Jul 22, 2010
By Lisa T. Bergren
Return to the place you loved or go someplace new? What is the value, the power of each? I’ve been contemplating this, of late. Because I’m drawn to both the Exploration of the New and the Comfort of the Known. Each has its charms; there are so many places in the world I want to see (check out our web site’s name) that it’s very hard for me to return to a location I’ve already been. Even Italy, which annually seems to call us like a boot-shaped siren in the sea, begs to be explored just a little bit differently each time we go. New villas, new towns, new restaurants, new views. My travel bucket list is long and includes countries from every continent.
But every year, at least once a year, we drive seventeen hours from Colorado to NW Montana, to my parents’ lake home. (My husband would gloat and tell you he’s made it in 13.5 hours driving faster than he should and limiting liquid intake—he, of course, did not do that with small children in the car.)
Granted, having a family lake home or ski cabin or the like is somewhat different that traveling farther afield. Years upon years of memories—sad and sweet—build. Expectations are usually met because you know what to expect…in a way, it always feels a bit like returning home rather than traveling. We rarely do new things here; we are happily stuck in our routine.
My friends sigh with envy, wishing for a place that their own family could draw together and connect, where children could stretch and grow in a healthy way, in a new—and yet not new—place. I know it’s a gift, a family treasure, especially since as my parents age—and the market continues to struggle rather than flourish—there is a very real possibility that it may have to be sold, adopted by a new family to love and build their own memories.
All along, it’s kept my folks from traveling themselves, since vacation days were limited and funds have always been sunk into romantic things like a new septic tank or gravel for the road. But they chose to invest in this place that has become foundational for the family, a gift that has generated dividends for us all. Remember that year when…Why don’t we do that thing we did last summer…I loved when we…
We rise late in the morning, chatting and drinking more coffee than we should. Sometimes we take a walk on our own or as a family. Lunch is made and we move to the beach, the kids begging us to abandon work and join them. They’re usually successful by mid-afternoon.
The lake is as magical for my children as it was for me. We dip or dive into sixty-seven degree water ‘most every day. The lake is made of snowmelt from the mountains about us, warmed over river rocks and spit into the lake, moving, always moving, toward another river. It wakes us in the morning with waves upon the beach and shimmers in the moonlight when we close our eyes for the night.
During the day, we play upon it—paddle boards, canoes, a rusted out rowboat the kids “sink.” Our old motorboat miraculously starts up every year, as it has for thirty-odd years, and is still strong enough to pull the kids on a tube, and if she’s patient, the teen on skis.
In the evening, we linger over fine meals and bottles of wine and long conversation, watching as the granite peaks become pink around nine (the sun sets late here in the north). Dishes are done, plans for the next family meal is made, darkness descends, stars emerge, and we turn in for the night, ready to do it again the next day. Happy, so happy to do it again the next day…
It’s good, this place. “Montana, the last, best place,” is the tourism tagline. And I’m apt to agree.
What about you? Do you have a place your family returns every year? Where and why do you go?
Posted on Thursday, July 22, 2010
In Articles, Lodging Reviews, Travel w Kids, Traveling With Grandparents
Tags: family vacation, lake home, last best place, Montana
Wonderful Post! I recently flew in and out of Montana on my way to Salt Lake, UT. I have yet to explore MT, but my husband snowmobiles there in the winter and as I flew in last month I though "Why don't we visit here in the summer!?" What a beautiful state it looks like and from your amazing pictures this is exactly how I imagined a nice family vacay would be there. Very incouraging to get me planning a trip there sooner than later!
Thank you–you should come back and explore. Although I always wonder what it'd be like to visit as someone who's never been. Make sure you make time for Glacier–an astounding park.
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Lisa Bergren and Lisa Bergren , Lisa Tawn Bergren. Lisa Tawn Bergren said: Here's why we go to #Montana every year…comments would be much appreciated! http://bit.ly/aNvaVk #MontanaSummer [...]
Great post! It brings tears to my eyes!! And, adorable baby!!
Lovely, lovely!
Now, do you meet out there w/ siblings, so your kids have cousins to play with? (Cuz I know that baby isn't yours; unless this is an old photo.)
I have gone EVERY SUMMER since my 10-year-old was born to my mom's house on Lake Winnipesaukee in NH. Our routine is similar, though I must admit, I regress to my childhood and let my mom do most of the cooking. (She sometimes does my laundry, too.) We eat out a lot, too, in the touristy restaurants on the lake. We go to the go-karts, batting cages and ice cream stands. It's familiar and heavenly, and I hope my kids will always want to take the time to go "to the lake" even as they reach their teen years.
Thanks, Lisa!
Yes! We meet up with my brother/SIL, and many cousins who have children. The baby is our sweet little niece. That's part of what I love–concentrated time to get to know extended family. How else do you get that? Sounds like you get something sim in NH. If your kids are anything like mine, they'll be clamoring to go every year.
How wonderful!! Being an immigrant with my family half way around the world, I do miss this kind of opportunity to have family gathering. But we do go to Orlando almost every year. It's not by choice but rather by invitation because my in-laws have a timeshare there. I wouldn't have picked that as our annual visit (no matter how much I love Disney I still think it's a bit much to do it every year) but I have to admit that it's an easy choice and after several years we feel more relax and less stress of going there and starts to explore more than theme parks.
I do wish we will find a place that we can return as a family but my wanderlust soul tends to pick different destination whenever we plan our trip.
I understand, Amy. Family vacation spots are sometimes chosen by the generations before us…I'm glad you get together with the clan, even at Disney! And I bet the kids are excited about THAT every year. I know mine would be. Where is your family off to next?
I was chatting with @artistatlarge on Twitter yesterday about this. I go at least once a year, sometimes two or three times, out to the Olympic Peninsula to visit the rain forest. I don't care about season, it doesn't matter — one February, we took my MIL and her traveling buddy, there was snow on the ground but the sky was blue and there were no winds. I could go on and on about my love for this place, but I'll just say, YES, there IS such a place for me and it's the Olympic National Park. You should go.
I think if you can go to a place any time of year, regardless of weather, that's definitely a place of the heart. Hubz grew up in Issaquah…he's always wanted to get me to the Olympic Peninsula. On the list!
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