Take 12 trips 2016: 9 months down
How things change in just a few months. At the start of the year, when I began the Take 12 Trips challenge for the third time, I knew that this year would be different. This year marked the end of preschool days.
And after a busy first half of the year, with trips to Burma and California, I ended June with an empty diary. Well. That didn’t last long!
The last three months have been such a whirl, I feel like I have a hundred posts still to write (I just finished my last one from the California trip this week, on Monterey Aquarium), video to edit and I’m busier than ever planning new trips. How did I ever think school would slow us down?
One of the reasons I love the challenge, dreamed up by Clare at Need Another Holiday, isn’t because I need motivating to book another trip, it’s because the days and weeks seem to fly by and it’s easy to discover a month has inexplicably passed without arranging a getaway.
July was all about the seaside – I got to try out some of my favourite beach activities with kids as we booked a last-minute short break in Whitstable to satisfy my craving for the seaside. Then found ourselves back on the same stretch of coast almost immediately, with a trip to Herne Bay with friends.
All perfect for inspiring my love letter to the Great British seaside.
It wasn’t just coast though. We had a helping of castle – sleeping in the very grounds at Warwick Castle’s new glamping lodges, which was fabulous.
Not only did we have almost two days to experience the castle (and having visited before, I don’t know how you can fit it all into one day) as well as special medieval entertainment in the evening once all the other guests had left.
Watching my tiny bloodthirsty daughter wave a wooden sword around and show off an unexpected talent for archery was huge fun.
August started with more UK trips, making the most of the summer weather (mostly).
The challenge is designed to inspire you to explore your local area as well as travelling further afield, so that’s just what we did by heading to one of the London National Trust properties I’d not previously visited – Morden Hall Park for a performance of The Jungle Book, and some sunshine in the grounds.
Then heading north to my childhood home in Trentham, to meet the inhabitants of the Trentham Monkey Forest once more.
With impressive skill we’d managed to pick another cold drizzly August weekend again but Minnie wasn’t deterred from trying the barefoot walk (and I reckon the gigantic dandelion sculptures look even more impressive against a cloudy sky).
And on to the spiritual home of the Take 12 Trips challenge – Liverpool, Clare’s own home town, to discover Albert Dock. From wondering if there’d be enough to keep us entertained for our flying 24 hour break there, I discovered we needed longer, even without venturing into Liverpool itself.
As our passports started to gather dust, it was time for an overseas trip with a short break to Portugal for a work project.
Staying just outside Lisbon in an AirBNB windmill, we hit the coast at Cascais (meeting Maria from One Tiny Leap who knows the best beach bars and places to get ice cream), explored the fairytale palaces of Sintra and hit the beaches on the Atlantic coast.
Much as I would have loved to spend longer and head in to Lisbon itself, one of my all-time favourite cities, we had to wave farewell and fly back home, bottles of white port and vinho verde in my suitcase. Now the work project is finished, I’m hoping to post more.
And suddenly it was September. The final weeks before school. The final days, in fact. I was determined we’d fit one last trip in, so off we went to Rye in East Sussex for a chilled out break, just me and Minnie doing some of our favourite things.
Making sandcastles on the beach at Camber Sands. Meeting a pufferfish at the aquarium in Hastings. Discovering what medieval life might really have been like at Bodiam Castle.
Then the preschool days were officially over. I think we ended them in style. To put paid to any wistfulness at the fact those days are firmly behind us, I promptly headed off on another trip to the Costa Barcelona with four other bloggers, starting our packed four days with a trip to a vineyard, ending with an attempt at cableskiing, and discovering a hugely family-friendly part of Spain in between. More (inevitably) to come there too.
With just three months left of the challenge, I already have a couple of plans for October including a half-term break and hopefully something rather exciting for November. Perhaps school isn’t going to change things that much after all…
Main image courtesy of Depositphotos, all others copyright MummyTravels
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You’ve had some really incredible experiences in the 9 months so far, and it definitely doesn’t sound like preschool is slowing you down any time soon! I look forward to reading about more adventures!
