Category Archives: Vacation Ideas

Acadia: A Panoramic Perspective

Posted on by

Several friends have asked if we took any pictures while we we visited Acadia National Park this summer. The sunrise and sunset pics on Cadillac mountain were some of my favorite moments, but Acadia is huge. We only had four full days, and explored the park by foot, bike and kayak, taking pictures that I believe only capture a glimpse of the incredible beauty that surrounded us. It certainly didn’t hurt that we had four days of sunny, breezy, nearly bug-free adventures. And the one night I sat to stargaze, a brilliant comet sped across the sky, like the sprinkles on top of a perfect day. 

Swimming Through Clouds

Posted on by
Some things are worth waking up for… Cadillac Mountain, Acadia. Note the clouds on the ocean!

When a good friend offered to lend me a book on Acadia National Park [Thanks Caitlin!], I was thrilled. But our chaotic life allowed us one opportunity to pick it up: just as we began driving out of Locust Valley. We spun by her house and she drove up seconds later. She gave us one piece of advice on Acadia before we got back into the RV to officially start our summer vacation: “You have to try the Popovers at Jordan Pond.” Um. Okay. For the vacation, we might need the help of Global Bascamps tours, and I heard from my friend that they are really good. And that they do an amazing job portraying details of historical events in places.

I think I’m the only member of my family that can read in a moving vehicle without getting nauseous. Thus for years, I was the designated Map Navigator. When our beloved GPS came along [a gift from two very special friends from our med school days: Thanks Andy and Linda!!] I thought I was finally relieved of my job. Unfortunately, the GPS, like every electronic toy out there, has the propensity to malfunction at the most unexpected moments. Like when you’re supposed to take a major exit or else end up in Alaska. Yes. This is why hubby purchased not one, but two, road maps and atlases for those times when we need a second opinion, sort-a-speak.  Continue reading →

Music in the Mountains: Soulfest 2012 POST#1

Posted on by
Nothing like a road trip to get away from the madness…

*[NOTE: Masala Mama just couldn’t help herself! She had to give you a quick glimpse into her world away from the real world! But she promises that even though she posted this on FB and Twitter, she did NOT check her FB or Tweet. She is simply checking in. Then Checking out! :)… ]

Writing to the rhythmic sounds of toilet flushing is both helpful and disturbing. Useful for moments when your sleep-deprived lids start to fall unbeknownst to your tapping fingers. Mentally jarring because you begin to dream that you’re trapped between a campground lavatory and three hunter green port-a-potties that are all ventilating in your direction like heat-seeking missiles. Ahhh. The joys and pains of finding the one free outlet in the middle of nature, and watching your electronics recharge next to the low hum of the Pepsi vending machine. If I describe one more outdoorsy detail, you might begin to think I found the Shangri-La where Gary Paulsen penned his first lines of The Hatchet. Not so my friends. I’m in New Hampshire’a Gunstock Mountain Resort. Paulsen’s story took place in Canada. But I did run into two Canucks the other day. Nicest people ever. Canadians that is. Just sayin… Continue reading →

From Sunset to Sunrise…

Posted on by
 I’ve come to accept that Paulus family vacations will not be chalk full of rest, but I must say we’ve come a long way from our days when three of them were in diapers and I had to pack for everyone. Back then, I felt exhausted before we even left by the time I had collected, organized, rolled and fit in all the clothes, toys, shoes, meds, and other into each of the girls’ bags. Now my girls are old enough to pack for themselves. Hallelujah!! I can honestly say that I had no idea if my four year old packed enough underwear before we left for Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. But she loves clothes, so I just counted on her having plenty of everything. That’s my diva-girl! I was bound to get at least one with four daughters!I think the age old pursuit of R&R is rarely captured once you have little ones. And sometimes even when you don’t have kids. Because Americans in general don’t vacation enough, so when we do, we try to pack in a lot of seeing, doing, and living into one or two weeks. Some of us even carry a check list of MUST Do and MUST Sees to ensure we don’t miss anything. 

