Thursday, June 6, 2013

Road Trip America Yellowstone posts I want to read.

Tetons & Yellowstone
From MN to Mt. Rushmore and Yellowstone Park
Yellowstone 5 Day Trip
10 Day Grand Tetons, Yellowstone, Glacier NP Trip
Eternal Summer Roadtrip w/ kids
Yellowstone Bear Concerns
Yellowstone Itinerary
Badlands, SD - Yellowstone - RMNP?
Florida to Yellowstone
Summer Roadtrip to Yellowstone
Weeklong trip to Yellowstone
Tent vs. Popup in Yellowstone
Roadtrip to yellowstone June 2013
Houston to Yellowstone
Yellowstone to RMNP
Rapid City through Billings







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Packing Light

As I was surfing around the net, on my Great Road Trip idea quest,  I was thinking about the packing I would need to do for this trip.  There will be two adults and two children.  I don't believe in packing everything and the kitchen sink when I'm on vacation.  I prefer to pack minimally.  So, when I stumbled upon The Rocky Burger Run blog I got REAL excited! Mainly because he is traveling and seeing many places I want to see. 

But when I read his Leave the Baggage Behind post, I was even more astounded!

He wrote: 

"There was also a certain something about not carrying around a suitcase full of "what ifs" and "maybe I'll need"s. Robert DeNiro's character in Michael Mann's superb movie Heat evangelises the 'have nothing in your life you can't leave in 30 seconds flat' philosophy. It's a pretty bleak existence he finds himself in (aside from the fact he's one of the most wanted thieves in America), but take away the crook chic and there is a core of a testing question; What really binds us to places?

What's the stuff that you really can't live without, the stuff you'd save before yourself if the house was on fire? Take it a step further and ask, what about the mental baggage we carry around, those real or imagined grudges, mis-remembered memories, the gossip and irrelevance it's all too easy to fill social space with. Give yourself a mental baggage allowance and feel the weight lift!"
Lemme tell ya.  I now have a new packing philosophy.  If it doesn't fit into ONE plastic Walmart grocery bag, then I don't need it on the vacation plan!
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Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Black Hills and Mt. Rushmore Trip

Camp at Custer State Park: $24/night
If not at Custer State Park, use a local campground.

Badlands National Park with stops at (kids printable worksheets) $15 per car
Bear Country, USA: 
Custer State Park Resort:
  1. CHUCK WAGON COOKOUT: 
    • Check in at Blue Bell Lodge, Custer State Park at 5 p.m.
    • Old fashioned hayride in vehicle pulled wagon
    • Get a souvenir cowboy hat and bandana for each paying guest
    • Adult Adm $47
    • Child Adm $37
  2. HORSEBACK RIDING:
    • Check in at Blue Bell Lodge Stables (605-255-4700)
    • 1 HR Trail Ride (Adults $36/ Child $30)
    • 2 HR Trail Ride (Adults $48/Child $40)
    • 1/2 Day Trail Ride (lunch included) $125 per person
    • Full Day Trail Ride (lunch included) $200 per person
  3. JEEP TOUR
    • Jeep Tour only (Adults $43/Child $36
    • Jeep Tour/Chuckwagon Combo (Adults $82/Child $62)
  4. HALF DAY BOAT RENTAL $35
    • Sylvan Lake 605-574-2561
    • Legion Lake 605-255-4521

CHUCKWAGON SUPPER AT FORT HAYS
    • Adults $24
    • Kids $12
    • (could also start in Hill City at 7 a.m., take the 1880's Train to Mount Rushmore and Black Hills tour, return to Hill City at 5 p.m. and then do Chuckwagon Supper =     Adults $83/Kids $40)
HORSEBACK RIDING (1/2 Day) AT ROCKIN R RIDES
    • Adults $65
    • Kids $60
    • Overnighter  Adults $220, Kids $215

BIG THUNDER GOLD MINE:
    • Expect to spend 2 - 3 hours.
    • Mine tour (Adults $9.25/Kids$6.25)
    • Panning ($7.25 ea with Mine Tour)
OR WADE'S GOLD MILL
    • Panning Lesson & Tour (Adults $16/ Kids $12)
    • Allow 2 - 3 hours
CAVE TOURS: 
MAMMOTH MUSEUM:
  • Adults $9
  • Child $7
  • Jr. paleontologist excavation program is available for an additional $10 (subject to availability).
EVAN'S PLUNGE WATER PARK/MINERAL SPA: 
  • Adults $12
  • Child $10
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Friday, May 31, 2013

2013/05/20 - 05/29 Atlanta Vacay

We took a quick road trip to Atlanta, GA for a week.  In this post I will post a brief run down of our itinerary, costs, and what I would have done differently. Regarding souvenirs, I just stuck to adding to my iron on patch and pressed penny collection. Where food was concerned, I loaded up the ice-chest with sandwich goodies for the most part. Several times, my sister cooked for her family and ours.

