The Hunt Valley Town Center is hosting a weekly Tot Tuesdays program for families this summer at no charge. While some of it looks a bit repetitive, other planned events sound like something our kids would definitely be into. Each activity will start at 10 AM and is located in the lawn area between J.Jill and DSW. No registration necessary.

Our kids were over the moon to meet Bluey and enjoyed crafting their own butterfly’s at the June 9th event. Here’s a few other dates that peaked our interest for our kids, but definitely take a look at the schedule to see if there are any other dates you want to circle.

If we didn’t have family commitments this upcoming weekend, I can assure you the Lavender Festival at Star Bright Farm would be on our family’s calendar! The event runs from Saturday to Sunday, 11 AM - 5 PM, and will be held rain or shine (hopefully shine!).

In addition to strolling fields of lavender, there’s live music, face painting, wagon rides, food trucks, and beer and wine from Diamondback Brewing & Boordy Vineyards. Outside food is not permitted.

The Festival is also a great opportunity to purchase fresh and dried lavender products directly from the farm, so be sure to check out the Barn Market. Event’s like these are always a great time to purchase unique gifts for friends and loved ones who are a bit more difficult to shop for.

Tickets purchased online in advance of the festival are $15 per person, and kids under 12 are free. If purchasing tickets at the door you should expect higher ticket prices. Leashed and well behaved dogs are welcome, so this can really be a full family event.

The Farm asks that you restrict photo ops to those done with your cell phone. Fancy cameras and tripods are not permitted, but feel free to contact the Farm about booking a private photography session.

Star Bright Farm is located at 2950 Garrett Road in White Hall. Whether you’re looking for an excuse to leave the yard work behind on a Saturday afternoon or in search of artisan-made lavender bath/body products, the Lavender Festival looks like a great way to spend the final weekend of Spring.

In our family’s never ending search for the best donut we recently visited the Graul’s Market bakery in Hereford, right at the 83/Mount Carmel exit. Made fresh daily, they have your classics are covered. From boston cream to glazed cake and french cruller to jelly filled, they’ve got them.

This isn’t a place where you’ll find the eclectic, trendy donuts. Just the tried and true classics. We decided to buy four and sample them all. A donut charcuterie of sorts, consisting of the chocolate cake with chocolate frosting, boston cream, maple glazed, and an apple fritter. The chocolate cake was the consensus favorite, but all were fresh and tasty.

In addition to donuts, the bakery also carries a nice selection of danishes, pies and other sweet treats that you would expect. The only limiting factor is that the store does not open until 7 AM Monday - Saturday and 9 AM on Sunday, so if your kids are early risers you will need to pass some time before stopping in.

This past weekend our family packed up the car and made the long (7+) hour drive to visit grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins for a special occasion. If you’ve ever traveled long distances with young kids, your familiar with the drill. The coordination, the packing, the snacks, the bathroom stops spaced 45 minutes apart. And of course, the delusional optimism that your two year old might sleep in the car (they didn’t).

When the wheels stopped rolling just after midnight on Monday morning, we were all exhausted. The drive was long, and it certainly would have been easier to stay home. As we lay down that evening, we weren’t wondering if the drive was worth it. Reminiscing on the backyard conversations, family dinners, cousin photo shoots, and seeing our kids spend time with their grandparents, it was clear.

It’s important to us that our kids grow up with a real connection to their family. The connection that is built through shared experiences and showing up even when it’s not convenient.

Of course, not every trip is possible. Schedules, finances, distance and life itself have a way of complicating things. But when we can make it happen, it’s always worth it. The exhaustion from the trip fades, but the memories remain.

As we gear up for another extended travel weekend to visit family, the “why” is clear: To spend time and deepen the connection with the people who love them the most.