Travel

Oct 17, 2021 ∞

MEA 2021 Road Trip Day 1: Drive to Chicago

Weather: Cool in the morning. Nice and clear weather all day. Nice in Chicago.

6:00a Departed on schedule!
6:36a Enter Wisconsin
10:33a Enter Illinois
11:35a Lunch at Lou Malnati’s. The fact we can drive from our house in the morning and have lunch in Chicago blows my mind! 🤯
1:49p Visit Shedd Aquarium
4:15p Check in at Chicago Athletic Association.
5:30p Dinner at Game Room in the hotel.
7:00p Magical evening at the Magic Parlour! 🪄

Part of MEA 2021 collection.

Aug 16, 2021 ∞

Varmont Road Trip Index

In the spirit of Harper’s Index, here is our index for the Vermont Road Trip.

Airbnbs stayed in: Five

Miles driven: 3,777

Spent on gasoline: $475.70

State border crossings: 19

Road Sign Math winners found: Ten.

Miles of Appalachian trail hiked: One mile, twice.

Cheeseburgers Tyler ate: 10

Ratio of all Cheeseburgers that Tyler ate: 10 of 18.

Count of boats on: Four.
Floathaus, Sailboat, Canal cruise, Donut boat

Ice cream shops: Nine.

Photos taken: 2,958

Percent of photos taken by Jamie: 54%

Count of books purchased: Nine.

Number of towns visited: 20
Accord, Albany, Cleveland, Douglas, Fennville, Hoosick Falls, Kingston, Littleton, Manchester, Montpelier, New Paltz, Pittsford, Rochester, Saratoga, Saugatuck, Shaftsbury, St. Johnsbury, Woodstock (NY), Woodstock (VT)

Museums visited: Five.
Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium, Historic Huguenot Street, Woodstock / Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, Hildene, Rochester Museum & Science Center

Count of clothes Mazie bought: Five.

Ratio of clothing purchases by Mazie: 5 of 7.

Number of baby Leeches on Mazie's legs: Over one hundred

Jump to day 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 of Vermont Road Trip.

Aug 16, 2021 ∞

Best Ice Cream of Vermont Road Trip

On our drive back we went back and each of us picked the favorite ice cream we had on our Vermont Road Trip. It was interesting to me that we all picked a different place!

Mazie: Key Lime Pie at Sleeping Giant on Day 4.
Tammy: Mint Chocolate Chip at Kilwins on Day 14.
Tyler: Sea Monster at Charlie’s Around the Corner on Day 13.
Jamie: Peanut Butter Chunk at Greater’s on Day 1.

Aug 16, 2021 ∞

Vermont Road Trip Log: Day 16, Sunday

Weather: Perfect. Warm and sunny.

7:46: Depart Floathaus.
7:55a: Uncommon Coffee Roasters for coffee and pastries.
8:01a: Depart Saugatuck.
9:03a: Entered Indiana 👋
9:11a ET/8:11a CT: Back in central time!
8:40a: Entered Illinois. 👋
10:16a: Entered Wisconsin. 👋
11:16a: Rocky Roccocco pizza! Deforest, WI.
2:45p: Final Ice Cream stop at C&J Candy Shoppe in Mnemenje.
3:29p: Enter Minnesota! 🙌
4:02p: Back home! 🏡
Final odometer reading: 3,894.

Jump to day 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 of Vermont Road Trip.

Aug 15, 2021 ∞

Vermont Road Trip Log: Day 15, Saturday

Weather: Perfect.

Breakfast at GROW Café + Bistro. 🍽
Return shopping at Urban Found for Mazie. 🛍
Pottery projects at Express Yourself Art Barn. 🎨
Return visit to Roan & Black for Kimmy Cantrell mask!
Afternoon ice cream at Blue Star Cafe! 🍦
Afternoon in the waves and sand, lots of sand, at Oval Beach. 🏖
Visit to one of our favorites, Salt of the Earth in Fennville for dinner. 🍽
Pennyroyal Cafe for dessert, huh?

Jump to day 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 of Vermont Road Trip.

Aug 14, 2021 ∞

Vermont Road Trip Log: Day 14, Friday

Weather: Perfect day!

