Art is busy today working on travel plans for June of next year. We were planning to do that Alaskan Cruise (on hold until August). The whole saga of our June travel plans was a journey in itself.
We were hoping to have my brother and sister-in-law join us. We tried to match their vacation times and budget along with the needs of my mother and aunt. Eventually, they decided that a trip to Yellowstone and Glacier would be better. We planned that out, too. However, that also went down the tubes.
Therefore, we decided to go ahead with the Yellowstone and Glacier National Park trip for June anyway with just my mother and her sister. Art and I have been there twice before, first with just our son, Jon and the second time with a friend from Japan. I'm posting some photos of that 1995 trip with Jon here.
However, because we waited a bit too long, many of the national park cabins and lodges were already booked up so we had to make the trip in early instead of late June. OK, that's fine. We may see more spring wildflowers, unless there's still snow up north. Some people will remember how my mother really dislikes (hates) the cold.
And then we got to thinking. Would our daughter, Tif and 4 year old, KC like to come along? (I think Tif has always been a tiny bit sad that she wasn't able to go along with us on the 1995 trip.) Or perhaps they could come for half the trip? It will be super helpful to have Tif as a second driver. We didn't think our son-in-law could manage 2 weeks away from work after coming to visit us in December for two weeks.
What a surprise to hear Tif say they'd LOVE to join us! Ed would have loved to come along, but Tif said, "Trust me, he wouldn't be able to survive one of our family trips." Ed likes to take leisurely vacations. We like to plan everything to the minute and squeeze every bit of glory out of our travels.
"You'd drive him crazy, Mom," she said. "He's under so much pressure at work that he'd be frazzled with Dad's kind of vacation trip schedule."Speaking of which, we need some HELP with finding awesome places to visit between Grand Rapids, South Dakota and Great Falls, Montana. We've already got the Jewel Cave, Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse Monument, Devil's Tower and Custer State Park plugged in.
Much as we loved Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks, Art wasn't quite as enthused about a 3rd trip back to the same places. However, he felt he would enjoy seeing that 1st time wonder reflected in the eyes of my mother and aunt.
Now knowing that our daughter and granddaughter would also be coming along and that our son-in-law has offered to take care of some of the accomodations (extra happy), the excitement is growing by the minute.
Art talked to Jon yesterday and mentioned to our son that we'd be going to the parks with Grandma, Auntie, Tif and KC.
"What? Without me?" he teased.
I think all of those places are worth the time, money and effort to get there. Of those I think I liked the Custer Battlefield the most. I know you didn't mention it, but it is worth a trip if you are in Montana going somewhere else, like Glacier National Park -- we were there once but the serenity of the Little Big Horn was special. Maybe because my wife's famous relative met his match there. George Armstrong Custer didn't fare too well.
ReplyDeleteyou have the best vacation plans...which I could get my hubby interested. now if I said Texas, we'd be off tomorrow. lol!
ReplyDeleteThe vacation plan sounds too good and the best part is that now you have the company of Tiff and KC .Who knows your son might join you..just a thought.
ReplyDeleteThe pictures are awesome !
Kay this sounds like a wonderful trip. Thanks for sharing your beautiful photos of you and your handsome son, very touching you lucky lady.
ReplyDeleteYou make very good points on planning a trip with multiple parties. Everyone has such different needs, one really has to be prepared to compromise or maybe decide it's not worth it.
Oh my, this sounds like a fabulous trip Kay. I loved Yellowstone and the Grand Teton, and have yet to experience the other places you mentioned. Very exciting!
ReplyDeleteKay, it is funny you mentioned alot of the places my parents just visited for the umpteenth time and are heading back home as I type this! They said it was still a really lovely trip even though they have been there many, many times. They went to Yellowstone, Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse Monument and some places in between. Just some facts about the Crazy Horse Monument. The original artist died and his wife (who is 83 or 84) continues to chisel away at the mountain and their 10 children are helping her!! They said she starts early in the a.m. and finishes late in the evening. Just amazing!! What a wonderful trip you will have and how exciting for your aunt, Mom,daugther and granddaughter to accompany you!!
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like fun - much to look forward to :-)
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to catching up with you in Montana on one of your planned-to-the-minute days, or maybe in western Alberta if you're going to Waterton (where I haven't been yet). Wonderful to have Tif and your granddaughter with you...three generations!
ReplyDeleteKay, Alberta
We travel like that too, every minute scheduled. We want to see everything, don't want to miss a thing.
