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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