Morning Walks in Pinconning

As winter finally begins its slow relent to spring, I've been dreaming of warmer days, imagining more sunshine and reflecting back on last summer's adventures, anticipating what fun lies ahead for us this year.

One of our trips took us to little Pinconning, Michigan, where we spent the week of July 4 at my inlaws' cottage. Little Arrow was a very early riser as a baby. Meaning I saw the 5 a.m. hour daily for about a year. Thankfully, as a 1-year-old, he's beginning to ease up and allow his parents a little more rest.

One way to maintain quiet in the house so everyone else could sleep was a morning walk with Little Arrow happy in the stroller. To make it more interesting for me, I grabbed my camera. I'm still very new at shooting in manual, and given my kids' ages, the opportunity to stop, aim my camera, and fiddle with settings is a rare treat.

The perfect name for the dusty dirt road where vacation memories lie ahead? I nominate:

Even the roadside wildflowers perked up to say good morning.

I loved how quiet this little inlet coming off Saginaw Bay was.

I guess it's time to turn around and head home. Maybe someone's up making breakfast!

This post is a part of Friday Daydreamin' at R We There Yet Mom? and Photo Friday at Delicious Baby.

Redamak's in New Buffalo

This weekend, I'm heading back to New Buffalo, Michigan with my favorite group of girlfriends. No, we won't be hitting the beach like my family did during our trip there this summer. {sigh} Instead, it will involve sweaters and snow boots. But, on the bright side, a lot more wine!

Quite frankly, I'm more disappointed that I won't be able to nosh on the best cheeseburger of my life while we're there. You see, traveling in the off-season does have its drawbacks beyond frigid temperatures. Our beloved burger joint, Redamak's, doesn't open until the first weekend in March.

We discovered Redamak's this summer. Its the kind of place where your waitress calls you honey, brings crayons and lemonades for the kids without even asking, and the hostess seats you at a table in the back where your crazy crew can be loud and have fun without bothering anyone.

My beautiful nephew, sister, niece and dad.

In other words, fine dining it is not. See also: my kind of place when traveling with four kids under four.

We didn't know a thing about Redamak's before walking in the door. But after browsing the menu, it was abundantly clear they were known for cheeseburgers. And when my basket arrived with the burger wrapped in parchment paper and a pile of crinkle fries, I knew something special was happening.

Who needs white table cloths when there is delicious food to be had? Underneath all that paper is the perfect present. You'll never find a better burger. Ooey, gooey cheese. Melt in your mouth patty. Total pub grub perfection.

I'll be back, Redamak's. Afterall, 7 months ago poor Little Arrow had to stare at my meal from afar and was forced to eat pea puree. Now my little eater would probably walk right in and order his own cheeseburger!

This post is a part of Wanderfood Wednesday at Wanderlust and Lipstick.

1 Year of Travel: Little Arrow's 1st Birthday

Since he has a nearly empty baby book, I need to ease some mama guilt and write a post dedicated to Little Arrow. He celebrated his first birthday on Saturday and I love the idea of a post dedicated to each Arrow on their birthday. So indulge me a moment here...

Maybe this will change with age, but right now, Little Arrow is very much about the destination, not so much the journey. He's had a few rough patches on long car trips and has stretched his vocal chords on a couple of flights. He hates to be contained, and I can't say I blame him. There's a very big world out there for him to explore!

But once you arrive? Goodness, is he ever the best little travel companion. He'll go anywhere, do anything. Brave as can be. And typically with a big, nearly toothless grin spread across his face.

In fact, he unleashed his first giggle while in Florida at 3 months.

Traveled 103 stories up above Chicago at 4 months (slept right through it, actually).

Survived his first camping trip at 6 months.

And then went skinny dipping in Saginaw Bay, Michigan at 7 months. (Don't you just want to pinch those cheeks? I think I might have to delete this post when he's ready to ask a girl to prom, though.)

Got crazy at a children's museum in St. Joseph, Michigan a couple of weeks later.

