It was a perfect “between the busy” moment spent with Hockey Bob. An opportunity to talk about the past week, share funny stories and just enjoy being together on our walk to the Chelsea Farmers Market at the new Palmer Commons event space (304 S. Main St, Chelsea, MI 48118).
There is nothing better than spending a one on one trip alone with one of my kids – getting to know them as an individual, bonding, making memories. Over the years I have noticed that the most memorable mother daughter trips have a few things in common…
1. A common goal or project
The easiest way to ensure that you spend your time together bonding and making memories, is to plan the trip with a common goal or project in mind. This common goal can be as simple as a puzzle that is worked on in a rural cabin after peaceful days of hiking, a location scavenger hunt or a photo challenge like the “11 photos you should take if you want to” that Riley and I created to rebel against an article indicating that you should not take these photos. The best thing about photo challenges is that the end result is a collection of photo memories. Google “photo challenge” for a premade list, or inspiration to create your own!
The requisite “jumping” photo for our annual photo challenge
2. Plan for rainy days/changes in plan
Even the best laid plans can be derailed by weather or other unforeseen circumstances. Always be prepared with a backup plan. When visiting Hocking Hills, our backup plan in case of rain was the same as our common goal – working on the puzzle in the cabin. We lucked out and it didn’t rain, but it was nice to know that no matter what happened we had something to do, together.
3. Try/learn something new together
Riley and I went rock climbing for the first time one our mother daughter trip to Hocking Hills, Ohio. Alex and I went paddle boarding in Santa Rosa, California. Be brave, be adventurous. Zip lines, haunted houses, cross country skiing – there are so many things to try! It doesn’t matter if you fail, or whether you ever do it again. What matters is that you experience something new, together. These are the life moments that you will never forget. Next up – a Segway tour. I have no idea where, but it’s on the bucket list!
Rock climbing in Hocking Hills, OH
4. Make time for familiar activities that you already enjoy
One of our “try something new” activities on a family vacation years ago was geocaching. It has now become an activity we do nearly every time we travel. Whether finding the physical “treasures” of a traditional cache or discovering the beauty of our travel location with an earth cache, geocaching is usually a can’t miss activity for a mother daughter trip. Whether it’s hiking, an Escape Room or mini golf, be sure to make time for familiar activities.
Geocaching in Hocking Hills, Ohio
5. Create traditions
Make your mother daughter trip an annual tradition. Make it a priority to spend at least a weekend together, with no responsibilities or distractions other than the plans you have made with each other. If you find an activity that you both enjoy that can be done anywhere, make it a tradition to do that (or a variation of it) each year during your scheduled trip. Or even as a small getaway for the two of you from a larger family trip. For example, always follow the same photo challenge list, or always try a famous restaurant or new food. Riley and I intend to do our “11 photos you should take if you want to” challenge during each new mother daughter vacation. 11 identical but different photos of our adventures, each with it’s own story or private joke.
Do sunsets look the same, wherever you travel?
6. Visit the same place every year…or make it a point to explore a new place each year
So far, my daughters and I have primarily visited new places each year for our mother daughter trips. Alex and I have had the places chosen for us by default, as her figure skating schedule dictates dates and locations (I am NOT complaining, as Portland, Oregon and Santa Rosa, California were gorgeous and so much fun!), while Riley and I have stayed driving distance but with more freedom to choose the final destination (Hocking Hills, OH; Silver Lake Sand Dunes, MI). When traveling to more familiar places with the whole family, we do have favorite places to “get away” to – one we would recommend is Ding Darling on Sanibel Island, our must see when vacationing at Nana’s house in Fort Myers, Florida. Whether you hike or drive, Ding Darling is well worth the visit.
A Ding Darling Sunrise, Sanibel Island, FL
7. Find unique/cool places to eat
Whether it’s VooDoo Donuts in Portland, or the best hamburgers in Michigan, be sure to check out the food recommended by locals. We have had ice cream for dinner, searched out food trucks, and eaten at festivals. Make it a point to seek out food that you cannot get at home. (And seriously, if you are in West Michigan, go to Brown Bear in Pentwater and get a burger)
Lunch with the Coliseum Comets at the block of Food Trucks in Portland Oregon. All that variety and Alex chose pizza – go figure.
