wanderlust

[rach3975]

We make weekend driving trips to see family 4 or 5 times a year (from VA to NY or CT) and go on a family vacation to PA with them for a week every summer. They come see us 5 or so times a year, too. Last summer Dan and I got to go kid-free to a conference in St. Louis, our first non-local kid-free trip since our oldest was born 11 years ago. I'd really like to do something with just the 5 of us soon, but I don't know if it's going to happen. I love that we get to spend a lot of time with my family even though they're hundreds of miles away, but sometimes it's frustrating there's no time to do our own trips.

 

[lovely1m]

We were talking about going to San Diego this year, but my sister planned a wedding celebration in south Utah in April and I am not sure I can afford it all.

 

[DawnMarch]

I want to get away SO SO badly. I was hoping to finally do our washington coast road trip this summer but if the canadian dollar continues to sink I don't know if I can stomach paying so much more just to go to the states so now I'm thinking maybe we can do vancouver island or just the sunshine coast or something. For me travel is something that brings me my best memories and this summer will be 2 years since we went to oregon and I'm really really itching to go back to the ocean.

Anyone else feeling the need to get away?

"Just" the Sunshine Coast"!? We went to Desolation Sound last summer and it was spectacular!! Canadians are spoiled with all that scenic natural beauty.

 

[KristinCB]

hahaha I didn't mean to make it sound like that I meant instead of the additional cost of doing the ferry to vancouver island.

 

[julifish]

I just love to travel! We always seem to have a trip in the works. This summer we are taking our girls to California for 11 days. LA, Yosemite, San Fran and Carmel. I wasn't excited about their choice of CA but now that we've done research and planning I'm super excited to go.

KCB - We wanted to go to Whistler and Vancouver Island with the kids, but Katie (16) didn't want to go out of the country b/c she wouldn't be able to text her friends. I would totally love a trip to Vancouver Island - it looks like it would be really fun to explore! What about taking some of the ferries from Vancouver to Seattle or to some of the San Juan Islands? Or can you take a ferry north to Alaska? I've seen that you can camp on the ferries and that could be fun if you like that kind of thing?

 

[Julie Billingsley]

I am so so so ready for a vacation. We haven't had one in 6 years. I'm hoping we can take a trip in December 2015, but that depends on if/when I get a job later this year and the pay!

 

[KristinCB]

KCB - We wanted to go to Whistler and Vancouver Island with the kids, but Katie (16) didn't want to go out of the country b/c she wouldn't be able to text her friends.

oh man! i would have forced her to for a reason like that lol!

 

[Nettio]

I love that we get to spend a lot of time with my family even though they're hundreds of miles away, but sometimes it's frustrating there's no time to do our own trips.

See this is one of the reasons we'd like to move closer to home because traveling at the holidays has been SO expensive with just the two of us - I can't even imagine if we had a larger family. By the time we pay for airfare, hotel and rental car, it's practically the cost of a real vacation, all so we can deal with ridiculous family drama. :cursing: I'd much rather spend that money going somewhere fun!

 

[carrie1977]

I just love to travel! We always seem to have a trip in the works. This summer we are taking our girls to California for 11 days. LA, Yosemite, San Fran and Carmel. I wasn't excited about their choice of CA but now that we've done research and planning I'm super excited to go.

You've picked some great spots! There isn't a whole lot to do in Carmel...but the drive to Monterey isn't too far. They have the aquarium, the 17 mile drive (which goes to Carmel), wharf. Hopefully you haven't planned too many days there.

 

[julifish]

You've picked some great spots! There isn't a whole lot to do in Carmel...but the drive to Monterey isn't too far. They have the aquarium, the 17 mile drive (which goes to Carmel), wharf. Hopefully you haven't planned too many days there.

Carrie - We actually have not booked our Carmel stay. We are going to drive down the coast from San Fran to LA. If you have ideas on places to stay or things to see I'd love some insight! We had just planned one night between to two cities so we can get out and explore along the way. We're going to book everything in the next week. Also, are you in any of the areas we are visiting? I'd love to meet up with other scrappers while we're out there! It's been so fun meeting people that are visiting Florida!

 

[julifish]

oh man! i would have forced her to for a reason like that lol!

Well, her being content and happy to be with us but still connected is what makes the vacation easier on all of us. I get it, she doesn't want to be away from her friends. She's good about not texting when we're doing things, but in the car or at night she's free to communicate with her friends (and boyfriend) as she wishes. I honestly feel the same way you do, but I've had to modify those feelings for my own sanity. It's give and take. I want her to enjoy the vacation just as much as we do. Fighting the whole time makes it unenjoyable for all 4 of us.

This also saved me from having to take them to Europe this summer - no cell service, sorry. Mom and Dad will just have to go without you next summer while you and your sister are at camp. LOL!

