Okay another reiteration of the road trip. I am running into trouble with AAA trip tik. I went into get a plan and they want me to book hotels. Ugh. Considering that we aren't even sure of the date we are leaving (tentatively July 7th) my DH is hesitant to even book refundable hotels because what happens if we leave a day late? Or two days? Then we have to cancel everything and start from scratch.
I don't know what to do. I feel like we have to tighten everything up closer to the deadline. I'm thinking I'll just tell AAA the prospective hotels since we are just unsure.
So we've decided to not take the dog. Although we may take him to Toronto to ship him back to my in-laws. Or we may drive to NYC and ship him from there. Again we're unsure about this timing.
We've ruled out unfortunately sesame place and hershey park since this weekend. We went away this weekend to an amusement park and DK1 had a good time but DK2 was a little too small and scared. So we've decided we'll skip parks for this year and instead do other stuff.
So where are we headed?
Niagara Falls
Mackinc Island - yes we are doing Michigan Upper Peninsula
Painted Rock National Lakefront (UP)
Green Bay
Minneapolis
Sioux Falls
Rapid City (mount rushmore)
Yellowstone
Butte
Missoula
Spokane
So suggestions or thoughts? I feel like Barney from how I met your mother, saying "this is going to be legendary. High five!"
I know my kids won't recall much but I have blurbs of my first real vacation with my mom at age 5 going to disneyland. We got on a plane with our family and went to disneyland, SF, and LV for a 3 city trip on the cheap. Budget all the way, but having a great time. It was incredible. I still remember meeting my cousin and seeing disney. So I'm thinking my kiddo #1 will have so memories of this trip. This is our opportunity of a lifetime.
I have an antedote about my mom. She always says "i took out a loan from the credit union for like $500 or maybe $1k to go on the disney trip. It was supposed to be a trip of a lifetime." This is the woman who got divorced and cut up her CC so she wouldn't abuse them and take the easy way out. But she saved and planned this trip for us right before I started kindergarten. Just for us. She took amazing risks both personally and financially and I believe as we make this trip and leap I'm about to do the same thing. I wouldn't be where I am today without her. And without her teachings and guidance I certainly wouldn't be trying something so crazy. Make plans but sometimes you have to take the risk and grab the opportunity when it comes because it may never come again.
I know SA readers probably would have chastised her but sometimes you don't know the strength of the person. I tell this story because right now I am looking for the strength to go through with this huge change we are making.
road trip part 3
June 8th, 2015 at 04:53 pm
June 8th, 2015 at 06:41 pm 1433788907
You will do an awesome job! A sense of adventure makes everything more fun. I was afraid to fly post 9/11 and I took five kids (11/10/8/6/5) by train from Chicago to California. We still talk about that - the most fun was the family sleeping car that we all squeezed into.
I look forward to the pictures that you'll post afterward. Enjoy every minute!
June 8th, 2015 at 06:44 pm 1433789065
June 9th, 2015 at 12:27 am 1433809639
Laura this an adventure and life chang worth doing.
June 9th, 2015 at 03:54 am 1433822041
I like Mackinac but some folks find it expensive--but so pretty. Minneapolis is lovely, not that I'm biased or anything. For a little bit of amusement park stuff the Mall of America can be a taste. I also like Stillwater and Minnehaha Falls and all around the lakes. Have a great time
June 10th, 2015 at 11:28 am 1433935707