Mileage RT from our home and back was 1659 miles.
Pretrip Tires: 349.67
Fuel:  489.28
Lodging: 180.00 (camping in Pop up Camper at Old Hwy 41 Campground #3, Acworth, GA = $30/night)
Admission Fees:  500.45
Food: 274.42 (eating at the Attractions and at Fast Food places)
Gift Shops:  186.54
Parking Fees: 30.00
Cash at ATMs: 200

Total $1830.69

Looking at that total price, I think to myself, "Whoa!  I could've done much better than that!" Let's see where I could've made those changes, for future reference.

Day 1, Monday: 
  • Traveling. 
  • Lunch at Subway $19.40
  • (I would have made sandwiches prior to embarking on our trip - Thereby saving $19.40)
Day 2, Tuesday:
  • The Varsity $34.58
  • CNN (included in City Pass) $330
  • Paid Parking $10
  • Souvenirs $ 43.19 $10.78
What I would have done differently:
  • Probably NOT done The Varsity
  • Savings $34.58
 Day 3, Wednesday:
  • Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield FREE
  • Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History $33.50
  • Picnic Lunch
  • Souvenirs $9.00
What I would have done instead:
  • World of Coke (Adm included in City Pass)
  • Paid Parking $10
  • Picnic Lunch
  • Souvenirs $25.70
  • Savings of $6.80
 Day 4, Thursday:
  • Stone Mountain $136.95
  • Lunch at Stone Mountain $38.59
  • Souvenirs $12.82 $17.42 = 205.78
What I would have done instead:
  • Georgia Aquarium (Adm included in City Pass)
  • Paid Parking $10
  • Picnic Lunch
  • Souvenirs $32.40 $44.23 = 86.63
  • Savings of $119.15

 Day 5, Friday:
  • Nephew's graduation day
  • Pablano's with the sisters $13.25
What I would have done instead:
  • Nephew's graduation
  • Lunch with the family
  • Fernbank Museum with the kids (Adm included in City Pass)
  • Souvenirs
  • Pablano's with the sisters $13.25
 Day 6, Saturday:
  • Georgia Aquarium (included in City Pass)
  • Paid Parking $10
  • Lunch at Aquarium $40.75
  • Souvenirs $32.40 $44.23
What I would have done instead:
  • Atlanta Zoo (Adm inc in City Pass)
  • Parking $10
  • Picnic Lunch
  • Souvenirs
 Day 7, Sunday: 
  • World of Coke (included in City Pass)
  • Paid Parking $10
  • Picnic lunch
  • Souvenirs $25.70
What I would have done instead:
  • I would be traveling home
  • Savings $65.70
 Day 8, Monday:
  • Traveling
  • Picnic lunch
I think if I had done things differently, I would have saved approximately $250.00 on this trip. I feel like I surely could have done the entire trip for under $1000, especially if I had stuck to mostly free activities instead of touring the Must See zones.

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Thursday, May 9, 2013

Atlanta, May 2013

We're planning a little jaunt to Atlanta, GA.  Here is what I have planned. Suggestions are welcome.

Drive to Red Top Mountain State Park to park our camper.

Tuesday,  Day 1: 
  • Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau
  • Centennial Olympic Park (?)
  • CNN Studio Tour
  • Georgia Aquarium
  • Starlight Drive In
 Wednesday, Day 2:
  • Atlanta Zoo
  • Atlanta Cyclorama
  • World of Coca Cola
  • Dixie Coca Cola Bottling Plant
  • Martin Luther King Memorial (get NPS Passport stamped!)

One of these days we'll do lunch at the Flying Biscuit and The Varsity

Thursday, Day 3:
  • Stone Mountain

Friday, Day 4: 
  • Luke's Graduation ceremony and lunch with the fams. 

Saturday, Day 5:
  • Six Flags
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Wednesday, May 8, 2013

VDR Day 18: Stopping point

I feel the need to make a quick update here.  I noticed on this Virtual Dream Roadtrip that we managed to make it to Banff National Park, Canada and then we simply stopped.  No, we haven't fallen off the face of the earth or even into a deep glacial gorge.  I simply stopped typing.  Life got in the way and my plans had to cease for a while.

Therefore, I'm making this quick post to let you know that the return route was planned to come back south through Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, a corner of Texas, and then home to Louisiana.  Hopefully, soon I will be able to post more updates with attractions and links to such for the return trip home.

