trip destinations thoughts?

mcguirehg wrote:
Mount Rushmore will be on our way back east...will look at Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument

If you are coming down I-90 from Montana to the Black Hills you can't miss the Battle Field as it is right along the road. No deter needed.

I will look at the suggestions and make needed adjustments. If needed, I can go a bit over the five weeks to make a slower trip. Yellowstone and Glacier is a must for me and focus of the trip. I also don't want to be tired, but rather more relaxed on the trip. I will post an updated plan shortly...all advice is welcomed. Thanks Dan

Here is something I should have pointed out in my earlier suggestion:

At Spring Creek RV and Trout Ranch in Big Timber, MT you are only 95 miles north of Yellowstone. This allows for the possibility of going to Yellowstone before going on up to Glacier. It would be about 385 miles on up to East Glacier from Yellowstone.

There are many good possibilities. I'm sure you will have a great trip.

Please see my revised list below. I have taken the advice of many and slowed it down a bit...why not "smell the flowers" on the trip. I'm looking for a balance, not too fast, but not too slow also. I'm thinking about building a few days in that I can pick up along the trip just in case we get stuck as we approach the parks that we make reservations at and we can always extend a day or so at one of out stops.



Great Lakes Region
1. Bay City State Recreation Area, MI on Lake Huron-20/23 per night (1 night, 13 hour drive)
• http://www.michigandnr.com/parksandtrails/Details.aspx?type=SPRK&id=437 (20/23 night)

2. Cherry Orchards Drive / Mackinaw City, MI (2 nights, 7.5 hour drive)
• http://www.teepeecampground.com/index.html (35 per night)

• Near the lighthouse, there was a sign proudly displaying the fact that you are standing on the 45th parallel, exactly halfway between the Equator and the North Pole.

• catch the ferry to Mackinac Island (one of Michigan's most popular state parks)-good for bike ride

• Have a Pastie in MC; a local specialty


3. Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, WI
• http://www.apostleislandsareacampground.com/ (40 per night, 2 night min, full hook, five hours)

4. Country Campground in Detroit Lakes, MN.
• http://www.countrycampground.org/ (35 full hook, 2 nights, washer/dryers/, 288 miles from Apostle Islands)


5. Bismark/Mandan ND at the Fort Lincoln State Park
• http://www.parkrec.nd.gov/parks/falsp/falsp.html (2 nights, 254 miles from Detroit Lakes,$25 night, daily car fee$5)
• several Lewis and Clark sites to visit within easy driving. It would be 254 miles from Detroit Lakes.


6. Theodore Roosevelt National Park (one/two nights, 2 hour drive/135 miles )
• http://www.theodore.roosevelt.national-park.com/camping.htm
campgrounds in Theodore National Park. Camping is on a first-come, first-served basis
Do not forget to tour Roosevelt's cabin
http://www.medorand.com/attractions/?50 …..must see Medora musical
hike the loop trail through the Painted Canyon, Medora Cute town


7. Big Timber, MT to stay at the Spring Creek RV park (365 miles,2 nights, full $40, washer/dryer, spring-fed trout ponds stocked with Rainbow Trout)
• http://www.springcreekcampground.com/springcreekcampground_005.htm


8. Glacier National- Park (6 nights, 395 to the WESTERN Glacier Park area--less to the EASTERN )
• http://www.travelsavvymom.com/blog/family-travel/visiting-glacier-national-park-with-kids/
• sun road, logan pass, boat cruise, red bus tour, St Mary’s visitor center,



9. BearTooth Highway (1 night)
10. Yellowstone National Park (8 nights, reservation required)
11. Grand Teton National Park (2 nights)

Mount Rushmore
http://www.rafterj.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=9&Itemid=13
Black Hills sightseeing, minutes away from Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Custer State park and the 1880 Train Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument

Last summer, we went to Butte, Mt. then some caves, Mt Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Jewel Caves, Rapid City, Cody, Wy. Yellowstone, Little Bighorn, and Grand Tetons. We took over three weeks for these places and really didn't see it all. One of the posters wrote to take your time, see some of the things, and return---good advice if you can do it. I know if you're working, it sucks, but do take time to enjoy, otherwise, when you get back home, you'll realize that you just went--but didn't enjoy.