Forum Discussion
tragusa3
Jan 19, 2019Explorer
wadecool,
It is admirable that you are doing this trip. I have 14 year old twin boys and we have done similar trips each summer for the last 5 summers. These trips have become a huge part of our identity as a family. We have memories together that exceed my wildest dreams as a father. You will too.
Driving...yada, yada, yada. For many of us, our only other choice is to not do the trip. That wasn't going to happen for us. Yes, you will be exhausted, but there is a price to pay for these experiences. Relaxing and RVing can only go together is you have no time limits or are taking local trips. I dream of the days I can roam the country "relaxing". However, our purpose on these trips wasn't to be relaxed, it was to have experiences.
If there is any way you can be creative to grab more time, it would be so helpful. In our case, we approached my wife's employer and asked for unpaid time. Turned out to be attractive to the company and it gave us more time. Just a thought.
Good move to remove LBH. We enjoyed our stay there, but unless you are a history buff, it is a field with markers. We enjoyed it, but had the luxury of time to spare.
Random thoughts:
-Adding Tetons is a good move and a MUST. Boat across Lake Jenny and hike to Inspiration Point. Or hike the whole thing. We had 4-5 days there and it was sad to leave.
-Regarding dry camping. We've done a bunch of it. We are now a well oiled machine and going up to two days without hookups doesn't feel any different to us (even 3 days). The pinch doesn't happen until staying longer, which we do as well. You do give up some things, but you also gain some. Don't hesitate for 2 nights, when you can dump and resupply easily.
-We found Badlands to be a surprise. We had 2 nights and added a 3rd after we arrived. We enjoy landscapes that are different than what we commonly see, and Badlands is otherworldly. Give yourself at minimum one complete day there with a night on each side. Hike every short hike you can and drive the length of the park.
-Black Hills area. Another surprise to us. At the time, we said we enjoyed it at least as much as Yellowstone. If all you can do is see Rushmore, you left some of the countries best stuff just a few miles from you. Drive the Needles Highway, hike around Sylvan Lake. Personally, I would skip the caves unless they were your thing. Coming from Kentucky, you have opportunities around home.
-Yellowstone: I think our expectations were too high. We left after day 5 when we could have stayed longer. Every day was lots of driving, the mosquitos were horrific and the endless train of tour buses had me stressed. In hindsight, we've grown to appreciate it more. I think on a return visit, we will slow down. Trying to see it all will kill you. I remember our kids saying, "how many geysers do we need to see? 10, 100, 1000" They had a point. They are all amazing, but we started getting a "more of the same" feeling. Personally, we will concentrate on the NE loop on our next visit and not visit the rest. Our best memories are the quiet evenings sitting in a lawn chair in Hayden Valley, watching wildlife.
You will be hustling and checking off boxes as you see things. Doesn't mean it will be a bad trip, just a different type of trip. Our most enjoyed times in National Parks has been the quiet times that we wander at our pace and discover the unplanned things. Go into this prepared for the type of experience that your pace dictates, and it will be amazing. If the family has other expectations, it could potentially be frustrating.
BTW, if you check out Season 2 on my link below, you will see my families visit and thoughts on these locations.
Don't let any of this change your excitement. Just take it all in and you will be better prepared.
It is admirable that you are doing this trip. I have 14 year old twin boys and we have done similar trips each summer for the last 5 summers. These trips have become a huge part of our identity as a family. We have memories together that exceed my wildest dreams as a father. You will too.
Driving...yada, yada, yada. For many of us, our only other choice is to not do the trip. That wasn't going to happen for us. Yes, you will be exhausted, but there is a price to pay for these experiences. Relaxing and RVing can only go together is you have no time limits or are taking local trips. I dream of the days I can roam the country "relaxing". However, our purpose on these trips wasn't to be relaxed, it was to have experiences.
If there is any way you can be creative to grab more time, it would be so helpful. In our case, we approached my wife's employer and asked for unpaid time. Turned out to be attractive to the company and it gave us more time. Just a thought.
Good move to remove LBH. We enjoyed our stay there, but unless you are a history buff, it is a field with markers. We enjoyed it, but had the luxury of time to spare.
Random thoughts:
-Adding Tetons is a good move and a MUST. Boat across Lake Jenny and hike to Inspiration Point. Or hike the whole thing. We had 4-5 days there and it was sad to leave.
-Regarding dry camping. We've done a bunch of it. We are now a well oiled machine and going up to two days without hookups doesn't feel any different to us (even 3 days). The pinch doesn't happen until staying longer, which we do as well. You do give up some things, but you also gain some. Don't hesitate for 2 nights, when you can dump and resupply easily.
-We found Badlands to be a surprise. We had 2 nights and added a 3rd after we arrived. We enjoy landscapes that are different than what we commonly see, and Badlands is otherworldly. Give yourself at minimum one complete day there with a night on each side. Hike every short hike you can and drive the length of the park.
-Black Hills area. Another surprise to us. At the time, we said we enjoyed it at least as much as Yellowstone. If all you can do is see Rushmore, you left some of the countries best stuff just a few miles from you. Drive the Needles Highway, hike around Sylvan Lake. Personally, I would skip the caves unless they were your thing. Coming from Kentucky, you have opportunities around home.
-Yellowstone: I think our expectations were too high. We left after day 5 when we could have stayed longer. Every day was lots of driving, the mosquitos were horrific and the endless train of tour buses had me stressed. In hindsight, we've grown to appreciate it more. I think on a return visit, we will slow down. Trying to see it all will kill you. I remember our kids saying, "how many geysers do we need to see? 10, 100, 1000" They had a point. They are all amazing, but we started getting a "more of the same" feeling. Personally, we will concentrate on the NE loop on our next visit and not visit the rest. Our best memories are the quiet evenings sitting in a lawn chair in Hayden Valley, watching wildlife.
You will be hustling and checking off boxes as you see things. Doesn't mean it will be a bad trip, just a different type of trip. Our most enjoyed times in National Parks has been the quiet times that we wander at our pace and discover the unplanned things. Go into this prepared for the type of experience that your pace dictates, and it will be amazing. If the family has other expectations, it could potentially be frustrating.
BTW, if you check out Season 2 on my link below, you will see my families visit and thoughts on these locations.
Don't let any of this change your excitement. Just take it all in and you will be better prepared.
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