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Girl Gone Travel

North America, Travel
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October 22, 2012

Fall Road Trippin’ to the Finger Lakes

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Sometimes one just needs to get away.

These past couple of months I have been home working and dealing with all the fun of getting the kids acclimated to school and schedules and routines. In between, my days have been consumed with work and emails and deadlines.

At the end of the day, when kids are in bed, my husband and I are left with very little to give each other other than warm cuddles on the couch in front of the television falling asleep to polar bears on the Discovering Channel. After a few weeks of this, one starts to feel a little older, a little less exciting, a shadow of who we used to be a few years before.

So this weekend, we decided to go away. Just us two. Work was taking me back up to the Finger Lakes region and I decided it would be a great opportunity to enjoy some romantic time once all the work obligations were done.

I absolutely love the Finger Lakes. When I went with my girlfriend this past summer, I felt the trip was too short for all that there is to do and though this trip was going to be even shorter, it was also one of the best times to visit.

This is probably one of the last weekends where the Fall foliage will be at full display – we were so lucky to witness it. For this road trip, we rented a 2013 Camaro SS. Red. Convertible.

I know.

I did the mad rush around the house making sure the kids and my sister (who was caring for them) had everything they needed for the weekend, I stripped myself of the exhaustion wearing me down and stepped into the car, leaving it all behind.

The red leather seats, which were especially nice when heated, cradled my body nice and low. I looked over at my husband, with his Ray Bans on, looking super sexy as he drove us out into the sunset on Interstate 80.

We switched our XM radio selection to the 80s station and just like that we started feeling the life flowing through our veins again – two crazy kids singing Def Leppard and U2 songs at the top of our lungs. Nobody but us in the world.

Only a few hours into our little retreat and we were already feeling the effects of our time just for us.

We got into the fall fun right away by going up the Fall Sky Ride up Bristol Mountain, a 2,200 foot elevation at the mountain summit. Bristol Mountain doesn’t have a hotel for guests to stay in, but there are a lot of condos and apartments guests can rent either on or around the mountain. During the winter months, the mountains offers tons to do, from skiing to snowboarding and lessons. And though snow hasn’t touched the mountains yet, the views alone from this, the highest vertical between the Adirondack/Laurentian Mountains of the east and the Rocky Mountains of the west, makes it worth a visit a little early.

It rained on the way up the mountain. Cold, hard rain. But we didn’t care. Surrounded by the golden colors of the trees around us, the quiet of the same, and then greeted by the rainbow as we made our way down made the experience one I will be smiling about for a long, long time.

We stopped at some of our favorite places: Carolabard Park for views of Canandaigua Lake and Monica’s Pies in Naples for grape pie, apple pie and some homemade jams. We ate at Simply Crepes, where I once indulged in the Oatmeal Crème brûlée, and restocked our supply of olive oils and balsamic vinegars from F. Oliver’s, all in the heart of Canandaigua.

The morning before we left, we traveled 30 minutes away from Canandaigua to Geneva, NY, along Seneca Lake. When you visit, stop into Opus Espresso and Food Bar and order their breakfast burrito. One fed both of us pretty good – well, that and the Apple Pumpkin Chocolate Chip muffin as well as their really, really good latte.

A walk along Seneca Lake while holding hands helped to end a short romantic escape that renewed our spirits and our energy. We couldn’t stop smiling at how perfect it had all been. The Finger Lakes has been magical for me like that.

We packed up the car with wine and food from the area (it’s so hard to not splurge on the food and wine here, it’s some of the best of both in the state) and made our way back home. We drove past pumpkin patches and farms, corn fields and cows, and beautiful Victorian homes all decked out for Halloween.

At one point, my husband took the top down on the Camaro and we laughed like excited children as the wind messed up our hair, with the music playing our favorite tunes. We felt renewed, reconnected, and refocused on life’s joys. The golden colors of Fall continued on the way home, with the sun getting warmer and warmer as we got closer to our children.

I leaned my head back on my seat and looked up at the sky. Hawks flew by distracting me from the never-ending blue above me, filling my heart with enough “happy” to last me for days and days.

Everyday life routines have a way of taking over and consuming our days and our spirits. Taking the time to get away, even if just for a weekend or a day, can make all the difference in getting you back on track and to your happy place.

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Carol Cain

Brooklyn native Carol is happiest when on an adventure, whether close to home or farther away. She is a small business owner and travel writer. In addition to creating Girl Gone Travel, she is the Founder and Principal of Brave World Media, a social media marketing, communications, and branding agency. She's mom to three wonderful sons and wife to a handsome Irish/Scot. She lives, works, and plays in the beautiful Finger Lakes region of NY.

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5 Comments
  • Jane m
    October 23, 2012

    Love the finger lakes, we have stayed many times @ lake Seneca . Family there. The beauty is breathtaking

    Reply
  • isaida
    October 23, 2012

    It looks like you guys had a great time. Love all the pictures – so beautiful!

    Reply
  • Carol Cain
    October 23, 2012

    @Jane m: So true Jane! The beauty is breathtaking!

    Reply
  • Carol Cain
    October 23, 2012

    @isaida: Thanks Isaida! We really did!

    Reply
  • Quiana
    October 23, 2012

    This looks like an awesome getaway and so fun to see how your boys enjoyed the car as well!

    Reply

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About me

Hi! I'm Carol! I am an award-winning travel blogger, a keynote speaker, and the Principal and owner of Brave World Media, a social media marketing, communications, and branding agency. I a wife to a handsome Irish/Scot and a mom to 3 sons and 2 puppies. Welcome to my blog where I share stories of my travels and professional public relations insights and advice. Thank you for reading and for your support!

