Talking Tuesday
By Ashley McIlwain
Share your thoughts, feelings, and stories as well as respond to others regarding these questions:
What’s the best trip you and your spouse/significant other/family have been on? Why?
I’ll get us started …
Steve and I seem to always be embarking on some adventure. Not only do we love traveling and exploring new places together, but our families are spread out all across the United States, so we are always on the road trying to visit with them. So, we have a lot of wonderful trips to choose from.
For me, it’s just too impossible to choose my absolute favorite, so I will just pick one of my many favorites to share with you today. It’s fresh on my mind because we just back from this one, but our adventure to Yosemite National Park definitely made it into our top 5 trips. If you’ve ever been, then you know why, but if you haven’t, it’s one of the most breathtakingly gorgeous places ever! Everywhere you look is a total feast for the eyes. Honestly, there were times I just thought my sense couldn’t contain the beauty.
On our trip we camped out in the valley, and it was a blast. We took our bikes around everywhere, enjoyed campfires complete with S’mores, did an epic hike up the side of Vernal Falls, watched climbers on El Capitan, relished in the views of Glacier Point, and made sure to see all of Yosemite’s water falls. We just made the most of every second there, soaking in one of God’s greatest masterpieces. It was definitely a trip that will stick with me for the rest of my life, mainly because it was all with the love of my life by my side.
Okay, it’s your turn!
*To comment on this entry, simply click on the “no comment” link in blue just below the post (if someone has already commented, you will see a number instead of “no” in front of “comment”). Fill out the form that pops up. Your name & email are not required. Once you have entered your comment, click on the “Submit a Comment,” and it will appear once it is approved for posting.
May 22nd, 2012 at 1:37 pm
We have taken many trips, my husband used to sell insurance and the sales meetings were all over. He was encouraged to bring the family which he did. However the ones I cherish the most are trips where we were alone. On our first anniversary we went to a bed and breakfast. It was my first experience with one. We were truly blessed. I was not very far from home about an hour but we did get to relax and enjoy great time together. We both enjoy drawing and painting. The home had some wonderful music. We put in a CD and it was “Shout to the Lord.” we relaxed by the fireplace and both got creative. The home had much history. It was part of the underground railroad and the room we stayed in had a hideaway under the bed. I love history so I found it a very neat place to stay.
May 22nd, 2012 at 9:29 pm
Vicki, how nice that your husband was encouraged to bring his family on his business trips! I feel like that’s rare. The bed and breakfast you stayed at sounds amazing, especially for 2 creative people like yourselves. I can’t imagine being somewhere with history like being part of the underground railroad — how cool! It sounds like you guys made some incredible memories together! Thanks for sharing!
May 22nd, 2012 at 12:02 pm
We only recently started taking trips since we dairy farm and the children were small it was hard to get away for any length of time … first trip was to Niagara Falls — that was 6 years ago, then we stayed closer to home due to gas prices and other things and just went to Lancaster Co, PA — it’s only 2 hours from our home and very familiar since it’s mostly dairy farming country … then this past fall we decided to finally go “farther” from home and we went to Pigeon Forge Tennessee … it was AMAZING to say the least … rented a cabin way up in the mountains all alone for the most part except for the turkeys on the drive way one morning … but they left before I could get the camera turned on! We can’t wait to go back there this fall! We had to come home one day early since our youngest “decided” to cut down a tree to make a bridge and it landed on the power/phone lines and it started to spark/smoke … and we get the dreaded phone call … went back to the cabin and decided to trek home a day early. Found a “short cut” .. big mistake … ran into a blizzard on very unfamiliar and treacherous roads … but we made it home and I really don’t think I would change anything about the trip … all the crazy things that happened just adds to the memories for me! We did get up into the Smokies one day but it was pouring rain and there were limbs coming down and we didn’t think it was a smart place to be in a major storm. So we found the Bush’s bean factory via GPS and went and visited it … alot of fun! Missed Dollywood since we came home early … that’s on the to do list next trip. We did go to the Dixie Stampede … it was awesome and the Ripley’s Aquarium is MUST DO!
can you tell I enjoyed our most recent trip the most? 
