The Places that Become Part of the Trips

The place in Southern Vermont wi which we most recently stayed.

People often ask me about places we have stayed on our trips. Usually, they want practical advice, some insider knowledge, and, if I am being honest, the memorable stories that come with traveling as a family. Sometimes those stories are charming. Sometimes they are funny. Sometimes they are a little scary.

During our trips to New England and upstate New York, Cade, Liberty, and I have stayed in bed and breakfasts, hotels, motels, and Airbnbs. We have loved our travels, and the places we have stayed are woven into those memories. Over time, I have learned a few things about choosing a place to stay and about what really matters once you get there.

Three pieces of advice:

1) Plan ahead, even if you value flexibility.

As you may recall from our first trip to Vermont, we arrived without knowing where we were going to spend the night. I have often prioritized flexibility and booked places only a short time in advance. Sometimes this has worked out. Other times it has meant missing out on places we hoped to stay or having to adjust our travel days.  

2) Know what matters most, then stay adaptable.

Me taking a bathroom selfie in one of the houses we stayed in. Standing up straight was challenging.

I am usually looking for a place with a room for each person, a good kitchen/dining table, and, ideally, a fire pit. Still, we are willing to compromise on those. There is no perfect place. There are only the right travel companions. And often some of those odd places make for fun memories and good stories.

3) Expect the unexpected.

This is especially true in older homes and rural places. Growing up in an old farmhouse and standing over six feet tall, I am used to ducking through door jambs. Even so, Cade and I have had to adjust to low ceilings, chest-height shower heads, narrow stairways, and all sorts of quirks in the places we have stayed. Sometimes the quirks (like the window from the second-floor primary bedroom into the first-floor kitchen) are part of the charm, and sometimes they become stories we still share years later.

And as we learned those lessons, here are just a few of the stories.

Our favorite kitchen table at the farmhouse outside Danby, VT

The Charming: Danby Farmhouse

One of our favorite places we have stayed is a farmhouse outside Danby, Vermont, which is where Pearl Buck retired. It has the kind of kitchen table that is made for slow mornings and great conversation. Everyone has their own room. There is even a side office where we can use our computers or have a virtual call. Most importantly, though, it has a reading room with a great cross breeze. Over multiple stays at the house, we have spent hours there quietly reading together, and the joy of watching my kids engrossed in their books is heartwarming and one of my favorite moments with them.

The Funny: The Midnight Approach

On our second trip to Maine, we had booked a place that promised beautiful views. The 600-mile drive was supposed to be less than 10 hours. We had planned to stop a couple places along the way, but a late start meant we kept going. By the time we got off I-95 at Route 132, we were hoping to find a grocery store even though it was close to midnight.  

Beautiful view from the place we stayed in Maine.

We pulled off the Interstate and found no lights, let alone any stores. We kept driving and joked we were officially in the middle of nowhere. In the back of my mind, I was thinking I had seen this setup in a Stephen King movie. At one point, we passed a one-engine firehouse, which did not ease my nerves.

About twenty minutes after leaving the Interstate, we arrived at our destination. It was still completely dark. We approached the front door that was locked and there was no key or obvious way inside. After a minute of confusion, I looked back at the check-in instructions and realized we were trying the to enter through the wrong door. We rounded the walkway, found the correct entrance, and finally made it inside. Once we were settled, we laughed about the whole adventure and shared a few leftover snacks from the car ride. The next morning, we woke up to the beautiful view we had been promised.

The Scary: Scratching in the Wall

One of the times that Aunt Reeda came with us, we were at an Airbnb for one night.  It took us a while to find the house since the photo in the listing appeared to be a cabin in the woods, yet it was a cabin-looking house in the suburbs. After a long day on the road, we unpacked, settled in, and thought all was well. Later that evening, while I was in the bathroom, I heard a scratching sound in the wall, a scritch and scratch that sounded much larger than a mouse. When I came out, I called a family meeting. I shared my bathroom encounter with Cade and Liberty. The three of us agreed we were going to spend the night but planned to leave first thing in the morning.  It made for a strange night, but we got up the next morning, packed up the van, and headed on our way.

As I said before, no place is perfect. But, every place we stay gives us memories to take home.