Fall Foliage Drive

Our fall foliage weekend this year wasn't nearly as eventful as last year's outing to PEEC with lots of other Sunnyside families. But the fact of the matter was that circumstances are a bit, ahem, tighter this year. Not a lot of extra cash (or time in Nacho's schedule) for that bit of nature splurging. So we tightened the buckle a bit and decided to take off on our old standby--following Route 7 up from the Merritt Parkway near Wilton, CT--and enjoy a scenic day trip out of the city. This trip started even before we had kids and it was pretty enough that we have repeated parts of it for many of the past 5 years. This time, however, I wanted something newer. I wanted to maybe try a new place for lunch or find a new trail to hike. We did both of those things and followed a slightly more family friendly start (we landed at a nice playground near Wilton to begin) which meant a fresher take on our well worn path. The lunch at Dog Daze Cafe just outside of town was also a real treat with its farm stand charm and classic burger and dogs with all the funky trimmings (roasted cauliflower with truffle oil, anyone?). The weather couldn't have been nicer--it was almost too warm for the layered look I dressed the girls in--and we enjoyed all the great outdoors had to offer. But before I knew it, we were losing daylight and the girls both konked out on our drive past Kent to the waterfalls. Oh well, it wasn't meant to be this time around. Nacho and I jointly agreed it was best to turn back towards home and so we did hoping to make it back without crazy traffic jams on this last night of the holiday weekend. All told, it probably took us about 30 minutes more than usual, which wasn't terrible given the timing. The girls had dinner on the way in and we managed to make it back in time for them to get ready for bed before 8 p.m.  As I look back at the blue waters of Lovers Leap or the burst of orange and yellow leaves around the bend near New Milford, I'm so glad we made the trip up north. It's always way to reset my mood around this time of year and embrace all that fall has to offer, even if the girls didn't fully appreciate their natural surroundings as much as I would hope. Sometimes walking through the woods in relative quiet is enough for me. It was today. 

Lost in the woods

Growing up, I was lucky enough to have a big backyard and lots of nearby fields and woods to play in. I didn't exactly live like Little House on the Prairie, but being outside and walking through the quiet landscape was a normal part of my childhood. It's something I know is missing from Elisa and Carolina's lives on a regular basis and perhaps that's why these annual trips to see the fall foliage feel so special.  We get to bust out of the gray, concrete jungle and enjoy a colorful day tromping through the autumn leaves in the wilds of Connecticut. The fact that it's only an hour and a half away is a bonus and makes it relatively painless road tripping (i.e. meaning, Carolina only threw up once! :( Yeah, boo).  But really, what I love about snaking our way up Route 7 to Lovers Leap State Park, New Milford and Kent, CT is that it all feels like a well worn path by now, and yet, I look forward to each stop as if it was the first time. This year Elisa had the extra excitement of having her friend Leonardo join us. When I mentioned coming along on Saturday, Carmen was eager to get out of the confines of Sunnyside for a little while and see what all this fuss was about. I think she liked it as much as we do.  And by the end of a long day of hiking and playing, we sat back and watched as they found new energy to chase each other around the field at Kent Falls. The sunshine had given way to clouds but the temperatures were mild and driving home it felt like this season of creeping darkness was fully upon us.

And this is where I have to once again proclaim that I can feel life is smoothing out a bit for us right now, and I'm ever so grateful. Even just getting out of the house in the morning was better--not so frustrating and mood killing. The girls entertain each other in the back seat and it leaves us parents up front with some time and ability to actually talk and enjoy the ride. And our little walks in the woods were marked by their independent spirits setting out on a new adventure with very little whining.  Elisa couldn't help but get bogged down by the time we hit the waterfall outside Kent, but she hung in. And it was really pretty amazing how well Carolina fell into the mix and kept up with the group. She has such an even personality and ability to fit in with the big kids. You would hardly know we had a 2 year old with us. It was really that good. We skipped naps, but both kids passed out in the car around 7pm as we headed home. A short nap later, they finished the ride calmly chatting and snacking as we zipped back to Sunnyside in the dark. Even the traffic was light compared to other times we've hit snags returning to the city. It was great to end the day on a pleasant note after having such fun.  Both Nacho and I commented that we felt fortunate to be able to do this kind of trip and not feel like we're still burdened with dead weight. The girls are starting to pull their own and it just means there will be more trips and travel in their future. For Nacho and I, these kind of excursions are so much of what we enjoyed about living in the Northeast. And I'm glad to be at a place where our pre-kid life and post-kid existence are merging. It's all just life, after all.  And when the autumn colors are out there waiting for us, there's no where else I'd rather be than on Route 7. Til next year.... 

