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Girl Gone Travel

Girl Gone Travel

North America, Travel
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November 30, 2014

Family, Turkey, and Christmas Tree Hunting

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I’ve been busy these past few days with family from out-of-town visiting and Thanksgiving. We rarely have family over for the holidays. It is almost always just the 5 of us, which is fine, but there’s something so much more special when you have others present to share the joy and memories with.

With my nephews from Texas growing so quickly, we’ve all found it so important to find ways for them to be together more.

At the same time, the people over at Lexus asked if I would be willing to take part in their #DecemberToRemember campaign and test out the Lexus GX460 during my annual Christmas tree hunt.

The SUV is huge, with three rows of seats, prefect for 4 adults, 4 children, and a small dog, and though this loaner didn’t come with a roof rack, the people at Hidden Pond Tree Farm, where we have picked out our tree since 2011, are pros and were able to secure our beautiful Douglas fir on the top of our vehicle without a problem.

The seats are heated all around (rear and front) and the leather interior feels like butter on the skin, so comfortable and soft. The 4-wheel drive made it easy to navigate through the icy roads left from a recent snowstorm, and the XM radio allowed for Christmas tunes to set the mood as we made our way towards our Christmas tree hunt. I am a huge fan of the sunroof, and though my loaner didn’t have it, the car also does offer a rear entertainment system.

#DecemberToRemember

We love the folks over at Hidden Pond Tree Farm (read all about them in our previous write up). At the time of our visit, they had run out of cut-your-own trees, which at first we thought would be an issue. But, we decided to give it ago anyway because our experiences there have always been so positive and friendly.

Family holidays_girlgonetravel

Though we weren’t able to cut down our own tree this year, they had a beautiful collection of pre-cut trees from their other tree farm. The Douglas fir is not one that they can grow on this particular farm because of the type of soil they have there, so if you prefer the softer needles then their pre-cut options are the best, so don’t let the fact that you can’t cut your own tree keep you away. This organic tree farm is a short drive from NYC and a favorite family tradition.

Family holidays_girlgonetravel

We love, love, love our tree so much that not having cut it down ourselves didn’t matter in the end. Not to mention, all the other things I love about this farm is still there to enjoy: the roasting of the marshmallows by the fire, the hay ride, the hot chocolate with marshmallows and peppermint sticks, the friendly service, and warm smiles.

Family holidays_girlgonetravel Family holidays_girlgonetravel Family holidays_girlgonetravel Family holidays_girlgonetravel Family holidays_girlgonetravel Family holidays_girlgonetravel Family holidays_girlgonetravel Family holidays_girlgonetravel Family holidays_girlgonetravel Family holidays_girlgonetravelWe also celebrated this little guy’s birthday!

Family holidays_girlgonetravel Family holidays_girlgonetravel Family holidays_girlgonetravel

Our family has been with us for a week and it seemed to just fly. They are now getting ready to leave and we are all sad. We are also having to say goodbye to the super comfy and spacious Lexus GX. The starting retail price is $49,085.00, so this is definitely a Santa super-duper wish list item for me!

Thank you to the Lexus team for the opportunity to experience the ride, we all enjoyed it so much.

And to my family, I am excited to do it again next year!

Family holidays_girlgonetravel

Check out our adventures on my latest Storify, Thanksgiving Fun.

Disclosure: I partnered with Lexus to help promote their #DecemberToRemember holiday campaign. All opinions are my own.

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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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4 Comments
  • Kelly Stilwell
    November 30, 2014

    I am so jealous! My nieces are in MD, and though I am hoping they will come spend a week with me over the summer, it was just the 4 of us and some friends from church for Thanksgiving. We might try to go to MD next year, but then again, we spent Thanksgiving in Costa Rica 2 years ago and really want to eat fish tacos for Thanksgiving again. Decisions, decisions. Happy Thanksgiving!

    Reply
    • caincarol
      Kelly Stilwell
      November 30, 2014

      LOL! That is tough. Though my kids won\’t let me make any travel plans for the holidays. They enjoy being home and all the cooking involved around that time of the year! Whatever you decide, they both sound like great choices! At least you have a year!