First ride on dad's shoulders in Minneapolis at 9 months.

He sure does bring the cute along, doesn't he? But beyond the killer good looks, I love that he has taught me to be a more relaxed mom. I look back on Big Arrow's first year, and mostly I remember being a nervous wreck about napping schedules, eating habits, and whether he'd sleep away from home.

Little Arrow has never been one for schedules, and his food preferences change by the hour. I soon learned to let all those concerns go and (for the most part) just let it be. And it's been the best year of my life with this special boy.

So happy birthday, Little Arrow. I can't wait to see what adventures await you in your second year. I have a pretty good feeling they'll be even more spectacular!

This post is a part of Photo Friday at Delicious Baby and Friday Daydreamin' at R We There Yet Mom?

How to Help Kids Remember Travel

Occasionally I'll read articles by or about naysayers when it comes to family travel. One of their biggest arguments against traveling with young kids is that these children will never remember the experience, thus making it not worth the effort or the cost. I find this logic really faulty for a few reasons:

• Remembering a trip isn't the point. I love traveling with young kids in part because it teaches them flexibility, patience, diversity, proper behavior on airplanes, in restaurants, how to sleep away from home, etc. They may not remember the specifics, but these lessons become ingrained in them at a young age via travel. And hopefully, we'll reap the rewards as they get a bit older. 
• Important time together as a family. When my husband has time off and we decide to stay home, we inevitably get caught up in projects or chores around the house. When we travel, we simply spend time together away from those distractions, enjoying one another and our surroundings.

• YOU will remember it. Someday the Arrows will grow up and leave our nest. I hope that in 20 years I'll be sitting on a beach with my husband, enjoying retirement, and reminiscing about watching our boys splashing in the water as babies.
• My experience shows that young kids often DO remember trips!

With the exception of trips we took before he turned 2, Big Arrow (now 3 1/2) remembers and frequently talks about all of our vacations and many outings we take. Sometimes he'll comment on something that to me was completely insignificant, months and months after we return home, like what color train we took in Boston or that time we let him take his shoes off at a restaurant.

I'm sure he doesn't remember everything, and he may end up recalling very little by the time he's older, but seriously, who cares?

But if you DO care, here are a few ways we keep the memory of vacations and adventures alive in our boys:

1. Read books. This doesn't mean you have to spend a lot of money on a book about every destination (although they'd make great gifts or souvenirs). We check out books from the library, or we read general books that have an element related to where we're going or where we've been.

A few recommendations:

• 1001 Things to Spot on Vacation: We've gotten a lot of mileage out of this book because it covers so many different types of trips. Plus, it's a great one for planes or car rides because there is an interaction component to it. It's like the Where's Waldo of travel.
• A series of board books called Good Night Our World. These location-specific books cover everything from Martha's Vineyard to San Francisco.* (Kudos to a loyal ASF reader for starting us on these with the San Francisco book!)
• Jessica at Suitcases and Sippy Cups recommends the Toot and Puddle* stories. I've seen the show a few times and it is really cute.
• Colleen from Travel Mamas suggested the Madeline books, the Curious George books* (I second that!), and also recommends Barefoot Books for a good selection of multicultural books.
• Crystal from Naked Salsa said her 3-year-old daughter loves Biscuit's First Trip.* Big Arrow really enjoys the Biscuit books he has.
• A fellow travel mama and ASF Facebook fan suggests Angela's Airplane.*

2. Play pretend. I'm always catching Big Arrow deep in an imaginary storyline with a plot that I can barely follow. Often his imagination takes him somewhere we've been before or recalls a particular event we went to. When I caught him "playing zoo" with Little Arrow a few weeks ago, I couldn't resist capturing it on video. He got a little silly when he realized I was filming, naturally. But bonus points for the creative use of a baby gate!



If your kids need a little encouragement when it comes to make-believe, you could think about where you've traveled lately. Perhaps a pretend trip to the museum or an imaginary airplane ride!