Fall foliage drive

Another autumn, another drive through Connecticut. I may sound like a boring old lady, but this is one of the highlights of the fall for me.  Something about the stark contrast to the city makes all the colorful leaves and quiet trails so appealing.  Don't get me wrong, I love where we live.  But being able to throw the kids in the car and zoom out of the city and up into this lush foliage in a couple of hours makes me so happy.  Maybe it's returning to my midwestern roots, but I yearn for this kind of day all autumn long.  As a kid, playing out side in the neighborhood was routinely supplemented with long walks in the woods to cut firewood with my dad or playing at a friend's house that had a small creek in her backyard. There's something very calming about this kind of communing with nature even when you add kids into the mix. I think both Elisa and Carolina found the change of scenery exciting and after spending an hour and a half in the car, they were bursting to get out...

Which isn't to say it was all peaceful all the time. Carolina had a few dicey moments when she wouldn't give in to sleep. She fought so hard against that first nap that by the time it did happen as we walked along the trail at Lovers Leap, we knew it wouldn't be a long one. About 15 minutes worth of shuteye was all she got before we loaded back into the car and headed for lunch. Of course she didn't stay asleep when we took her out of the Ergo.  Why is it my kids can't stay asleep when transferred to a moving vehicle?  Carolina seems to be even worse about this than Elisa was which means napping on the go is not our strong suit.  But luckily, she woke up fairly happy and seemed fine throughout lunch.  Our favorite spot Cookhouse in New Milford was as tasty as ever and we enjoyed a nice barbecue sampler before hitting Route 7 again. Elisa ate well and pointed out the exact booth where we'd eaten last year with Nacho's family.  She even told me how she'd taken pictures of them down there and I think I remember her playing with her camera that day.  Little things like this remind me that she is a real little person with her own memories and that trips like this do matter. It's part of our family history together and I really love that about traveling together. I hope this trip continues to be a tradition as the years tick by. It's definitely one I could do again and again.

After lunch, Elisa promptly fell asleep in the back seat, and I had high hopes that Carolina might conk out too so we kept driving up past Kent Falls, our next stop, for a bit. The road was windy and perfect for a nice leisurely drive.  Living in the city, I so rarely get to drive so it was with some pleasure that I steered us up the road for a bit enjoying each and every turn in that beautiful countryside.  We drove about another half hour and stopped to get gas before turning around.  Even though Carolina wouldn't give in to the nap, she managed to be sedate for our little hike up the falls.  And Elisa woke up with renewed vigor and happily climbed the steps all the way to the top. We snapped a few pics and hiked a little more only to see Carolina's eyes finally shut. Nacho lugged her around on his back all the way up and back down while Elisa and I goofed off on the wide expanse of lawn, rolling in the grass and taking turns hopping over each other. It was a playful, fun end to the day and Elisa couldn't have been in a better mood. In fact, the whole day with her was really enjoyable and I told her so. I hope this is a small sign of our future with her because on days like that, I realize how far we've come. She was happy and pliable and kept the mood in the car fun with her letters game.  Even after stopping in Kent, CT for a coffee and some cider and chocolates, we managed to hit the road home by about 5:30 p.m. which I was really hoping gave us some advantage. But after just an hour and a half in the car, we hit the traffic outside New York City and the next hour was a crawl.  Finally, around 8 p.m. Carolina couldn't take anymore and gave up her faint crying for slumber. I was pleased, but only because I could see the toll bridge by that point and knew the end was in sight.  Like they always do, our road trip ended on a tired, low note of just wanting to get home and stretch our legs. And finally, we were there and the girls went right to bed.  It was the kind of easy bedtime that I wasn't fully expecting. But when we didn't wake til 7:20 a.m. the next morning, I thought wow, we're kind of maturing as a family.  And I keep trying to picture how next year's trip will go. I think maybe there will be less carrying and crying and more walking together.  I hope.