Fantasy Summer Bucket List

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bucket list

*Warning, this blog contains an unnecessary amount of sarcasm.*

I’m going to be real with you ladies, I’ve been slacking big time on my mom blogging. Between creative brain blockage, and personal issues, I’ve been the sole passenger of my very own hot mess express. 

My original plan was to write a 2018 summer bucket list. Places to visit in Westchester and the Hudson Valley. But honestly who the fudge am I trying to fool. First of all, I’ve only visited maybe two of the places on my list, so I couldn’t exactly give my personal opinion on most of them. Second the chances of me even checking off a quarter of places on my bucket list are slim to none, because well, that’s life.

With that being said, it’s in typical Lindsey fashion, that I put a humorous spin on it. I’ll be writing my summer bucket list in the perspective of the mayor of my fantasy world called “Lindsey Land.” It’s a real thing, and has been an ongoing joke in my family since I was a kid. I’m a dreamer what can I say?

Let’s kick it off with some Mom fantasies. Now typically when an adult speaks of ones fantasies, your mind automatically goes to the gutter. Not in Lindsey Land. Sexy men sporting rock hard abs and chiseled biceps? NOPE. Romantic strolls on the beach during sunset with your significant other, without a care in the world? NOPE. In reality I’d be happy with going to the bathroom without an audience, but we are talking fantasies here!

Picture you and your best gals, headed out on a weekend getaway. Riding in style, in a stretch limo sipping of a fabulous glass of chilled prosecco, laughing, jamming out to 90’s/2000’s hip hop. Sounds amazing right? Well so does the place you’re headed. The Hudson Valley’s Shawangunk Wine Trail, a stretch of 80 miles with 15 wineries located between the Shawangunk mountains and the Hudson river. There is a fantastic selection of lodging and restaurants along the trail, as well as options for transportation to and from all the awesome local wineries. An epic girls weekend for sure!

There is nothing quite as peaceful and relaxing as pure silence for a busy mom. Nothing except, maybe a solo trip to the Untermeyer Gardens in Yonkers. Once the gardens of Samuel Untermeyer, this historic site, now a public park, is said to be one of the most beautiful gardens in the country. Girl, get going! Pack a lunch, a bottle of wine, a good book, maybe some music, and tour the 40+ acres including spots with sick views of the mighty Hudson. Surround yourself with nothing more than peace, quiet and Mother Nature.

Who’s up for some peaceful meditation? How about at two gorgeous local Buddhist monasteries. Chuang Yen Buddhist Monastery in Carmel, NY, has tons of acreage to explore, and a plethora of events to check out. The Blue Cliff Monastery in Pine Bush, NY was established by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh, whose mission is to, “Share the practice of mindful living.” Visit the sanctuary that offers a variety of retreats and events or explore 80 acres of grounds. Honestly, you had me at Zen master. Bring on the mindful living.

Enough with the mom fantasies. Let’s switch gears and talk a little about some ideal family outings. A day of outdoor adventure perhaps? Now remember I said “ideal,” this means kids are behaving like adorable little cherubs and everyone (including your less than adventurous husband) is thrilled to be spending time together.

The Revolution Railway in North Creek, NY allows you to pedal (similar to a paddle boat) on the rails that once functioned as the Adirondack mining route. Pedal a total of six miles round trip, and get a whole new perspective of the gorgeous Adirondacks mountain views.

Next up, pack up the kiddies and head to the Greenburg Nature Center. Let your crazy little energetic angels get nice and tired on the 33 acres of grounds that include trails, ponds, gardens and awesome playgrounds. View the awesome live animal exhibits, including a new butterfly arbor. Your little ones will be more than willing to listen intently to the very knowledgeable staff, and definitely not try to climb in the cage with the “dinosaur” aka a huge lizard of some sort ( hypothetically speaking of course). Greenburg Nature Center also has daily events and activities all throughout the summer!

Another educational day trip to keep your littles sharp is the Andrus Planetarium in the Hudson River Museum in Yonkers, NY. Relax in some comfy chairs and watch as the 40 foot dome transform into the night sky. Your kids will be 100% amazed and eager to learn, and absolutely stand no chance of being bored to tears.

The Children’s Museum of Science and Technology in Troy, NY seems promising. It’s operated by the college of nanoscale science and engineering and offers a range of interactive and hands on exhibits. Your kids will be having such a blast they won’t even realize they are learning. Nothing like good old-fashioned trickery to keep these knoggins from losing their smarts.   

Being a mom of three boys, I’ve slowly been forced to learn to deal with *cough* I mean embrace the outdoors. Since I’m being more then honest in this blog entry, I’ll admit I pretty much despise anything having to do, bugs, dirt, and any other disgusting mysteries nature has to offer. Again this is my fantasy bucket list, and hiking to view the Cohoes Falls in Cohoes, NY will be nothing but pleasant. The breathtaking views of the falls will be worth every second in the creature infested woods with my three precious babies that more than likely will forget how to walk after 2.5 minutes. 

With all this exciting family time, perhaps a day date is in order. Grab your honey and head on over to the Angry Orchard Cider House in Walden, NY. Spend the day touring and tasting all the fantastic ciders Angry Orchard makes, and see the hard cider orchard in action. 

All joking and sarcasm aside, I genuinely hope to visit some of these fabulous places this summer. Our area has so much to offer. 

What’s on your Fantasy Bucket List this summer?

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