A Year in Review 2023

T e n 

This is my tenth year reflecting back on the last 365 days with my "Year in Review" post. It feels special, a decade of memories condensed to ten posts on my little corner of the internet.

It's my favorite post to write every year and you can read my recaps for the last nine years (2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014). I went back through my last decade, reviewed month by month and adventure by adventure. In those ten years fell in love, I ran two marathons, moved west to Utah, finished graduate school, moved back east, started over, traveled to amazing places all over the world (Madeira, Iceland, Paris, Copenhagen), skied the west, road tripped across the country, camped in the dessert, hiked New England's highest peaks, went on scuba diving trips and my first overnight backpacking trips, bought my first house alone, met my now husband, got engaged and married, bought our first home together which we completely renovated, had two kids, and started my own business. It's truly been a decade of so many milestones and the rest is history or so they say. It is truly wild to look back at the big and little moments of the last ten years and I can say with certainty life is wildly beautiful, kind of crazy and can be savagely hard. I'm insanely nostalgic for all of these memories and can't help but wonder all the different directions my life could have taken over this transformative decade of my mid 20s and to my mid 30s. I do know for certain that I'm glad it all brought me here.

Winter at the Cog — The Mount Washington Cog Railway

Our neighbors recently returned from a trip to New Hampshire where they headed up the Cog Railway to roast marshmallows in a winter wonderland. We heard this and immediately thought of our train o b s e s s e d toddler (obsessed may not even be the right word). We quickly grabbed tickets and planned a festive weekend away up north to Mount Washington and Santa's Village.

Santa's Village - New Hampshire

I am not an amusement park kind-of-gal but here me out when I say Santa's Village is a magical place. There is no shortage of things to do around the holiday season but a trip to Santa's Village is just about the best way to kick off the season. You travel to northern New Hampshire and I mean north, like not too far from the Canadian border north to the quiet little town of Jefferson.  The weather is chilly and you walk into a Christmas themed park with everyone bundled up, carrying a hot chocolate and sporting a smile as kids head to their favorite ride or the barn to see Santa's reindeer. 

The instant you walk in, it's just Christmas cheer, the friendliest park staff, the cutest classic rides reimagined, and some serious attention to detail. The carousel? It's all reindeer. Monorail? A sled takes you around and above the park. It's lit up at night and there are letters where you can write to Santa, a station to drop off your letters, a place to meet him, and even a barn where you can feed the reindeer (my favorite). There's an elf scavenger hunt, places to shop and eat, treats galore, and it's truly the perfect size to spend the day or a half day. 

Machimoodus State Park - Moodus, CT

I am pretty blown away by the amount of beautiful places and spaces in our small state and Machimoodus was of certainly one of them. It's in Moodus, a relatively quiet village in the town of East Haddam. Don't expect to find a busy downtown or a high traffic park. Instead, you can find quiet back roads with a colorful coffee shop, and a park with a relatively empty parking lot. I heard of this park as a great place for trail riding with the intention of hiking it on foot to scope it out for future four legged use. Adam was home and tagged along for a full family adventure to another state park - two dogs, two kids, and the two of us. 

Windsor Meadows State Park - Windsor

 

Windsor Meadows State Park is a small stretch of park bordering the Connecticut River in the town of Windsor. The entire park consists of 155 acres of woodlands along the river, bounded to the west by railroad tracks. The south section of the park contains the large parking lot, start of the Windsor River Trail (paved trail great for a variety of trail users), the Bissell Bridge Walkway Trail, and the Bissell Bridge Boat Launch. The Walkway connects Windsor to the large system of multi-use trails in Manchester and East Hartford. While the area is most popular among boaters using the launch, there are several picnic tables, and a small handicapped accessible pavilion.

Farm River State Park, East Haven

This state park is truly a hidden gem. Only 35 minutes away, I had never heard of this small but special state park basically nestled in a neighborhood on the water. The 61 acre park is "relatively new" earning its state park designation in 1998. I visited in peak foliage, late October and the park was absolutely beautifully decorated in every shade of Autumn. On a sunny weekday, I also had the trail to myself.

