Summer Vacations

Image 1: Cinque Terre near sunset, Italy

This post features photos from past summer vacations while answering ten questions about summer vacations.  Compare answers with me!  (Question list below). 

Image 2: Overlook at Ferry Bluff Natural area, Wisconsin.
View of Wisconsin River with Sandbar
Notice the tiny canoes at the bottom edge in the river

1.  Share your summer trips for 2025!  

(2024 trips would be easier!)  Summer trips in 2025 should consist of (2) weekend in-state camping trips, (weather permitting).  One is a canoeing trip where you camp on a sandbar in a large river, water levels permitting.  

Image 3: Overlook at Ferry Bluff Natural area, Wisconsin.
Wisconsin River view with my kids and nephew, 2023

I hope to add in a visit to Door County, and possibly (a day trip? or two??) to Chicago.  This summer is a good time to stay home and enjoy Wisconsin in it's best season, especially when money and vacation days were used for the spring trip to Japan.  Someone has work on the 4th of July this year, so no July 4th mini-vacation to Door County or Michigan, both destinations I've enjoyed in the past.

Image 4: Canoeing on the Wisconsin River with three adult  children

2.  How do you manage the post vacation laundry?

I try to wash vacation laundry almost right away once home - within a day or two.  It might have sand or bugs or whatever from afar. 

Image 5: Sandbar Camping on the Wisconsin River

3.  What are your most memorable summer vacations.  

My most memorable summer vacation (post pandemic) was a trip to Italy including Venice and Cinque Terre.  Hot but wonderful!    

Image 6: Rialto Bridge at night, Venice, Italy

Another special summer vacation was a road trip from Wisconsin to Charleston South Carolina which included three National Parks (Smoky Mountains!)  I discovered driving trips could be fun, and I set a goal of visiting all of/(most of) the National Parks !  

Image 7: Angel Oak Tree, Charleston, South Carolina

4.  Do you cook or eat out on vacation?  

We eat out on vacation because of places we stay (mostly hotels).  We have camped out and cooked, but I am not great at it.

Image 8: High Tea in Tokyo

5.  Do you over pack, under pack, or are you just right?   

If I'm driving, I way over pack and that car is filled!  Even flying - It's so hard to not over pack.  Especially if there will be cold weather (gloves and heavy coats needed.)  Doing laundry on vacation isn't fun, and extra shoes are a must. (If it rains, I am not wearing wet shoes.  In Japan we had to buy my daughter new shoes because hers got soaked...)  

Image 9: Spring in Tokyo, Japan - with wet shoes in the rain

6.  Beach, Lake or Mountains?  

Where do I want to go? or what's close? (particularly for summer).  For me it is sights.  I'd prefer mountains and beaches, but this summer, near Wisconsin, no Mountains, so Lake.  Beaches can be rocky around here, like in Door County.  

Image 10: Door County Beach, Wisconsin
Notice that the rock Cairns can be taller than the kids*

7.  Road trip or Fly? 

Road trips for small things (Weddings, camping), flying for "real" trips, and then rent a car once there if needed.  If you only get X days of vacation, I want to get to a spot fast and enjoy the location.  Except for that road trip to Charleston...

Image 11: Unknown bridge from car at sunset, South Carolina

8.  My favorite vacation activities are... many things!  Seeing sights and museums, dining at great restaurants, exploring new places and cultures, hiking in beautiful locations, and shopping!  

Image 12: Oak tree on Wisconsin Hillside

9.  Best packing tips?  

Packing cubes, but not black ones.  (which is what I have)  Looking for adapters and power cords in black packing cubes tucked in with black clothes is a pain.  Having all socks and undies and technology extras in neat flexible packages, magic! 

Image 13: Kids Watching Sunset, Door County, Wisconsin, USA

10.  Favorite road trip songs?  

With multiple people we take turns selecting songs.  My daughter has incredible musical tastes, and I like hearing new tunes, .  When I pick a song it could be Billy Joel, Greatest Showman tunes, and Josh Groban's Oceano, and Canto Alle Vita.  I like peppy, upbeat and beautiful music.  

