You know that feeling when Mumbai’s heat becomes unbearable? That’s exactly where we were last month. The kids had just finished their summer school exams (finally!), and honestly, we were all feeling a bit cooped up. Amit suggested we escape somewhere cool for the weekend, nothing too elaborate, just somewhere we could breathe.

After scrolling through way too many travel blogs at 11 PM (classic me), I stumbled upon Yercaud. A small hill station in Tamil Nadu that wasn’t overcrowded like Ooty but still had that mountain charm we were craving. Perfect.

We reached Sterling Yercaud around lunchtime, and I’ll be honest I wasn’t expecting much. But wow, the view from our room completely caught me off guard. Aarav immediately claimed the garden swing as his “office for the weekend” while Tara started collecting leaves (she’s in that phase where everything natural is treasure).

The welcome drink was this refreshing lemon-mint cooler that hit different after the long drive. We didn’t have any grand plans, which turned out to be the best plan ever.

Our first stop was Yercaud Lake , one of those Yercaud tourist spots that actually lives up to the hype. The paddle boat ride was chaos in the best way possible. Aarav insisted on being the captain, Tara wanted to feed imaginary fish, and Amit somehow managed to keep us from going in circles. These are the moments that make parenting worthwhile, you know?

There’s a small park right next to the lake where the kids ran around while we parents just… sat. And talked. Without checking phones every five minutes. Revolutionary, right?

As the sun started setting, we drove up to Pagoda Point. Now, I’ve seen my share of sunset viewpoints, but this one was special. Maybe it was the clouds that seemed close enough to touch, or maybe it was watching Tara’s face light up as she pointed at “tiny houses” below. Either way, it ended up being one of those best places to visit in Yercaud that deserves the title.

Dinner back at the resort was a pleasant surprise. They had this amazing rasam that reminded me of my grandmother’s recipe, plus plenty of options for our picky eaters (every parent knows the struggle).

We’re not exactly the hardcore trekking family, so when the resort staff suggested a gentle nature trail nearby, it sounded perfect. The path wound through these beautiful silver oak trees and coffee plantations, giving us a taste of Yercaud trekking spots without the exhaustion.

The highlight? Spotting a Malabar squirrel! Tara was convinced it was waving at her specifically. Kids see magic everywhere, don’t they?

Later, we visited Shevaroy Temple, a cave temple that’s perched at Yercaud’s highest point. It’s not just about the spiritual aspect (though the peaceful atmosphere was lovely); the views from up there are incredible. You can see why it’s considered one of the top Yercaud sightseeing places.

Before heading back to Mumbai, we made a quick stop at the Botanical Garden. The kids enjoyed the butterfly section while Amit and I bought way too much local coffee powder and those handmade chocolates that never taste the same once you’re back home.

If someone asks me about things to do in Yercaud in 2 days, I’d tell them this: don’t overthink it. Sometimes the best family moments happen when you’re not frantically checking off tourist spots from a list.

Was it the boat ride giggles? The impromptu leaf collection? The quiet sunset moment when even the kids stopped chattering. Maybe it was all of it combined with staying at Sterling Yercaud, where the staff genuinely seemed to care about making families comfortable.

The funny thing about short trips is how they can feel more refreshing than longer vacations. We came back to Mumbai recharged, with inside jokes about “Captain Aarav” and “Leaf Collector Tara” that are still making us smile weeks later.

Sometimes you don’t need to go far to go away. You just need to find the right hill, the right lake, and the right swing in a garden to remember what weekends are for.