Trip Tour: Addie I. part 1
There is this place on the internet, it's a secret place, and it has guided me through some of my more challenging experiences of motherhood. It has over 57,000 members, the vast majority of them women. Under the guidance of an empathetic, gracious, and hilarious host, a culture of support, humor, and internet hugs has been cultivated. It was in this group that I met Addie, a Director of Nursing, a mother of three, and the spouse of one. In search of recommendations, she posted her very exciting (and courageous) family road trip around New England, and thus the idea was born: Trip Tours, a new section of Weekends Around featuring reader vacations and all the highs, lows, laughs, and tears they encompass. Welcome Addie and thank you for sharing your beautiful family and vacation!
I’m a registered nurse who recently completed the most practical of midlife crises—a masters degree. I’ve been married for 17 years. We have three children, two sons (10 and 15) and one daughter (13). We live in south Louisiana. We’ve always enjoyed traveling but had cut back when the kids were younger. For spring break this year, I decided to plan a road trip in Southern California with home base being San Diego. The kids were unusually excited and exceptionally engaged, so much so that I was convinced to repeat the idea while flying into and out of Boston. While planning a road trip isn’t the easiest task, I did well more research than necessary. For months I read about every hotel and scoured AirBnB’s listings. All I was certain of was that I needed an AirBnB with a washer at least midway through the trip to avoid excessive packing. It was while doing this research that I posted in a Facebook group asking for recommendations on to-dos and to-eats. Julie gave input and later offered her blog to chronicle our trip. (Quick note for parents of small children who haven’t figured this out yet: vacation = kidless, trip = with kids.) So, join us on our jut around New England. It’s sure to be an adventure.
Day One and Two
Actually, let me back up to the planning phase and let you know how I chose the destination. I recently discovered google flights. If you’ve never used it before, here’s a quick primer. There are several functions, but the one I use goes like this: enter your originating airport, dates of travel, and any filters (stops, max price, etc.). When you click enter, it populates a map with prices. So, for me, when I saw $148 round trip from New Orleans, it was a no brainer.
Okay, back to our first stop.
The day started with an uneventful 8:42 AM direct flight from MSY to BOS. We picked up our rental car at the airport. Knowing I shouldn’t push my luck and expect everyone to sit peacefully shoulder-to-shoulder, I spent the extra money and opted for the minivan.
Our first destination was Cottage With a View Airbnb in Warren, RI. Upon arrival I took photos, but they’re no different or better than the listing. It truly looked identical to how it is presented on AirBnB. It was a tiny space, but it fit our needs. It was clean, safe, had a washer/dryer, and air conditioning. The only tidbit that I didn’t realize when booking is that there’s no microwave. It was no big deal. We’ve eaten leftover pizza cold intentionally before. But, FYI.
Actually, let me back up to the planning phase and let you know how I chose the destination. I recently discovered google flights. If you’ve never used it before, here’s a quick primer. There are several functions, but the one I use goes like this: enter your originating airport, dates of travel, and any filters (stops, max price, etc.). When you click enter, it populates a map with prices. So, for me, when I saw $148 round trip from New Orleans, it was a no brainer.
Okay, back to our first stop.
The day started with an uneventful 8:42 AM direct flight from MSY to BOS. We picked up our rental car at the airport. Knowing I shouldn’t push my luck and expect everyone to sit peacefully shoulder-to-shoulder, I spent the extra money and opted for the minivan.
Our first destination was Cottage With a View Airbnb in Warren, RI. Upon arrival I took photos, but they’re no different or better than the listing. It truly looked identical to how it is presented on AirBnB. It was a tiny space, but it fit our needs. It was clean, safe, had a washer/dryer, and air conditioning. The only tidbit that I didn’t realize when booking is that there’s no microwave. It was no big deal. We’ve eaten leftover pizza cold intentionally before. But, FYI.
We settled in for just an hour before I rounded the family up for our first outing. I’m not typically a minute-by-minute vacation planner. I find that leads to cranky kids and lots of fussing. But because we planned on hitting so many destinations in so little time, time was of the essence. Off to Newport we went.
My friend Heather recommended we visit the Cliff Walk. I did no further research on the location. (Those who know me well are not shocked.) I simply put the location in my map app after hopping in the car and followed Siri’s directions.
Aside from the fact that it was a bit chillier than we were dressed for, it was the perfect post-flight outing. We managed to hit 10k steps while walking along the cliffs and enjoying the sights.