Image 14: The list of questions from Pinklady

This is a new kind of post for me.  I am participating in a link party where the questions above were posted (by Holly and Patty) with a link party where people answer these questions.  I hope you enjoyed my answers.  Thinking about the responses and writing this post took such a long time, but allowed me to organize vacation photos to find photos to share.  Feel free to post your answers or ideas on some or all of the questions below!

I hope your summer includes fun vacations
with friends and family!
...and a lot of beautiful sunsets! 

Click on the images to see them enlarged!

Let me know any thoughts you have on the questions above in the comments!  Anonymous comment are welcome!

_____________________________________

See other FANTASTIC travel posts here...

_____________________________________

If you enjoyed this post, you might also enjoy...

Summer Sunsets

Glass Garden

Italian Garden

Lotus Garden

Winter Garden

God's Garden

Spring Blossoms

Yellowstone

Flower Mirror

Bluebirds

Travel Memories

Rock Window

Bonsai in Bloom

Orchids

Lilies of Valley

Orchid Peacock

_____________________________________

I am linking up to these parties:
Holly pinklady: Monthly Musings Summer Vacation (Entry 27 of 27.)
Bosworth Life*: POCO Love (Entry 14 of 14.)
Esmesalon: Salon Pit Stop 367 Mon 4a (Entry 14 of 173.)
Rachel Swirl*: Sunday Snapshot (Entry 2 of 6.)
Mostly blogging: Inspire me Mon 523 (Entry 6 of 41.)
My Random: Anything Goes 450 (Entry 3 of 56.)
Good Random Fun: Good Fun Mon 4a (m Entry 8 of 39.)
*BNOTP: Metamorphis Monday 6a (s Entry 17x of 33x.)
Holly pinklady: Hello Mon (l Entry 10 of 25.)
Loulougirls: Fabulous-party Mon 586 (l Entry 4 of 54.)
Keeping it Real: Party 469 (Entry 2 of 49.)
Wisdoms+Wrinkles: Wisdoms Party Tue (Entry 9 of 15.)
Mersad photography: Thru my Lens (Entry 1 of 16.)
Kristin at Uncommon Slice: Inspire Me Mon 333 (m Entry 10 of ***monthly)
* Marty at Stroll Life: Inspire Me Mon 783 (l Entry 1 of 107.)
Karins Kottage: Linky Party (Entry 4 of 108.)
Image-in-ing: Weekly link up (Entry 7 of 36.)
Nicholasjv: Travel Tuesday (Entry 4 of 13.)
Jenerally informed: Happy-now 483 Tues (m Entry 42 of 79.)
Altered book lover: T Tuesday (Entry 4 of 13.)
My Wee Abode: Tuesday Turn About (s Entry 44r of 118r.)
Stonecottageadventures: You're the star (l Entry 9 of ***)
Flusterbuster: Creative Muster 643 (l Entry 4x of 107x.)
Studio27 - Jennifer: Wed Studio 16 (Entry 19x of ***)
Artsy Mama: Team Creative Crafts (Entry 17 of gone.)
Eclectic Red Barn: Wonderful Wed (Entry 3r of 142r.)
Grandmas house: Grandmas house 459 Wed (m Entry 20 of 70.)
My world Thru My Lens: My Corner Wed (Entry 10r of 35r.)
Fifth Sparrow No More: Whimsy Home 141 (Entry 4r of 78r.)
Our Hopeful Home: Vintage Charm 497 Wed (m Entry 11 of 46.)
Simple Life Mom: Homestead Blog Hop 555 (Entry 10 of 73.)
Lisa Howeler: Weekend Traffic Jam Thur (Entry 2 of 70.)
Karins Kottage: Linky Party (Entry 4 of 108.)
Pennys Passion: Thinking out Loud Thur (Entry 2 of 42.)
French Ethereal: Share Your Style Wed 459 (b Entry 19 of **)
KatherinesCorner: Th Fav Things 498 (Entry 36 of **)
Also Our Hopeful Home: TFT 498 (Entry 36 of **)
Its a small town life: Thankful Th 24 (Entry 12 of 15.)
Modern on Monticello: Home matters 537 (s Entry 1 of 119.)
Answer is choco: BFF open house Thur (Entry 4 of 95.)
Coastal Bohemian: Funtastic Thur 549 (Entry 7 of 113**)
Pieced Pastimes.gr: Saturday Sparks Fr 8a (L Entry )
Countyroad 407: Farmhouse Fri 405 (Entry 3 of 103.)
Shoreline Journeys: Time to Travel July (Entry 4x of 5x.)
Skyley: Skywatch Fri (Entry 40r of 40r.)
Momfessionals: Fri Favorites (Entry 21 of 22.)
** Cottagemarket: A morning cup of Joe (L Entry 29 of 55.)    I was featured here!
Shabby Art boutique: Create-grow-gather 682 (L Entry 64x.)
Crazy Little Love Birds: Link party 96 Fri (Entry 15 of 48.)
Rambling Woods2: Nature Notes Fri (Entry 5 of ?6.)
Pams Party: Dare to share 456 Fri 11p (m Entry 16 of 59.)
Weekend Reflection: reflections (Entry 6 of 14.)
Huisvlijt: Huisvlijt Party Sun (Entry)
Nixpixmix: Sunday Best (l Entry )
The house on Silverado: Sun on Silverado 255 (Entry 1 of 107.)
Eclectic Red Barn: Happiness is Homemade Sun a (Entry 6 of 121.)
Life and Linda: Dishing it Digging it Sun 2p (l Entry **)
A pinch of joy: Busy Sun 6p (l Entry **)
Jaipur Gardening: Garden Affair Sun (Entry 3 of 7.)
Sew can do: Craftastic Mon Su (Entry --)
A Labour of Love: Happiness is Homemade 497 (Entry 6 of 121.)
Pienilintu Finland: Wed around the World (monthly)
Life tales books: Will blog for Comments Mon (5 bi-week)
Create with Joy: Inspire me Sun-Mon (monthly)
Grace filled moments: Sweet Tea Friends (m Entry 5 monthly)
Lindas lunacy: Making-a-home Tue 9a (m Entry monthly)
April Harris: Hearth and Soul Sun 10p (Entry monthly)