Horse Guard State Park - Avon

When you look at the list of Connecticut State Parks, it's a little confusing and definitely overwhelming. You have state parks and scenic reserves and state forests. You have large parks with hundreds of acres and tiny areas that are merely preserved open space. There will be well known popular parks and little spots on the map with barely an entrance sign marking its existence. I'll have to decide what my "State Park Tour"  looks like but for now, there are so many options and I just try to incorporate as many as I can. 

Hedgehog Trail - West Simsbury, Connecticut

 

As a "middle" child of four, and now a parent myself, I really understand how time is such a limited resource in the game of parenting. And also because of it, I'm overly aware of splitting my time, of making my two kids feel loved and seen and equal in my time and resources. I hope they look back at their equally completed baby books, email accounts with long winded letters to them both, and matching photos of solo adventures with mom and deeply feel that (at the cost of more time and energy than we have or feel most days). 

And so, on a beautiful fall day while Whitney was in school when I should have been finishing up work or completing 47 other tasks on my to do list, I took Piper on a fun solo adventure, very similar to the one I did with Whitney almost exactly two years ago.

Sherwood Island State Park - Westport

Sherwood Island State Park is one of the popular beachfront state parks in Coastal Connecticut and it also gets the ranking of Connecticut's first park. The Connecticut State Park Commission was born in 1913 and their first purchase was five acres of salt marsh in Westport, the beginning of Sherwood Island State Park (currently 238 acres). 

While there are 110 state parks in eight counties in Connecticut, Fairfield County has six parks, four of which are off the coast and to the north. As my Connecticut State Park guidebook "A Shared Land" points out, "the population here is so dense and the land so expensive that it's hard to acquire parkland and economically impractical to create forests". The shortage of public places in this dense and expensive county makes this state park an important resource to those who live there.

Flume Gorge - Franconia Notch State Park, New Hampshire

There's a little saying that I have to repeat to myself as we head to some of the busier attractions that tend to be a bit more beginner (and in my case kid) friendly. When the crowds start to assemble and I have to use a bit more patience and a few more forced smiles I remind myself of this: 

"Popular places are popular for a reason". I also remind myself there are ways to get around the busiest times and that usually involves weekdays and early mornings, something my flexible schedule and early risers typically allow. 

Millers Pond State Park - Durham

This is a story about another tucked away lesser known Connecticut State Park. It's also a story about how I genuinely think people are good, but there are some less than great ones too, and one of those less than great humans was also at Miller Pond State Park.

Harsh start to today's state park guide, I know, I know, but hear me out. It was a gorgeous fall day here in Connecticut. It was a Sunday, the first day of October, and temperatures were creeping into the upper 70s. My parents know about my State Park scheme and love spending time with their grandkids so they suggested we tackle a park in the afternoon. I love that my little plan is inspiring others and I was excited to set out on another adventure with the kids.

I looked at my map and my google doc of localish parks with varying hiking trails and mileage. Miller Pond State Park (another one I've never heard of) in Durham was about 25-30 minutes away and had a short 1.5-mile loop around the park - toddler and grandparent friendly. I loaded the kids and the dogs in their car seats, loaded up enough snacks and the kids hiking packs, and picked up my parents before heading to the State Park. 

Dinosaur State Park - Rocky Hill

On another soggy September day, a Friday where I am solely in charge of keeping both kids alive, I did some research to find a state park that could offer some kind of indoor adventure (if you are just tuning in, I set the goal of visiting all the Connecticut State Parks). I did a little bit of research and found a wildly unique state park that fit the bill. 

I'm embarrassed to admit I've lived in Connecticut for many years and I had never heard of the Dinosaur State Park in Rocky Hill. I soon discovered the Dinosaur State Park has a lengthy trail system and outdoor area, but also a geodesic dome built over the dinosaur tracks with various exhibits, perfect for a rainy day. 

Outdoor area at the Dinosaur State Park

Day Pond State Park - Colchester

We have had a very wet Connecticut summer. It has rained most weekends and September was sort of like "keep it coming". After two days of heavy rain, I decided to head to one of the state parks with a waterfall (there are several) to see what the water levels were like after #SoggySeptember. After a quick google search, the start to many adventures, I headed north to Day Pond State Park in Colchester to hike to Day Pond Brook Falls and I was not disappointed.