Carol Cain

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If you are a foodie traveler, Madison, WI is a des If you are a foodie traveler, Madison, WI is a destination for you. This list of good eats were all within close proximity to each other and spots we made time for during our short weekend visit. So definitely note that this doesn’t even begin to cover the tip of the iceberg, but makes a good starter list!

📍@ShortStackEats in the heart of Downtown Madison is clearly a UW favorite. Loved their pancakes! We thought it was a pricey for breakfast, and only offered drip coffee, but the scene was fun, food was good, and service was friendly.
📍@SardineMadison is a waterfront French bistro that has stood the test of time (we’ve been coming here since we lived in Madison!). It can feel very corporate some nights, but their Happy Hour and brunch are definite highlights and it’s a really nice dining experience overall.
📍@EatattheAudrey impressed us! It’s not your usual “hotel restaurant” and I would say it easily stands alone as an eatery worth checking out in Madison. Great breakfast options, cozy vibes, nice bar, and good service!
📍@RamenStation1124 good, affordable ramen.
📍BlindShotSocialClub We really loved this spot for brunch (sorry, was enjoying the company and totally spaced out on capturing food images!). Golf fans will love hitting the putt here (you can reserve a private room too), and what I though was most cool was the delicious and wide selection of non-alcoholic cocktails to choose from. This place is a total vibe!
📍@StringsRamen is a chain, but I have to say it is some of the best ramen I have had in a long time. I especially loved how you can choose your ramen but heat level but also by Japanese region which allowed us to taste a couple of new flavors!
📍@Parthenongyros has been around awhile (hubby recalls coming here during his college years!) and was voted #1 take out in Madison! Though we indulged inside and away from the snow. A delicious, quick bite when strolling around State Street.

And again, this is just a starter list. There is so much more to eat and enjoy in this top foodie city! What other spots would you add to this list?

#madisonwi #foodiegram #foodiedestinations #goodeats @destinationmadison
I love to travel. It has always been important to I love to travel. It has always been important to my family. My parents got my first passport weeks after I was born. They couldn’t afford to travel like I do now, but they understood, as immigrants, the absolute privilege that comes attached to having that shiny blue American booklet and they wanted me to have it.

I was yet again reminded of my privilege when my travel back home on this last trip was delayed over 24 hours. I have a village in place to make sure my kids were ok. Having my own business meant I didn’t have to report in to anyone, and was still able to work remotely so none of my clients were inconvenienced by it. Though the airline covered our hotel and food, we never worried that we couldn’t do it ourselves otherwise. While we were annoyed, we weren’t stressed.

So while I love to travel, and I love sharing my travels with you, I acknowledge that being able to do so, and dealing with the consistent travel disruptions so prevalent today without worries is a privilege…one that started with a little blue booklet that gives me more access to the world than some others do.

And I want us all in this travel space to be reminded of this. Of how lucky we are. Of our privilege to access and time and money.

So let us travel with grace and awareness. Let us remain rooted in reality and perspective. Acknowledging that our escapism isn’t one so easily accessible to others. Understanding that this is also why local stories have as much value as those to exclusive destinations, if not more. And, never forgetting, especially in the travel influencer and media space, that were it not for hosted campaigns and paid-for travel opportunities, most of us wouldn’t be able to afford the lifestyle we so beautifully curate online.

It doesn’t matter how often you travel, or how far. Just that hopefully you will be able to gift yourself the experience of doing so and experiencing something new.

#travel #travelmedia #travelinfluencer #wheretonext
As I work on compiling all the good eats I experie As I work on compiling all the good eats I experienced in Madison, WI, I have to ask: what is your favorite meal of the day, and where did you experience a highlight of the same?

I am a huge fan of breakfast. This beauty was a blueberry pancake order from @shortstackeats. Pancakes are not a big thing for me, but these were pretty perfect. I am craving them still. 🥞♥️

#madisonwi #goodeats #travelingfoodie @destinationmadison
We got back on a plane! Here are scenes from a qui We got back on a plane! Here are scenes from a quick trip to Madison, WI - my first time back in 14 years! Though we were here for family matters, we did take a moment to explore a bit of what used to be a place we called home.

We couldn’t do anything else until we drove around Lake Monona, where we once had a home, and took in the wintery views (there is an epic 13.2-mile trail that loops around the lake that is worth exploring if you visit!). Though our time was limited, we were able to enjoy some of it along State Street exploring the shops, eateries, the FREE @mmocamadison, and the beautiful architecture of the WI State Capitol Building (the Dane County Farmers Market will soon pick up again - Saturdays, April 15 thru November 11, 2023 around the Capitol Building and it is one of the best farmers markets anywhere!). 

We booked a room at the @hiltonmadison Monona Terrace to be within walking distance of all the downtown fun (tip: for a room with a lake view make sure to book at the upper levels above 10th floor for an unobstructed view of Lake Monona). 

Madison, WI is a skip and a hop from the Finger Lakes so this short and sweet visit didn’t feel difficult at all. And we absolutely loved the winter scenery and seeing what has changed (a lot) since we lived here.

Stay tuned for my list of where we ate!

Have you ever been to Madison, WI?

#madisonwi #weekendgetaway #wisconsin @destinationmadison
The joy of that first sip of the day. #randommom The joy of that first sip of the day. 

#randommomentsarethebest
I think my husband enjoys it, but still can’t be I think my husband enjoys it, but still can’t believe how easily I’ve been waking up in the early mornings since our last trip. Not sure how to shake it, or if it’s temporary, but here it is: the rare sighting of me up and moving early in the day. Am I a morning person now? Has travel ever permanently changed any of your habits?

#morningperson #lifeinthecountry #newme <-😂

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