HIGGINS LAKE, MICHIGAN circa 1965 & 2006

In the mid 1960's, my parents took our family on our first real vacation: real in the sense that it was out of state and overnight; real in the sense that we all got blue "Higgins Lake Michigan" sweatshirts as souvenirs.

The five of us stayed in a log cabin set off a main road. Being around 7, I don't recall where the cabin was located in relation to the lake. But the cabin itself was spacious and wild blueberries grew nearby. Mom and I picked them to put on our morning cornflakes.

Higgins Lake is a glacier lake. In the summer of 1965, it was pristine and cold. We swam one day. My brother, sister and dad went fishing on another. The narrow beach had a strip of rocks - some fossilized - right at the shoreline. I found my first fossil along the bank. I still have it.

In 2006, my husband and I visited the lake in mid-September. We rented a small, one-bedroom cottage named "The Brass Bell." The cottage, situated on the shoreline facing east, was one of many. In fact, it was like a small subdivision. A far cry from the secluded log cabin we had stayed in as children. There were also more boats than I remember. But the water was still crystal clear....some 40 years later!

CHICAGO - That Toddling Town (2006-08)

I have taken three business trips to Chicago, the Windy City. Although the trips did not allow for site seeing, what I was able to fleetingly experience, I thoroughly enjoyed.

The tony area around the Hancock Tower - shopping and business district - is bustling and clean. The area reverberates with energy. In the summer, an inviting Lake Michigan is a short, pleasant walk away. Along the lake shore, there are casual places to eat. (A big nod to the Oak Street Beach Bistro's tasty vegetarian Quesadillas.) The bistro and promenade offer a beautiful view of the lake and dynamic people-watching.

My goal: One day, I'd like to toddle through Chicago instead of rushing through it.

LAKE SABBATUS, MAINE (2005-2008)

My brother lives on peaceful and picturesque Lake Sabbatus. Not only is Sabbatus the perfect place to live, it's a great vacation destination for us!

My brother owns two houses: a small cottage on the east side, which he now rents, and a larger home on the west side.

He's lived on the west side almost two years. His home, tucked off a dirt road, has a view of Mount Sabbatus. Woods, heavy with pine, a narrow verge and a small pond surround his property. King fishers, ducks and loons frequent the pond. The lake is also home to game fish. Most of the boat traffic is local and is light except on the weekends. But even then, the number of boats - pontoons, bass and outboard motor - remains small.

The relative quiet makes Lake Sabbatus the perfect place to unwind, wine in hand. There is a constant breeze coming off the lake and humidity is low. Sunsets are my favorite pastime. They are inspirational - a photographer's dream.

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As we like to say, "Hail Sabbatus!"

2007: SANIBEL & CAPTIVA ISLANDS, Florida

We visited Sanibel and Captiva Islands, Florida Gulf Coast islands in September ,2007. As a general rule, we plan our beach vacations the day after Labor Day because 1.) rates are lower and 2.) crowds are gone.

We flew into Ft. Myers and drove the short distance to Sanibel Island. We stayed at the Seaside Inn. Although our beach view was partially obscured, the beach was a short walk from the hotel. The hotel's amenities included free bikes, pool and a daily complimentary continental breakfast basket. Bike riding around the island is enjoyable, easy and highly recommended. The Sanibel lighthouse is a quick ride by bike or a 30 minute walk by the beach.

For shell collectors, Sanibel is Nirvana. The shoreline is thick with shells. The hardest thing to do besides the "Sanibel Stoop," is deciding on which shell to pick. The calico scallops were colorful and abundant. I also found starfish, turkey wings, cockles, fighting conchs, jingles, olive shells, lightning whelks, kitten paws, cones, cocquinas and others. I added 7 lb. to our luggage weight and just missed being overweight!

Not only is Sanibel the best beach I have ever combed, Sanibel is home to the J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge; one of the best places I have ever bird watched. Altogether, I added 15 birds to my life list. We cruised Tarpon Bay and watched the pelicans return to roost. We also spotted dolphins, storks, ospreys and egrets. In Ding Darling, we got close to an alligator and saw heron, ibis, tern, spoonbills and cormorants. The tram tour offered an excellent educational background to the preserve, its birds and the mangrove ecosystem.

