Monthly Musings ~ June 2025

 It is time for June's monthly edition of Monthly Musings talking about Summer Vacations.

1.  Share your summer trips for 2025.

I had a quick visit this week to see my oldest daughter in Chattanooga and a trip to Kentucky to see a friend of mine I met while living in South America.  She is in Kentucky this week for a visit and I drove to see her.  More on this trip coming soon!

My other trip will be a quick beach trip with Jenn!  We are excited to get away for a few days!

2. How do you manage the post vacation laundry?

It is pretty easy for me now.  I just empty my packing cube into the hamper and wash sometime soon.  When the girls were living at home, I would wash the next day or so and it was somewhat like a normal laundry day.

3.  Most memorable summer vacation?

This has my head spinning in a good way because I have so many great vacation memories.  As a child, most of them included camping trips in our camper.  Once married, we traveled a lot and took our kids a lot of places as well.  We had a camper for a few years when the girls were little which made traveling fun and easier.  Since I worked as a travel agent on and off over the past 35 years, I use to receive some good benefits.  

Any trip to NYC is memorable & probably the most memorable summer trip there was the first one with both my girls. 

4.  Do you cook or eat out on vacation?

I cook if I am at a place that has a full kitchen.  Otherwise, I eat out most of the time.  Regardless, I always bring snacks!  If I am on a road trip, I will bring a bigger supply of snacks.

5.  Are you an overpacker, underpacker or just right packer?

For the most part, I think I am just right.  Sometimes, I do take an extra outfit I don't wear, but I would rather have it than not.  That being said, if I know I am going somewhere I can easily purchase something, I don't worry too much if I have forgotten something.

6.  Beach, lake or mountain?

I enjoy all 3! I think of the beach and lake more for the summer months and the mountains in the fall.

7.  Road trip of fly?

If it is under 8 hours, I will drive.  If it is much longer, I will probably fly.  If I had someone with me and we had stops along the way, I could take a longer road trip. I enjoy both!

8.  Favorite vacation activites?

I like to relax and sleep in, but I also like to be on the go!  I like a plan, but I do also like a flexible schedule.  Depending on the location, I enjoy a national park trail, whitewater rafting, an art museum, a broadway play, a wax museum, different restaurants, looking at local houses, an amusement park, a baseball game or other museums. 

9.  Best packing tips?

My best packing tip is one that probably so many of you do....packing cubes!  I have had mine for years and originally bought them through a website that sells travel gear before Amazon or others had a version of them. I use them for hair items, different types of clothes, different days of clothes and then re-use them as dirty laundry bags midway through a trip.

10.  Favorite road trip songs?

I like a mix of songs - it can be anything from worship, 80's, current music, country or broadway.  I also listen to podcasts and a book if I am traveling alone.

Have a great day!