I included a photo of my youngest exhibiting his compliance in taking pictures because I believe that photography should be a documentation of reality. The older two realize that if they listen and take the picture, it can be over faster. He has yet to get the memo.
My friend Heather recommended we visit the Cliff Walk. I did no further research on the location. (Those who know me well are not shocked.) I simply put the location in my map app after hopping in the car and followed Siri’s directions.
Aside from the fact that it was a bit chillier than we were dressed for, it was the perfect post-flight outing. We managed to hit 10k steps while walking along the cliffs and enjoying the sights.
I included a photo of my youngest exhibiting his compliance in taking pictures because I believe that photography should be a documentation of reality. The older two realize that if they listen and take the picture, it can be over faster. He has yet to get the memo.
We ended the day at Corner Cafe. We found the place after a quick google search. Any place that serves pizza and breakfast all day can satisfy the whole family. The restaurant was incredibly low lit, so I was unable to get any photos. That said, the waitstaff was kind and the food hit the spot. The kids shared a pizza and stack of pancakes. My husband ate an omelet and I got a breakfast burrito.
Day two was our day scheduled to check out Cape Cod. The forecast for the entire New England area is rain for all 12 days of this trip. Day two was no exception. I set the bar low for this day and decided it would be a driving tour. The only plan I had on the must-do list was to visit PJ’s Family Restaurant in Wellfleet. Our friends back home, the Lillies, told us of the restaurant. Their aunt and uncle own and run the place. For anyone who may find themselves there, our friends recommend the lobster roll or the scallop roll. Since I’m allergic to lobster, we went with the fish tacos. They were crispy and well-seasoned. It came with a side of corn and black bean salsa which is always a good idea in my book. The kids shared a bucket of fried chicken. You can take the kids out of the south, but you can’t take the south out of them, clearly. And the onion rings. Hand cut. Battered. Get them. Promise.
Day two was our day scheduled to check out Cape Cod. The forecast for the entire New England area is rain for all 12 days of this trip. Day two was no exception. I set the bar low for this day and decided it would be a driving tour. The only plan I had on the must-do list was to visit PJ’s Family Restaurant in Wellfleet. Our friends back home, the Lillies, told us of the restaurant. Their aunt and uncle own and run the place. For anyone who may find themselves there, our friends recommend the lobster roll or the scallop roll. Since I’m allergic to lobster, we went with the fish tacos. They were crispy and well-seasoned. It came with a side of corn and black bean salsa which is always a good idea in my book. The kids shared a bucket of fried chicken. You can take the kids out of the south, but you can’t take the south out of them, clearly. And the onion rings. Hand cut. Battered. Get them. Promise.
Day Three and Four
The drive from Warren to the Lake George area was mapped to be a solid 4 hours. My original intention was to go west through Connecticut, stopping to have lunch, then head northward to New York, but that would have added an extra 30 minutes. A quick executive decision later, I decided that Connecticut would be seen on a subsequent trip. Fortunately the kids weren’t overly concerned, though they’re always excited to check another state off of the list.
It had rained every day of the trip so far, and that Monday was no exception. On our drive through western Massachusetts, we accidentally passed our intended lunch exit. A quick google search indicated that O’s Diner in Hillsdale, NY is a local favorite. It took us well off of our path, but seeing the countryside was worth the detour. Once there, we ordered the wings, a pesto chicken sandwich, a ham and cheese omelet, and a stack of pancakes. Everyone was pleased with their food selection. The only regret was not saving room for the homemade desserts.
The drive from Warren to the Lake George area was mapped to be a solid 4 hours. My original intention was to go west through Connecticut, stopping to have lunch, then head northward to New York, but that would have added an extra 30 minutes. A quick executive decision later, I decided that Connecticut would be seen on a subsequent trip. Fortunately the kids weren’t overly concerned, though they’re always excited to check another state off of the list.
It had rained every day of the trip so far, and that Monday was no exception. On our drive through western Massachusetts, we accidentally passed our intended lunch exit. A quick google search indicated that O’s Diner in Hillsdale, NY is a local favorite. It took us well off of our path, but seeing the countryside was worth the detour. Once there, we ordered the wings, a pesto chicken sandwich, a ham and cheese omelet, and a stack of pancakes. Everyone was pleased with their food selection. The only regret was not saving room for the homemade desserts.