May 22nd, 2012 at 9:26 pm
Sandra, thanks for hopping in to the conversation! I’ve never been to Niagara Falls, but I’ve always wanted to go. Growing up in Central Pennsylvania, I went to Lancaster on several occasions with my family and always enjoyed it, especially Sight and Sound. I’ve never heard of Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, but it sounds like it has a lot to offer! Obviously you guys really enjoyed your time there, which is what really matters. What an adventure! Isn’t it the best having wonderful memories like that to look back on together?
May 23rd, 2012 at 2:28 pm
HI Ashley, Niagara was “fun” don’t get me wrong, but we don’t drink or gamble and there is not much else to do there unfortunately … especially after dark
So we are not in a hurry to go back there … would love to take the kids to see it sometime! We could do it in a day trip 
What part of central PA did you grow up in? Almost neighbors? 
May 25th, 2012 at 4:33 pm
Sandra, it sounds like Niagara might not be up our alleys either aside from the natural beauty, which is the appeal for me. Thanks for the info. I grew up in a little town called Huntingdon in PA. Where are you from? Sounds like we are almost neighbors. Love my fellow PA natives
May 26th, 2012 at 5:10 pm
Just a little ways from you! Spring Mills area! How funny to meet a “neighbor” this way!
May 29th, 2012 at 10:39 am
What are the chances? So cool
May 22nd, 2012 at 9:29 am
Oooh, that’s a toughy. Obviously my honeymoon to St. Lucia was incredible! The whole all-inclusive atmosphere was relaxing and conducive to the occasion. We had sooooo much fun doing so many things. Aside from that, I’d have to say the trip I just took with my parents and parents-in-law up the shoreline of Lake Superior to Northern Minnesota. It was so relaxing and a very unique experience that gave me unique insight and very special time with my parents and Jeremy’s.
May 22nd, 2012 at 10:37 am
Erin, it’s nice to hear so many people reference their honeymoons as one of the best trips ever! I know that is definitely 1 of, if not the greatest trip, Steve and I have ever been on. St. Lucia is on my list of places I would like to visit! How nice to get to have both of your parents together for a trip! I feel like that’s kind of rare to get both families together for something like that, so I’m glad you had such a unique opportunity that you enjoyed so much! Thanks for sharing!
May 22nd, 2012 at 9:16 am
We took a trip to Dallas to listen to one of our favorite authors. We “bid” on a room and ended up in a 5 star hotel suite for $45. God blessed us that trip every time we did something. We even got to meet the author and take a picture with him. After the event, we went on a walk and talked about what was said. We were able to share from our hearts and get to know things we had never thought to share before. I could go on and on and on…about it. Purely magical would be a great description.
May 22nd, 2012 at 9:23 am
Brenda, thanks for joining the conversation! It sounds like you had such a blessed trip together! Those are the best kinds — the ones where you know God’s hand was upon you the entire time. What a wonderful experience to feel like you got to share from the heart with one another in a unique way that probably built your intimacy and friendship that much more!
May 22nd, 2012 at 6:46 am
Our honeymoon to Greece was pretty amazing!
Santorini is one of the most beautiful places in the world – exactly how it looks in the pictures, and then some! I love that my husband and I got to experience this new place on the other side of the world together, and it was a great way to start our marriage. We both love to travel, so it won’t be our last trip there!
May 22nd, 2012 at 9:22 am
Rachel, I’ve always wanted to visit Greece! I can only imagine what that trip must have been like for your honeymoon! We’re actually going to Italy and Greece in September for our 4 year anniversary, and I cannot wait! It’s my dream trip, and I love when I hear from others that it lives up to expectations. An adventure like that to kick off your marriage must have been so thrilling! Any plans for your next big adventure together?
May 22nd, 2012 at 3:20 pm
We actually just got back from a trip to Vegas with friends, which was fun! Totally different than being just the 2 of us. We’re going to the beach later this summer. Our next big trip will hopefully be next year – it will be our 5 year anniversary and we’ll both turn 30
That calls for a celebration!
May 22nd, 2012 at 9:31 pm
Rachel, I think traveling with friends is always an interesting adventure — a different kind of fun than when it’s just the 2 of you. The 5 year anniversary and 30th birthdays are definitely big landmarks, so I’m excited to hear how you guys decide to celebrate! Hopefully it’s something spectacular