Ah the dilemma of all travelers, how do you eat good food on the road? As folks that don’t eat at fast food restaurants, avoid processed foods and meat that wasn’t raised by someone we have met, but still requiring the caloric intake of busy on the go (nursing) folk, we seem to struggle a bit with on the go eating. I long sometimes to just give my kid candy to bribe him to behave in the car, small boxes of breakfast cereal on the go and other easy food, boxed mac and cheese, the conveniences of the road.
The benefits are so much more rewarding though and as we sought out local food for our family, we embraced our ethical eating and living and discovered common friends while we journeyed. A food coop in the oddest of places in our mind, down the road from Bubbie and Poppies home in New London CT provided us with local meats, cheeses and organic produce and beans for our camping trip. A young farming couple was inspiring and like minded.
And oh, some of the food, we ate high on the hog as they would say. It is awesome when the local menu serves up lobster, fish, mussels, clams, crabs and oysters. We typically abstain from seafood in here in the Midwest, and this trip only proved better reason for it, it isn't good. But wow, when the water is clear, the fish is fresh, the seafood is good.
Asher and River were thrilled with the new things on the menu.
Lobsters explored and given thanks to.
and then chomped in to.
Mussels as the harbor from the fry shack.
Crabs at the shore.
And ice cream from as many local ice cream shops that serve the real deal as we could find.
And we embraced the local culture- after being typical tourist and getting to much sun at the beach the first day. The
Niantic Children's museum was perfect. I have been traveling to a lot of these lately, and don't get me wrong, I love them, i love the creative play my children and I enjoy, but from Bloomington, IL, Iowa City, IA, The Please Touch Museum in Philadelphia, they are all pretty much the same, cookie cutter though localized by local restaurant sponsors (in most cases, please touch was MCDONALDS, maybe another post) and other local sponsors. But this museum, they definitely have talented staff and volunteers that have great pride in their place. A fish market to play with, a boat and a place to rake clams. Not to mention the awesome tree house designed by kids, simple water elements and awesome music making.
Then there was the Carlise day, Ben was off fishing the LeTort Spring Run, we hit up the local coffee shop and found a great park to spend our time at. It made me truly realize that all the fun we need travels with us everywhere we go as a family.
And as far as coming back home, we are glad to be back. It is the place where our family belongs and while we dream of living in other places, our trip only led us back to this place. Ben summed things up well
over here.
Some edible flowers: Borage is a great one, while nasturtiums can overwhelm some children's palette, these are mild and somewhat cucumbery.
We have been picking green beans every day! Such a treat, plus this was our first year that we saved our GB seed, an heirloom variety that we grew last year and is delicious.
And the beloved cucumber tunnel. As Asher is a bit taller this year, we had to adjust the height. The boys both love going inside it. The green beans are right at the end of is (as is the street, gotta love the easement garden!)
We searched and searched for female flowers, but almost all are male at this point, I think to attract a steady flow of pollinators.
And then it was found, our first cucumber of the year.
And gobbled down quick as can be. Cucumbers are one of my most favorite summer snacks.
We are home and I am still filtering through and remembering the fun of vacation. This was our first ever really long summer vacation, we typically travel in May, and the difference a month made was amazing. There is something about taking a long road trip during the summer- I don't know why but it just feels more like vacation. Hickory Run is always on our list and we missed it last year and hadn't had a chance to introduce River to his namesake. It was two years prior while camping that River first came to be and his papa, while fishing, knew that he would have a son named River.
Cool weather, no mosquitoes and this view from our campsite, oh I really love this park. Plus a playground in view for the active 3 yo.
This 
There are so many rocks on this side of the country. I have been obsessed with finding a rock for our yard, we don't necessarily have the space or the ability to haul/lift such rock, but I want my kids to be able to perch on one 
And maybe a water feature that has clear water that you can see things crawling around on the bottom.
Oh and tides that go out to reveal paths to island. 
Luckily, I have these kids where ever I am.
