I've been to many beautiful places in my life, but the one that stands out most is the trip I took with my family when I was a kid. It was our first real vacation together: we went to a cabin on a lake for several days and stayed up late every night playing cards and telling jokes. In the morning we'd wake up to the sound of birds chirping through the window, though it was hard to get out of bed on some of those misty mornings. The air felt thick and soft, and the mountains were visible through the wisps of clouds along the horizon. We'd make coffee and eat pancakes while sitting around the old wooden table in our pajamas, then head out to swim or explore the lakefront trails. At night we'd make dinner on an open campfire, then sit by its embers until they died down into glowing red coals. Those days were so peaceful as we all came together as a family in nature, it's still my favorite memory of all time.