3. Pictures and video. Maybe it's just my kid, but Big Arrow is obsessed with seeing himself, whether it is in pictures or video. (In fact, he's asked to watch that zoo video about 30 times.) This is a great way to keep those memories fresh. You could even make small photo books for them to flip through after a big trip and display photos in their bedroom.

4. Just talk about it. Sometimes when we have time to kill (often in the car), I'll ask Big Arrow what he remembers about a vacation. Or what his favorite part was. Or what he didn't like. (This is often pretty funny, actually.)


I don't do these things with my kids because I'm desperate for them to remember our travels or because I'm super mom. Like I said, I don't really care. I see enough benefits to traveling when they're young to do it anyway. I just happen to love travel, so reading vacation books instead of another Elmo one or talking about our favorite museums while driving home from preschool is just fun for me (and hopefully them).


This post is a part of Travel Tips Tuesday at Suitcases and Sippy Cups and Walking on Travels.


*Affiliate links.

Children's Garden at Dow Gardens

What a rough week... 24 hour news coverage of total devastation on the East Coast, two sick kids at home, chilly weather. I just want to give everyone a big mug of hot chocolate (and running water and electricity for those without it). But all I've got is some pictures of a pretty place. So that'll have to do.

Earlier this week, I shared my tips for visiting Dow Gardens in Midland, Michigan with kids. I mentioned carving out a lot of time for the Children's Garden. It is truly a magical, natural space of exploration for kids. Plus, there's a lot of hands-on fun beyond the beautiful scenery. Here are some of my favorite images of our time there. I hope it's a giant serving of happiness during an otherwise dreary week. May there be better times ahead, friends!

My favorite part of the garden was the watering station. An old-fashioned hand pump and plenty of watering cans for kids to take anywhere they want and water the plants in the garden. While much of the Children's Garden is geared toward the younger set, I even saw older kids getting into the act.

What is it about kids and bubbles? Always a hit.

I also really appreciated that the Children's Garden is just as beautiful and well-landscaped as the rest of the Gardens. You might even time your visit around an educational chat or storytime (shown above). Big Arrow wasn't really into it and wanted to explore instead. Can't say I blame him.

Afterall, there were elephant trees to see!

But the piece de resistance for Big Arrow was the giant sandbox. I shared this photo on Facebook of the epic fit he threw when it was time to leave.

In other words, pick your child's favorite outdoor pleasure and they've probably got it at the Children's Garden. Just brace yourself for a tantrum when the fun has to end.

Oh, and Little Arrow came too. And he doesn't throw fits... yet.

You can read more about our time in the Saginaw Bay area of Michigan here.

This post is a part of Photo Friday at Delicious Baby and Friday Daydreamin' and R We There Yet Mom?

Tips for Visiting Dow Gardens with Kids

"Another vacation, another botanical garden."

So groaned my husband on our way to Dow Gardens in Midland, Michigan when we spent a week in the area this summer. I sort of have a thing for public gardens like this and they always find a way onto our itinerary everywhere we go. He's not quite as enthusiastic as I am about it.

I tried to convince him that this was a way to relive his youth. His grandparents lived in Midland when he was growing up and they took him to this 110 acre garden on the estate of the Dow Family (think Dow Chemical) a few times.

"They dragged me there," he said. Hmm. No points for nostalgia, apparently.

Luckily, Dow Gardens has upped the fun factor in recent years for visitors who might not have a deeply rooted desire to visits spots like this. The addition of a Children's Garden meant Big Arrow had as much fun as I did.

One of the reasons I like visiting gardens like this one is that they're so easy. Just show up, walk around and enjoy your beautiful surroundings. But here are a few simple tips to ensure your family enjoys your time at Dow Gardens as much as we did.

1) Grab a map. It's a large space and if you have a limited amount of time, you'll want to make sure you hit the highlights and not get too far off track. Plus, Big Arrow loved looking at it and directing us.

