How I Spent My Summer Vacation: 2022 Edition
I just got back from summer vacation with my family and all I have to show for it are these lousy pictures. Enjoy! If you’re of a certain age, you…
How I Spent My Summer Vacation, a photo essay by Adam 12.
I just got back from summer vacation with my family and all I have to show for it are these lousy pictures. Enjoy!
If you're of a certain age, you might remember having to write an essay or theme titled "How I Spent My Summer Vacation" each September once you were back in school. I certainly remember! It's in that spirit that I've created this photo essay. It's not for school credit; it's just for you. Aren't you lucky?
Every since I was a kid, my family and I have spent a week in Wells Beach in Maine every summer. This was actually the subject of a recent 12 Inch Poll: we're North Shore folks, so we vacation in Maine. You can keep the Cape. Wells Beach has been the home of some of my fondest memories over the years. Body surfing with my brother and my dad on Crescent Beach. Pizza boarding with my friends as the tide rolls out. Walking the jetty with my kids. Watching the sunset over the Webhannet River marshes. The Beachcomber, Boardwalk Arcade, Billy's, Congdon's Donuts...so many traditions.
How I Spent My Summer Vacation
The 12 clan made our annual pilgrimage to Wells Beach in early August this year. We stayed in a different beach house than we usually do, but we were still right on the Webhannet River marshes, so watching the sun set was still how we capped off each day. I captured some of the better ones; you can see those below. In fact, let's just get to the photos. If I spend too much time and too many words laying it all out up here, it takes away from the actual pictures. This is a photo essay, after all. So scroll through and enjoy some moments from my week at Wells Beach...and beyond.
6 Classic Summer Cocktails Everyone Should Know How to Make
Summer is in full swing! With the July 4th holiday just days away, now felt like an appropriate time to make sure your summer cocktail game is up to snuff.
Whether you find yourself road tripping in an RV, heading to a cabin or hosting a BBQ in your backyard, you should know how to make these six classic summer cocktails.
Margarita
Teri Virbickis/Shutterstock.comWaste away with five simple ingredients: Tequila, Cointreau, lime juice, ice and kosher salt. Don't waste your time with sour mix.
Negroni
Micaela Fiorellini/Shutterstock.comThe Negroni is equal parts London dry gin, Campari and vermouth rosso, and it's equal parts satisfying and refreshing.
Pina Colada
Liliya Kandrashevich/Shutterstock.comRum, pineapple juice, coconut cream and ice all blended together, the Pina Colada is an island paradise in a glass, regardless of whether or not you enjoy getting caught in the rain.
Mai Tai
Brent Hofacker/Shutterstock.comYou could serve this tropical delight in a tiki-style glass, but a standard large Collins glass is just as fun with this dark rum-based cocktail.
Paloma
iuliia_n/Shutterstock.comThe Paloma has had a bit of a resurgence, and it's understandable why. Tequila, lime juice, and grapefruit soda on the rocks? What's not to love?
Hurricane
Brent Hofacker/Shutterstock.comSaving the sweetest for last. A Hurricane is like dessert in a glass! Created in New Orleans, this dark rum, passion fruit syrup and lemon juice cocktail is traditionally garnished with an orange slice and a maraschino cherry. Laissez le bon temps rouler, indeed!
12cation: Jetpack Comics
Any trip north starts with a detour to The Friendliest Comic Shop of All Time: Jetpack Comics in Rochester, NH.
12cation: Jetpack Kids
Yes, you can have the Spongebob toys. You are good kids.
12cation: Antiquing
There's a cool antique shop right across the way from Jetpack, so we rooted around there for awhile before lunch. A steal for a buck!
12cation: Saturday Sunset
The sun setting over the Webhannet River when the tide is high is a sight to behold.
12cation: Donuts
Lovebirds Donuts in Kittery is a must for the vegan crowd.
12cation: Stormy Weather
This storm stayed south of us and offshore, so our beach day was not disrupted.
12cation: Matt Seagull
Ran into legendary Boston DJ Matt Seagull on the beach. He said he's enjoying his retirement and doesn't miss Boston radio at all.
12cation: Another Sunset
See what I mean?
12cation: Cribbage
Each night ends with my father, my brother, and me going head-to-head-to-head on the cribbage board. Lucky Sevens for me this time around. 12 points!
12cation: Sandy
What are they building?
12cation: Shark
A sand shark!
12cation: Beach Walk
This is what you have to resort to in order to get pics of teens on vacation.
12cation: High Tide
And the moon wasn't even full yet!
12cation: Cooler
A well-stocked cooler is a Wells Beach essential.
12cation: Heron
A Great Blue Heron was our neighbor on the marsh for the week.
12cation: Boardwalk Arcade
Here's my brother Nate after kicking some ass on the Rush pinball machine.
12cation: Nate Love
Nate also tried out the Love Tester. He's Burning!
12cation: Adam Love
I got Clammy. Thing must be broken.
12cation: Yet Another Sunset
This one might be my favorite.
12cation: Surf's Up!
Here's the 13-yr-old with their trusty boogie board, venturing out into the surf.
12cation: Tide's Out!
Here's Your's Truly with a pizza board, hand-crafted my my dad. It's like a skimboard...
12cation: Pizza Board
...only with a pizza board...
12cation: Surf Rider
...you get a much longer ride!
12cation: Shark vs. Octopus
My dad and my 13-yr-old have a blast pitting sea creatures against one another in the sand.
12cation: Ice Cold Beer
Geary's. Drink local.
12cation: Jetty Walk
Gotta figure out a way to rig the jetty tower with a ROCK 92.9 transmitter so I can just do my show from up here.
12cation: Full Moon
Friday brought the full Sturgeon Moon to Wells Beach. It was a Supermoon, to boot. I snapped a pic through the cloud cover.
12cation: Maine Diner
Capped off an epic week with an epic breakfast. I ordered the El Tiante: poached eggs over corned beef hash.
12cation: Ice Cream
I made my way inland and spent my final weekend of vacation in the Lake Region of Maine. Long Lake Creamery serving up scoops of Campfire S'mores.
12cation: Long Lake
Long Lake, out behind the Creamery.
12cation: Crystal Lake
A dip in Crystal Lake to close out a wonderful Maine vacation.