 

The park itself is beautiful with a stone dam, swimming lake, fishing area, picnic area, rentable pavilion, and expansive trail network including Connecticut's blue blaze hiking trail system. There is a 3.5 mile loop that takes you through the park and up to Day Pond Brook Falls in the northern section of the park. I brought Piper and the dogs and on an overcast Tuesday in September, we had the entire trail to ourselves. In true KW style, I made quick notes to come back with my horse to ride the yellow blazed CT Horse Council trail system, and to bring back the kids to swim in the summer.

Harkness Memorial State Park - Waterford

Stop #2 on my 2023 Connecticut State Park Tour took me and the kids 35 minutes east up the coast to Goshen Point to visit Harkness Memorial State Park in Waterford. Harkness Memorial State Park isn't your typical state park. You won't find hiking trails or geocaching, you won't see mountain bikers or trail runners. Instead, it's more of an upscale oceanfront property owned by the state, open to the public like your other state parks. Here, you can expect to find picnickers, bird watchers, leisurely strollers, garden enthusiasts, dog walkers, and kids testing out their new bikes on the quiet paved access roads in the park. In my early 20s, I catered weddings here with a local catering company. 15 years later, I brought my kids back and forgot just how gorgeous this park is. Only two parks in and I am quickly reminded how many beautiful open spaces we have that are open to Connecticut residents for free. I hope this series inspires you to take advantage of some of these amazing parks. 

Rocky Neck State Park - East Lyme

A constant theme you will find as you read my state park guides is "I forgot how beautiful this place is". Rocky Neck was exactly that. I have been to the park many times over the years but after a long hiatus, I was back at the park with my son with a fresh set of eyes and deeper appreciation for this gem of a park so close to home. I forgot just how lovely the trails are, quiet even on a Sunday in September. I forgot about the views of the water as you make your way closer to the pavilion. I forgot about the boardwalk and the picnic area, the sandy beaches and the boardwalk. I forgot about the bridge over the marsh and the birds and just how lovely this park is.

Hiking Trails

Rocky Neck was the first "revisit" on my newly installed State Park tour and this was my first time exploring the park with my son. I loved it as we made our way on a 3 mile loop on the hiking trails with our dog Olive with a long stop at the train tracks with the hopes of a sighting. 

 

History

Rocky Neck is open to the public and a part of the state park system thanks to conservationists who secured the land in 1931 with their personal funds until the State Legislature authorized its purchase. It's hard to imagine what would have happened if this beautiful spot was just another private mansion along the water. Instead, devout conservationist ensured that this park was available for all to enjoy all year round. 

The Pavilion Balcony

Rocky Neck State Park Signage

Environment

Rocky Neck is a favorite park for many. While I've never used the beach, I have visited the park many times for picnic dinners, hikes through the park, and a wedding in the pavilion. The park is a thriving ecosystem bound on the west by a tidal river and to the east by a broad salt marsh. Birders come to rocky neck to see the osprey in the early summer or the cranes, herons and mute swans in the fall. 

View of the sound along the trails

Activities 

Camping, Picnicking, Hiking, Fishing, Swimming

Camping

Camping is offered within the park with 160 wooded and open campsites. Note that pets aren't allowed. You can find out more about camping within the park here.

Hiking

While there aren't a lot of trails in the park, there is a fantastic 3-mile loop with about 200 feet of elevation gain in the park extending from the alternate parking area along 156 to the Pavilion and beach area. Most of the trail covers the red loop and you will go through the woods, take in the views of the sound and make your way to the pavilion before heading back towards the parking lot on a loop trail but this time, with a view of the marsh and Bride Brook. Find a trail map here. 

Dogs
Dogs are allowed on the hiking trails and north of the railroad. Dogs are not allowed in the campground and south of the train tracks which includes on the beach, boardwalk or pavilion.