 

[nesser1981]

See this is one of the reasons we'd like to move closer to home because traveling at the holidays has been SO expensive with just the two of us - I can't even imagine if we had a larger family. By the time we pay for airfare, hotel and rental car, it's practically the cost of a real vacation, all so we can deal with ridiculous family drama. :cursing: I'd much rather spend that money going somewhere fun!

We never went home for the holidays when I was in the service. I told my family and Sean told his if they want to see us, then they can come to us. It was easier than traveling with a baby/toddler. In Alaska we never left except when we went to Hawaii.

We visited Michigan once at Christmas when I was pregnant with Keira, but Sean's parents paid for it, because they wanted us to come.

 

[KristinCB]

Well, her being content and happy to be with us but still connected is what makes the vacation easier on all of us. I get it, she doesn't want to be away from her friends. She's good about not texting when we're doing things, but in the car or at night she's free to communicate with her friends (and boyfriend) as she wishes. I honestly feel the same way you do, but I've had to modify those feelings for my own sanity. It's give and take. I want her to enjoy the vacation just as much as we do. Fighting the whole time makes it unenjoyable for all 4 of us.

This also saved me from having to take them to Europe this summer - no cell service, sorry. Mom and Dad will just have to go without you next summer while you and your sister are at camp. LOL!

oh i totally agree... with BOTH! LOL! I think the next road trip darcy and I take will hopefully just be us. I always felt bad thinking about going on a trip without them because i wanted the kids to experience everything too but I don't think they appreciate it as much and would probably have a better time with their grandparents LOL

 

[mariewilcox]

Well, her being content and happy to be with us but still connected is what makes the vacation easier on all of us. I get it, she doesn't want to be away from her friends. She's good about not texting when we're doing things, but in the car or at night she's free to communicate with her friends (and boyfriend) as she wishes. I honestly feel the same way you do, but I've had to modify those feelings for my own sanity. It's give and take. I want her to enjoy the vacation just as much as we do. Fighting the whole time makes it unenjoyable for all 4 of us.

This also saved me from having to take them to Europe this summer - no cell service, sorry. Mom and Dad will just have to go without you next summer while you and your sister are at camp. LOL!

I get it completely! I remember when I was 15 we took one of our cross country trips (for 2 months!) from Maine to San Diego where my cousins live/d (it was our 3rd such trip) and I absolutely didn't want to go. If there had been cell phones back then it would have made everyone's lives much more pleasant. I was a total biotch on that trip

 

[BrattyMeg]

I've been pretty fortunate to be able to travel a good bit these last few months (heading out this weekend again just north to the mountains for a few days)

I have a couple trips planned too that I can't wait for

Vegas with my guy looking at June

going to Disney in September for a few days

and

a NYC trip for later this year followed by a train ride to DC for a couple days after too

I love planning these things as much as taking the actual trip lol

 

[carrie1977]

Carrie - We actually have not booked our Carmel stay. We are going to drive down the coast from San Fran to LA. If you have ideas on places to stay or things to see I'd love some insight! We had just planned one night between to two cities so we can get out and explore along the way. We're going to book everything in the next week. Also, are you in any of the areas we are visiting? I'd love to meet up with other scrappers while we're out there! It's been so fun meeting people that are visiting Florida!

I'll do some thinking on that and let you know. Carmel is beautiful, don't get me wrong. There just isn't a lot to do there and it's VERY expensive. We drove from Anaheim to Carmel once (8 hour drive with a potty-training 3 year old...lol). It was a loooooong drive but worth the time. The coastal drive down Highway 1 is beautiful.

I'm in the Central Valley. If you were planning on driving down the Central Coast then you wouldn't pass me. I do have a few beach trips planned. I think one in April and one in June...can't remember exactly so if your trip fell in that timeline then we could work something out.

 

[Nettio]

Carrie - We actually have not booked our Carmel stay. We are going to drive down the coast from San Fran to LA. If you have ideas on places to stay or things to see I'd love some insight! We had just planned one night between to two cities so we can get out and explore along the way. We're going to book everything in the next week. Also, are you in any of the areas we are visiting? I'd love to meet up with other scrappers while we're out there! It's been so fun meeting people that are visiting Florida!

I'm with Carrie - I'd choose Monterey over Carmel. They're somewhat similar but Carmel always seems overly snooty to me where as Monterey is more touristy. Plus you're right by Pacific Grove which is really pretty too. My sister works at the aquarium there if you need ideas for what to do/eat in the area.

 

[carrie1977]

I'm with Carrie - I'd choose Monterey over Carmel. They're somewhat similar but Carmel always seems overly snooty to me where as Monterey is more touristy. Plus you're right by Pacific Grove which is really pretty too. My sister works at the aquarium there if you need ideas for what to do/eat in the area.

I think they are snooty, too.

Monterey also has a shopping outlet mall so the girls can go shopping. They used to have an indoor glow putt-putt place. Not sure if it is still there or not. It was in the same outlet mall.