Just like you, I’m a continual work in progress. I have a tendency to get very focused on what “needs” be done vs. doing things that are just for fun. And, when doing things that are fun, I have to remind myself to be fully THERE, to be present, to enjoy the moment. I set a goal for myself this summer is to have 12 local adventures in and around St. Louis with my kids. (If you haven’t already, check out this article to learn how to set goals simply.)

Here’s our review on Adventure #1: Ziplining and Dining in Grafton, IL

Mom Rating: 9/10 (me) 10/10 (Megan, my sister in law)
Kid Rating: 8/10 (Josie age 11), 10/10 (Oliver age 14), 10/10 (Jocelyn age 7)

Pros: The ziplining was awesome (and a little bit terrifying!). The guides were fantastic and fun, which made it even better. The drive from St. Louis was about an hour, and it was a pretty drive. The food was great at the Aerie’s Winery and the views were fantastic. We were starving when we arrived and our server was so accommodating to the kids and we got our food really quickly, which was awesome. Our last stop for ice cream was a nice cherry on top of a great day.

After we finished that line behind us, which was 200 feet in the air with a beautiful view. I am a little scared of heights and even more scared of watching my children soar off into the trees alone. But it was worth it!

Cons: We rode up to the winery in on the Grafton Sky Tour, which is like a ski lift. It was slow and it was a hot day. If you do this ride, prepare to be, well, sweltering. It was worth it, however, to get to the winery and view on top. Josie’s con was that sometimes she had to zipline tandem with the guide because she didn’t weigh enough to get all of the way across the line by herself. You have to weigh at least 50 to participate and on 2 of the lines, all of the kids (including Oliver who weighs 102) went with the guide.

And now, the life coachy bit: In order to enjoy this day, both Megan and I had to let go of the fact that we could have stayed home all day and worked and “been productive”. I came home to a house that was just as messy as when I’d left. And I’m so glad I did.

I used the thought “I’m purposely choosing to spend a day with people I love trying something new” and truly enjoyed myself all day. Megan and I agreed that it was so worth it to have this experience.

Details and links in case you want to do this adventure:

Ziplining at Aerie’s Resort

The Grafton Sky Tour up to Aerie’s Winery Terrace. The winery had live music, too.

Ice cream at The Whole Scoop. I was impressed that they even had some non-dairy options like Italian ice and sorbet.

Other Cool Things that we didn’t have time to check out - the town itself had a bunch of cute shops that Megan and I would have loved to spend time in. There is also a water park on the edge of town that looked like a lot of fun for kids.

Summer Goals 1