 months, and with no travel plans for the time being I’m starting to get a little stir crazy.  My planning notebook is starting to collect dust and It’s time to do something about it.  I am starting to get vacation fever and am daydreaming about sunshine, sandy toes,  and sand castles.  So, what do you do when you’ve got the not-on-vacation-blues?  Here are some ways I cope:

Have a quickie.

Ok…get your mind out of the gutter…I mean a quickie vacation! Plan a weekend getaway and stay in a hotel for a night or two.  Pretend you are somewhere far away and swim, order room service, or do absolutely nothing.  A change of environment can make all the difference. Choose a hotel you feel comfortable staying at and bring any items that will make you feel safer like your own pillow, towel, or blanket. Don’t forget to bring hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes.  

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20 Years of Travel Memories

Today is my 20th wedding anniversary!  What?  That can’t be right…we must have been babies when we got married. It’s been amazing sharing these 20 years with my best friend and I can’t think of anyone better to grow old with. Throughout the years he’s given me the most unforgettable gifts of travel and we’ve created so many memories as a family.  Here’s a peek at some of our travel memories throughout the last 2 decades!!

Mexico: 2000

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What’s On Your Travel Bucket List?

“We grow great by dreams. Some of us let these great dreams die, but others nourish and protect them; nurse them through bad days until they bring them to the sunshine and light, which comes always to those who sincerely hope that their dreams will come true.”
– W. Wilson

Many of us are taking a pause from traveling, but that isn’t going to stop us from daydreaming.  Now is the perfect time to create your Travel Bucket List so you can do a little daydreaming about your next adventure.  After all…#wewilltravelagain!

Why did I start my list?

When I was in college I had an English professor that was the stereotypical hippy, turtleneck wearing, book loving, ‘Let’s have class outside’ kind of professor. I absolutely LOVED him! (Ok…it helped that he was also really cute!) He had a philosophy that everyone should have a Bucket List. However, he called it a Life List because it should be about your life, not your death. He suggested always having 100 items on your list at all time. When you accomplish one, you need to replace it with another.  As the years went on, a new list was created…my Travel Bucket List.

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Our Top 10 Favorite Fall Activities in New England

  There’s no place as cozy as autumn in New England.  For the next few months it’s all about crisp leaves, comfy sweaters, dark nail polish, lattes, and pulling out my UGGs.  (Yes…I’m aware of how ugly they are, but is there anything more comfortable?) It’s the perfect time to slow down, unwind from out fast-paced summer, and enjoy the simple things. 

Here are our top 10 activities for fall:

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Napa…Armchair Escape

We continue to believe that in the future the borders will be open, airplanes will cross oceans, people will fill restaurants, and we will all get out our passports.

As for now, take a peek at these pictures to inspire your next big adventure!

Today’s Armchair Escape is NAPA…

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Product Roundup: July

Over the last few weeks, we’ve had the opportunity to try out so many great products while in self-isolation.  I’d love to share with you some of our favorite things that we think travelers will love! Take a peek…

Enjoy!

3Doodler Pen

WHY TRAVELERS WILL LOVE THESE PENS

Creativity is something I try to encourage in my kids.  In fact, this summer they have written “Do something creative” on their daily To Do lists. This kit is compact enough that kids can bring with them as they travel.  It is great for any ability and age level. We were given two pens.  The first was the 3Doodler Start “Learn from Home” pen set.  I love that it doesn’t have any external hot spots so it’s perfect for ages 6-13.

It also came with 200 additional strands of 3Doodler Start plastic refills.

The second pen we got was the 3Doodler Create “Learn from Home” pen set.

This set is perfect for ages 14+

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Bermuda…Armchair Escape

We continue to believe that in the future the borders will be open, airplanes will cross oceans, people will fill restaurants, and we will all get out our passports.

As for now, take a peek at these pictures to inspire your next big adventure!

Today’s Armchair Escape is BERMUDA…

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Bahamas…Armchair Escape

We continue to believe that in the future the borders will be open, airplanes will cross oceans, people will fill restaurants, and we will all get out our passports.

As for now, take a peek at these pictures to inspire your next big adventure!

Today’s Armchair Escape is BAHAMAS…

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Renting a Lake House During COVID-19


10 Things to Look for When Renting a Lake House

 After so many months of self-isolation, many people are hoping to salvage some sort of normalcy and go on a summer vacation with their family. Many people are not crazy about the idea of going to a hotel and being surrounded by other people.  So what could be the solution? A lake house! Are people renting lake houses? Absolutely! We own a rental property on a lake and we were worried that everyone would cancel their reservations for this summer.  Not only has no one canceled, but we even have 6 families on a wait list. It’s a great alternative to a hotel because you have your own space and don’t have to worry about being in contact with people other than your family. If you are looking to rent a lake house, there are some things you need to consider. I wrote this article a few summers ago and have updated it with specific tips about COVID-19. 

  LOCATION

 Location can make or break a trip.  There are lots of things to consider.  Is the house on a quiet bay or on a channel where boats will constantly be going by? Is it lakefront, lake view, or away from the water but with lake access? It’s also good to know a little about the lake itself.  Is the house located near a sandbar that’s know for it’s crowds? You may want to ask how close the neighbors are. 

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Barcelona…Armchair Escape

We continue to believe that in the future the borders will be open, airplanes will cross oceans, people will fill restaurants, and we will all get out our passports.

As for now, take a peek at these pictures to inspire your next big adventure!

Today’s Armchair Escape is BARCELONA…

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