2) Choose when to visit the Children's Garden. This is a really fun spot for kids and will be their favorite part of a visit to Dow Gardens. We find that Big Arrow does better when we let him do fun things right off the bat, and then he'll (typically) happily ride in the stroller while we do more adult-oriented things later. But for some kids, you might save the Children's Garden for the end as a special treat. I'd plan to spend at least an hour in this part if you've got kids 8 and under.

More info on our time in the Children's Garden can be found here.

3) Note the "plants in bloom" sign at the entrance. For older kids, it would be fun to find some of them within the gardens.

4) You don't have to stay on the sidewalks and paths. At least that's what we were told by a friendly gardener working on the day we visited. So if you spot a beautiful flower or waterfall that you've just got to get closer to, go for it.

If You Visit:
Dow Gardens
1809 Eastman Avenue, Midland, Michigan
Adults: $5; Kids 6-17 or college students w/ ID: $1; 5 and under are free
Hours vary seasonally, check the website.

This post is a part of Travel Tips Tuesday at Suitcases and Sippy Cups and Walking on Travels.

Curious Kids' Museum in St. Joseph, Michigan

When I was in southwestern Michigan this summer, my travel companions included four kids ages 4 and under (this included Big Arrow, 3 years old, and Little Arrow, at the time 7 months old, plus my nephew, 4 1/2, and my niece, 2 1/2). We mostly filled our days with the ultimate kid-pleasing activity: playing at the beach.

But we reached a point where we all needed a bit of a break from the sun, sand and surf, so we spent a morning at the Curious Kids' Museum in nearby St. Joseph, Michigan. Because if it's one thing we had in abundance, it was curious kids.

I've been to many children's museums since becoming a mom (including the world's largest in Indianapolis). Curious Kids' is a great one because it has a wide variety of activities, from a realistic vet clinic:

to an Australian Outback camp:

to a local news studio. (Big Arrow did an awesome rundown of the weather that day.)

There seemed to be at least 20 or so different exhibit areas, each very different from the next. Great for a group of kids who are equally as diverse in their interests and personalities. I loved that the focus in most of the spaces was on imaginative and make believe play.


We also saw kids of every age happy, including babies. They have a great "Toddle Farm" for kids 4 and younger. Since it often feels as though we just drag Little Arrow along on adventures that are designed for Big Arrow, I loved getting to watch him do some exploring of his own.

If you're spending some time hitting the beaches of Lake Michigan next summer, or if you're visiting this area in the off-season, put the Curious Kids Museum on your rainy day list.

If You Visit:
Curious Kids' Museum
415 Lake Boulevard, St. Joseph, Michigan
Hours and admission prices vary depending on time of year.

Insider Tip: If you're bringing more than one kid to the museum, have a little chat before going in about everyone staying together and on the same floor. Or bring another adult along. My only complaint about this museum is that each exhibit is in an entirely separate room, making it difficult to supervise multiple kids if they don't play together.

You might also be interested in my tips for visiting a children's museum.

This post is a part of Photo Friday at Delicious Baby.

St. Joseph, Michigan

During our trip to New Buffalo, Michigan this summer, we spent a day exploring nearby St. Joseph, Michigan. What a lovely little town along Lake Michigan. In fact, I've yet to be disappointed by any place I've explored in southwest Michigan. Such a wonderful area for vacationing families.

Once we arrived, we had about 20 minutes until our intended destination, the Curious Kids Museum, opened. So we wandered up and down Lake Boulevard, with the sparkly water blinking at us in the distance.

Then we noticed that the kids were being pretty patient and loving. A rare moment when traveling with four kids ages 4 and under.

This was when I decided it might be a good time for some family portraits. Because mama wanted in on those brotherly snuggles.

And so did their grandfather.

My sister's kids were cooperating as well. Aren't they adorable?

And then, like adults are prone to do, we pushed them past their limits to try to get just a few more shots. And suddenly there was instant camera fade. (This was the best I got from about 20 attempts. At one point my niece was picking her nose and lifting her dress over her head at the same time. I'll save that one for an "outtakes" post at some point!)

