Summer Adventures

The beach. The mountains. The perfect KC staycation.

There are so many options this summer now that more families may be venturing out again.

My happy place is sitting seaside, umbrella over my head, toes in the sand, book in hand, kids playing in the waves.

The ocean brings me joy. 

And if I am being honest, other places are wonderful, but no other place used to bring me the same peaceful mindset as the beach. That was, until this last year.

We all shifted in different ways throughout the pandemic.

My mental happy place has shifted as well.

I gotta be honest. The last place I would have found joy pre-pandemic was on a bicycle. My husband loves riding. My kids love riding with him. I love watching them ride while I read a book on the driveway.

But we have all tried different things over the last year.

For me, one was bike riding again.

When a co-worker mentioned this small town in Arkansas that had amazing bike trails for a fun family getaway, my first thought was, thanks but no thanks.

Load up five bikes, three kids and lots of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with a side of tantrums? That does not sound like a peaceful vacation.

But on second thought, I decided to reframe my thought process just as I have done for so many things over our pandemic year. So, we did load up all the bikes, packed lots of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and threw caution to the wind in hopes of a wonderful getaway.

I am so glad that we did.

It was amazing. The whole thing. The trails. The new experiences together as a family. The joy it brought my family gave me more joy than I have felt in a long time—dare I say better than the beach?

It was a reminder that my happy place doesn’t always have to take up the same space. Don’t be afraid to reframe thoughts, ladies! 

And if your family loves biking: Bentonville, Arkansas. Google it! ■

Written by: Erin Little

Meteorologist Erin Little starts your day off with a smile and the forecast each morning on KCTV5 News This Morning. With over a decade of experience forecasting the weather in Kansas City, she understands it’s not all about the weather, but how it will impact our busy lives. Erin is thrilled to be raising her three young children in her hometown of Lee’s Summit. You can find her Monday through Friday, 4:30 a. m. to 7:00 a.m. on KCTV5 News. Connect with Erin: Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @erinkctv5.