Family Vacation 2015

Sunday we left bright and early for Indiana. We were up at 6 and out the door before 7.  We dropped Teddy off with my sister in Ankeny on the way. A few minutes after getting back on the interstate, Wes was already asking if we were there yet. The drive was supposed to be just over 5 1/2 hours, but we were prepared to stop 3-4 times each way. We made it to the Iowa City rest area before stopping. The kids ran around and we got snacks and drinks out of the cooler. I wanted this to be a cheap trip, so we packed water, soda, juice and several types of snacks to avoid convenience store waste.


The kids were happier after a break. They had one paint with water book but I bought another before the trip. They are great. Melissa and Doug makes a reusable one, and they really aren't messy. The iPad and the DVD player were the other diversions, but the kids enjoyed looking out the window and playing I spy, too. We stopped again after about two more hours to have lunch at Culver's (the kids' favorite) and fill up with gas.

On the next leg, we decided we were making good enough time to stop at the beach before the hotel, so once we got close, we made one more stop to refill the cooler with ice, and then we headed to West Beach, which is the main beach as part of the National Shoreline.

Since it was Sunday, it was still pretty packed when we got there around 2:30. The kids were excited though and played in the sand for a bit. Unfortunately, a storm was rolling in and the water was closed for lightening. We stayed a bit longer and headed the the hotel. We had dinner at a local Italian place and played in the pool. It was a good travel day.

Monday, we got up and headed down to the hotel breakfast. They had a pretty good variety, but the kids were mostly interested in Fruit Loops. We took lunch to the beach both days, so after breakfast, I made the kids PB&Js and Nick and I stopped for subway.

We headed to the beach at the State Park Monday.We got there early- 9ish, and there weren't many there so we had our pick of spots. It was a relaxing day of playing in the sand, climbing up the dunes and running down. Our spot on the beach was near a little creek coming off Lake Michigan. Norah liked that since there wasn't the pull of waves there. Nick helped the kids make a castle, and it was just a fun relaxing day. Having lunch with us was nice (there was a food truck there, though, too) and we got the kids snow cones for an afternoon treat. We stayed most of the day, so I was glad we had a beach umbrella to get the kids out of the sun. They both had rash guards, too, so that helped with sunscreen reapplying, which is not super fun on the beach with sand everywhere!

That afternoon, we headed back and showered. We went to a nearby restaurant and then went out to the Portage Beach. Portage is the town where our hotel was. The Portage Beach was much smaller, but there was a pier we walked out on and then we walked up and down the shore. It was free, too, which was nice since we just went for an hour or so before heading back to the hotel.

Tuesday morning we were up a bit earlier because the kids were excited to head back to the beach. We decided we preferred the State Park, so we headed back there after breakfast and packing lunch. It was another day of playing in the sand and water and hiking up the dunes. Wesley especially loved to hike the Dunes and run down. Nick carried Norah halfway up one so she could see the view. The lake was quite a bit calmer, so Norah wasn't so intimidated by the waved.

We spent the whole day there again, leaving at 4 or so. Norah was not happy to be leaving. Between being tired and disappointed, there was a meltdown. We cleaned up and hit the pool before dinner. The place I wanted to go was packed so we ended up at a diner and then headed back for bed and to pack up a bit.

Wednesday morning was hotel breakfast and then the drive home. We made it home at about 4:30, the kids both slept for a couple of hours, making it an easier drive on mom and dad.


We looked at cabins, but they were booked by the time we knew when Norah's surgery would be. Free breakfast at the hotel and the pool were good perks though as it turned out.