Oh Boy, Sheboygan

Ten years ago, someone I worked with mentioned bringing his kids to Sheboygan. A word I had never heard of, and a word I had forgotten about until early this year, when I was trying to figure out where we should go on our first trip with two kids.

Why not Sheboygan, WI? A three-hour drive from where we live in Illinois, a city with lots of kid activities, a county that offers the beach and forest. And boy, it did not disappoint.

We found a rental right on the beach and as soon as we got there, the kids raced straight to the sand. The joy on their faces as they rolled around, picked up shells, and dug holes. Sand in every nook and cranny. The wind whipped our hair and rejuvenated our spirits, now free from the confines of the van. The peace we felt as we listened to the waves crashing into the shore. No one else around us.

I get why families take vacations now. Despite G fussing in her carseat and Bub asking every few minutes when we’d be there. Despite lugging noise machines and remembering to bring diapers. Despite navigating nap times and trying to make a new place toddler-friendly. Being away from home took us out of our comfort zone but forced us to grow closer as a unit. No distractions.

Memories were made from swinging with G in the hammock, playing Green Bay Packers checkers with Bub, and tackling a Minnesota-themed puzzle with Steve and Bub while G napped. I want to remember Steve and G doing yoga together on the living room rug and watching Buddha ride the waves as she retrieved a giant stick. I want to remember that the kids were happiest outside in the sand.

And when we did drag them away from the beach, we had a blast visiting the Mini Mocha Play Cafe, Bookworm Gardens, and the Above & Beyond Children’s Museum. We found everything we needed at Nature’s Best Market. I wanted to leave the trip wishing we could stay longer, and I got what I wanted.

When we got home, before unbuckling his seatbelt, Bub turned to me with a smile and said, “Oh, I thought we were going to go run to the sand.” For a brief moment, he had forgotten that we had left Sheboygan. Feels like a dream now, doesn’t it?

Carmel-by-the-Sea

Oh, Carmel. How do I love thee.

Let me count the ways…

I love the ocean views.

I love that the entire village is walkable.

I love that the cottages have names instead of numbers.

I love how dog-friendly it is.

I love that it’s only a two-hour drive from the city.

If I had $3 million lying around, I would buy a home here in a heartbeat. Carmel is the epitome of “cute” and “quaint”. I think I say “how cute” at least a hundred times when I’m visiting.

Dare I say it, I love Carmel more than Napa. The wine culture can be found here as well. There are wine bars, extensive wine lists, and specialty wine shops every few feet. But, I get the ocean when I come to Carmel and that has made all the difference.

Where to stay

Carmel is a touristy town and there are adorable inns throughout. There aren’t many Airbnb options (I’m assuming so as not to take business away from the long-standing inns here). Most inns offer breakfast and are dog-friendly. Carmel is the #1 dog friendly town in the US after all.

Where to Eat

Cottage for breakfast

Carmel Bakery for a sandwich (built in 1899, they’re the oldest running retail business in town)

Stationæry for a salad (their homemade chai is good too)

Patisserie Boissiere for a sweet treat

Mission Ranch for an awesome view

There are plenty of delicious places to eat, not only in Carmel but in nearby Monterey and Seaside. I haven’t had a bad meal in the area yet!

what to see

Carmel Beach is one of my favorite places because it’s huge and filled with happy, frolicky dogs. It’s truly a dog’s paradise. We love going straight to the beach when we arrive, tiring our pup out first, and then walking around town.

17 Mile Drive and Pebble Beach are cool to see at least once. We paid an entry fee at one of the gates ($10 cash) but there’s probably a way to get onto the drive for free. We just haven’t found it yet. The drive takes you along the coast, which is scenic for sure, and there are plenty of lookout points to stop at. You also get to see the famous Pebble Beach and the Equestrian Center.

The Carmel Mission Basilica Museum is beautiful to see and walking distance from Mission Ranch. It has a $10 entrance fee.

Ocean Avenue is the what I’d consider Main Street in Carmel. It’s filled with little shops and restaurants. It’s where you’ll find Carmel Bakery. Once you’ve seen Ocean Avenue, you can explore the side streets, like Lincoln and Dolores, and the charming courtyards and secret passageways sprinkled all over downtown.

The Lake Life

Growing up in the Midwest surrounded by cornfields and prairies, I longed for mountains and ocean coasts. Wealthier friends had lake houses in Michigan and Wisconsin. Others, like me, resorted to people's backyard pools or the rare excursion to Chicago's public beaches along Lake Michigan.

For July 4th weekend this year, we had the privilege of spending a couple days at a friend's lake house in Lakeside, Michigan. It's a little village near New Buffalo.

When we arrived, it didn't take me long to understand why people loved spending most of their time at their lake houses. I felt like I was at adult summer camp. Our friend's cottage home was surrounded by tall pine trees and located on a quiet street. The home's interior was walled and floored with beautiful pine wood, which gave it a cabin-like feel. The beach was a stone throw away. Our days consisted of sleeping, snacking, and going to the beach. It was wonderful.

The best thing? We were only 90 minutes from Chicago.