Thank you for your patience.
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Saturday, May 4, 2013

Little House/Laura Ingalls Roadtrip

Possible July 2013 Road Trip

Route:  Livingston, LA - St. Louis area, MO - St. Charles, MN - Pepin, WI - Burr Oak, MN - Fairfax, MN - Walnut Grove, MN - DeSmet, SD - Interior, SD - Salix, IA - Independence, KS - Mansfield, MO - Livingston, LA

Approx mileage:              2,842 miles, 46 hours RT
Approx fuel costs:           $840 (based on 13 mpg and $3.50 per gallon x 2842 miles)
Approx Adm fees:           $840
Approx Camping fees:   $200
Approx food Budget:     $300
Approx trip cost:            $2180

States we will visit:

Wisconsin -  Base camp at Whitewater State Park, St. Charles, MN
Minnesota -  Base camp at Whitewater State Park, St. Charles, MN

South Dakota

Iowa
Missouri

Kansas
Note to self:  Here's a link for some more info
http://www.roadtripamerica.com/forum/archive/index.php?t-10617.html
http://www.roadtripamerica.com/GettingOutThere/South-Dakota.htm
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Friday, March 22, 2013

Collecting Brochures for Yellowstone Pkt

Arkansas

http://www.arkansas.com/places-to-go/cities-and-towns/city-detail.aspx?city=Beaver

http://www.explorenwar.com/

http://www.cityofeurekasprings.org/

http://www.greatpassionplay.org/

http://www.thorncrown.com/

Missouri

http://www.lauraingallswilderhome.com/

http://mostateparks.com/park/watkins-mill-state-park

http://www.nps.gov/hstr/index.htm Harry S. Truman Site

http://www.jessejames.org/

https://www.claycountymo.gov/Historic_Sites/Jesse_James_Bank_Museum

http://www.ci.independence.mo.us/nftm/

Iowa

http://www.iowahistory.org/historic-sites/western-historic-trails/

http://thehistoricalsociety.org/jail.htm

http://www.uprrmuseum.org/

http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/2512

http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/15861

http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/12132

http://www.roadsideamerica.com/tip/9117

http://www.iowadnr.gov/Destinations/StateParksRecAreas/IowasStateParks/ParkDetails.aspx?ParkID=610117

Nebraska

http://outdoornebraska.ne.gov/parks/guides/parksearch/showpark.asp?Area_No=143

South Dakota
Yankton
http://www.dakotaterritorialmuseum.org/

http://orgs.usd.edu/nmm/

DeSmet
http://www.ingallshomestead.com/

http://www.southdakota.com/lake-thompson-recreation-area/179

Murdo
http://www.1880town.com/

Interior
http://www.nps.gov/badl/index.htm

http://www.wall-badlands.com/

http://www.nps.gov/mimi/index.htm

Keystone
http://www.bigthundermine.com/

http://cosmosmysteryarea.com/

http://www.nps.gov/moru/index.htm

http://www.nps.gov/wica/index.htm

http://www.nps.gov/jeca/index.htm

Cut through WY
http://www.crookcountymuseum.com/

http://www.nps.gov/deto/index.htm

Into Montana
http://www.nps.gov/libi/index.htm

http://www.grandviewcamp.com/

http://www.blm.gov/pgdata/content/mt/en/fo/billings_field_office/pompeyspillar.html

http://www.nps.gov/glac/index.htm

http://www.nps.gov/grko/index.htm

http://www.livingstonmontana.org/ - Look for campgrounds

http://www.mtrv.com/

Wyoming
http://www.nps.gov/yell/index.htm

http://www.nps.gov/grte/index.htm

http://www.casperwy.gov/

http://www.casperwyoming.info/

http://www.casperwy.gov/ParksRecreationandEntertainment/Museums/FortCasparMuseum/tabid/188/Default.aspx

http://www.wyomingtourism.org/thingstodo/overview/State-Parks-and-Historic-Sites/1349309

Colorado
http://www.nps.gov/romo/index.htm

http://www.estesparkcvb.com/lodging.cfm

http://www.nps.gov/blca/index.htm

http://www.nps.gov/grsa/index.htm

http://www.visitlajunta.net/bents.html

http://www.nps.gov/sand/index.htm

Kansas
http://www.dodgecity.org/

http://www.stateparks.com/ford_county_state_park_in_kansas.html

http://tourist-attractions.find-near-me.info/in/dodge-city-ks

Independence, KS
http://liwfrontiergirl.com/independence.html

http://www.laurasprairiehouse.com/sites/independencehome.html

http://www.stateparks.com/elk_city.html

Oklahoma
http://www.stateparks.com/lake_murray_state_park_in_oklahoma.html

Louisiana - HOME!












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