Neighbors March 2011 | Page 20

Day Trips By Heather Kizewski & Ann Marie Worzalla Welcome to Day Trips! Inspired by an authentic passion for travel, each month we will share a unique adventure accomplished in one day; no overnight bags required. We are sisters-in-law from Stevens Point and Amherst, whose families are involved in potato farming and are firmly entrenched in Central Wisconsin. SEARCHING BEYOND It’s easy to get into an ‘all or nothing’ state of mind when it comes to travel. For many of us, it is an entire week or nothing at all. Maybe you want to see unique architecture, learn history, taste wine, revitalize your brain and/or give yourself a break from this beloved chaos we call life. Maybe you daydream about quaint towns, coffee shops, historical tours, and vineyards. When you look at pictures, maybe you envision yourself strolling down cobblestone streets, enjoying the jolly street music or noticing exotic flavors in the various wines you sample. And then you snap back into reality. How easy it is to forget that we do not need to travel thousands of miles away to experience fulfilling travel “gems.” Yet, if someone would have told me this ten years ago, I would have just rolled my eyes. It used to be easy, planning a weeklong getaway. Back in the day, it was a lot easier to hop on a plane and spend ten days in Europe or block out a long refreshing weekend to amble the streets of New England. For more than six years, we have ventured forth seeking unique destinations – it is amazing how far you do not have to go to experience the moments we often seek in faraway lands. We hope to spark you into your own day trip journey! Above: Sisters-in-law Heather Kizewski (left) & Ann Marie Worzalla (right). Heather’s husband ALTERED STATES As we all know, life changes and other things take priority: we have school plays that cannot be missed; soccer games; careers; meetings and let’s not forget – limited funds. Back when I traveled to Europe, I loved to visit places off the beaten path - towns I did not read about in any books; the ones I happened to stumble upon by chance. That does not mean I didn’t enjoy seeing the Leaning Tower of Pisa or the Eiffel Tower, but my most memorable times were those spent in simplicity. Little did I know I could have experienced those precious random moments a lot closer to home. A COMPLETE TURN-AROUND It was an accident really – one spontaneous day trip with my accomplice, Ann Marie, led to another and then another… Although it has been several years since my last travels to foreign lands, I have not felt deprived of experiencing the depths of history, culture, coffee shops or wine. (Continued on Page 21) Page 20 Neighbors-March 2011 All photos in this article by Heather Kizewski & Ann Marie Worzalla.