Your bridge scene from Morden Hall Park was a blast from the past for me – I’m a Londoner originally, and I actually grew up quite close to Morden and the park.
Thanks! Hopefully there will be lots more adventures still to come. And Morden is lovely, wish I was a bit closer- we spent a long time on the bridge.
Fabulous photos and what adventures you’ve had. My daughter started nursery in September and it felt more important than ever to fill the summer with fun so I know how you feel.
Thank you! Absolutely – you suddenly realise how it’s all going to change.
We’re planning a trip to Lisbon next year – I’ve just had a quick look at the lighthouse and am mentally extending the visit by a couple of days so that we can stay there too!
It’s a lovely base to see some of the coast and little villages outside Lisbon – Sintra and Cascais are both around half an hour away.
I found this update a bit emotional to read! I think because it’s the third year for you and the end of Minnie’s preschool days – It’s kind of bringing it home to me that my own Holiday Baby’s early years will rush by (are rushing by!) way too fast. I’m so glad you got to Liverpool, though I wish it had been for a slightly longer stat as I’d have loved to catch up. I hope we cross paths again soon! Honestly, Cathy your travels have kept me inspired since becoming a mum! Keep travelling with a child in tow? Hell to the yeah!
Oh thank you, that is so lovely to read – exactly what I hoped when I started (and could never quite have known how the first four years would go). It’s incredible, looking back those early trips seem about a hundred years ago – but also like I blinked and it only happened yesterday. It was so helpful to have your challenge to set myself when we were starting out as well – hopefully next time we’ll have longer in Liverpool and get to catch up a bit. Even school isn’t stopping us (yet!)
This is such a great idea! I’m glad preschool hasn’t slowed you down. Mine are both in school now and things have changed big time! Enjoy your adventures. Fab pics x
Thanks – it’s school for us this year too, although with a late start, and a weekend away, we’re almost at half-term already anyway 🙂
Oh my, what a busy three months. Are there bonus points in the challenge for taking more than 12 trips in a quarter of the time? If so, you’re winning! 😉 What a great collection of days out and short breaks #myfavouritetrip
It has definitely been! I think we’ve been averaging around 30 trips per year (so 7-8 per quarter) but I’ve lost track of quite how this year is shaping up. Not sure about bonus points, but bonus holidays certainly…
A lovely post Cathy, you really do feel me with so much travel inspiration! I sure will miss these pre-school says when they’re over (my son starts school next year) but it looks like you’ve still got plenty of amazing trips lined up! I’m doing the #take12trips challenge for the first time this year, such a great idea. I’ve been on many more than 12 trips, but still need to write posts on some of them, not enough hours in the day! Love how varied your trips are, lovely photos! Thanks for joining in with #MyFavouriteTrip Polly 🙂
Thank you! That’s so lovely to hear – and definitely try to make the most of the last preschool year (I’m still getting used to school restrictions!). I do love the challenge as well: we don’t normally struggle to find 12 trips or days out but there have been a few months which have been so busy we’ve almost failed to organise something, so it’s a nice reminder.
Wow, what a full filled adventurous 9 months you’ve had. Some lovely photos too that capture such precious memories 🙂 x
Thank you! We have done our best to pack it full this year – lovely to look back on 🙂
I really enjoyed reading your post. I thought your post was beautifully written. Thanks for guide!
Thanks!
Oh! such a nice blog. The way you describe the events in your 12 trips is very good. I must say you are a good story teller. Pictures you posted are also very beautiful. I would also love to visit some of these places one day
Thanks!
I love reading about all your adventures Cathy. It feels like forever ago it was the summer doesn’t it? I love the photos of the seaside, in particular. I know for a fact that in the last few weeks you have added some more incredible experiences to the list which I look forward to hearing about. A really good idea for a challenge. #myfavouritetrip
Thank you! And it really does – it’s amazing how fast the year has been going, always fun looking back on the previous few months at each quarter. Just December to sort out now…