Tossing it out there ... planning our vacation..

[Jennyfs]

Last year when I was planning my family vacation, I used this site and forum a lot. It was very useful for us to research and see what others had to say. All in all our trip was a huge success! We started off in Houston, made our way to the Grand Canyon, went to see some friends in Phoenix, saw the lights in Vegas, toured Hoover Dam, Hiked Zion National Park, Went through temple square, up through Wyoming, Put on our big people boots and went up Mt. Evans, and through Estes Park, and then took the way back home through Amarillo and Dallas! We had such a great trip, and the kids got to see a lot!

Now we are trying to plan for this year's vacation. We're completely up in the air as to what we want to try next. We're thinking something more low key, maybe like Smokey Mountains. How about traveling to Michigan, and crossing the border into Canada at Sarnia. Has anyone ever done that in an RV? Any problems you encountered?

[GoPackGo]

Here's another thought. Spend your time in Kentucky and Tennessee. Lots of big warm lakes. Smoky Mtns in the eastern parts. For several years, we used to camp at a Kentucky resort park near Paducah on Kentucky Lake. Take a look at the various parks and lakes in these states, also the Land Between The Lakes area. And don't forget Mammoth Cave.

[GoPackGo]

I'm a big fan of Wisconsin. Consider going north up thru the eastern part of Wisconsin, going up and down the Door County Peninsula, then continuing northward into the UP of Michigan. Head east, pick up I-75 and cross over the Mackinac Bridge heading south into 'mainland' Michigan.

Lots of driving for 16 days.

[Jennyfs]

@GGeorge. That's really a nifty Idea! Thank you for the suggestion. There is so much to see, it's amazing.

@profdant. We went to the canyon last year. It was amazing. Nothing we could prepare for.

[profdant139]

Jenny -- wild idea -- what about the North Rim of the Grand Canyon? Much cooler in the summer than almost anywhere else within easy driving distance of Houston. If that is of interest, just say so and many of us can provide additional help.

[GGeorge]

I am not sure if this will help, but the DW and I will retire in 20 months, (and counting). Four years ago I went on line to each state and asked for travel info books. I also went to AAA and got travel books and maps. As these books arrived I read every word, marked where I wanted to go and see, and made a mess of the books. I made a "bucket list" for each state for all the places we wanted to visit.

Since then I have placed state road maps on insulation panels (4 x 😎 and cut them down to fit the maps. I put push pins and map points on all points of interest from my bucket list, then with a string started connecting the dots. I have picked a central location for camping and by using a TOAD visit 100 miles radious the places we want to visit. I have 7 trips planned from 75 days to 182 day. Only once have I covered the same road for more than 30 miles.

It is a great country and there is a lot to see and do.

Hope this helps

GGeorge

[2gypsies1]

The coastline of Michigan is where you want to go!

[Jennyfs]

@profdant139
Our kids are 11, 7 and infant.
We'll have about 16 days for the trip. But we're hoping to not have to drive the entire time and maybe just pick a few points to highlight.

[michigansandzil]

dverstra wrote:
Jenny
Follow the west coast of Michigan. It can't be beat from Saugatuck (Artsy community) to Grand Haven (Coast Guard Festival and beach) to Shelby (Silver Lake Area with dune rides and beach) to Ludington State Park (did I say beaches?) to Leelenau (Sleeping Bear Dunes) to Charleviox to Petosky to the Big Mac Bridge to Sault Ste. Marie (Soo Locks)

Ok, yes, this is better advice than I previously gave. This is a good itinerary.

[dverstra]

Jenny
Follow the west coast of Michigan. It can't be beat from Saugatuck (Artsy community) to Grand Haven (Coast Guard Festival and beach) to Shelby (Silver Lake Area with dune rides and beach) to Ludington State Park (did I say beaches?) to Leelenau (Sleeping Bear Dunes) to Charleviox to Petosky to the Big Mac Bridge to Sault Ste. Marie (Soo Locks)

[profdant139]

Jenny -- how long of a trip can you take (in terms of days), and how old are your kids? That would influence our recommendations!

[Jennyfs]

@Ron3rd: no, we didn't. we kept Zion simple for the kids sake,,, and probably mine as well. I had a hard enough time getting up Mt. Evans. going from sea level to 14K feet was already an experience.

[Ron3rd]

Jenny,
On a side note, did you do Angels Landing at Zion? That will make your legs tremble!

[padredw]

crossing the border into Canada at Sarnia. Has anyone ever done that in an RV? Any problems you encountered?

Yes, indeed, we have done that with our 34' fifth-wheel. We did not encounter any problems at all, a very pleasant experience.

We met friends who live in Ontario at the park they reommended for us: Fifty Point Conservation Area on the shores of Lake Ontario and close enough to Niagara Falls to drive over to visit the Canadian side.

We did go up through Ohio and Michigan. We met other RV friends at a State Park on Lake Erie. In Ohio we stayed at Sauder Village RV Park

I don't know how much time you have for the trip, but you could come back by New York state, Pennsylvania Amish area, even the Smokey Mountains, for example. We came back by Montecello in Virginia and Sevierville in Tennessee. These are just examples of the possibilities.

[ds74437]

I found this really great article about beautiful locations around the US. It's directed toward those who love to take photos, but has some really great suggestions!
http://www.campercorralms.com/--have-camera-will-travel