First days of summer

What constitutes a vacation? Does it mean months of planning and saving? Pouring over websites and tour books. Joining forums and travel sites trying to find the best deal and the hotel with the perfect location.

Or is it simply a break from the norm? Sleeping in, coffee on the back deck, putting your phone on silent, pajamas till noon.

Are family and friends along too? Or is vacation time spent alone?

One of my favorite childhood memories is the summer we traveled all over the coast of Michigan. No reservations, no navigation system, no cell phone to check the reviews. Dad driving, mom beside him, Scott and I in the back equal parts fighting, ignoring and playing with each other. We crossed the Mackinaw Bridge, spent the day at Bronner's Christmas Wonderland, had the luck of a rainy day to find Petoski stones, and spent one night searching for a hotel finally finding one that mom was not happy with. I remember the room being blue, she found a cockroach in the bathtub and insisted we keep our socks on at all times.

Making memories with my own family now. K is an easy and enthusiastic travel companion. I have dreams of sharing Paris and Italy with her. Of showing her how big and amazing the world is.