Stories

Welcome to our Stories page, a place where adventures we’ve taken and moments we’ve created come alive again. Some of these stories look back at the laughter and lessons from retreats in the mountains, family trips by the water, and community events that brought people together in unforgettable ways. Others look ahead to the journeys we’re dreaming up and the experiences waiting just over the horizon. Each story is a glimpse behind the scenes of how we plan, travel, and weave together the details that turn ordinary days into extraordinary memories. This is where the heart of The Shelley Experience lives, in the people we meet, the places we discover, and the connections that remind us why we believe in traveling with purpose and celebrating life through experiences worth remembering.

The Washington Island Recovery Retreat

For about five years, I served on the board and helped coordinate a four-day recovery retreat on Washington Island, Wisconsin. Between speakers, campfire meetings, and shared meals, it became a meaningful tradition of healing and connection.

The Backyard Birthday Bash

Every June, the yard came alive with volleyball, campfire stories, and hundreds of smiling faces. From homemade cakes to s’mores under the stars, these birthday parties grew into a summer tradition that brought the whole community together.

The Big Game Bash

Every year, the house came alive for the Super Bowl. With custom bingo cards, team trivia, prizes, and food that could fill a stadium, these game day parties became a favorite tradition — part competition, part community, and all fun.

Barneveld’s 1998 Halloween Bash

In 1998, a small-town Halloween party in Barneveld, Wisconsin, turned into the bash everyone still remembers. From homemade caramel apples to costume contests and a bubbling witch’s brew punch, it became a night of laughter, creativity, and community connection.

A Family of 26 Sailing the British Virgin Islands

In 2016, our extended family of 26 set sail through the British Virgin Islands, exploring catamarans, villas, beaches, and island markets on a perfectly planned adventure together.

How a Parking Lot Brought Us Together

A women’s group found a creative way to reconnect during COVID by turning a church parking lot into a safe, drive-through event filled with meals, stations, and stories of resilience.

The Marketing Retreat in Colorado

A three-day retreat for a small business team in Colorado — strategy workshops by day, mountain adventures by evening. Planned end-to-end for focus and connection.