Places where I spent one (or more) nights in 2020:
Hannibal, MO
*Williams Bay, WI
Kingsport, TN
East Peoria, IL
and home!
(italics - stayed there more than one night)
(* stayed there on more than one occasion)
It is a good thing that 2019 was the Year of the Road Trip, because we all know that 2020 was decidedly not!
Thankfully, after skipping our annual pre-planting getaway in 2019, we had a marvelous one in 2020... only because, by the grace of God, we went a month early (because that is when the babysitting worked out, not because we had an inkling that everything would shut down).
We usually go for one night, but this year we went for two, leaving around 4 or 5 pm, stopping at a Cracker Barrel at the next exit of any size, and driving on until we got to a Holiday Inn Express where Jim had made reservations. That was the BEST night of sleep I had had in a couple years! :) But our getaway was not over yet. We continued to Hannibal, home of Mark Twain, where we did the museums, and then hung out in a coffee shop until it was time to check in to the amazing B&B which Jim had booked. The trip was everything I like - restful, museums, scenic, B&B, great hot tea!, and ... time with Jim!
Our amazing, well-planned, and much anticipated spring break trip to Chicago (via Amtrak) doing all the museums, zoo, etc. was ... cancelled.
I spent much of lockdown (March 21-May 30) longing to go to Wisconsin, hoping we could, and worrying we couldn't.
We made a run for it and went May 23rd for the first time, and ended up going every other weekend until mid-July, and then two weekends in a row in August and I think once in September as well. I have never been so thankful for Jim's parents keeping the house all those years so that we even had an option of somewhere to go. We still socially distanced, ate takeout, didn't go to church, couldn't go to the library, etc. But we walked the shore path, played in the house & yard (a change of scenery did wonders for us all!), and went to the (very socially distanced) beach. And we were together as a family without the chores awaiting us at home.
The beach and I do not have a good history, and until this year we had made an obligatory trip to the beach one afternoon each summer while there. But this year ... we hung out at the beach for hours every day!
Although we took few road trips, we took many day trips this summer and fall. Time will tell if hiking is our new family hobby, but if this year is any indication, we are headed that direction. We had tons of family fun discovering new places to hike (on our 16 hikes), re-visiting our favorite places to be out in the woods, and exploring playgrounds all over the state on our way to hikes, beaches, graduation, etc.
New Years Eve at a hotel with a pool was our consolation prize for forfeiting our Christmas trip to see my parents & sisters. For the children, nothing beats a motel for excitement value! And the pool did not disappoint. :)
Instead of asking where you went in 2020 for the first time, I should ask where you hope to go first when travel is safer? What do you bet the national parks will be crowded? I'd be happy with going anywhere!
Oh, the places you will go! ~ 2009 version
Oh, the places you will go! ~ 2010 version
Oh, the places you will go! ~ 2011 version
Oh, the places you will go! ~ 2012 version
Oh, the places you will go! ~ 2013 version
Oh, the places you will go! ~ 2014 version
Oh, the places you will go! ~ 2015 version
Oh, the places you will go! ~ 2016 version
Oh, the places you will go! ~ 2017 version
Oh, the places you will go! ~ 2018 version
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