Kudos to my parents for traveling with this gaggle of kids. While the dads were back at home working, the grandparents got put to work too!

Thanks for indulging me in a little play-by-play of family pictures, Arrows Sent Forth-style. If you're looking for more information on visiting St. Joseph, Michigan with kids, I'll be back with a post about the Curious Kids Museum next week.

In the meantime, here are a few other posts I've written about southwestern Michigan:

• Trip Report: South Haven, Michigan
• Trip Report: Warren Dunes State Park, Sawyer, Michigan
• The beach in New Buffalo/Union Pier, Michigan

This post is a part of Photo Friday at Delicious Baby.

Experiencing Pinconning Cheese

When we headed up to tiny Pinconning, Michigan this summer, we expected warm, breezy days by the lake. A handful of small diners or fast food options if we wanted to dine out. A boat ride around Saginaw Bay. I got all those things. (I wrote a bit about our week in Pinconning here.)

But I didn't expect to expand my culinary world just a bit. But with the introduction of Pinconning cheese to my palate, I did just that. My interest was piqued as we drove through town on our way to my inlaws' cottage. A few cheese shops dotted the main drag. It was actually Big Arrow who drew my attention to them... one has a gigantic mouse eating a wedge of cheese on the roof and he was naturally delighted by that.

Sure enough, when my inlaws put out a table full of food that first day, one of our snacking options was a tub of Pinconning cheese horseradish spread. (The Williams brand. It matters.) One scoop on a pretzel and I was hooked. We all were, actually (brother-in-law, I'm looking at you, buddy).

So on a rainy morning with little else to do to pass the time, we ventured out to the Pinconning Cheese Store to explore this a bit more. Big Arrow was sold right at the entrance, having been welcomed by a very familiar face.

We were greeted by kind ladies who offered us samples. One glance through the glass display case and it will be clear that they're particularly known for the sharpest cheddar you'll ever find, anywhere.

I sampled their sharpest variety. Aged 16 years. So sharp it makes your mouth pucker.

They also sell a variety of other products, like smoked fish, candy, and hot sauces. I dig a store with a sense of humor. (Kids, look away.)

Naturally, on their most recent trip up, my inlaws' brought some of that amazing horseradish spread back for us (we may or may not have put in a request for it). I now spend afternoon naptime trying to avoid it in the fridge, and ultimately failing and eating way too much of it at 3 p.m. each day.

Last week, the letter "a" got stuck on my laptop from pretzel crumbs. Oops.

If You Visit:
Pinconning Cheese Company
221 North Mable Street, Pinconning, MI
Call 800.678.1962 for hours.
Insider Tip: There are actually 3 different cheese companies in Pinconning: Pinconning Cheese Company, Wilson's and Williams. (Healthy competition, I guess.) Take your pick, but I liked the Pinconning Cheese Store for sampling the cheese, especially the sharp cheddars. I hear they're the ones who age it the longest. But like I said, don't miss Williams' horseradish spread.


This post is a part of Wanderfood Wednesday at Wanderlust and Lipstick.

Career Exploration Via Family Travel

Last Labor Day, I put together a little photo compilation of some fun and important people who work hard to make vacations and outings more fun. This year, I thought I'd show off some occupations Big Arrow has been able to try out because of our adventures.

Like a firefighter (via the Chicago Children's Museum).

Or a paleontologist (via the Children's Museum of Indianapolis).

Gas station attendant (via the Boston Children's Museum).

We even trusted him to be our boat captain during our week on Saginaw Bay in Pinconning, Michigan this summer.

As for Little Arrow, the world got a lot bigger for him this week... he started crawling. If you're wondering why I'm not blogging much, it involves vacuuming and keeping small particles out of his mouth.

Happy Labor Day! Enjoy this last blast of summer. Speaking of our trip to Pinconning, next week I'm going to write a bit about some tasty food from that area of Michigan. Check back if you love cheese!

This post is a part of Photo Friday at Delicious Baby and Friday Daydreamin' at R We There Yet Mom?

