What do you get when you have a girl car and a boy car, both heavy laden with all that is needed for 14 people headed for a weekend on the beach, a 10 hour road trip that begins at 3:30pm after all driving adults have put in a full day of work, and 10 kids, 13 and under? Surprisingly enough, you get the most relaxing vacation our family has had in a very, very long time.

We packed a lot of fun into our two days. Meals were prepped assembly-line style, babies learned to boogie-board, beach gear was hauled by the young and the old, and freckles exploded on people's faces after a full day in the sun. Naps were taken in beds, on couches and even on porches. Cousins held hands and then piled into the trolley for a ride to dinner, where they shed their shoes and played in the sand until the food arrived. The attempt at a Cousin Pyramid even got some older ladies out onto the sand to try a pyramid of their own (their fancy umbrella drinks might have also had a hand in that as well). We traded dance partners to the music of our very own fiddler, took a moonlit walk on the beach and surprised jammied kids with a late night pool run. The moms kept "the Warsher" going continuously (but didn't even dream of taking it), and the dads kept the coffee flowing.

A wise friend once taught me that there is a big difference between a vacation and a trip. Typically a vacation includes complete freedom and relaxation, while a trip is occurring any time you are traveling along with all of your normal responsibilities in tow. This adventure had all the makings of a trip. But perhaps there is another element to add to the equation and that is the one regarding expectations. When your destination finds you with schedules and appointments and must-do's, then you're probably on a trip. But Portifino welcomed us with only rest, fun and relaxation on the list. No schedule, no time table, nowhere to be except where we were. It was so restful, in fact, that we ended up staying for an extra day. Oh, and deciding to do it more often.