For Andrew Vick, travel isn’t just about getting away – it’s about getting closer. Closer to nature, to discovery, to community, and most importantly, to family. The nationally celebrated wedding and family photographer, and founder of Vick Photography and Vick Studios, is a lifelong road trip enthusiast who has turned his passion for adventure into an intentional lifestyle in Edina. He centers himself around gratitude and time well spent with those who matter most.
Raised in a family of teachers with summers off and a pop-up camper in tow, Andrew explored nearly every corner of the lower 48 states before he even knew what an “all-inclusive resort” was. “I thought it meant they’d pay for my parking,” he jokes, recalling his first wedding shoot in Mexico. That early sense of wonder and exploration, paired with a creative eye and camera in hand, opened doors to photographing weddings across the globe – from Ireland to Italy, Peru to Germany. But no matter how far his lens has taken him, his most meaningful adventures are the ones closest to home, with his wife and children.
To capture the fleeting and magical window of raising kids, Andrew, his wife Janelle, and their two sons, Diem and Nelson, created what they lovingly call their Family Adventure Journal. “We listed out each of our names and ages, year by year,” he explains, “and we mapped out what kinds of adventures would feel reachable at each stage.” The journal is both roadmap and reminder: to dream together, plan intentionally, and savor the seasons before the kids are grown.
From creek floats to castles, here are Andrew Vick’s Four Trip Ideas – all anchored in gratitude, connection, and joy.
Pack a Paddle
Local Adventure to Minnehaha Creek, MN
You don’t need to travel far to find wonder. “One of the best-kept secrets in our backyard,” Andrew says, “is Minnehaha Creek.” Flowing from Lake Minnetonka through Edina and Minneapolis to the Mississippi River, the creek offers a variety of paddling experiences – 30-minute floats to full 3-hour journeys. With this summer’s high water levels, Andrew and his boys spent countless days tubing, kayaking, and anchoring inflatable rafts for spontaneous neighborhood swim-ups.
“There’s a city law in Edina: every bridge has a three-foot public right of way,” he explains. “You can drop in and get out wherever there’s a public bridge.” That means anyone can access this incredible waterway, no lakeside property required. Local businesses like Settergren Hardware in Linden Hills have leaned into the adventure vibe, offering tubes and gear that make it easy to jump in (literally).
This kind of close-to-home adventure builds not just family memories, but community. “We send out the bat signal, ‘meet you at the swimming hole,’ and the neighborhood shows up.”
Pack a Lunch
Day Trip to Lake Pepin, WI
If you’ve got a free day and a full tank, Andrew suggests packing a lunch and heading down the Highway 61 Scenic Byway, one of the most beautiful drives within a few hours of the Twin Cities.
Along the bluffs of the Mississippi River, you’ll pass through charming harbor towns like Maiden Rock, Stockholm, and Pepin – each offering a unique slice of artistry and small-town magic. Stop for pie at the Stockholm Pie Company, visit local potters and glassblowers, or explore the Swedish-themed boutique Ingebretsen’s outpost. The journey culminates in a meal at Harbor View Cafe, one of Wisconsin’s top-rated restaurants.
For wine lovers, Villa Bellezza Winery is a must-visit. Built to resemble an Italian estate, it features a wood-fired pizzeria, vineyards, and the most varietals Andrew has ever seen in one place. “You’re driving through Wisconsin, then suddenly you’re in Tuscany.”
Only about 1 hour and 20 minutes from Edina, this day trip offers a full, restorative escape without the hotel stay.
Pack a Tent or Camper
Road Trip: Western Coast of Michigan
What started as a pandemic pivot became a family tradition: road-tripping across the Upper Midwest to explore the western shores of Michigan. “We were headed to the Badlands,” Andrew recalls, “but a friend said, ‘Trust me – the beaches in Michigan are magical.’ And he was right.”
The family’s pop-up camper – part of a shared ownership system with other local families – is a symbol of creativity, community, and simplicity. “No one needs a camper at the same time,” Andrew says. “It’s like one lawnmower for the block. We take turns through a shared Google calendar.”
This trip can take you through Duluth, Bayfield, and Madeline Island, across Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, and along the stunning Lake Michigan coastline – from Painted Rocks and Traverse City to the awe-inspiring Sleeping Bear Dunes, where kids (and kids at heart) sandboard down towering hills into crystal-clear water.
With warmer water than Lake Superior, quaint beach towns, cherry orchards, local smokehouses, and mom-and-pop vineyards, Michigan’s western coast is “a next-level version of the North Shore,” Andrew says. “It’s wild, rugged, welcoming, and unforgettable.”
Pack a Passport
Fly to Ireland
Andrew’s most recent international trip – featured in the Family Adventure Journal as the “8 and 12” age milestone – was to Ireland. And it was nothing short of magical.
Flying direct from Minneapolis to Dublin via Aer Lingus or Delta (a route Andrew once photographed for its inaugural celebration), families can find Ireland to be an ideal gateway for international travel with kids: a short flight, English-speaking, and endlessly enchanting. “It was the easiest, most welcoming trip we’ve ever taken,” Andrew says.
They rented a seaside cottage on the Dingle Peninsula, where vibrant pubs echo with live music, families mix freely, and centuries-old beehive stone churches tell the story of Ireland’s early Christian heritage. Affordable rentals ($175–$300/night), a $5/day manual car rental, and off-season flight deals made it budget-friendly, too.
With over 2,000 castles (or “tower houses”) dotting the countryside, rich food, warm people, and fewer tourists in the spring months, Andrew recommends skipping the beach crowds and heading to the Emerald Isle instead.
“It’s a place where strangers become friends, and where adventure finds you.”
The Heart Behind the Journeys
Each of Andrew Vick’s four trip ideas is more than a travel tip. It’s an invitation to be present, to connect, to create a rhythm of joy with your family.
The Family Adventure Journal isn’t about perfection or pressure. It’s about not letting these precious years pass by without intention. “We only get so many summers,” Andrew reflects. “And we don’t want to miss out.”
Whether you’re paddling a creek in your hometown or tracing your heritage through Irish castles, Andrew’s message is clear: You don’t have to go far to go deep. You just have to go with heart, with gratitude, and with each other.