Summer is here, which means it’s time to recharge! Whether that’s a cruise, a camping trip or a beach stay in Florida, we’re all searching for our own version of a mental reset. For our little family, the last six months have felt heavy with pilot training and crazy circumstances, so we have been ready for a break. This summer, I was in search of a vacation that offered more than just relaxation and quality time together. While those are important (and certainly on my list of must-haves!), I also wanted to change our way of living, and by that I mean … go back to simple.
Since things have been tough here, we needed to change up our environment, slow things down and disconnect to reconnect. There’s truly no better place to visit than our small town in northern Michigan to disassociate from the rest of the world and get back to simple living, even just for a few weeks. Back to simple living. Back to our roots. Back to small town America.
A road trip was the perfect way to start this journey. Granted, a three-day road trip with two young kids, a baby, a puppy and enough luggage to last three months may not be the easiest, most convenient or even quickest plan of action, but we were optimistically positive it would be an … exciting experience.
This trip was all about slowing down and being in the moment, and what better way to do that than by being forced in a car with our tiny humans?! Kids are a great way to notice the little things in life we tend to miss because we “don’t have time.” In all honesty, I love a good road trip, especially to a quintessential American town. And for me, knowing that our final destination is “home” made the trip that much sweeter.
Small town America is more than an annual summer destination. Don’t get me wrong, it still represents a perfect summer tied together with a charming little bow. But the peace is in the details: quiet mornings on the front porch listening to birdsong while savoring those first few sips of coffee, chasing fireflies in the backyard and messy faces from s’mores around the fire.
The wonder is the awe in my babies’ eyes as we take in the magic of fireworks, local ice cream shops and building forts in the woods behind Nana and Papa’s house. The simplicity is going back to a place where everyone knows everyone. Time stands still, and somehow you’re sitting on the front porch swing with a good book in one hand and an iced tea — or margarita — in the other, loving life.
In short, small towns pave the way to take us back to simpler times. They are food for the soul, offering a stillness and quiet that produces a sense of peace. Our own small hometown gave us the tranquility that our hearts and minds desperately crave when life inevitably becomes too much, and after a few weeks home, we are reset, recharged and reconnected. With an iced tea in my hand, I am absolutely confident this summer is going to be the best one yet.