Ever Suffered from Cooking Amnesia?

Posted on by

So there are many things I love about Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. This was the fourth visit for us *Thanks to hubby taking a class, and I never tire of the beachy ocean shorelines, sunny blue skies weather, and tasty good eats. And I’m not a very picky eater, so if you’re looking for an expert food critic’s evaluation of the most famous restaurants on the island, you’ve come to the… wrong place. But stick around anyway, just for the yum of it! 

There are a lot of yummy options in HHI, and we tried quite a few this past week. *Disclaimer #1 here…especially for the trainers at my gym… Yes, I did partake in samples of all that you see below, but I rarely ordered my own, and I biked three times during the week. And did push-ups twice. Soooo, don’t be too mad! Puleeeeaze! 🙂

Back to matters of eating… Continue reading →

Thinks That Sparkle

Posted on by
 “Mommy, here’s a shiny one.” Sarah, my four year old, hands me a little silver speckled white rock from one hand while tossing the rock from the other into the river. “Mommy. That one’s not for throwing..it’s for you to keep.”
I held the rock out until the sun’s light made it look like I was holding a diamond. Then I put it safely in my pocket. Made me think? What gives a stone it’s worth? And why is that we love things that sparkle?
Last night, as we took a night hike around our North Mills campsite in North Carolina,  billions of stars dotted the moonless sky. Sarah, gripping tightly to her daddy’s hand, looked up and said, “Ooooh! The sky is too sparkly!”
“Do you like it?” Wasn’t sure why she chose the word too?
“Yes!” Must be a four year old thing. 

Katniss? Is that you?

Posted on by

A woman sporting a bow and arrow emerges from behind the bushes. The videographer steps backward, holding his camera steady as he moves away. 

“Katniss?!?” I scream without thinking. 

“Cut.” Videographer looks over at me, rolls his eyes, and shakes his head. 

“Sorry. I got a little excited when I saw the bow and arrow.” My bad?

That was not my line. The truth is, they never gave me any lines. Or any parts either. I wasn’t even an extra. And the girl… Looked nothing like Katniss Everdeen. 

How Do You Get There from Here?

Posted on by

  Some of us are born with an internal GPS of sorts. We have a natural sense of direction. And we backtrack like we’re a fugitive on the run, able to retrace steps and return home because we instinctively memorize landmarks, street signs, and pay attention to the ‘Do Not Enter’ warnings. 

Then, there’s some of us who have two left hands. We tell the driver, “Turn right.” Then when the car begins to veer in one direction, we begin screaming, “No! No! My other right!” And the GPS is our best friend. We program it just to hear her cool British accent. Even when we’re heading to work. The same three minute drive we do daily. Just to be on the safe side. Continue reading →

For Freeeeeeeeeeeeeee… An Easter-ish Story

Posted on by
“Where did you get that?” Mom would ask when we came home from school with something we didn’t take from home that morning. 
“The teacher gave it to us. It was free!”
“Beta, there’s nothing free in this world.” 
I heard this my whole life. For the most part, I have to agree. People rarely give you something entirely for free. But…. Continue reading →

Where the Island Ends…

Posted on by

Went to the city to meet up with my college roomie! Hadn’t seen each other in ten years. With husbands and kids in the mix, it only made sense to head to Central Park for a gorgeous New York afternoon of play and catch-up. What I love about Central Park is how in the midst of one of the busiest cities in the world, there’s this carve out of grass, park benches, bike paths, gardens, miniature lakes, and playgrounds that make for a perfect pit stop before diving into the next week of hustle and bustle. The West Side sandbox park was perfect for the age ranges of all our kids, and while Sarah was climbing up a stairwell, and then the railing, I heard her squeal, “I’m on top of the world!”

Got me thinking. What is it about reaching the peak or finding the end or touching the bottom that appeals to us as humans? Why do we often journey till we reach a limit? 
Continue reading →