Hitting the Beach in Michigan

I think there's something really therapeutic about watching kids play on the beach. Like your doctor should prescribe it in the winter months to cure the blues. (Perhaps insurance would cover an airplane ticket to someplace warm?)

If you're a Midwesterner, then you know the southwest part of Michigan, along Lake Michigan, is a really popular summer destination because we can get our fill of sand, surf and sun without driving very far. Views like this less than 4 hours from home? Just tell me where to sign up for an annual membership.

I took these photos in tiny Union Pier, Michigan, just north of New Buffalo. But there are wonderful beaches all along this stretch of "coast."

Michigan Love Around the Blogosphere

I'm not the only fan of Michigan out there. Here are a few other posts about "the Mitten" from some fellow family travel bloggers.

• 5 Favorite Places for Kids on the Sunset Coast, Michigan from Wandering Educators
• Discovering Children's Museums in Michigan from Road Trips for Families (I have one to add to her list, we spent a great morning at the Curious Kids' Museum in St. Joseph that I'll be writing more about later.)
• Mackinac Island on a Mission from Road Trips for Families
• 5 Favorite Food Joints in Detroit from My Kids Eat Squid

This post is a part of Photo Friday at Delicious Baby and Friday Daydreaming at R We There Yet Mom.

A Summer for Slowing Down and Savoring the Moment

When we pick a vacation destination, I jump right into trip planning. What is there to see? What should we do? Where should we eat? How much time is enough to see it all?

It's not that I want to rush through an experience, or see things just to say I've seen them. But tomorrow isn't promised to any of us, and you never know when or if you'll make it back to a place. So while I'm there, I want to really live it up.

And while I still love to research a new place and figure out what makes it special, in recent years I've changed my mindset about doing it all. That's been one of the beautiful things about having kids. You slow down. Sometimes you slow way down. It doesn't mean we don't get out into the world, it just means we do it a little differently. Traveling with kids has been more about enjoying a moment than it has been about making something into a moment.

Here's what I mean: An ordinary trip to the playground is more special when palm trees are your backdrop. Meeting a street performer might be what you end up remembering best from a jam-packed trip to the big city. Hiking while the baby snoozes in your Ergo is special not just for the beautiful trail but because it means quiet conversation with your husband. And every great vacation day ends with ice cream (actually, I thought that was true even before kids...)

Our trip to Saginaw Bay in northeastern Michigan last week is a good example of this change in thinking. We spent 7 days at my inlaws' cottage right on the lake. It shows me that a vacation can be about just enjoying your environment, the food on your plate, and the people you're sharing it with. It's not always about museums, popular restaurants, and doing what others consider must-see things. (Although I still love all that, too.)

This trip was about savoring the full moon over the water each evening with a cold beverage by my side.

And actually being thankful your baby is an early riser, because it meant you saw lots of lakeside sunrises.

It was breathing in the freshest of air, savoring every breeze, and feeling the sun on your face.

It was about grandparents, aunts and uncles getting quality time with kids that are growing up faster than I ever thought they could.

The week included a celebration of our country on the 4th of July. I've spent the 4th in some beautiful and popular travel destinations. Madrid. Boston. Charleston. But this holiday spent in little Pinconning, Michigan will rank right up there with those trips.

I'll always be a do-er when I travel. Sightseeing is in my blood and motivates me to travel to new places. But I'm learning to appreciate the special, unplanned moments that make our trips even better than I ever imagined them to be when I was back at home weeks before, pouring over a guidebook.

Our travels this summer have been sweeter, livelier, and certainly more exhausting. It's like someone cranked up the color wheel and made everything a few shades more vibrant. It's a feeling a camera will never be able to capture, and a trip planner could never schedule.

This post is a part of Photo Fridy at Delicious Baby. We're off to a different area of Michigan this coming week, so things will be a little quiet again. Keep up with us on Facebook where I tend to hang out more when we're on the road.

This post was also featured on the Ergobaby blog as part of their Summer Travel Series.