The number one question we have gotten thus far is…”where are you going?” We don’t have everything mapped perfectly, but this is the general plan. The blue circles indicate potential stops on the route, and are ordered from our start (1) to our finish (102). They aren’t really indicative of much else at this point (nights in a particular location, driving distances, etc.) but do follow the general path we plan to take. And yes, we are crossing the country 4 times! We are trying to accomplish three things:
- Visit the 48 contiguous United States
- Visit all of the National Parks
- NOT get the RV stuck in snow (this was Dan’s brilliant add!)
Goal 3, plus our general desire to experience the best weather possible, means crossing the country a few times. Not the most efficient route, but probably the most enjoyable.
As we travel and add blog posts, the interactive map on the homepage will start to update with our post locations so you can see where we are and how the final route shapes up.
And if you have ideas for us, please, please leave them in the comments section. We have already made trip alterations based on the great advice that is pouring in!
Acadia National Park is spectacular. The weather is constantly changing depending on what elevation and where you are on the Island. If you plan on going on a whale watching tour you need to purchase your tickets days in advance. Puffin tours are first thing in the morning and dress in layers. You must walk on the water, just kidding, the tide goes out and you can walk between the islands. It’s very cool. Make sure you purchase a National Park Stamp Pass Book for the girls and check out the usually free daily park activities for children. Do Not attempt to drive up Cadillac Mountain in the RV. The hike is treacherous maybe Uber or rent a car. It’s worth the ferry or to drive to Scoodic Island. Spectacular views and waves crashing on the rocks.
Thanks for the advice! I am so excited about Acadia – always wanted to visit. We are towing a little car for getting around towns and into tight places – sounds like that is required for Cadillac – or hiking. We love hiking so will probably go that route for anything under 5 miles (or whatever distance we can manage without wining from the kids!). Keep the suggestions coming!
Some favorites:
Covered Bridge route in NH/VT
Woodstock VT
Big Sky Montana (squeeze in if you can while in Yellowstone)
Glacier National Park
Grand Tetons…wonderful hiking!
Yosemite
Zion Natl Park…we did some canyoneering that was fantastic. Can hook you up with guide information if interested.
North Rim of Grand Canyon
Great Smoky Mtns (we just happen to be here!)
Thank you! Would love the name of the canyoneering guide. My mom rents a house in Big Sky in Jan – fun fact – my grandfather Edwin Homer developed Big Sky with Chet Huntley (contemporary of David Brinkley and Walter Cronkite). We are going to take an RV break in Jan to ski (or just enjoy more than 300 sq ft of living space :)).
Ummm…where is the Indy stop? Remember we are in the middle and on the way to a lot of places. 🙂
Ha!! I am not sure we can make Indy work…can you meet us at Dunes in late Sept? If not maybe we can work something out :).
How fun! We’d love to see you as your make your way down the east coast.
When is DC? And Bethany can just come here! Not a national park, but Mammoth Caves In KY is amazing and totally worth it! Also loved Acadia and will find the name of a crazy beach in Maine.
Stay tuned. I’m so excited for your adventures!!!
DC probably Octoberish…. will firm up by end of summer as we get the hang of our route planning!
Muir-n-Slagers… Great name! haha 😉
There are the standards….
– I’ve had amazing experiences hiking canyons in Grand Tetons… kinda obvious choice. Up at mirror lake I played with a marmot. And Devil’s Tower (hours east) is a really cool, really quick visit.
– Also out west, and it looks like it might be on your trip already, is Craters of the moon park in southern Idaho. You can see real, live volcanoes (small) and also walk into ancient lava tubes (luckily now empty) and touch ice in the pitch black dark even though it is 100F on the surface cooled lava flows.
– As you cross southern Idaho, look north and notice specs of building that are surrounded by security… I spent many months at the INEL learning nuclear power in the Navy.
– I think they have ‘kinda big hills’ and ‘holes’ all over the west. And Killer Whales at stop 28 (must see). Maybe some beaches?
But then there is the midwest…. specifically Wisconsin.
– I’m guessing stop 39.5 is the Harley-Davidson Museum in Milwaukee. Don’t forget the amazing architecture of the MKE art museum. And go to the Safe House (shhhh) for a fun dinner if you have biker gangs chasing you. If you go, I will send you the code.
– Here is a not-so-common recommendation for somewhere near stops 37-41, in the northwoods. Find a bog and go for a walk, they are pretty unique. There are many of them, due to the giant glacier ice cubes that melted there ages ago, and often they are state parks. You’ll see venus fly-traps and pitcher plants eating insects…and when you hop, the “ground” around you emanates waves (because actually you are walking on floating vegetation). Near there you might see the marmot’s cousins, otters and beavers (though they prefer flowing water). And, if you are lucky like I was, you’ll see a bald eagle swoop out of the mist. Kinda geeky, but very interesting to me.
– If you don’t get a chance there, find a place to see bald eagles… like on the cliffs of the northern Mississippi. Beautiful.
– If you don’t end up on Cape Cod later in your trip, then I recommend you check out the better alternatives of Door County in Wisconsin, or the western shores of Michigan (super cute towns, amazing sand dunes, beautiful lakes). A Friday night fish fry by the fire will convince you that cheeseheads are the friendliest Americans. And we don’t have fish trying to eat you like on Cape Cod. You know, they call Cape Cod the Door County of the east. 😉
– So you can appreciate the extremes of architecture in the USA, go to Spring Green, WI. First, check out the House on the Rock (all the best the Dells has to offer), and then check out Taliesin (Frank Lloyd Wright’s place). Just 10-mins from each other.
– Horicon marsh in Sep-Oct will allow you to see tens of thousands of geese (literally). You won’t see (or hear) geese at that scale anywhere else. And the geese pass through in May, heading north, too.
– Manitowoc has an amazing submarine museum. I would know.
– Out west, they put on steam-punk goggles and burn effigies to listen to music in the sand. But Milwaukee’s Summerfest (around July 4th) is the largest music festival in the world (really) and is perfect for you Harley-types that love Johnsonville brats and Milwaukee beer by the lake.
– Don’t forget the Apostle Islands.
– and Dan probably already knows you are required to stop at the Mars Cheese Castle to buy a packer-helmet-shaped cheddar as you get ready to leave Wisconsin and head into Chicago.
Have a great trip! We are inspired by you!
Dan, as always we love our geeky friend :). And the friend that originally coined “Muir-N-Slager!” We probably owe you some kind of royalty.
Great suggestions – thinking we may need a second year added to the tour in order to make all your fun stops! Love the bog idea. Definitely planning to hit all Ntl parks so should make Tetons, Crater, etc. I can’t promise a cheese head stop – if we add that to the list then I may be forced to stop at Wal Drug (no idea what that is or if I am spelling correctly) and a large ball of twine. Ummm, I think I will take a 2nd, 3rd day at Zion or some other spectacular natural wonder instead. Sorry buddy.