Enjoyed a relaxing morning on the Floathaus.
Amazing breakfast at Pennyroyal Cafe.
Check out the art at Roan & Black.
Iced coffee at Uncommon Roasters.
Walk around downtown Saugatuck: Teeny Tiny Toy Store, Glik’s, Landshark, it is what it is, Grins of Saugatuck, Jeff Blandford Gallery, Sea Bags of Maine, Wine Sellers of Saugutuck, Amazwi Contemporary Art, Kindel and Company, Urban Found, Good Goods.
Kilwins Ice Cream.
Saugatuck Dune Rides Over the Years! 🤩
Hang out and have fun at Oval Beach. The waves were great.
Return to Pennyroyal Cafe for a delicious dinner and incredible desserts.

Urban Found storefront in Saugatuck, MI.

Jump to day 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 of Vermont Road Trip.

Aug 13, 2021 ∞

Vermont Road Trip Log: Day 13, Thursday

Weather: Clear morning until Pennsylvania with moderate to heavy rain. Crazy heavy rainfall in Ohio. Weather cleared up in Michigan and rest of the day was very pleasant.

6:04a: Depart Airbnb in Rochester.
8:05a: Enter Pennsylvania. 👋
8:25a: Gas stop on I-90 outside of Erie, PA. ⛽️
8:55a: Enter Ohio. 👋
9:40a: Just past Cleveland, very heavy thunderstorm and downpours! ⚡️⛈
Culver’s for lunch in Oregon, OH.
12:27p: Enter Michigan! 👋
3:35p: Arrive Saugatuck, MI.
Great afternoon in a Donut Boat rented from Retro Boat Rentals.
Extended power outage disrupted our plan to have dinner at the Southerner. Had a fine dinner at Fresh Basil Cafe.
Charlie’s Round the Corner for Ice Cream.
Settled into the Floathaus of Saugatuck.

Jump to day 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 of Vermont Road Trip.

Aug 12, 2021 ∞

Vermont Road Trip Log: Day 12, Wednesday

Weather: 89 °F, feels like 103 °F. 🥵

Mad Hatter for breakfast.
Rochester Museum & Science Center.
Iced Maple Latte with extra shot at Ugly Duck Coffee.
Shopping stop at Millenium Games
Pittsford Farms Dairy for Ice Cream.
Boat tour down the Erie Canal on the Sam Patch.
Delicious Good Luck Burger for dinner.
Prep for an early departure tomorrow!

Jump to day 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 of Vermont Road Trip.

Aug 11, 2021 ∞

Vermont Road Trip Log: Day 11, Tuesday

Weather: Good weather, pretty hot. Started raining after we got settled in Rochester. Hot and humid in the evening.

7:45a: Depart Treehouse.
8:00a: Dunkin’ Donuts! 🍩
Drive to Rochester, NY.
10:31a: Enter New York. Goodbye Vermont. 👋
11:45a: Lunch at DomAdi’s Deli in Amsterdam, NY.
3:40: Arrive in Rochester, NY. Get settled in Downtown Rochester Retreat.
Walk to Vern’s for an amazing Italian dinner and drinks outside.

Jump to day 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 of Vermont Road Trip.

Aug 10, 2021 ∞

Vermont Road Trip Log: Day 10, Monday

Weather: Nice, clear day. A bit hot in the afternoon with temps nearly 90 °F.

9:09a: Depart Treehouse.
9:22a: Enter New Hampshire!
9:45a: 1h 15m wait for table at Polly’s Pancake Parlor. Switch up plans.
9:50a: Worst coffee ever at REDACTED. 😤
10:40a: Flume Gorge hike. Amazing! Wow! 🤩
12:00p: Return to Polly’s Pancake Parlor after calling ahead this time!
12:30p: Seated at Polly’s.
1:00p: Pancakes!
Check out downtown Littleton, NH and shopping.
Found ourselves a bit without a plan in the late afternoon. Mazie suggested we park along the River and Tyler and her could jump around the rocks. Tammy suggested I get a coffee so I get an iced coffee, sparkling water, and a bottle of water. Dehydrated! We had a nice hour or so with our feet in the water and the kids playing.
At the end of our tranquil River cool down time the kids were getting out and Mazie fell into a bit of water. Nothing huge, but it happened to have a pocket of baby leeches! When she stood up we though she had algae on her legs, but they were actually baby leeches and she justifiably FREAKED OUT! We spent the next bunch of time clearing centimeter long baby leeches off her legs and calming her down. Whew!
Delightful dinner at Schilling Beer Co.

Jump to day 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 of Vermont Road Trip.