Summertime Travels - Hikes, Rainy Days and Legos

Believe it or not, I do not have an outfit post ready for today. I have been extremely unmotivated to take pictures and my daughter and I have another photo session scheduled, but not in time for my usual Tuesday fashion post, so I do apologize for my laziness. I've already succumbed to the lazy days of summer, even though it is still spring. Ha!

Instead I thought I would write a post on traveling. My husband and I both like to travel and if you have followed my blog from the beginning you have seen me do several posts on our travels to Florida, our attempt to go to Maine last spring and a few other short trips here and there. A few weeks ago, we were able to travel back to my hubby's old stomping ground in Wisconsin. 

I was first to drive. Here my hubby is pumping gas. 

Wisconsin is a beautiful state, full of gorgeous state parks, awe inspiring bluffs, rivers and lakes, and rolling hills interspersed with working farms and polka dotted with beef and dairy cows. Wisconsin is a large state, so we kept our travels limited to the lower one third of the state. Most of our time was spent in or around Madison, which is where the state capitol is. Mad City is a thriving, growing university town, full of interesting hang outs, shopping and one of a kind restaurants.

Our first night we spent north of Madison in a little community called DeForest. We were planning to travel further north to a beautiful state park the next day called Devils Lake. The fact that I was going to be apart from my seven year old Grandson for ten days, meant that we both were going to have a little separation anxiety. He still had school during the week, but I told him to pick out a few of his legos and they would travel with me. I assured him I would be sending pictures. 

The "guys" calling for room service.

The next day was bright and sunny. I donned clothes that would be comfortable and easy to hike in. This was my outfit, but I exchanged the Keds for my hiking boots before we took our walk. This fun pair of jeans are Rock & Republic brand, which I got at Kohl's. They have a nice stretch and I love the zippered cuffs at the ankle. 

We drove the forty-five minutes north and found that most of the state of Wisconsin was hanging out at the park! We ate a picnic lunch and then proceeded to hike one of our favorite trails. 

Minions love bananas!

Here are some photos from our hike. 

At the top of the lake.

The guys wanted to hike too.

I love trees, especially with this back drop.

Another view of the Lake

Even the guys were pooped after the hike.

They slept good that night.

As you can see, this is a favorite spot of my husbands and of mine as well. He has fond memories of hiking some of these same trails with extended family members from when he was young. We were able to bring our own family here nine years ago when we all got together to celebrate my in-laws 50th wedding anniversary.

The next two days it rained, and it rained and it rained. Needless to say the guys started getting stir crazy. 

I'll continue this on a different occasion, so you can see more of the guys' adventure and more of our vacations pictures. 

Are you taking a vacation this summer? Where are you going? What are your favorite places to visit when you want to relax and have fun? I'd love to hear you thoughts. Leave me a comment or two.

Check back on Thursday, when I will have a fashion post on my Old Becomes New column.

 

Movie List: My Favorite Things

I thought it would be fun since it is Valentine's weekend to post a list of some of my favorite romantic movies. Old, new, black and white, musicals, comedies, dramas....romance is everywhere.

It Happened One Night - Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert (1934)

The Sound of Music - Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer (1965)

While You Were Sleeping - Sandra Bullock and Bill Pullman (1995)

The Lake House - Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves (2006)

Gone With The Wind - Clark Gable and Vivian Leigh (1939)

Pride and Prejudice - Kiera Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen (2005) or Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle (1995)

The African Queen - Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn (1951)

The Princess Bride - Cary Elwes and Robin Wright (1987)

There are so many good, romantic movies out there and these are just a few of the ones I like. When I watch a movie I want to be drawn in. I want to leave this world behind and be in the world on the silver screen. All of these movies do that for me. Clark Gable and his snappy dialogue, both with Colbert and Leigh, not to mention his good looks, keeps me watching. The dance between Andrews and Plummer and the following dialogue and song in the dark gazebo are moments to be remembered. From Bill Pullman "leaning in" towards Sandra Bullock to Cary Ewles saving his "true love", these are movies I love to watch over and over.

In the comments section below tell me what your favorite romantic movies are!