ReplyDeleteThe only other thing I can think of to add to your schedule would be to Google the Oregon Trail and see if there are some historical spot along your route. We have not been to the area east of the Tetons, except to drive north/south through central wyoming to get to Colorado. There is a lot of empty country out there in the great American "west". And early June should be OK. At least you'll beat the heat.
Sounds like fun -- especially seeing it all through the eyes of your granddaughter, who will be four or five (?) y.o. next year.
ReplyDeleteI would love to see Rushmore in person. Will there be 6 beds in one lodge, or will some of you have to sleep on a sofa or a mat on the floor?
We spent 3 days in Custer State Park last month and loved it. I've been posting some pictures the last couple of weeks and still have a few more to post. We have a small camper and stayed in a campground there but they have several different lodges in the park also. We really enjoyed it a lot. The campground we stayed in was only 18 miles from Mt. Rushmore so we went there one day. Sounds like you have a wonderful trip planned.
ReplyDeleteI could look at pictures of Jon all day.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a wonderful trip. Your mother and aunt are very lucky to be able to take such nice trips. I like to travel your way, everything planned, seeing as much as possible.
ReplyDeleteAbe: Actually, we do have Custer National Park on the list.
ReplyDeleteGigi: My mom and aunt will usually be in one room with two doubles. Tif, KC and we will share a room most of the time. The accomodations will be varied and we've reserved a mini-van. KC will be 4 by then.
Kavita: Actually, it would have been amazing if Jon and Sarah suddenly could join us, but they are not retired and must work. Oh well... We'll visit them again someday.
Your 2011 travel plans sound exciting, Kay, which is nothing new with you and your traveling. How nice it is that your mother, aunt, daughter, and grand daughter will be joining you, too. I'm already looking forward to your posts during the trip.
ReplyDeleteI know you'll have a great trip and even more fun as a family group and those are such gorgeous places! Have enjoyed my trips there over and over! Have a great week, Kay!
ReplyDeleteSylvia
Gosh Kay; sounds like a great trip.
ReplyDeleteSo many different age groups accounted for. You;re building memories for sure. Can't wait to see the pictures.
Like always, I look forward t
I don't know why you call your excursions "vacations". They are marathons! I am with your son-in-law, a nice leisurely trip with a few things planned in advance but plenty of time for the spontaneous is my favorite way to sight-see.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds wonderful! Watch out for the supervolcano - I hear an eruption is overdue by a couple of thousand years.
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to hearing about it all.
I just mentioned to hubby that I would love to go to the Grand Canyon and he asked how I would ever do that not being able to walk for long...sigh...I think I could find a way...happy travels Kay...
ReplyDeleteSimply perfect pictures. :)
ReplyDeleteYes, to G and I the word vacation means taking it easy.
Sounds like an awesome trip. The Grand Rapids you mentioned is it in Michigan? I know the places you mentioned are very very nice places.
ReplyDeleteI am hoping you will post about your vacation trip! What a marvelous trip you have planned and with such dear family to accompany you. Have you and Art considered being tour guides/consultants??
ReplyDeleteMargaret: It's actually Grand Rapids, South Dakota. I guess it's like Springfield, Illinois. There are tons of Springfields in other states. :-)
ReplyDeleteCheryl: I have a feeling most people would be too exhausted to do Art's type of trips. And I do believe there's also a glut of travel consultants.
Hi Kay wow it sounds wonderful and a trip I would love to make one day!
ReplyDeleteBTW got your messages about Doc Martin, so happy you love it too, it's a really super show set in one of my fave places to visit.
Those photos are AMAZING! You're so lucky to have such gorgeous pictures of you and your son together.
ReplyDeleteOh and the backdrop -- gorgeous too! LOL
I'll be watching for what you find to see there, because my son and I are still planning our cross-country drive for next summer, on our way to (eventually) San Francisco, that he's dying to see. It's such a big country!
Deadwood? The Badlands?
ReplyDeleteOakland Daily Photo: Thanks a bunch! We did put Deadwood and Lead tentatively in the plans as well. We're not positive about the Badlands because it would add an hour to our drive. Thanks a bunch!
ReplyDeleteYellowstone National park is better for kids and family. Yellowstone was the first national park on earth which is identified for its diverse wildlife and geothermal features like Old authentic Geyser. I’d defiantly recommend travelers to take a tour towards this park.
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