From WA to AL

[endalby]

The Army has decided to us move again. Movers pack up the house over the next 3 days then we will live in the TC until Tue when we take off. For all the TCs in the South East once we hit AL and settle into our new home I will be asking for places to go. My two girls really want to go in the "warm" ocean so I have a feeling I will be spending a lot of time on the gulf coast over the next two years(need recommendations where to go/camp). I am not familiar with that region at all.

We are keeping our home in WA and renting it out. I hope to retire back here in three years. If anyone sees the vehicle in my signature below come over and say hello (there will be a red canoe on top of the Jeep I am towing.)
DW and I are still debating the route we are going to take. I want to stay north as long as possible and she wants to go south immediately and go through UT, CO, AZ, NM, TX, LA, and MS. We shall see who wins. The only part of the south route that intrigues me is Zion and Bryce Nat. Parks. Any suggestions (her route or mine)? My girls are 5 and 8 that will with us (I am the lone male; even our lab is a female - I am doomed!).

[chorbelt]

Best of luck with your PCS. I think you'll enjoy the south, I can't wait till I get to go back for good.

[TCINTN]

Lot of great places to visit in the South.We have a 2 great National Parks in Tennessee,The Great Smoky Mtn NP and The Big South Fork.
Also,a visit to the nashville area is pretty good.
Have a safe trip and thanks for your service.
Take as much time getting to Alabama and see all you can on the way.
Really enjoyed the book your father wrote on Alaska.

[Bedlam]

We completed a Seattle - St. Louis round trip last month. I-90 this year has some one lane closures due to road work but is still the fastest way east. I-80 and I-84 were fine on our return. If you have time, I-94 is more scenic through ND but I have't taken it since 2011. I-29 is a mess through Council Bluffs and other places where the Missouri River has flooded the last few years.

[Sparky87k5]

Thank you for your service and protecting our freedoms.

Having recently completed the same trip you're planning, I suggest you stay north. We went thru Montana, visited Custer battlefield in Hardin, MT, then onto the Mt. Rushmore in South Dakota. From there we followed I80 to I29 and then south to Springfield, MO. We went to Nashville, lots of sights there and then onto Biloxi, MS to visit family stationed there. We came home across I10 to California. Most of west Texas was boring. Cali's I5 is better then the past but still rough in places. Good luck, in this heat I would avoid Cali, AZ and New Mexico. It will be hot, very hot.

[hitchup]

We left the PacNW in May, 29 years ago. It took us time to adjust to the humidity and southern teminoldy, but it was a quick adaptation. You might even want to rethink where you retire once ya'll get acclimated.

Here's a few slang terms. Also, Buggy is a Shopping Cart. Pocket Book is a Purse. Most of the time Coke covers all flavors of Pop.

So GA slang

[sdianel_-acct_c]

Thank you for your service to our country from a former jarhead! Freedom isn't free. How long until you have to be in Alabama?
Have you camped in military famcamps? There are lots of those in the Florida Panhandle. check them out on www.militarycampgrounds.us
About 3 hours south of Enterprise AL is St Joseph Peninsula State Park. http://www.floridastateparks.org/stjoseph/
Another FL state park is Grayson in Santa Rosa Beach.
Not many places you can camp right on the beach, but Camp Gulf in Destin is one of them. Very expensive but right on the beach. There is also a military campground in Destin. Destin Army Infantry Recreation Center. Not on the beach, but near. Florida Caverns State Park in Marianna is a small cavern but neat to see. In Gulf Shores Alabama National Seashore, there is a ferry you can take to West Ship Island. Camping at Fort Pickens and Gulf Shores. Bring bug spray!

[bighatnohorse]

Gig Harbor is about as good as it gets, but the Redneck Riviera along the gulf coast should be enjoyable during the winter months.
Stay north, avoid the HEAT of the southern route and possible engine/tranny problems often associated with it.

[endalby]

We are going to be stationed at Ft. Rucker and live in Enterprise, AL. I will definitely contact you for some suggestions and of where to go/see in a month or so. I have been informed the first trip is taking the kids to the beach.

[delosholly]

Welcome to Alabama. Where are you being posted? We live in the Huntsville area/Redstone Arsenal area. Would gladly recommend Gulf State Park for beaches and Desoto State Park (Little River Canyon) or Mount Cheaha or Monte Sano for mountains.

[lizzie]

Let us know where you are when you get to Alabama and you can get some suggestions as to where to camp. You will love winter in the south but don't travel south until you have to. It is humid and buggy right now and the southwest is just plain hot. If you canoe, you might like to join us in Wiregrass Alabama, and the Florida Panhandle for some great trips. PM me if you want to get connected to some groups in the area that put outings together. lizzie

[insp1505]

I side with you on staying north this time of year plus I've always wanted to see around the Great Lakes area of the country, Upper Peninsula of Michigan. I'd use a trip like your's as an excuse to do that if time allowed. Good luck and have a safe trip which ever path you follow.

I know what your girls mean about wanting a "warm" ocean from growing up in Oregon. What the Pacific Ocean lacks in heat in the Northwest is makes up for in beauty though. It still would have been nice to go for a swim in it as a kid without nearly freezing to death in the middle of summer. Now that I'm older I don't have as big of an urge to want to put on a swimsuit as when I was a kid. Hopefully your girls get to spend plenty of time playing in the "warm" ocean.