Tradition

I'll never forget the moment. It was five years ago and the sun was high in the yellow-pink sky, casting shadows around us. The waves made tinkling sounds as they washed up through the beach of stones, around our bare feet. We were in Santorini on our honeymoon, sitting on an almost empty beach, as close to the surf as we could get, making plans. Mike and I promised each other we would always make traveling together a priority in our marriage. That we would take the time to explore new places, make new memories and recreate this moment of relaxation and togetherness, simplicity and shear happiness at least once a year.

I don't think Mike realized how literally I would translate that promise. We have seen and done some pretty amazing things over the past five years. We've wandered through the dark and winding streets of Venice and tossed coins over our shoulders into the Trevi Fountain in Rome. We drank ginga in Obidos, climbed ramparts in Lisbon, shopped in Cais-Cais and lit candles at Fatima. We ate fish and chips at The Tower of London and stood under the Eiffel Tower during a thunderstorm. But...no matter what...we've always, always returned to the beach. Every single year. Regardless of whatever else we had going on, whatever else we had planned. We've always found our way back to the sound of the ocean, the sand between our toes, the warm sun on our skin.

This year was no exception. With our big trip still a few months away and the madness of Kellogg craziness still heavy on our minds, I knew there was only one thing that would allow us to relax. To reconnect, reset, and kick off the summer. We really needed the beach.

Every year has been different: biking the beach on Hilton Head Island, feeling ridiculously pampered in West Palm Beach and Key Bisquane, having a late-night bonfire on Cannon Beach, floating for hours on the calm Caribbean Sea in Aruba.

This time we tried Marco Island, which is just south of Naples, Florida. We spent 4.5 days lounging at a great resort, waking up each morning with no bigger decision to make than whether to spend the day laying by the pool or by the ocean. We took long walks and found some cool shells. We reclined for hours in beach chairs, reading and chatting and munching on cookies. We explored fun local restaurants and spent an afternoon shopping around in Naples. It. Was. Fantastic. I already can't wait to continue our tradition next year.