A Summer Travel Bucket-List to Redeem 2020: A Month by Month Plan

I think most people would agree, 2020 has had a rocky start, and I am thinking about all the ways I can bring some normalcy back to my life. One of those ways is getting out there and going places. Take a look at my 3-month summer activity plan which I hope refreshes my spirit and calms my restlessness.

We planned our bi-annual trip Up North in October 2019. For the past three months, I have worried this might be the year we have to skip a traditional vacation. It looks as if our plans might work out, so I'm making it June's activity. Here is my to-do list while we are there:

1. We will be spending some time with family who live on Twin Bear Lake up near Iron River. I hope to go out on the lake and have an Old Fashioned from Pine Point Lodge.
2. Walking the streets of Hayward and looking in all the little shops is a must-do. Then I'm sure we will relax at the Moccasin Bar for a while.
3. We plan to take a day-trip up to Bayfield, and ride the ferry to Madeline Island, where we can rent mopeds to sightsee and shop.
4. I'm sure we will spend one afternoon at the Casino. It's a vacation. Why not?
5. One of our favorite things to do is just relax and enjoy the sights. When that gets old, I'm sure we will make ourselves at home at the Deerfoot Lodge bar and restaurant.

There's just something about The Lake in the heat of July. This summer I hope to take my daughters down to Lake of the Ozarks for some good ole' poolside relaxation and outlet mall shopping. Our family has vacationed at The Lake for 30 years, so there's no reason to stop now. Here is the unofficial list of plans for our July get-away:

1. My friends from college have a boat at The Lake, and we love getting together with them for a boat-day.
2. I'm sure one of our first stops will be the huge outlet mall with discounted name brands. Over the years, the mall has dwindled in size and popularity, but it is still worth going.
3. My favorite jewelry store, Duncan II Jewelry, is always a place to browse, and sometimes to buy.
4. An afternoon at DogPatch is on the list, of course. Dogpatch is about a mile-long strip with souvenir shops, bars, and restaurants. There is a cute little boutique at DogPatch my girls just love, and Marty Byrd's bar, named after the main character in the Netflix series Ozark. We also like Tucker's Shuckers' frozen daiquiris, yum.
5. Main Street Shoppes is always another excellent shopping venue. This small outdoor mall has unique boutiques, antique stores, small businesses selling handmade and unique gifts, and a General Store with souvenirs, an old-time candy counter, and more.

I am a huge St. Louis Cardinals fan, and like almost everyone else in the states, I am missing major league baseball the year. I love watching games from home or even at a pub, but the experience of going to the ballpark is unmatched. I'm quite partial to the St. Louis Cardinals, and honestly, I have nothing to compare my experiences to because I have only been to one MLB stadium, Busch Stadium. So, when I say the atmosphere there and in Ballpark Village is the best of any, I'm not entirely fair. I'm sure any stadium full of home-team fans is just as impressive. As much as I love the atmosphere, however, I dislike the fact that everything costs so much. $9 hot dogs and $18 frozen drinks is a bit ridiculous, but it's not something we do a lot. I am hopeful that by August or September, the stadiums will be open, so we can once again have this phenomenal experience. Here is a list of other activities for our St. Louis get-away:

1. Visit the Arch. I've been there several times, but it is always interesting and fun to ride to the top.

2. Walk Laclede's Landing and sightsee and people watch.

3. Go to Big Daddy's on the Landing for some terrific pub grub and a few drinks. Big Daddy's has a great vibe and some of the best margaritas.

4. Go to Maggie O'Brien's for some Irish pub atmosphere.

5. Do a little sightseeing and browsing at Union Station.

Even though the beginning of 2020 was a rough one, I have a plan for salvaging the year, starting with this summer. Now that all of the states are relaxing restrictions, I am beginning to plan and be ready to get out and go. Hopefully, the ballparks open before the end of summer, but I am prepared for the fact that the St. Louis trip might have to wait until next season. However, I should attain all of my other travel goals with ease.