Upon arriving to our AirBnB in Lake Luzerne, NY we were greeted by the owners. Though the houses are on the same property, the rental is separate from the main house by a garage and is completely private. The owners walked us through the space pointing out the amenities. Y’all. There wasn’t a detail not thought of. This is a fully stocked home—food, beverage, snacks, coffee, espresso, and more. There were peanut M&Ms, Pirate’s Booty, and Boom-Chicka-Pop. It’s like she was inside of my brain when shopping.
In the back den there was a stack of board and card games which my kids immediately took to. They’re not ones to play these games at home, much less willingly side-by-side. Yet, somehow, within minutes of being in the house, we were all 5 playing a competitive game of UNO.
In the back den there was a stack of board and card games which my kids immediately took to. They’re not ones to play these games at home, much less willingly side-by-side. Yet, somehow, within minutes of being in the house, we were all 5 playing a competitive game of UNO.
Still being a bit full from lunch, we decided that ice cream would be a proper dinner. There is an ice cream store every quarter mile, but we headed into Lake George to try out Martha’s. The selections and options were overwhelming, but after hanging back and watching a few customers pass with their treats, 3 small dipped cones (2 salted caramel and 1 chocolate/vanilla swirl), one sundae (chocolate/vanilla swirl with caramel and hot fudge), and a Sprite were ordered. I consider myself to be a bit of an ice cream snob, and I can say with certainty that this is good stuff. After speaking with a friend who spent summers in Lake George, we realized that we were fortunate to encounter no lines thanks to the continued rain.
Tuesday morning I woke up excited as the day’s activity was the reason we headed to the area--Revolution Rail. This is a case of Facebook marketing success. Almost a year ago I saw a promotion on Facebook for this company and filed it away in the ‘if I ever make it to that area of New York’ section of my brain. It is a local company that has constructed vehicles to fit onto railroad tracks that are powered with foot pedals. The company utilizes a section of abandoned railroad, and cars of either 2 or 4 people pedal up the gradual incline of the mountain. On the day of your reservation, you are asked to arrive at the train depot 30 minutes early. After checking in, the group is loaded onto a school bus and driven up the mountain a bit to the starting point. Groups larger than one car are called to load first to make sure that they are seated together. I won’t spoil the surprises and all of the fun, but take my word that it’s worth your time and money. Also, though it takes a bit of stamina toward the end, it can be done by just about anyone. We split up into one car of my 12 and 15 year old and another car of myself, my husband, and my 10 year old.
If you decide to book, please let the owner know how you found them. While there is no advantage or kickback to us, as a former business owner, knowing referral sources are incredibly helpful. They’re a very new, very local business.
That evening for dinner we decided on Outback Steakhouse because I knew I could find veggies there. We ordered standard items which were as reliable as they are back home. While finishing up dinner, I sent a message to our AirBnB host asking if there were stakes for roasting marshmallows as we had bought supplies at the grocery store earlier. She asked what time we’d be back and offered to have the fire pit lit and ready for return. The fire was roaring as we pulled up an hour later. My 15 year old son best described our experience as we walked up to the house. He noted that he hopes to have friends as nice as our AirBnB hosts when he’s an adult.
That evening for dinner we decided on Outback Steakhouse because I knew I could find veggies there. We ordered standard items which were as reliable as they are back home. While finishing up dinner, I sent a message to our AirBnB host asking if there were stakes for roasting marshmallows as we had bought supplies at the grocery store earlier. She asked what time we’d be back and offered to have the fire pit lit and ready for return. The fire was roaring as we pulled up an hour later. My 15 year old son best described our experience as we walked up to the house. He noted that he hopes to have friends as nice as our AirBnB hosts when he’s an adult.
Thank you, Addie and your beautiful family! Your 15 year old son articulates the entire reason we travel with our kids - to introduce them to the kind of people and experiences that make for a life well lived. ADDIE - YOU DID IT! Thanks for bring us on your Weekend Around (and then some). We can't wait to see where you all visit next year.
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the short list
Other Items From This Tour:
Daybed (Similar)
Orange Dining/Wooden Chair (Similar)
Black Windsor Chair (Similar)
Red Converse Shoes
Uno
Bingo Game (Similar)
Green Adirondack Chair
Bear Rug (Similar)
Daybed (Similar)
Orange Dining/Wooden Chair (Similar)
Black Windsor Chair (Similar)
Red Converse Shoes
Uno
Bingo Game (Similar)
Green Adirondack Chair
Bear Rug (Similar)
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