Who's planning for 2014 vacations?

[michigansandzil]

Just booked our first camping trip for April 2014. We're going to stay at the Jellystone in Cosby in the Smoky Mountains. Kids have never been there and we're all really looking forward to it.

This summer we also plan on visiting Lake Superior in Brimley and Tahquamenon Falls. We'll visit Lake Huron at Tawas Point, and Lake Michigan at Silver Lake. We've stayed at all of these places before (aside from Tahquamenon) and have enjoyed them all.

It's still another 5 months before we can dewinterize, but I'm already looking forward to it. Seems like planning is half the fun!

Anyone else have vacations planned yet?

[jimroach]

raldl wrote:
I retire in April and have plans to take a long trip with my wife. We bought our first camper (22 foot TT) a couple of months ago. We want to leave in May and head west. I want to hit all the states west of the Mississippi. I have no reservations and no timeline. I want to see some of the popular national parks, but otherwise I'm flexible! Any ideas??

Rick

While there are 101 things that you can do and see, in every state, I would recommend that in your planning you set aside at least one day a week, where you do nothing. We did a 4 month trip after the wife retired and were doing something or going someplace everyday, after 4 months we were just plum wore out. We are taking a year off in '14 and one thing we have already decided, is that no matter where we are or what we are doing, one day a week is to sit around, read, catch up on laundry, whatever. Anything except driving and sight seeing.

[jimroach]

Feb 2014 to Jan 2015 - Most of it already planned out, including 3 months in Florida, a trip to Alaska, a month or so in San Fransico/Napa Valley area, and might even get crazy and do some spur of the moment stuff......that is the hard part for us, not planning 🙂

[wbwood]

raldl wrote:
I retire in April and have plans to take a long trip with my wife. We bought our first camper (22 foot TT) a couple of months ago. We want to leave in May and head west. I want to hit all the states west of the Mississippi. I have no reservations and no timeline. I want to see some of the popular national parks, but otherwise I'm flexible! Any ideas??

Rick

Congrats on the retirement. I envy you! I can't wait for the day that we can leave when we want, go where we want and for as long as we want.

[stew47]

Dover Ohio to Goleta Ca by way of Yellowstone. I just started looking at the map. Old Suburban, 30ft trailer, 9 and 6 year old, 2 dogs I think everything will be fine LOL. Im planning on 3 weeks in late june and early july. I might be too ambitious.

[Veebyes]

raldl wrote:
I retire in April and have plans to take a long trip with my wife. We bought our first camper (22 foot TT) a couple of months ago. We want to leave in May and head west. I want to hit all the states west of the Mississippi. I have no reservations and no timeline. I want to see some of the popular national parks, but otherwise I'm flexible! Any ideas??

Rick

Get yourself a copy of MS Streets & Trips, with the GPS. Mark home as start. Mark home as finish. Mark all of the places of interest, no matter how many, as stops. Push the 'get directions' button. In seconds magic happens. A route going through all those places appears. Next the tinkering starts as you search out CGs & insert other places as you find or hear about them. Before too long you have a rough day by day trip, all subject to change of course.

[kennethwooster]

Unless something major happens we will spend the summer at South Fork Co. Fun Valley family camp.

[raldl]

I retire in April and have plans to take a long trip with my wife. We bought our first camper (22 foot TT) a couple of months ago. We want to leave in May and head west. I want to hit all the states west of the Mississippi. I have no reservations and no timeline. I want to see some of the popular national parks, but otherwise I'm flexible! Any ideas??

Rick

[charming]

We spent 3 nights at Myrtle Beach State Park this week and really enjoyed it. Hated packing up in the rain though. I love the location and the planes landing and taking off are not overwhelming. WE plan to take several more 3 nighters over the next few months.

We are planning a few days in the Plains, GA area next spring. In the fall we are going to take a week or two and head north to Virginia and perhaps PA.

Making the list now of where we want to go next fall. The plan then is the following year to finally take the big trip west.

[modern_family]

Just about the 1st or 2nd week in January, I book all the holiday week-ends and our summer trip. This will be my 3rd year doing it this way and it works out well. Being that both the wife and I work and the kids are in school. We know we will atlease go camping 5 times and whatever may come up throughout the year.

Already have Halloween at fort wilderness booked, so that would be 6!

MLK weekend
memorial day
labor day
thanksgiving
the big summer trip

[weathershak]

I am having a tough time deciding, so I am using the toss the steak knife at the USA map. So far, after three attempts, I have only hit water. Guess I am going on a cruise.

[nohurry]

We've had S. Dakota on our list for quite a while, so in late June we're planing on finaly making it. We'll be going through Idaho Falls first for a family reunion, then up through Teton/Yellowstone, west to Cody, then on up to SD. We'll probably make reservations for the few days in Rapid City area, but other than that we'll be "Winging it" :B

[Veebyes]

Spent 2 hours last night on Google Earth looking at Newfoundland. Looks very interesting. Never gave the place much thought before. The ferry is costly but I suppose if enough time is spent there it makes the ferry worthwhile.

[djsamuel]

Have several weekends reserved at Fort Wilderness at Disney (live nearby); and have a longer trip to Grand Canyon in September for our 30th anniversary. Will be staying at Trailer Village.

Want to try some of the Florida State park campgrounds, starting with Lake Louisa State Park.

That's what is planned for now. Daughter gets married in April. Ceremony and reception at Disney World, so we'll be spending a night at the Grand Floridian (not cheap!) and my daughter and her fiance are treating us to a few nights at the Boardwalk afterwards. Fortunately, I am very blessed to have a wife who loves to save money, so we had the money saved for the wedding. 🙂

Hotel prices for the wedding make me VERY glad we bought a camper.

[empty_nest]

Two reservations at NYS parks are booked and paid for in June and July. Planning on another, probably in August some time. Since we're flying to Texas in April to visit family and get some bass fishing in, we're going to stay a little more local in 2014.

[wbwood]

Finally....we have been going back and forth trying to decide where to go. At one time, it was Michigan, then Colorado, then a DC/NY trip. Also thrown in there several times in between was going back to Destin, Florida. So I bit the bullet and made reservations for a few nights at Topsail Hill State Preserve and a few nights at Grayton Beach State Park. This will be towards the end of April for spring break. All paid for and done. Can't beat full hook ups at state parks for an average of $40/night after taxes/fees.

Will stop on the way down there and back overnight somewhere in the Georgia/Alabama state line area. Will probably take a week in the summer and hit the mountains as well.