As August graces us with its presence, the pace of summer has quickened, hurtling forward faster than ever before. I find myself clinging to these moments, desperately trying to hold onto time before it slips away into the past, leaving behind only memories. As a mother of a high school senior about to embark on their final year and a college sophomore, the notion of having 18 summers with my children, as I was once led to believe, now feels like a deception. The window of opportunity to create cherished summer memories seems to have already closed.
My children have long outgrown those days of half-day camp sessions followed by leisurely afternoons at the pool. The unstructured freedom they once relished has given way to meticulously planned schedules. Past summers were filled with juggling internships, part-time jobs, volunteer work, and exciting international adventures with newfound friends. It has become increasingly challenging to align our schedules and find those precious moments when we can be together, but it is precisely these moments that make our summer vacations all the more special.
A MEMORABLE SUMMER ROAD TRIP TO CHINCOTEAGUE
This summer, we managed to synchronize our calendars and set aside a week to spend together in Chincoteague, Virginia, a quaint beach town with easy access to the Assateague Island National Seashore. Chincoteague has always been our preferred destination for a laid-back vacation not too far from home. In fact, we grew so fond of the place that we purchased and renovated a vacation home there during the pandemic.
We have made numerous trips to Chincoteague over the past few years, and although the route was familiar, this journey felt both the same and different. Instead of packing up our trusty old 2004 blue station wagon for a trip it had taken countless times, we settled into a 2023 Toyota Venza Limited AWD Hybrid for the road ahead.
With just a few taps, my daughter seamlessly connected to Apple CarPlay. She set our destination using the 12-inch Multi-Information Display Screen and scrolled through the vibrant icons to locate Spotify, ready to play Taylor Swift’s recently released album, “Speak Now.”
Despite having navigation guiding us along the way, we relied on local landmarks as our journey’s milestones. We made a conscious effort, as we always do, to count the numerous bridges we crossed along our route.
Our road trip included a pit stop at Rise Up, our favorite coffee shop, where we fueled up on caffeine, and several visits to local farm stands in search of ripe, locally grown melons to enjoy throughout the week. Taylor Swift’s music played through the JBL speakers, enhancing the experience.
There’s something truly transformative about driving across the Bay Bridge and heading south. As we distanced ourselves from Washington, D.C., the hustle and bustle of city life gradually faded away. Leaving the mainland and crossing the Causeway, I’ve always found solace in the gentle sway of the green marsh grass in the breeze—a moment of calming serenity.
Making a right turn from the Causeway onto Main Street signified that we were almost home. We passed by the charming little downtown shops, which had subtly changed over the years of our visits. Further down the road, we always glanced to the left, hoping to catch a glimpse of the famous Chincoteague ponies grazing on the Carnival grounds. And then, at long last, we arrived home.
CREATING MORE SUMMER MEMORIES
The Venza’s tires crunched over smooth white rocks as I pulled into the driveway. I turned off the engine, opened the car door, and took in a deep breath, savoring the unique scent of sea water and marsh mud—Chincoteague’s unmistakable fragrance.
The rest of the family stepped out of the car, stretching their limbs. Our two dogs bounded into the backyard, their noses to the ground, on a mission to find fresh oyster shells to crunch and any signs of recent visits from ducks or geese.
Chincoteague memories have become the cornerstone of our summer recollections. Our family has compiled a list of must-dos whenever we’re in town.
- Waking up early to savor egg coffees and croissants from Amarin, a tradition to beat the crowds.
- Patiently waiting in line at Island Creamery as many times as we pleased to indulge in the ever-rotating ice cream flavors. A single scoop with two flavors, please!
- Browsing through used books and admiring new Erich Sahler prints at Sundial Books.
- Replenishing our wardrobes with the latest shirts from Atlantic Shoals—my son’s closet seems to be half-filled with their apparel!
- Strolling to the Carnival grounds to play 25-cent bingo and relishing piping hot funnel cake straight from the fryer.
- Slipping beneath neighboring boat docks in kayaks or a canoe during sunset boat adventures.
- Paddleboarding when the water turns as smooth as glass.
- Canoeing to Shell Island (our nickname for a mound of shells just beyond our bulkhead) with our dogs, who adore swimming but despise the horse flies.
- Engaging in crab picking sessions on the porch and shucking oysters right from Tom’s Cove loading dock.
- Feasting on generous platters of seafood from Ray’s Shanty for dinner or savoring takeout from Captain Zack’s while gazing out at the water.
- Alternating between lounging lazily on the beach, basking in the sun until it gets too hot, and plunging into the water.
- Claiming victory when a day at the beach means no seagulls have pilfered the sandwiches we packed for lunch.
- Enjoying the sunsets from our back porch—each and every one of them!
While we have our beloved traditions in Chincoteague, we are always open to the possibility of creating new memories during each visit. It is the prospect of crafting fresh summer memories that I eagerly anticipate, particularly as another August slips away into the past.