Pavilion

The Ellie Mitchell Pavilion at Rocky Neck State Park is a unique and historic cobblestone structure with stone fireplaces and native wood pillars. The second floor of the Pavilion is available for wedding receptions, galas, private parties, seminars and corporate events.  

Rocky Neck State Park Pavilion

Picnic Area

Hiking trails at Rocky Neck State Park

Bridge over the marsh 

North South Lake Campground and Day Use Area - Camper Trip 2023

August marked our second time camping at the beautiful North South Lake Campground at in the Catskills of New York. I've lost track of how many time we've been up to the Catskills to date, but this part of the northeast is one of my favorites places to visit over and over again. I've written a Weekender's Guide for a summer in the Catskills which is perfect for any first timer or frequent visitor like myself. 

While there is so much to do in the area, the beauty of visiting North South Lake is you never have to leave. This campground has it all from playgrounds, volleyball nets, a large network of trails, picnic areas, a swimming beach, boat rentals, and more. If you simply want to be in the Catskills and enjoy the outdoors for a few days, this is the perfect place to do it. 

This year was a little different as we had a baby in tow in addition to our toddler. Oh, and a serious upgrade from our tent. We had just purchased a 2021 Winnebago Hike and it was our maiden voyage in our new rig. Camping with kids is logistically much more involved and having the camper truly makes the experience so much easier. It's much easier to black out the light and drown out some of the noise in our 20 foot box vs our tent. Its a soft place to sleep and a place to prep food and cook breakfast. It's a place to store gear and keep our creature comforts that make packing for trips away as a family so much easier. 

I promise to give a few review of our little camper once we have used it a few times and really have a sense of this travel trailer.

3 Days along the Costa Brava in Spain

Our trip to Barcelona was loosely planned meaning, we really didn't have much of a plan. If you read my first Spain post, you knew that we did little prep for this trip thanks to the overwhelming exhaustion and sleep deprivation that comes with raising young kids. We knew we were going to spent the first three days in Barcelona but the next three days we had a hotel a little up the cost in Santa Susanna and no real plans besides relaxing at a beach resort.

After talking to our tour guides in Barcelona who were born and raised in the area, it was clear that we had to rent a car and travel up the coast along the Costa Brava. They told us of crystal clear water, quiet fishing villages, beautiful towns, and glorious beaches where we could soak up the Spanish sunshine. That was all I needed to hear and we quickly headed to the rental counter and eventually north along the Catalan Coast. 

A Week in Spain: Part 1 - Three days in Barcelona

My taste of a Spanish summer went a little like this:

A week of eating whatever I wanted, not a care about a calorie. A week of actual rest and relaxation, the kind I haven't felt since having kids, that feeling of being my "old" self before kids, while fiercely missing my kids. It started with a few nights in the city, riding the metro, eating and walking our way through one of the best restaurant scenes, covering double digit miles a day. We tasted the city on a walking food tour, stopped for a catamaran sunset sail sipping cava, and met some locals with tango lessons at their house. We left the city behind to see the famous monastery set into the mountainside. After three nights, we traded our train tickets for our European sized rental car and realized first hand the trouble with the EV system in Europe. Our car, quickly renamed the go kart, left Barcelona behind and took us an hour up the coast to the cute little touristy beach and boardwalk town of Santa Susanna. From there, things slowed down as we sat by the beach or walked the boardwalk at night. We took little day trips to the most beautiful little Spanish fishing villages and beach towns nestled in coves along the rocky coast known as Costa Brava. Little beach shops sold snorkel gear and floats, the most quaint shops and restaurants, and gelato shops could be found around every corner. The beach is a full day affair where you can find kids diving of rocks, topless bathers evading tan lines, couples snoozing on the pebbled beaches, and families playing in the sun.