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Summer Sunsets

Watching the sun set over water can be a sublime experience.

Image 1: Sail Boat at Sunset, Door County

I try to take advantage of this opportunity whenever I can, (and when the weather and clouds cooperate).  This particular sunset in Door County, Wisconsin, (USA), was memorable.  It changed minute by minute: at one point pastel colors seamlessly blended yellows, soft oranges, corals and lavenders over a glowing light blue water. 

Image 2: Sail Boat at Sunset, Door County

The colors deepened as the sun settled lower, turning lavender into purple, flickers of colors still dancing in the water.   

Image 3: Sail Boat at Sunset, Door County

And yes, I did get the photo of the boat passing in front of the sun!  A haze allowed watchers to look directly at the sun, not necessarily the typical conditions*.

Image 4: Sail Boats near Sunset, Door County

The sunset didn't start out looking promising (image 4).  I thought the clouds would block the sun's descent.  I watched boats sailing by, optimistic.  I was rewarded when the sun reappeared under the clouds! (see Images 1-3.)

Image 5: Sail Boats near Sunset, Door County

After the sun sets, the color show continues, but at a slower pace.  For me, watching a sunset is almost always a reflective experience.  

Image 6: Door County Marina and reflections after sunset

I hope your summer includes many wonderful sunsets, where ever you are!  Stop and take the time to enjoy them, and notice the minute by minute changes!

