Also, here's one of my favorite pictures from our honeymoon that I probably would have eventually posted if I had finished writing about our trip to Hilton Head.
Paul: So, Katie. I'll start off by asking you the same question I asked Matt. What the hell have you been up to for the last 8 years?
Katie: The last 8 years have been full. Full of fun, surprises, disappointments, achievements, learning, laughs, great food, and of course travel!
I'd like to think I have grown a lot over the past 8 years, both personally and professionally. I finished grad school (yay!), have changed jobs three times, we bought a house, paid down debt (double yay!), and our family has grown (love you #bellathedog!). During all of that, we managed to take at least one, often multiple vacations each year.
I appreciate most that when we did not have much money, we still took great vacations. When we've had extra money, the vacations were still awesome, just maybe in different ways. That is to say, we have managed to vacation, no matter our budget. It is so important to get away!
We had some stressful times over the past 8 years, and even if all we could afford was going camping, I loved every second of it. Even if we had all the money in world though, I still love camping. It's been a few years, but we also managed to pull off some larger vacations with up to 8 (10ish?) friends. I look back on those days and they seem so long ago, but the memories are precious. I hope we can manage that again some day.
I've also managed some pretty great vacations with my girlfriends. New Orleans is a stand out. There is an energy to that city that I doubt can be matched anywhere else in the world. The food is just as great as everyone says. It exceeded all expectations, and I know I barely scratched the surface. I also had the pleasure of going to Toronto twice in the past few years. I love that city! There is nothing like a city view from a rooftop bar. I can't wait to go back and experience more.
Now, the world has been turned upside down with the COVID-19 situation we are all dealing with. I want to take a vacation badly, but that puts an obvious damper on the situation. That being said, stress makes me want to go up north, walk around in the woods in solitude, and swim in a clear, Northern Michigan lake. Meaning, going up north, ideally to the Upper Peninsula is the vacation I am currently dreaming of most. As much as I like to dream of vacations, now, more than ever, I'm trying not to worry about what the future holds, but live in the moment and make each day count.
Paul: Haha. I feel like our more extravagant vacations have always been when we've had less money. I'm jealous that you'll be heading up north soon. Northern Michigan really feels like a completely different world compared to how things are down here. You mentioned swimming in the lake or spending alone time in the woods, what are some of your other favorite places or things to experience while you're back home?
Katie: It's funny how that has worked out as far as shoe-string budgets, isn't it? It's all about perspective!
Speaking of that, I noticed you told Matt you preferred campgrounds with plumbing. For the record, if you have to draw water from a hand-pump, I'm in my happy place.
As far as being up north, of course Blue Lake will always hold a special place in my heart. There is nothing like swimming in that lake in the late evening on a hot day while watching the sun set. I struggle with seeing people replace the quaint cabins along the lake with large, fancy homes. It's their right but it tarnishes the small cabin secluded feel, that I will always remember.
As for the woods, those haven't changed much, thank goodness. There is a path, close to where you enter from the dirt road by my parents house. Follow that for a bit, and there is a hill top that overlooks the lake. That is one of my favorite views of the area.
If you have an ATV, keep following the path and the woods become more dense, and chances of seeing wildlife increase. That was and is one of my favorite thing about being up north; you never know what you will see!
Paul: If you could travel anywhere right now regardless of cost or any other restrictions, where would you go?
Katie: Oh, that's a tough one. Probably Australia or Ireland. Those are both top of my list. I would love to go see the great barrier reef, the outback, a show in the Sydney Opera House, and just hang out on the Australian coast. The beaches there look incredible.
Paul: What are some of your earliest travel memories?
Katie: That's definitely camping at Brevort in the U.P. We camped there every year, sometimes going multiple times a year. My family loves that place! As for lengthier trips, going to Colorado was a really fun family road-trip. I love going out west, and Colorado is such a cool state. We were on the road for a long time, which can get tiring, but overall it was really fun. We all got to pick out books and comics for the road, and books on tape (that's right, good ol' cassettes) to listen to. Going to the library and picking out all our road reading supplies was fun. I remember being excited but also frightened driving through the Rockies. Certainly something I will never forget!
Paul: The mountains in Asheville were terrifying enough for me. I can't imagine the Rockies.
Ware some of your favorite places you've been to eat while traveling since the blog has been on hiatus?
Katie: Monells Cafe in Nashville pops right into my head. Their food was incredible! Southern comfort food done perfectly! I feel like we waited 2 hours to get in, but 100% worth it. If you love fried chicken and biscuits, you've got to check it out.
Now, I can't remember the name, but there was this cute coffee shop in New Orleans that also served some food. They had this breakfast-on-the-go type dish where layered in a paper cup (think Starbucks grande size) grits, cheese, eggs, breakfast sausage and gravy. Yum! It sounds so simple but it was the perfect hearty breakfast to cure a NOLA hangover. Also in New Orleans, I had a muffaletta from the original deli that makes that sandwich, and it is mind blowing. I love a good sandwich, and this is such a show-stopper. I crave it regularly.
Paul: Okay, last question. Best road trip snack and best road trip song?
Katie: Oh man, I love both of these things! Snack is probably cheez-its! I love cheesy crunchy stuff, and your hands don't get too dirty. Perfect car snack (and sugar free red bull if I'm driving!). Song I think goes to "Danger Zone" by Kenny Loggins from the Top Gun soundtrack. It's road themed, super hype, and fun to sing a long to! All the best elements of road trip music.
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