Summer weekend in Southern Maine

When I think of Maine, I think of rocky coasts, national parks, puffin and lighthouse tours, lobster everything, epic restaurants in Portland, so many craft breweries, foggy islands, whale watching tours, and moose sightings on the lake. I’ve been up to Maine a handful of times to hike Acadia, stroll through Bar Harbor, get married on a lake, cruise around Bar Harbor, and hike the Katahdin, Maine’s tallest peak 

What I never really associated Maine with, was beach towns and boardwalks, amusement parks and family vacations. Of all my trips to Maine, this was the first time we made a point to stop at the beach, and do some of the touristy things like dinner in Ogunquit, a day at Wells Beach, and an overcast morning at the Old Orchard Beach boardwalk. After a few beach days on the southern seacoast of Maine, I can officially say I GET IT. Loud and clear. I get why families flock to the beach, why kids crowd the arcade and couples walk the boardwalk. It’s sort of like the Jersey Shore without Jersey: i.e. less people, more lobster. 

Summer Weekend in Stratton, Vermont

It's funny how we think we need big trips to make big memories. We think of epic trips to Hawaii, backpacking around Europe, and cross country road trips. As we adjust to life with two young kids, we are always trying to find ways to make big memories, with them and for them. While that trip abroad certainly made the cut for a "big memory", as I was walking up the gravel driveway to our rented A-frame cabin in Stratton, Vermont after a run, I realized this trip did too. It was a 2.5 hour road trip to the Green Mountain state that made the big memory. For my kids, it was another opportunity to enjoy a few days with both of their grandparents in the same place. For me, it was my 2.5 year old running up the driveway with our two dogs in tow while my sweet little 5 month old napped inside.

Visiting the Bronx Zoo - New York City

When you hear "The Bronx" of New York, you probably aren't thinking world class zoo". This big New York City borough is densely populated and typically doesn't make the cut compared the the famously popular Brooklyn and Manhattan boroughs. The Bronx is home to some famous attractions including Yankee Stadium, the Botanical Gardens, and the Bronx Zoo. 

After visiting our small but cute zoo here in Connecticut and Central Park Zoo, we wanted to take the kids to a bigger zoo that had some of those nostalgic animals like elephants, gorillas, and giraffes. We planned to go on a Monday before kids were out for the summer and the weekend crowds took over. We were leaving from the Connecticut shoreline and planned to leave around 8:30 with hopes of dodging some of the commuter traffic on the highway. We pre-purchased our tickets (more on that below) and headed to New York with our stroller, lunch, a million snacks and sunscreen in tow.

You can't appreciate just how big this zoo is until you arrive in the park. You also have to remember it's within a densely populated city which makes its size even more impressive.  When considering its size in terms of area, it's one of the largest zoos in the country and is the largest metropolitan zoo in the United States, totaling 265 acres.

The zoo opened in 1899 and has been in the headlines since with their award winning exhibits. From its inception the zoo has played a vital role in animal conservation. In 1905, the American Bison Society was created in an attempt to save the American bison from extinction when the wild numbers went from tens-of-millions of animals to only a few hundred. This program was so successful that a mere two years later they were successfully reintroduced into the wild.

New York City - with Babies and Toddlers!

 

Three months into having a new baby in the house, we were starting to go a bit stir crazy. The spring weather was giving us all the feels and we were ready to spend a weekend away with the kids, desperate for a change in our routine. We looked at AirBnbs in New Hampshire and Maine, toyed with the idea of Rhode Island, thought about heading back to the Berkshires, all until I had a great idea. New York City is a quick train ride away and the weather was perfect. Our train obsessed toddler would enjoy the ride and we could experience some of the best parts of the city on a springy weekend. Close enough for a single night away, far enough to feel like we truly "got away" and fun enough to entertain a toddler for the weekend. 

When I told a few people I was planning on taking the kids to New York City for the weekend, I got some looks and a few "you guys are crazy" comments. Let me start by saying one thing. Raising kids is hard no matter where you are, so you may as well change the scenery from time to time. Second, the city is far more toddler friendly than you may think if you plan it right. We were traveling with our 2 year old and 3 month old and while the night was rough as we expected, the trip was an overall success. Here are a few things that will make traveling with a toddler and a baby to the city a bit easier. 

The Dinosaur Place - Oakdale, Connecticut

Adam has mentioned visiting this dinosaur park for weeks. Truth be told, I wasn't nearly as excited for this excursion. It seemed pretty basic, dinosaurs at a park, and expensive for a family. I went in with low expectations on a weekday in April with Adam and Whitney to see what the park was all about. Within just a few minutes, I was on board with the dinosaur place and can assure you it's worth the admission fee, especially when all the amenities are open in the summer. 