      Reply
  • Erin Janda Rawlings
    December 1, 2014

    What beautiful photos! Looks like you had an amazing time!

    Reply
    • caincarol
      Erin Janda Rawlings
      December 1, 2014

      Thank you! We had a blast : ) Went too quickly though : ((

      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. 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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A message about yesterday’s event: Happy Monday A message about yesterday’s event:

Happy Monday, y’all. Woke up in time to enjoy the soft glow of sunlight that shines its way around our house in the morning, and sipped on a cafecito without being rushed for anything. So already today is a win. 

Yesterday we worked our longest day yet for our little coffee cart that could (7 hours!!!) at the Heritage Fiesta in Ithaca, NY. 

Though we were ready for a crowd, the reception was also unexpected because there was a popular coffee shop just steps away. 

But we had Cómodo Fam stop by, family (who also fed us 🙏🏾), and soooo many members of the Latinx and BIPOC community who were just excited to see a small business like ours representing. 

I want to share that we were ALL worried about potential harassment and assault by 🧊and fliers were handed out to prepare us. And you would think that it would’ve intimidated the community enough to not come out…BUT WE DID. In numbers. 

And for hours that little parking lot next to Press Bay Alley was packed with all sorts of Latinx and non-Latinx community members, eating, laughing, dancing, singing, and drinking all the cafecitos and refreshers we had to offer. Literally. We went home cleaned out!

All this to say that we are all aware of the threats but we also understand the power and importance of coming together as a community and a people. By no means are we all the same, and Lord knows a lot of Latinos have a lot of self-reflecting to do based on the choices they made, but yesterday was a testament to the best of us, and I thank @yenospina and @lcatompkins for putting together such a wonderful event, for inviting @cafecomodony to be a part of it, and to all the friends, old and new, who came out to support us and la cultura. 

#fingerlakes #newyork #cafecomodo #coffeelover
Finally taking a break to enjoy one of my favorite Finally taking a break to enjoy one of my favorite lazy day pastimes of the season: market shopping for fall goodies - which in the Finger Lakes is especially bountiful. 

📍Joseph’s Wayside Markey, Naples, NY

#fingerlakes #newyork #octobermood #fallday
Our neighbors are harvesting the grapes. The proce Our neighbors are harvesting the grapes. The process is busy and noisy but also exciting and fun to watch. 

This cloudy morning seems to have calmed things down a bit, but not for long I am sure. These families work hard!

Bonus: they set up roadside stands so we can purchase and taste them 🍇 I highly recommend picking some up if you see some in your drive. 

#fingerlakes #lifeinthecountry #newyork
The rain has been so good. More, please. ❤️ The rain has been so good. More, please. ❤️
I want to take moment to send out love to my fello I want to take moment to send out love to my fellow Latinx and immigrant community. 

To send strength to my community of glorious misfits who are out in the world making good trouble and emboldening us to not give up hope on our dreams, our livelihoods, our future, our country, our people. 

The country our parents worked so hard to get to so that we could fly. A country they helped build and bring to prosper. A country our communities help to feed and house and care for. 

I am my immigrant parents dream come true, and my children are a continuation of that dream. 

I just want to remind all of us who represent the targeted, of our worth. Of the value of our contributions. In our languages, our culture, our insights, our work ethic and skills and knowledge. Of the things we bring to the table.

I don’t know what will happen tomorrow, or to us. But, as someone whose family lived through a dictatorship, I have an idea of how this story will end. And all I can advise is that we remain on the right side of it, our convictions unaltered, our core values untethered. Our spirits unbroken. In these stories, the monsters might scare us, and even harm some of us, but they never, ever win in the end. 

I am living proof of that. ❤️ And every time you succeed and feel joy, you are too. Pa’lante, mi gente.
Signs of autumn 🍂 in the Finger Lakes. Signs of autumn 🍂 in the Finger Lakes.

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