Sunday, May 10, 2009

The Great Western Road Trip!

My sister, Liz, is scheduled to land in Portland in a few short hours.

Tomorrow will be a day of errands, packing, planning and a last minute visit to the doc before heading out.

Tuesday, we DEPART!

For anyone who is interested, here is our itinerary, meal plan, and our detailed travel map:


Tuesday, May 12, 10 AM leave Beaverton, OR and to Caldwell, ID via I-84
Accomidations: Best Western
Meals : Breakfast - Bagels and bananas at home
Lunch - Sandwiches at a rest stop - PB&J, cold cuts or egg salad.
Fruit. Chips. Homemade cookies.
Dinner - Spagetti (sausage precooked) cooked in the hotel room microwave
Green beans, bread and butter.
Activities: Hotel swimming pool (the kids are already pretty excited about this!)

Wednesday, May 13, 10 AM leave Caldwell, ID and head towards Salt Lake City
(Park City), Utah via I-84 to I-80
Accomidations: Summit View Marriot
Meals: Breakfast - complimentary breakfast at Best Western
Lunch - Sandwiches at a rest stop - PB&J, cold cuts or egg salad.
Fruit. Chips. Homemade cookies.
Dinner - Dinner out
Activities: Meet with Meg, a friend of Liz's from college for dinner.


Thursday, May 14, 10 AM leave Park City on I-80 to Cheyenne, WY
Accomidations: Cheyenne KOA Kabin
Meals: Breakfast - Bagels and fruit in our hotel room
Lunch - Sandwiches at a rest stop - PB&J, cold cuts or egg salad.
Fruit. Chips. Homemade cookies.
Dinner - Pigs in a blanket (hot dogs over campfire wrapped in dough)
Carrots and dip
Smores
Activities: Campfire, playing at the KOA

Friday, May 15, 10 AM leave Cheyenne on I-80 to Lincoln, NE
Accomidations: Grandma and Grandpa Baldwin's house
Meals: Breakfast - Oatmeal and fruit
Lunch - Sandwiches at a rest stop - PB&J, cold cuts or egg salad.
Fruit. Chips. Homemade cookies.
Dinner - up to Grandma!
Activities: Catching up with my Grandparents and giving them a chance to get to know my kids. I haven't seen them since Hannah was about 1 (she'll be 5 this month). I am also looking forward to seeing my Aunt Sara. We are staying with them thru Monday morning.

Monday, May 18, 9 AM leave Lincoln to Hill City, SD via I-80 and US 385
Accomidations: Hill City / Mt Rushmore KOA Kabin
Meals: Breakfast -with grandparents
Lunch - Sandwiches at a rest stop - PB&J, cold cuts or egg salad.
Fruit. Chips. Homemade cookies.
Dinner - Fast food (longest day of driving)
Activities: just getting there... Tuesday AM we will make pancakes at our Kabin and get out to see the Presidents memorial in the morning light, which I hear is best. We will take our mid-day to get down to the Mammoth site, a museum that has enclosed the fossilized remains of over 30 mammoths, as well as other cool pre-historic exhibits. An afternoon rest at the cabin and dinner of mac n cheese and hot dogs will be followed by an evening viewing of the Presidents Memorial.

Wednesday, May 20, 10 AM Hill City, SD towards I-90 to Big Timber, MT
Accomidations: Big Timber KOA Kabin
Meals: Breakfast - Oatmeal and Fruit
Lunch - Sandwiches at a rest stop - PB&J, cold cuts or egg salad.
Fruit. Chips. Homemade cookies.
Dinner - Canned soup or stew- TBD, Smores
Activities: Campfire, playing at the KOA

Thursday, May 21, 10 AM Big Timber on I-90 to Spokane, WA
Accomidations: Spokane KOA Kabin
Meals: Breakfast - Cereal and fruit
Lunch - Sandwiches at a rest stop - PB&J, cold cuts or egg salad.
Fruit. Chips. Homemade cookies.
Dinner - Pigs in a blanket (hot dogs over campfire wrapped in dough)
Carrots and dip
Smores
Activities: Campfire, playing at the KOA

Friday, May 22, 10 AM leave Spokane on I-90, US 395 to I-84 and HOME
Accomidations: MY OWN BED!!!
Meals: Breakfast - Cereal and Fruit
Lunch - Sandwiches at a rest stop - PB&J, cold cuts or egg salad.
Fruit. Chips. Homemade cookies.
Dinner -something easy
Activities: Collapse, yet fully satisfied with a great trip!

Originally we had planned to tow our tent trailer, but found that some of the campsites were going to be either unpredictable or unacceptably expensive for a concrete slap to park on. When considering the potential hassle of a towed rig in combination with added expenses of gas mileage, we opted to not take the trailer and pursue other inexpensive accommodations. We will be staying at two hotels, and the other nights will be spent in KOA Kabins.

I am looking forward to the whole experience and hope to be finding wi-fi along the way to provide you with pictures and updates. Keep us in your prayers for safe and fun journeys!

5 comments:

  1. Have a wonderful trip! And congrats on your twins!!

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  2. It looks like all your hard work in planning your trip has paid off. You have a wonderful plan in place. Sounds like a great trip. I am sure your children will have great memories of this trip. Have a wonderful time.

    April :-)

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  3. I can't get past the fact that Hannah is going to be 5.

    Other than that, your list looks great! You're one organized traveler.

    You should keep track of how many times you stop to pee. My money's on the one carrying TWO KIDS inside her will need to stop more than any of the kids.

    :)

    Love ya.

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  4. What awesome memories your kiddos will have from this trip!
    You sound so organized, Sarah! You ROCK!

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  5. My favorite part of car trips like that when my kids were younger was the planning! I loved getting out the maps and planning how far to travel each day, what sights to see, where/what to eat. Loved it. I learned that there where many unforseens along the way too, car sickness, a water park that couldn't be passed up, unexpected snowfall, etc. It sounds like you will have a blast and your older children will remember it for a long time.
    Have fun and be safe.

    PS Most KOAs have wifi now!

    ~K!

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