Swirly Cones & Sand

I'm not a beach person. Never have been. Never will be. But there's something about the Cape that draws me in. One thing's for sure, I'm going back again this summer and can't wait!

My son, Jack, is ten this year and for the past four years we've been throwing boogie boards, sunscreen, fishing poles, and swimsuits into the car for the 9+ hour trek up north to celebrate the ending of another school year. Two peas in a pod....on our way to join my mother who has opened her house on Cape Cod for the summer.

We didn't start out by thinking, "hey, let's start a new tradition by driving nine hours only to get sunburned and drive home again." Like the calm water lapping at the sand bayside, it just seemed to happen naturally. Now the memories of that first summer are pooled with new ones created each June.

On the Cape, the beginning of June is still considered early season. It can get a bit chilly but we're rewarded by beaches stretching for miles that are only lightly sprinkled with others getting a jump on the season. The dogs can roam freely to discover small crabs and other ocean fauna. In-town traffic flows freely and you can easily get into Mac's without a reservation. You can even take a relaxing stroll over Uncle Tom's Bridge to meander through town and check out the shops without being jostled. Best of all, there's rarely a line to get a chocolate-dipped swirly cone down at the Pier.

We like to spend most of our time in Wellfleet where the beaches are abundant, each with its own personality. I like hanging out bayside where the water is calm and the people are few and far between. (It also limits the expose my ever-expanding backside to the world!) The setting easily allows for seashell hunting and building sandcastles. Oceanside is much different and a favorite for Jack. He loves the roar of the sea. The crashing waves give a thrill to anyone with a boogie board and a little bit of courage.

My mother likes to end her days by taking a pot of steaming clams over to one of the bayside beaches, giving her something to fill her stomach while she watches Mother Nature offer up another one of her stunning sunsets. My husband enjoys walking the miles and miles of endless beach found oceanside.

It was on Cahoon Hollow, an oceanside beach, that Jack caught the largest fish at the beginning of that season. Using a $15 flea market pole and borrowed bait, my little man reeled in 36Lb/32in striped bass! Unbelievable....especially to the "professionals" decked out with the latest gear and gadgets.

Last summer Jack went to his first "drive-in" movie. What a throw-back from the past, not to mention great fun! With the SUV backdoor up, speakers hitched to windows, we enjoyed buttered popcorn and a double-feature under the stars. During the day on weekends, the drive-in hosts the area's largest flea market where deals abound for those willing to bargain.

At least once during our stay we'll gather friends, firewood and good food and head down to the beach for a bonfire. Add music and smores to the mix and you have the perfect summer beach party.

Early June gives way to the rest of summer -- crowded beaches, long lines and traffic jams...all those things we want to escape during the year. As the crowds are coming in we're just leaving. But, we'll be back. As always, eating swirly cones, building sandcastles, and making more memories.

The Art of Group Travel

Summer is right around the corner and I'm in the throws of planning a three-week vacation to Umbria! What better time to offer up some tips on group travel.

I enjoy traveling solo or with just my family but traveling with others is high up on the list. Group travel allows you to share memories and adventures with others, and is a great bonding experience. You're probably thinking, "yeah, right."

I'm not saying take a cross-country trip with a busloads of strangers. That would be a nightmare. I'm talking about gathering some good friends with common interests for a trip of a lifetime.

Two summers ago 19 friends and family experienced what I like to call our "Wild West Adventure." We started at Mt. Rushmore and ended up in Jackson Hole. We shared the nostalgia of a national monument, visions of watching the ranchers bringing in the herd, starry nights and smores, hikes through national parks rewarded by stunning vistas, encounters with nature's awesome beasts and predators, and, at the time, sore stomach muscles caused by so much laughter. Best of all, we have memories to last a lifetime.

I've also had successful group adventures through the Mediterranean, driving the coast of California, and meandering through the rolling hills of Tuscany.

Seriously, it's fun. Just follow the my tried-and-true tips and your won't be disappointed.

The Great Coordinator: Inevitably one person (sometimes two) rises to the top as the person who is the Great Coordinator (GC); the central point of contact for planning and information. Typically, the GC is an enthusiastic control freak (me, defined perfectly. My husband likes to call me "General." I don't mind this so much as long as he follows my orders). The GC is usually the person who announces that a trip is being planned and encourages people to join in the fun. The GC has (or will) research the destination and activities, but also encourages others to contribute to planning.

Separate rental cars = guaranteed sanity: A fundamental rule in group travel is to allow for you and/or your family it's own private time and freedom to come and go as you/they please. A rental car allows this to happen gracefully.

Go with the flow: Never feel you have to be with the group all the time. One person's pleasure can be another person's pain. While staying at a Dude Ranch my husband and another fellow liked to take early morning walks with their coffee. Me, not so much. So I let them do their thing. While we relished the idea of white-water rafting, the idea made another family nervous. I liked the idea of taking a jeep tour through the mountains of Corfu. Some thought I was nuts and didn't go.

Throw your insecurities out the window: Just because someone doesn't want to do a planned activity doesn't mean they don't like you, are upset, or some other negative reason. It means they simply don't want to do it. It's not about you. It's about them and their desires. 'nuff said.

It's all about the attitude - Laugh and laugh often. Don't worry about the small stuff. It will all work out. If you miss the ferry, take the next one. If you don't like the restaurant, go somewhere else. If they only have buffalo rather than beef, try the buffalo. If someone arrives late, get started anyway and they can catch up. If the route is closed because of a forest fire, take another route. If the line is too long, walk down with the donkeys. Bottom line: BE FLEXIBLE.

Go on, give it a try. Pull together some friends and hit the road for a great adventure. If you need help planning or have questions, let me know. I'm a GC a heart. In my next life I'm coming back as a travel planner who lives in an olive grove in Tuscany.

Happy trails!

OMG - More than a month since my last blog. Wasn't in the mood to write. Still not but thought I should. Here's what I've learned in the last month:

• Don't take your child's lack of good grades out on another child. If your child doesn't perform, own it.
• If it's really that bad, speak up. (I already knew this but it never hurts to be reminded.)
• Hopelessness sucks.
• Cherry Blossoms rule.
• Orange is the "new" black but I knew that two years ago. Keep up folks!
• The Blackberry Storm, while convenient, doesn't have the great touch capabilities of the iPhone.
• Roy is miracle worker.
• It's possible to have pneumonia but only think you have a sinus infection.
• Three months from today I'll be in Italy.
• Twitter is oh so cool.
• I have to cut back on the carbs.....or walk a helluva lot longer.
• Fidelity Bank sets expectations that can't be met. Hang in there DJ!
• I can be somewhat delusional but not as much as others.

I'm sure there are more things I've learned but I have to run and meet a client!

What have you learned lately?