There’s something about summertime that just evokes memories of being out of school and taking a family vacation together. While my upbringing was a little different than most, growing up in an airline family that never traveled during the summers because of overcrowded airplanes, we still always tried to get away at least for a weekend together to do something fun. Whenever possible, we tried to incorporate our friends into the vacation too! After all, the more the merrier and there’s something so crazy and fun about making the lists, gathering up needed supplies, preparing food (if necessary), and gearing up for a weekend/week/month (!?!) away from home with your family and friends. (And don’t laugh, I have actually rolled up to a vacation with my family in a severely over-packed station wagon. It was mortifying, trust me).
We are SO blessed to live in Northern California where we have a surplus of places to go on vacation, all within driving distance of our house. 30 minutes to the beach, 45 minutes to the city, and best of all? 3 hours to the mountains. So when I met my husband a few years ago and he bought a house in Lake Tahoe that very weekend, I knew we were destined to spend every.single.vacation there. Heck, we even went there for our honeymoon! (Let’s not talk about what I think about that…)
I think what’s so fun about taking a family vacation with friends in an actual house is the fact that you can bring everything that you need. We planned meals, brought snacks and of course made sure we had provisions to do picnics on the beach… in the glorious Lake Tahoe sunshine.
This was the first year that the Kidlet really got into going in the lake, which was as usual, really dang cold. But with the 80+ degree weather and the scorching sand, it ended up being kind of perfect. A little lunch, a little swimming and of course, a little Hansen’s Natural Soda!
I’ll be honest, being pregnant, Hansen’s has been my go-to drink this summer. There’s something so refreshing about cracking open an ice cold Key Lime Twist or Grapefruit (my two absolute favorite flavors) when it’s hot and sunny outside, especially at the beach with friends. I mean, the husband tells me they make delicious cocktails, but I guess I’ll have to wait to find out… *sigh*
But for now, I’ll just crack a Root Beer, throw some ice cream in it and enjoy the last remaining days of summer… from my beach chair.
Where did your family vacation take YOU this summer?
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