8. Make time for nature/quiet time
This one is tough for me. I tend to feel like I always have to be planning something, going somewhere or “accomplishing” something, – when the whole point of the mother daughter trip is the person with me. All of the goals, projects and adventure are secondary to the relationship that those activities are intended to foster. So take a nature break. Hike. Make time for quiet togetherness. Walk together, sit together, talk, listen. Enjoy the beautiful person and relationship that your mother daughter trip is intended to celebrate.
Do you take annual trips with someone special? I would love to hear your stories, tips and suggestions – comment below!
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Tressie Davis is a blogger and photographer located in Chelsea, MI.
There is something to be said for technically perfect and beautiful travel photos. There is also something to be said for photos that make you happy – both when you create them, as well as when you look back at them later.
About halfway through the article, my first thought was “hey, I LIKE some of those vacation photos!”. My second thought was all “DON’T TELL ME WHAT TO DO” and my third was “hey Riley, look at this article. Wanna do ALL of them on our next girls trip??”
Because hey – who makes the rules anyway? Photograph and share what makes you HAPPY. (Except selective color. Please never do that. Also see notes below on railroad tracks – stay safe people)
It’s my Travel and I’ll take cheesy photos if I want to. And here they are.
11 Travel Photos You Should Take If You Want To
1. Railroad Tracks
Ok, on this one we actually agree with the original article. While I don’t mind the cliche of the “tracks into the horizon” shot, train tracks are not safe. So…just say no. Staying safe, our interpretation of this shot is a “Boardwalk into the distance”. We made a lot of trips to the Lake Michigan beach near Little Sable Point Lighthouse – this boardwalk leads to where you buy your tickets to tour the inside and climb to the top.
For the last couple of years, I have made it a mission to stop purchasing so many “things” and to start giving the gift of fun, togetherness and time. In December of 2015, the Christmas gift to our family was an outing to see the Harlem Globetrotters at the Huntington Center in Toledo, OH. To date, this is one of the most fun we have had as a family with a Christmas gift!
I’m not a huge sports fan, but even I had a great time at the show. There is
Where in Ann Arbor, MI can you see an Arctic Fox, a Reindeer and an albino Alligator? The Creature Conservancy !
Warm sun on our faces, Alex and I entered and were immediately intrigued by the black swans floating gracefully in the pond directly in front of us. In the distance to the right side of the pond, Emus wandered down to the waters edge to get a drink. A gentle breeze created tiny ripples in the water, prompting me to take a deep relaxing breath.
Slowly walking to the right, Alex and I headed toward the main building. Immediately upon entering, we met Luna the albino Alligator. We watched Luna for quite some time, swimming back and forth in her enclosure. It never occurred to me that Alligators could be albino, or what they would look like – Luna is beautiful!
After visiting Luna, we saw countless turtles and snakes. As we wandered, a playful and talkative raven named Poe caught our attention. Poe loved to bob his head, and say his name – “Poe Poe!, Poe Poe!”. We saw a sloth, muntjac deer, crested porcupines, an armadillo, barnyard animals and more.
Animal Presentations
Sven the Reindeer was the featured animal the day that Alex and I visited, and we entered the center room of the main building to watch Sven on the stone stage. Sven proudly shook his antlers, and strutted the length of the barrier to show everyone just how beautiful he is.
Other presentations included cougar feeding, alligator feeding, and cougar play time.
Hands On
The best part of the visit, was how many opportunities there were for hands on, interactive moments with the animals. Everything was very up close and personal, and in many cases you could touch the animals.
The entire location – indoors and out – had the relaxed, homey feeling of a farm, and people who work there are clearly passionate about what they do. The animal handlers were friendly, outgoing and eager to talk about the animals they care for. Alex and I were only there for a couple of hours, but we learned so much on our visit and walked away with a greater appreciation of the creatures that we share this planet with (and the people who advocate for them).
If you’re looking for a relaxing, low key outing with your kids in the Ann Arbor area, the Creature Conservancy is the perfect place to spend a couple of hours.
The Creature Conservancy is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that takes in injured, non-releasable wildlife and occasionally acquires individual animal ambassadors to meet their teaching goals. To learn more about The Creature Conservancy, visit their Website.=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Tressie Davis is a blogger and photographer located in Chelsea, MI.