*Notes: 

Because the sun sets in the West, there are only a few locations in Southern Wisconsin where you can view the sunset with no distant shoreline.  (Wisconsinites can photograph a lot of sunrises over Lake Michigan, (one of the Great Lakes), but Michigan gets the sunset coastline of Lake Michigan.

Unfortunately, Wildfires far away probably was the reason for the haze that allowed viewers to look directly at the sun.

To get the photo of the boat passing in front of the sun, which was still very bright, I had to change camera settings, and the camera can't easily capture the colors from the similiar frames.

June's Summer Solstice is June 21! - the longest day of the year.  It's funny that Summer officially starts with the longest day - every day getting shorter by just a bit...

Image 7: Sail Boat at Sunset with Quote

"The sun does not shine
for a few trees and flowers,
but for the wide world's joy."  - Beecher

"Doing nothing often leads to
the very best of something"  - Winnie the Pooh

Live in the sunshine.
Swim in the sea.
Drink in the wild air.  - Emerson

"I was rich, if not in money, 
in sunny hours and summer days."  - Thoreau

"Rest is not idleness,
and to lie sometimes on the grass
under trees on a summer's day,
listening to the murmur of the water,
or watching the clouds
float across the sky,
is by no means a waste of time."   - Lubbock

As always,
Click on the images to see them enlarged!

I blog for fun and my blog is ad free.  Comments encourage me, and I sometimes need encouragement. Please leave a comment if you have time!  Anonymous comment are welcome!

_____________________________________

See other FANTASTIC travel posts here...

_____________________________________

If you enjoyed this post, you might also enjoy...

