Just like everyone now days, it is really hard to find the time or the money to go on a weeklong vacation.
Our family tries to vacation at least one full day a month and our favorite way to get away and have fun and relax is to take our boat and spend the whole day out on one of Georgia's remote barrier islands.
What will please the whole family? - a combination of fun, sun, good food, and relaxation.
Our recipe for relaxation begins with a little preparation the night before.
We make sure the boat is in good safe working order and fully gassed up and we pack our day bags with the usual beach day items but the most important items go in the coolers, one for ice cold beverages, and the other for snacks and meals.
We rise early on Saturday mornings and rush to the marina where we launch our boat.
We are headed for the deserted beach of another barrier island.
We cruise through the intracoastal waterway and play games spotting as many varieties of wildlife as possible.
The bottlenose dolphin gets the most points but we spy pelicans, egrets, sea gulls, and the occasional alligator which is an immediate win for the spotter.
The sun beams down but the wind keeps us cool, as I can feel the stress of a busy hectic week seeping out of my very pores while listening to the rhythmic hum of the motor and breathing in the salty essence of the marshes.
After an hour or more of cruising we arrive at our destination, where we will spend the day.
The beaches are rippled from the waves and the birds outnumber the people.
We anchor near the shore and inflate our rafts and begin the phase of packing our gear off to the beach.
Now, phase two of the fun begins as each of us sets out to enjoy the fun and the sun.
The kids build sand castles followed by a cooling off session of splashing around in the waves.
My husband and I spend our time shelling on the beach and floating effortlessly in the water watching the kids.
At any rate, we are all laughing and relaxing.
After an hour or so of this, we need to feed our hunger.
We set up our portable marine grill.
The grill makes it so easy because it is windproof and designed for this type of environment.
We throw on the hotdogs and hamburgers and bring out all the fixings and within a half hour we have cooked and eaten and, I for one, am ready for a little shut eye under the umbrella.
I dream about being deserted on this beach with my family.
Who says being marooned on a deserted island is bad? I know I could stand it for a week, maybe two, as long as the cooler is full and the grill has enough propane.
Laughter from the kids rouses me from my siesta and we spend the afternoon walking, running, swimming, floating, playing ball, throwing the Frisbee, and even fishing, hoping to catch our dinner.
We get lucky and catch some sea bass.
After a quick and easy cleaning, they are sizzling on the grill pan with the marinated veggies and potatoes we brought along.
What a day, but alas, all good things must come to an end.
We pack it up and begin our journey home.
We are spent, but every one of us is beaming on the ride home.
We love these Saturdays and we love the time we spend together without the TV, cell phones, home phones, and computers.
Our family will remember these outings for a lifetime and hopefully, our kids will raise their children to value such outings.
My husband and I will be sure to get them a marine grill for a wedding present when that time comes, but until then we will continue to be able to spend the whole day away, thanks to ours.
Our family tries to vacation at least one full day a month and our favorite way to get away and have fun and relax is to take our boat and spend the whole day out on one of Georgia's remote barrier islands.
What will please the whole family? - a combination of fun, sun, good food, and relaxation.
Our recipe for relaxation begins with a little preparation the night before.
We make sure the boat is in good safe working order and fully gassed up and we pack our day bags with the usual beach day items but the most important items go in the coolers, one for ice cold beverages, and the other for snacks and meals.
We rise early on Saturday mornings and rush to the marina where we launch our boat.
We are headed for the deserted beach of another barrier island.
We cruise through the intracoastal waterway and play games spotting as many varieties of wildlife as possible.
The bottlenose dolphin gets the most points but we spy pelicans, egrets, sea gulls, and the occasional alligator which is an immediate win for the spotter.
The sun beams down but the wind keeps us cool, as I can feel the stress of a busy hectic week seeping out of my very pores while listening to the rhythmic hum of the motor and breathing in the salty essence of the marshes.
After an hour or more of cruising we arrive at our destination, where we will spend the day.
The beaches are rippled from the waves and the birds outnumber the people.
We anchor near the shore and inflate our rafts and begin the phase of packing our gear off to the beach.
Now, phase two of the fun begins as each of us sets out to enjoy the fun and the sun.
The kids build sand castles followed by a cooling off session of splashing around in the waves.
My husband and I spend our time shelling on the beach and floating effortlessly in the water watching the kids.
At any rate, we are all laughing and relaxing.
After an hour or so of this, we need to feed our hunger.
We set up our portable marine grill.
The grill makes it so easy because it is windproof and designed for this type of environment.
We throw on the hotdogs and hamburgers and bring out all the fixings and within a half hour we have cooked and eaten and, I for one, am ready for a little shut eye under the umbrella.
I dream about being deserted on this beach with my family.
Who says being marooned on a deserted island is bad? I know I could stand it for a week, maybe two, as long as the cooler is full and the grill has enough propane.
Laughter from the kids rouses me from my siesta and we spend the afternoon walking, running, swimming, floating, playing ball, throwing the Frisbee, and even fishing, hoping to catch our dinner.
We get lucky and catch some sea bass.
After a quick and easy cleaning, they are sizzling on the grill pan with the marinated veggies and potatoes we brought along.
What a day, but alas, all good things must come to an end.
We pack it up and begin our journey home.
We are spent, but every one of us is beaming on the ride home.
We love these Saturdays and we love the time we spend together without the TV, cell phones, home phones, and computers.
Our family will remember these outings for a lifetime and hopefully, our kids will raise their children to value such outings.
My husband and I will be sure to get them a marine grill for a wedding present when that time comes, but until then we will continue to be able to spend the whole day away, thanks to ours.
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