Mornings come early in the summertime when the days are long, and the sun rises early, but these quiet moments before the hustle of the day begins are worth the lost sleep. During family vacations like this, these tranquil mornings become my cherished time of solitude — quietly rising early, peacefully watching the sun come up, and listening as the world comes alive — before family adventures dominate my attention.

I stood there and watched as the sun’s rays peaked over the trees, between the peaks around Chicago Basin, and lit up the valley below. I closed my eyes and soaked them up. The clear sky held so much promise for the day and allowed for a faint glowing arch around the sun. It was going to be a great day…I could feel it in my bones.