One of my favorite things to do to pass a cold January or February evening is to dream of summers past and plan future adventures. Jacob and I always joke that planning a trip is half the fun of the trip itself. Would you agree?
Last summer, we were fortunate to experience several amazing family adventures. I was not able to blog any of them, but I saved the pictures to share when I had the time. I am so excited to begin putting together these posts!
Last summer, we were fortunate to experience several amazing family adventures. I was not able to blog any of them, but I saved the pictures to share when I had the time. I am so excited to begin putting together these posts!
Sun Valley Bluegrass Festival
We spent the first half of the summer in the Cincinnati area. I took quite a few classes at Miami for my Master's program, and we welcomed Isaac, my sister and brother-in-law's son, and Rosie, my brother and sister-in-law's daughter, to the family in May and June, respectively. Reed and I spent the long, lazy days between home, the amusement park, the nature center, and the zoo.
Reed and Matt at the Cincinnati Zoo
Simply being able to spend a summer at home with my family was an amazing blessing in itself, but we were able to travel a bit in the second half of the summer, too! Our first trip was to Assateague Island National Seashore.
We fell in LOVE with this natural, rugged, peaceful seashore. Located on the coast of Maryland and Virginia, Assateague is a world of its own and a complete treasure. There is no lodging on the island, only campgrounds, so we found ourselves immersed in nature and completely surrounded by naturalists, explorers, and adventurous families.
Our campground was a short walk from the beach, but there were campsites on certain sections of the beach as well. We quickly found our reservation, set up camp, and got our toes in the sand!
The beaches were not completely empty, but they were not populated in the same way of some of the more popular beaches we have visited. We also quickly discovered that Assateague was teeming with wildlife! Sika and whitetail deer roamed the salt marshes and maritime forests, there were all kinds of birds everywhere, and the ocean was full of of fish, stingray, and crab.
The boys were in heaven. I was just a little excited, too.
The boys were in heaven. I was just a little excited, too.
Jacob and Reed spent hours catching crabs from the shore and on the piers outside of the park.
We don't call Reed "The Little Outdoorsman" for no reason.
I could watch the boys fish all day... as long as I have snacks. And books.
Who are we kidding- I always have snacks and books!
I was taking an online poetry course at Miami while on this trip. Let me tell ya, there are worse things in the world than reading A Thousand Mornings on the beach.
Who are we kidding- I always have snacks and books!
I was taking an online poetry course at Miami while on this trip. Let me tell ya, there are worse things in the world than reading A Thousand Mornings on the beach.
I actually might read Mary Oliver on the beach from now on.
In fact, I think Mary Oliver would have explored and loved every inch of Assateague Island, pencil and paper in hand. Everything was so natural, wild, and varied. We saw new things every day.
Wild horses roamed the island. They even showed up in camp a few times (they also like snacks). But they were very gentle and left our things alone. The park has pretty strict rules concerning the treatment of the horses and storage of food, so we made sure to comply!
On an early morning walk (notice Reed still in boxers!)
The horses were breathtakingly beautiful.
Technically, the horses are feral, not wild, meaning they are descendants of domesticated horses that have reverted to a wild state. The park rangers and staff carefully monitor the herds to keep both visitors and the horses safe and happy. If you would like to read more about Assateague's famous wild horses, click here.
We spent most of each day at the beach, of course. We set up a beach canopy and played in the sand, fished, swam, and, of course, took naps.
Love those fat cheeks. They aren't as apparent anymore, now 6 months later.
Although the beach was where we spent most of our time, I also really enjoyed the various nature trails maintained by the park. The "Life of the Dunes" trail was my favorite. TLO and I walked the whole trail one night, and it was the most beautiful trail I have hiked in my life.
Part of the trail contained remnants of an old road. Then it meandered into brush, sand dunes, and a beautiful forest. It was amazing to see the variety of landscapes on one island.
Although we packed in plenty of food, we couldn't resist the seafood restaurants just a few miles outside of the park. Each evening we enjoyed a delicious meal before heading back to camp.
Our time at Assateague Island was priceless. It was wonderful to unplug and enjoy the natural surroundings in such an immersive way with my family. We can't wait to go back!
Are you working on any summer vacation plans? Let me know where you are going in the comments! Also, check out a couple of our adventures from summers past!
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