There is so much to do and see that it would take a lifetime to do it all. However, Adventures of Abby Girl is all about family travel in the United States.
In this category, learn about awesome family travel ideas such as all-inclusive resorts such as Pine Ridge Dude Ranch in the heart of the Catskill.
Find awesome beaches and climb mountains in Connecticut or learn about family-friendly attractions such as SeaQuest or Museum Village.
Go to Pennsylvania and learn all about places such as Cabella’s or head to Lake George in New York.
You can skip the border into Vermont and learn about some pretty awesome off the beaten path small American towns.
Be aware that we tell it like it is with the good, the bad and the downright hilarious. We always keep it real. No sugar coating. We even might talk about taking the long route and all the things that happen along that route.
So go through these posts in this category and maybe you will be inspired to take your family on some of the adventures Abby girl and her family have been on. Perhaps we will even see you there!
We love hiking the Hudson Valley. However, this time did not go as planned. It became a short hike with many attack bugs and so much mud. Yes, this was going to be an interesting hike. In fact, it ended up being one of those days overall. Most of Abby Girl’s clothes and parts of of my body would sadly become a casualty.
I started out the day not able to find my dogs leash or collar or harness. I should have taken it as a sign from above. But I didn’t and proceeded to load my 2.5 yr old and perfectly plump canine into the vehicle and went.
After stopping at tag sale because my daughter can always use more stuff we stopped at store for a leash for my dog not child to clarify as she has been wearing the dog’s collar recently … But I’m not paying almost ten dollars when I know it’s somewhere in my house. My daughter probably was wearing it and hid it somewhere. So I was going to to say screw it and forego the hike, but as the sky seemed to clear I said, “self we will go for a hike”. I know of places where my dog doesn’t need to be leashed.
Side Note: I have recently found in a hiking no leash or collar emergency, the dollar store often has some sort of selection and they do just fine
We couldn’t go far because my car is on a slow and painful death so we swung into one of our local, lovely nature preserve. Luckily, no one was there most likely because it was 100 percent humidity and the bugs are out in full attack mode. Loaded the dog out of car, and child … Got bug spray lathered me and child in it and off we went.
Who knew so much could happen in .5 miles! My daughter had to pee. She started squatting with her panties still on cause the concept of peeing in the woods is so much different than at home. Pull down your stuff and go. But, no .
So as I hastily pull everything down, underwear, socks and shoes become a casualty. I was able to spare the skirt.
She then asked to lose the skirt and I say fine, you have a fairly long shirt on and no one is around. But shortly thereafter, she asks for her tutu back. Most likely because bugs were biting her butt.
Then on way back and may I add, .1 mile from car, my child decides to jump in a tiny stream. The same stream I tried to clean panties in and turned black from swamp mud. They ended up in the trash. No amount of stain product was saving them.
Up And down she jumped and yes, the “tutu” fell off. Black. So she finally gets bored and asks to go. So I put her tiny bare butt on my back, yell for dog and head back to car.
A final insult was my failed bug spray as I was carrying her and some kamikaze bug got my elbow. I can’t defend myself as my arms were holding tiny legs. If I attempt to swat bugs, child goes down. I took the bite for my daughter because I am an awesome mom.
We make it back to car. Load everyone in and home again we go. My very fun and buggy hike. FYI I am the only one who got attacked … Is it because I am so sweet? Hahahahahaha.
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Lastly, I have updated the My Favorite Things Page on this blog because I’m now designing t-shirts. I do receive a small royalty from each one I sell. Many feature photos from our adventures. So go have a look.
If you go have hike adventures at Locust Grove, you will have an awesome time. In fact, we kicked off our official warm weather hiking season with two back to back hikes here.
The first hike was fairly short and hot. I hiked it with my friend Carol and her daughter who Abby calls “Ju Ju.” That’s her best friend and partner in crime. So, we did a small loop and that was it. Drama free hike.
I went with Abby and a determination set in to find the Hudson River. I knew it was there somewhere. So with my daughter on my back, I began our hike. We took the path less traveled that took us to the outskirts and we went by some lovely swamp and overflow water. It was a great opportunity to teach my two-year-old, the word stagnant water. Yes, I know, she’s two. But, it sounded so cute. Hiking is a creative way to introduce different educational experiences with your child no matter their age.
We stopped to look at squirrels, birds, and chipmunks. She loves birds and kept screaming “bird” in the back of my head in between her random humming. We eventually found a sign directing us to the Hudson River. It was pretty. Nice place to camp if you were allowed.
After being interrupted by a call from my husband, we hiked on. We got to the stream at the big hill that leads back to the gate out and Abby had to go toss things in. It all started a while back when we had a science lesson on what floats and what sinks. She now can spend endless time, tossing various things in the water. FYI almost everything she tosses in, sinks.
After over a half-hour of water and muddy fun, she wanted to backtrack and take the parallel trail through the buggiest area. She kept yelling bug in a panic and I thought to myself …
“ummmm yeah, you picked the buggiest trail dear.”
We took our time before heading back up through the gates, past the old human and pet cemeteries and into the gift shop. We chatted for a while with a lovely lady and headed back in the car and looking forward to our next adventure. Learn more about Locust Grove here.
Locust Grove is a great destination place beyond hiking that is rich in history and beauty. There is an art gallery inside and a beautiful mansion. You can also find out about this spot to rent for special occasions. They host events also throughout the year. In addition, there are gardens that are gorgeous in bloom. The whole experience feels as if you have stepped back in time.
A Revisit thought. My three-year-old daughter recently found an old map of Locust Grove in our house and was talking about ghosts in the cemetery and wolves. She was calling the tombstones, big rocks. So this might be a place for ghost hunters and history buffs too! Who knows!
House Keeping-
Want us to come to you? Please send an email to discuss options or receive a media kit. We are also looking to start highlighting adventurous mamas again. Check it out on this page! https://adventuresofabbygirl.com/adventurous-mama-and-me-of-the-month/