Glass Garden

Italian Garden

Lotus Garden

Winter Garden

God's Garden

Spring Blossoms

Yellowstone

Flower Mirror

Bluebirds

Travel Memories

CBG Orchid Show

Rock Window

Bonsai in Bloom

Orchids

Lilies of Valley

Orchid Peacock

_____________________________________

I am linking up to these parties:
Bosworth Life" POCO Love (Entry 2 of 21.)
My Slices of Life: Talking about it Tue 76 (Entry 41 of 106.)
Esmesalon: Salon Pit Stop 366 (Entry 38 of 187.)
Rachel Swirl: Sunday Snapshot (Entry 6 or 7.)
Mostly blogging: Inspire me Mon 522 (Entry 20 of 44.)
My Random: Anything Goes 450 (Entry 2 of 56.)
Good Random Fun: Good Fun Mon 4a (m Entry 9 of 35.)
*BNOTP: Metamorphis Monday 856 (s Entry 20x of 23x.)
Holly pinklady: Hello Mon (l Entry 10 of 24.)                 Found Tuscany!
Loulougirls: Fabulous-party Mon 585 (l Entry 15 of 51.)
Keeping it Real: Party 468 (Entry 2 of 43.)
My world Thru My Lens: My Corner Tu (Entry 2r of 35r.)
Wisdoms+Wrinkles: Wisdoms Party Tue (Entry 8 of 12.)
Mersad photography: Thru my Lens 488 (Entry 16 of 18.)
Kristin-Uncommon Slice: Inspire Me Mon 333 (m Entry 9 of 14***)
* Marty at Stroll Life: Inspire Me Mon 782 (l Entry 3 of 112.)
Karins Kottage: Linky Party (Entry 15 of 99.)
Image-in-ing: Weekly link up (Entry 22 of 29.)
Nicholasjv: Travel Tuesday 502 (Entry 4 of 14.)
Jenerally informed: Happy-now Link-up 481 (m Entry 21 of 38.)
My Wee Abode: Tuesday Turn About (s Entry 44r of 107r.)
Stonecottageadventures: Tues with a twist 638 (l Entry 18 of 31.)
Stonecottageadventures: You're the star monthly (l Entry 86 of 135.)
Flusterbuster: Creative Muster 5p Tues (l Entry x)
Studio27 - Jennifer: Wed Studio 16 (Entry 4x of 21x.)
Artsy Mama: Creative Crafts (Entry 5 of 90?gone.)
For the love: Wed Link up Party 367 (Entry 4 of 27.)
This is my Everybody: Wonderful Wed (Entry 6r of 83r.)
Also Penny's Passion: Wonderful Wed (Sun) (m Entry 6r of 83r.)
Grandmas house: Grandmas house 457 (m Entry 20 of 57.)
Artsy mama: Artsy Party Wed 10a (Entry 5 of 46.)
Fifth Sparrow No More: Whimsy Home 139 (Entry 8r of 81r.)
Our Hopeful Home: Vintage Charm 495 (m Entry 14 of 90.)
Simple Life Mom: Homestead Blog Hop 553 Wed (Entry 16 of 81.)
Studio27 - Jennifer: Wed Studio 22 (m Entry 15x of 22x.)
Lisa Howeler: Weekend Traffic Jam Thur (Entry 5 of 59.)
Is this Mutton: Tuesday Twirl (Entry x of 46x.)
Penny's Passion: Wonderful Wed Sun (Entry 5 of 70.)
Pennys Passion: Thinking out Loud Thur (Entry 5 of 70.)
French Ethereal: Share Your Style Wed 6p (Entry 4 pf 26.)
Katherines Corner: Th Fav Things 10a (Entry 34 of 128.)
Also Follow the yellow brick: TFT 10a (Entry 34 of 128.)
Its a small town life: Thankful Th (Entry 8 of 16.)
Modern on Monticello: Home matters 535 Fri (s Entry 5r of 118r.)
Answer is choco: BFF open house Th 6p (Entry 5 of 95.)
Lisa Howeler: Weekend Traffic Jam (Entry 1 of 70.)                 I was featured here!
Coastal Bohemian: Funtastic Th 549 (i Entry 5 of 80.)
Pieced Pastimes.gr: Saturday Sparks 673 (L Entry 4 of 109)
Countyroad 407: Farmhouse Fri 403 (Entry 6 of 112.)
Skyley: Skywatch Fri 230 (Entry 29r of 33r)
Momfessionals: Fri Favorites (Entry 27 of 33.)
* Cottagemarket: A morning cup of Joe (L Entry 14 of 56.)     I was featured here!
Shabby Art: Create-grow-gather 680 (L Entry x of 100x.)
Crazy Little Love Birds: Link party 94 (Entry 24 of 41.)
Rambling Woods2: Nature Notes Fri (Entry --)
Pams Party: Dare to share 456 Fri 11p (m Entry 4 of 84.)
Weekend Reflection: reflections 230 (Entry 7 of 12.)
Huisvlijt: Huisvlijt Party 27 Sun (Entry 15 of 39.)                   I was featured here!
Nixpixmix: Sunday Best 436 (l Entry 6 of 14.)
The house on Silverado: Sun on Silverado 255 (Entry 2 of 107.)
Ducks n a Row: Happiness is Homemade 590 (Entry 8 of 70.)
Life and Linda: Dishing it Digging it Sun 311 (l Entry 23 of 129.)
A pinch of joy: Busy Sun 677 (l Entry 3 of 121.)                    I was featured here!
Roentare: Water Thursday (Entry 5 of 9.)
A Labour of Love: Happiness is Homemade 590 (Entry 8 of 70.)
Also Eclectic Red Barn: Happiness is homemade Sun (Entry 8 of 70. )
Pienilintu Finland: Wed around the World (15 of monthly)
Life tales books: Will blog for Comments Mon (bi-week)
Create with Joy: Inspire me Sun-Mon (monthly)
Grace Filled Moments: Sweet Tea Friends (Entry 6 of 99 monthly***)
Lindas lunacy: Making-a-home Tue 9a (m Entry monthly)     neat blog
April Harris: Hearth and Soul Sun 10p (Entry 64 of 93  monthly***)

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