As someone who loves planning family summer getaways, I’m thrilled about our upcoming adventures! This summer, we’re keeping it mostly stateside but heading north for cooler weather. Here’s the lowdown on what’s in store for our family of five (with kids aged 14, 13, and 10), and I’m all ears for any tips or recommendations you might have for these destinations.

First on the agenda is the bustling streets of New York City – my husband Bjorn’s favorite city (besides Austin, of course). Since we’re too big for a standard hotel room, we’ve opted for an apartment rental in the Hudson Yards neighborhood. I’ve tasked the kids with researching activities they’re interested in, but we’ll definitely be hitting up some classics – Ellis Island, Central Park, MoMa, and catching a Broadway show or two (Hamilton, here we come!). Given our kids’ love for escape rooms, we’ll also be trying out Escape the Room, which has great reviews for kids our ages. And, of course, we have our tradition of finding the best pizza and ice cream joints in town, so stay tuned to @rosedaletravel for updates from the road.

After a quick breather at home while middle child Carter takes off for his CISV adventure to India (!),  we’ll head to Michigan to drop off our oldest at a camp at Kettering University. Then it’s a road trip up to Northern Michigan for a few days at the Inn of Bay Harbor. With a friend joining us to unwind with a good book, my 10-year-old son Evan and I will be exploring Petoskey, Mackinac Island, and Traverse City. Northern Michigan boasts stunning lakes and scenery and delightful cool evenings (perfect sweatshirt weather!) We’ll pick up our camper and then head down to metro Detroit, bunking down at the sleek Daxton Hotel in Birmingham, MI. I love the charm and walkability of this suburban downtown (lived there for four years!)  – and I’m curious to see whether Daxton will work for a group of friends potentially coming up to catch the Texas at Michigan game in early September. 

Back home for another quick turnaround, then it’s off to California for the Napa 2 Sonoma half marathon with friends. Running amidst stunning vineyard views and ending with a glass of wine – sign me up! We’ll be staying at Stanly Ranch, Auberge Resorts Collection, surrounded by acres of vineyards and ranch land. Traveling for sporting events, whether as a spectator or participant, serves as a great anchor point for a vacation. It locks in the time and location, allowing us to focus our planning energy on where to stay, what to do, and where to eat.

And finally, the grand finale – a mother-son adventure to Reykjavik! Carter and I will be setting sail for a seven-day cruise around Iceland aboard the Star Pride by Windstar. I’m looking forward to experiencing the wonders of small ship cruising and exploring Iceland’s breathtaking landscapes. This is very conveniently AFTER the half marathon so I’ll be happily be taking a break from running.  And since Carter is a fan of all things British, we’re hopping over to London for a few days. Our home away from home? St Ermin’s, an Autograph Collection gem by Marriott, right by Buckingham Palace and St James’s Park.

Once we’re back home, it’s back to school for the kids, and I’ll be off to Virtuoso Travel Week in mid-August to dive deep into the latest luxury travel trends. And as September rolls around, it’s time to start working hard again, dreaming up those winter escapes, spring break adventures, and who knows, maybe even a sneak peek at summer 2025. Have any exciting plans brewing for your summer? Please share!