old niece became my ultimate travel buddy

It’s tempting to fill the itinerary with lots of my beloved-yet-brazen pursuits, but a thoughtful itinerary creates a sustainable balance — like a sturdy-based cairn that holds its shape even with an occasional round rock in the mix. So, I stack our getaways with what I call comfort sandwiches — little pops of adventure in between familiar activities like sightseeing, beach time, or traditional wellness experiences.
Originally, we enjoyed gondola rides, farm visits, and whale watches. But as Lauren tallied up more experiences, her comfort zone morphed. At 20, Lauren refused to touch a llama but now volunteers to snorkel with sharks, and the young woman who politely affirmed, “My comfort zone is land — L-A-N-D,” took the helm of an America’s Cup-winning sailboat in Newport.
“Helping plan the itinerary makes it ‘our trip,’ as opposed to me being a guest,” she explains, “And now, after two years, we’ve conquered land, sea, and air together, which is fun to think about.”
Exploring the far reaches of one’s comfort zone often includes apprehension, so I scan the itinerary for buzzkill scenarios. Snorkeling together for the first time? Bring a swimmer’s ear remedy, small float bag to protect your phones, and Dramamine. Simply put, sometimes new experiences suck if you’re not comfortable, so stack the odds.
As her friend, I had mixed emotions. As her Gen-X auntie, however, I offer no remorse for watching Lauren burn under the Aruban sun when she left the shade of the cabana. I gently flagged, “You’re looking a little pink.” Then, 20 minutes later, I offered up, “Damn, girl. You’re really red.” Alas, she continued her ill-fated quest.
It’s a tale as old as time, and I’m not going to coax a bikini-clad 22-year-old out of the sun by nagging her. So, I let her burn in peace. I’d draw the line at letting her boop a Jaguar’s nose, but it’s important to give coming-of-age travel companions room to make their own decisions — even if it means buying overpriced aloe vera to soothe the charred consequences of those choices.
I cherish adventuring with Lauren, but the cost of groceries is scandalous, so managing a reasonable budget is critical. Our social media accounts offer glimpses of e-biking in Bar Harbor and sailing in Belize, but behind the scenes, our hotel fridge looks like a scene from an episode of “Hoarders,” with all our leftovers squirreled away.
We prioritize weekend road trips, haul around a backseat Yeti, and usually have dehydrated camp meals on hand. Food aside, all our adventures begin with the same question: What free or low-cost experiences are available at or near the hotel?
Wequassett Resort and Golf Club | Cape Cod
Summer on the Cape is bliss, but traffic can gobble up precious itinerary time. Make the most of a weekend getaway by visiting in the off-season. Check out Pleasant Bay’s Wequassett Resort and Golf Club for wine workshops, arm-knitting classes, Thursday Mahjong socials, and oyster shell decoupage classes. Sleep in and order the hash at breakfast.
Mountain View Grand Resort & Spa | Whitefield, N.H.
Our very first adventure unfolded at Mountain View Grand Resort & Spa, chosen for the depth of its onsite offerings, which include sleigh rides, tubing, guided snowshoe meditations, a small movie theater, and more. Do not miss the fiber-producing animal farm (think angora goats, llamas, and alpacas). Set your camera to macro and capture up-close shots of swoony sheep lashes.
The Inn at Burklyn | East Burke, Vt.
Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom offers a glorious mishmash of New England at its finest. Make reservations at The Inn at Burklyn, and indulge in fine dining with a proprietary we’re old friends-style ambience. Hunker down with a book by one of the wood-burning fireplaces or visit nearby St. Johnsbury, where Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium packs endless wonder under one roof. Just outside the inn’s front door, Nordic skiing, fat biking, and hiking await on the 100+-mile Northeast Kingdom Trails.
Bar Harbor | Maine
Known as the gateway to Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor surprised me with its array of excursions. We explored Acadia via bike, pedaling with e-boosted ease along 45 miles of wide, flat carriage roads, but also relished our downtime in a seaside cabana at the Claremont Hotel. It’s a quick five-minute walk to Beal’s Lobster Pier, and short drive to join the Lobstering & Seal Watching Excursion with Sail Acadia. Our last 24 hours there included an open-cockpit biplane tour with Scenic Flights of Acadia and the rustic elegance of Terramor Outdoor Resort — the perfect introduction to glamping with its onsite eatery and craft cocktails.
The islands and jungles of Belize
If you’re looking for a college graduation trip, consider the teal waters and lush jungles of Belize. Start on Cayo Espanto’s seven-villa private island, and frolic seaside à la celebrities like Jennifer Lawrence. Some properties loosely mention “personalized butler service,” but at Cayo Espanto, it’s literal and perfect for a bucket-list-style celebratory trip. Enjoy menus designed to your preferences and spend your days snorkeling, enjoying your plunge pool, or napping on your private floating trampoline.
From there, head into the jungle at GAÏA Riverlodge, where you can wile away the day surrounded by rushing waterfalls or exploring nearby caves where still-intact Mayan artifacts lay casually on the ground. The onsite farm supplies fresh garden goodies, and you can gather eggs and veggies for your morning omelet. Ease the logistics of shifting from sea to jungle with a pit stop at one of GAÏA’s Lighter Collection sister properties, where the land and sea packages include transfers.
It was during a jungle excursion at GAÏA Riverlodge that Lauren had a fairly dramatic waterfall oopsie, and I watched helplessly as the current sent her plummeting. Luckily, her head was intact, but the bone in her toe was snapped clean in half. We hiked her out of the jungle with the help of an impromptu walking stick — a tree limb whittled down by the guide’s machete.
While reminiscing, Lauren mentioned there were so many things to figure out like how to get out of the jungle and how to access medical help, but we did, and “I was fine,” she said. “I know now that if something happens in life, I’m going to be fine.”