It's Now or Never - 1 year country tour

OutdoorPhotographer wrote:
That helped. Yes, you will be East of Sierras on second trip. You have a pin at Carson City. I expect you intended to make the side trek to Lake Tahoe but if not, you want to do that. You can drive around the lake in one day with stops at interesting places.

Your route through Louisiana puts you within 30 miles of my home town.

Yep, Lake Tahoe is our primary reason for stopping in Carson City. We drove around it probably 11 years ago now while we were in Reno. I only sort of remember it. I do remember going to Virginia City and thinking that was cool.

The funny part about Louisiana is that my work has an office there. I'm going to go down and work side-by-side with folks who I've only met on person.

Reader1 wrote:
Have a wonderful trip. We took the kids for a month long trip west and as adults they have wonderful, funny, and some intense memories that we talk about a lot. I would suggest keeping a journal of your adventures, campgrounds, and all the funny things that happen.

We definitely will have something. I've got the blog started and one of my daughter's roadschool assignments is to create and actively update a blog. I also take a ton of photos and can see turning them into something.

Tvov wrote:
Just poking my nose in here to follow your adventures. You are doing what most campers dream about.

You should be able to sign up for email updates on my blog - http://nowornever.learntorv.com/

Busskipper wrote:

tragusa3 wrote:

spoon059 wrote:

MPond wrote:

4runnerguy wrote:
I've been almost everywhere you've got on your map, and I have to say you'll miss some of the most fantastic scenery in the country if you can't make time to visit SW Colorado (the San Juans, Salida/Buena Vista, Mesa Verde, etc.) and southern Utah (Bryce, Zion, Arches, Canyonlands). I'd gladly give up several of the weeks you have scheduled for Nebraska, Oklahoma, TX, and going to Pikes Peak :p to be able to take your kids to some of the most wonderful and magical places in the US. Places like Durango, Moab, Salida, and St. George will have the business facilities you might need on the road

...

I would pay serious attention to these comments from 4runnerguy. The SW Colorado (San Juans) and Southern Utah areas are absolutely breathtaking. We go back there every couple years, and never get tired of it. We're going again this year and are counting the days..

In the San Juans I'd highly recommend Ouray, CO and Silverton, CO, and in Utah I would never miss a chance to stop at Canyonlands NP (Island in the Sky region).

I'll third that notion. I had some great memories from our trip. The American Southwest are among the best.

Carlsbad Caverns was one of the coolest places I've ever been. Standing in the 4 corners was a fun experience. The Mesa Verde cliff dwellings were amazing. The landscape and colors of the desert out their were breathtaking. 20 years later, still very vivid memories.

A fourth here...I took my family to this area for 6 weeks last summer. It was an experience beyond our dreams. I have a trip report here if interested.

Good on you for making this happen for your family. Having a "unique to your family" adventure is worth its weight in gold for your relationships with each other.

I'm in a unique position for our family to do 2 month trips each year (probably less than 1% of working folks)....you are the .1% to have a YEAR.

Research, research, research!

Mpond also has a great log of his family travels -- do a search - If I am correct he is also into the Programing thing.

Let me just add to Kens comments - IMHO the trips east and west are OK but what we have learned is so much better to work North South and use the elevations to cool off in the summer and the desert to warm up in the winter. You are much better served with the use of your time to stay put and sort of circle out to explore.

Just one more emphasis on the Southwest - Yellowstone is the most diverse and expansive place on earth. Glacier is just plain Beautiful.
Having been to most of these places many times I personally have never had more pure enjoyment for the Wild Unspoiled Beauty that is available in Colorado and Utah. If I only had one year to explore 50% of the time would be in the Southwest - Mountains, Rivers, Red Rocks, Wild, uncrowded, and just simply the BEST.

Having six granddaughters now, I can understand why Micky and the Rockies with the Ski resorts and Large lakes can add some diversity in the summer for the DD, just a thought. After a visit to Maroon Bells one September I ask the GD's what was the most enjoyable thing we did "skipping rocks on the creek" They just want to have fun, but they will remember.

No matter how you do it will never be forgotten and always appreciated.

BOL,

Thank you all for your great input and kind words! I'll take a look at our plans and see what I can do to include more. I've been saving posts to refer back to them for ideas.

MPond wrote:
Here are links to my trip reports on the forums:
2011: Utah - Colorado - Arizona Trip Report
2012: Trip Report - 4 Weeks in Colorado

Or you can see them on my site here:
RoadTrip2011
2011 - Ouray, CO
2011 - Mesa Verde (Cortez, CO)

RoadTrip2012
2012 - Ouray, CO
2012 - Silverton, CO
2012 - Mesa Verde (Cortez, CO)

In 2013 we headed north, and skipped Colorado. But there are some good ideas on Yellowstone, Glacier, etc..
RoadTrip 2013

Way cool! I'll definitely read through these.