Connecticut Science Center - visiting with a toddler

After one trip to the Mystic Aquarium, we quickly realized a membership was the way to go.  For around $200, we have unlimited access to the aquarium for our entire family (we also now have zero guilt just going for a quick hour with a tantrum two year old). But another great benefit we didn't realize was the reciprocal benefits with other museums and exhibits in the state. Our Mystic Aquarium membership allowed us free access to the Connecticut Science Center for the entire month of March. I had always wanted to check out the Science Center, for myself and to bring Whitney. The month was ending and so was my membership perk so I grabbed my mom and we took the kids to the science center, a first time for all of us. 

Water Table at KidSpace

First Impressions

Beautiful museum in an impressive building easily accessible/right off the highway in Downtown Hartford. The museum is mostly focused on school aged children but there was plenty to see and do for my just turned 2 year old (admission is also free for kids under 3). It was the perfect way to spend a few hours with a toddler, or an entire day for older kids. The museum offers over 100 exhibits and a 3D theatre. While it is on the more expensive side ($25 per adult) kids under 3 are free and a membership is worth it for cost and the additional reciprocal benefits for other museums and exhibits in the state. 

Potty Training at 22 months with the "Oh Crap" method

Diaper changes are never a pleasant experience. Changing a diaper on a toddler who refuses to sit still for even a second is challenging and let me go as far as saying dangerous. I have to haul this 30-pound child onto the diaper pad, keep him still enough to get a diaper loaded with poop off, clean him while he flails, kicks, and tries to flip over, and re-diaper this wild animal. All while trying not to spread human feces everywhere, or get kicked in the head. It's a miserable, stressful experience and one of the big reasons I was on board for potty training after the holidays and before the popular start age of 2.

Weekly Meal Prep and Freezer Stash 101

If you follow me over on Instagram, you know that I live and die by meal prepping. I wholeheartedly believe it's the foundation to healthy eating, especially for those of us with busy, on-the-go lifestyles. Meal prep is the reason my family has healthy food (typically) three meals a day. This post kind of dives into two sides of my meal prep strategy: my weekly prep (what I do every single week to get ahead) and busy season freezer load up (what I do for postpartum food prep or to keep some freezer staples). 

Why Meal Prep?

I don't think I need to go into it here but in case you need the reminder, going out to breakfast/lunch/dinner or even grabbing those premade meals from your local bistro to bring home typically means that meal is an unhealthier options. They taste so good because they use a whole lot more butter, oil, sugar, salt etc than you typically would at home. The food is richer and you have zero control about the ingredients, where they are sourced, and what preservatives are used. And that convenience factor? It comes at a high cost. A recent study concluded that Americans go out for a meal (sit down dinner or lunch on the go) 5.9 times a week at the cost of about $3,000 a year. It's a lot but I personally think that number is much higher for most of us. There is also a significant value in sitting down as a family for a meal at the end of the day and meal prep makes that possible on the busiest of weeks. The other big piece of the puzzle no one really talks about is the dishes. If you do your meal prep at once, you make one "big" mess (but far less of a mess than you would making dinner each day). By meal prepping, you can reuse bowls, cutting boards, pans and what not which really lets you cruise through the week. 

Year in Review: 2022

There's that popular parenting quote "the days are long but the years are short". It feels so true as I look back on the crazy and fun year we had as a family. I'm freaking exhausted and parts of the year were really hard but when I look back 2022 was such a great year for me, professionally, personally, and with my family.  It looked a little different than other years as we navigated life with a busy toddler and towards the second half of the year, a pregnancy. My business grew and it was the first year I saw a really positive growth and income as I built up my client base. Adam had a busy year at work as well but per usual, we made time for some fun. We managed to squeeze in an international trip, a ski trip to Colorado, and New England getaways and adventures. 

It's my favorite post to write every year and you can read my recaps for the last eight years (2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014). Let's take a look at 2022, month by month and adventure by adventure.