• Other sights to see include the Sanibel Bailey-Mathews Shell Museum and Captiva's Bubble Room Restaurant. It is a pleasant drive up to Captiva. The restaurant features generous portions, mammoth desserts and a fun atmosphere. The interior is decorated with Hollywood photographs, Christmas decorations and all manner of things nostalgic. We had a good time touring the different dining rooms and burned off a little of that slab of coconut cake.

My rating: Unsurpassed for shelling and birding.

IMAGES OF OAHU, 2008

USS Missouri & USS Arizona,
Pearl Harbor

Ko Olina Resort Waimea Valley

Tahitian Dancer,

Polynesian Cultural Center"From Here to Eternity" Beach

Dole Pineapple Plantation

2008 - Destination: HONOLULU, OAHU

Oahu is the most populated of the Hawaiian islands. It also has some of the most recognizable landmarks and attractions: Pearl Harbor, Pali Lookout, Waikiki Beach, Diamond Head, the Polynesian Cultural Center, Dole Pineapple Plantation, Byodo-in Temple and Halona Blowhole. We saw them all!

We stayed in the Honolulu W at the western edge of Honolulu. From our balcony we could watch the sun rise over Diamond Head. Twice we were treated to rainbows. Waikiki Beach was a few steps away. Pounding surfs, surfers and an array of tourists and locals made for interesting people watching. Large and surreal-looking banyan trees grow inside the beach park. Children play hide-n-seek in them. The Waikiki Aquarium, a short 5 minute walk from the hotel, has lovely and educational exhibits. The W's restaurant has great, reasonably priced food, fun and friendly staff. The spinach salad with candied pecans, house bread and flavored oil are excellent. Complimentary Kona coffee in the morning…what more can I say?

For gardeners, photographers and nature lovers, Oahu is a goldmine of unique and beautiful plants. Waimea Valley is an easy to walk rain forest with clearly marked species both native and non-native. Ironically, due to a current dry spell, the waterfall at the end of one trail was only a trickle. It struck me part way through our trip, that the lighting in Hawaii is what makes everything, especially the vegetation, look so beautiful. The shading and light is so defined, so magnified, that every plant looked as if it were artificially enhanced.

Dole Pineapple plantation is another great stop for viewing plants and learning about pineapple varieties. Pineapple and bananas grown in Hawaii taste so much better than the fruit we get stateside.

Near Diamond Head is the Halona Blowhole and beach where “From Here to Eternity” was filmed. The area is known as the Beverly Hills of Honolulu because of the million dollar homes built around Diamond Head. This side of the island has spectacular views and larger than life surf.

Pearl Harbor and the USS Arizona: Especially poignant is the sheen of oil floating around the USS Arizona memorial: every few minutes, small drops of oil surface from the wreckage; a moving reminder to this national tragedy. The decommissioned USS Missouri is nearby. We toured the ship, crew quarters, command center, and site of the Japanese surrender. The Mighty Mo is loaded with WWII and Gulf War history.

A day at the Polynesian Cultural Center: Hawaiian, Tahitian, Tongan, New Zealand, and Samoan cultures are represented. As part of their work/study, each village is run by native students from BYU. We participated in several cultural activities (e.g., fire starting and poi tasting.) Poi is not bad, really! After a lavish buffet, we enjoyed an evening show featuring dance, drums, fire and music. The students are talented and honestly enthusiastic about sharing their culture and heritage.

Pali Outlook offers a windy and panoramic view as well as an overview of Hawaiian history. Byodo-in Temple was a pleasant surprise: an ornate Japanese temple surrounded by mountain mist that reaches down to the tree tops. Simply breathtaking!

AAA was our booking agent. We have used them for years. At our AAA orientation breakfast, we purchased tours (at a discount) and also won a day trip to the Marriott Ko Olina Resort (including transportation). A quiet, posh and private resort with man-made lagoons, Ko Olina is exactly how you picture Hawaii – lush, perfect, paradise! No wonder I kept hearing Israel Kamakawiwo'ole singing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" in my head.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D68ymfjpw98