For three weeks, our family of four (plus one set of grandparents) canvassed Kauai. From the relaxed and sunny South Shore to the more adventurous and remote North Shore, we - and our trusted minivan rental - sought out all that the isle had to offer, which we've bundled up below to hopefully assist in your own travel planning.
California's Mohave Desert wasn't just a remote retreat; it was the kickoff to seven months of global travel for our family. Along with the arid environment and expansive views came all of our emotional baggage - the slow adjustment to life without 9-to-5 jobs (and steady income), nearby family and friends, and the transition to full-time parenting and 24/7 general togetherness.
I’d love to romanticize the reason we packed our bags and flew to Maine. But the truth is that we were too scared to fly further than two hours the first time we had our kid in tow. So, we paired proximity with butter-drenched lobster rolls and ocean views, and had ourselves a vacation plan.
This past weekend, we loaded up the car to explore a part of the state we haven’t spent much time in - northern Michigan’s Petoskey area - and in particular, the quaint and charming Harbor Springs community situated on Little Traverse Bay.
Most of the time, it’s a destination that drives me to plan a weekend away. But in this case, late-night scrolling on Airbnb - which revealed one of the most swoon-worthy home rentals I’d seen - was the impetus for a trip to Elk Rapids, just north of Traverse City, Mich.
Departing DTW 