Travel Journal: Day 12

Where: Barstow, CA-Yosemite National Park, CA
Miles: 242 miles
States Covered: California
Attractions: Yosemite National Park

One of our highlights of this leg of the trip was getting to Yosemite. The trek from interstate 99 to Yosemite was long. However, it didn't compare to the treacherous, windy road inside the park to get to the village. It took about an hour once we entered the park and we felt like we were on the edge of the world at times. It was well worth the drive. Here are a couple of shots of the park.

Travel Journal: Day 11

Zion National Park, Utah

Zion National Park, Utah

Travel Journal: Day 6

Where: Columbia, MO--Hutchinson, KS

Miles: 361

States Covered: Missouri, Kansas

Attractions: Topeka Zoo and Rain Forest

Notes: The Weather was beautiful today! We skipped a planned trip to Kansas City Children's Museum and found a zoo in Topeka. We're still ahead of schedule and have time to explore and still make it to Denver by Saturday, so we've altered our plans (again). Tomorrow...Dodge City, KS-home of the Wild West!

Travel Journal: Day 5

Where: Carlyle, IL--Columbia, MO

Miles: 176

States Covered: Illinois, Missouri

Attractions: St. Louis Arch

Notes: We were really excited to be able to visit the Gateway Arch. The children have been learning about The Westward Expansion and the museum at the Arch is wonderful. Its a national park and they offically became "Junior Rangers" today. The activities the children must complete for their badge and patch are fairly extensive (for their age)...no freebies here (which I like). And they were pretty excited to earn their first of several badges they will get around the country at the National Parks.

Travel Journal: Day 4

Where: Carrollton, KY--Carlyle, IL

Miles: 275

States Covered: Kentucky, Indiana, Illinios

Attractions: Super suds Laundromat and Tony's Garage for a front end alignment. Not so attractive, but necessary just the same!

Notes: Walking the 3/4 mile from Super suds to Tony's in Louisville, KY with two children and two baskets of laundry is a sight to see! but we ended the day at Dam West State Recreation Area in Carlyle, IL. Nice place with a pond to explore.

Leah looking for fish

Ben with what we think is a fresh water oyster shell


Ben and Leah at sunrise (yep, you got it...we've caught the sunrise every morning!)

Travel Journal: Day 3

Zanesville, OH--Carrollton, KY

Miles: 218

States Covered: Ohio, Kentucky

Attractions: Fort Rapids Indoor Water Park Resort, Columbus OH.

Notes: We had a BLAST at this resort! We had originally planned on visiting the Cincinnati Zoo. However, the weather was poor so we came up with plan "B." This park was soooo cool. Ben was able to ride all of the water slides and tube rides and Leah was able to ride most of them (limited by height). I am still shocked at some of the rides that little girl went on...several times! Rich and I actually enjoyed the park as well ( not just for kids)! And best of all (from a mom's perspective) we found coupons online and printed them on Ben's picture printer. We SAVED $60!!!

Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium, Pittsburgh, PA

We enjoyed the afternoon at the Pittsburgh Zoo. I've NEVER seen soooooo many people at a zoo...and we've visited a few zoos in our travels. I've also never visited a zoo with so many "Star" animals. They had tigers, lions, polar bears, Kodiak bears (and several others), leopards, elephants, gorillas, giraffes, orangutans (and many, many more). The zoo was well planned despite several steep hills, but a great afternoon. It took over an hour for the closing crowd to clear the parking lot. That might be a problem for some folks...not for us...we cooked up some dinner and relaxed in the RV until the traffic was cleared!
Here's a shot of Ben and Leah outside of the aquarium (that was right inside the zoo!)

Travel Journal: Day 2

Where: Allentown, PA--Zanesville, OH

Miles: 414 Miles

States Covered: Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio

Attractions: Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium

Notes: Great Zoo (see pictures above). Good day of traveling. The children are real troopers.

Travel Journal: Day 1

Where: Swansea, MA--Allentown, PA

Miles: 283 Miles

States covered: Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania

Attractions: Crayola Factory and Museum (Over priced, but the kiddos loved it!)

Notes: met some new "friends" at the campground. They home-school and the children hit it off from the get-go. We've exchanged addresses and have vowed to be pen-pals. They even invited us to their campfire birthday party for the nine-year-old. Got to love home-schoolers.

{Coast to Coast}

Today is the day we hit the road on our cross-country adventure. The kids are packed, lessons prepared, maps outlined, camping reservations made, and the cameras are charged!

California or BUST!