Planning A Big Family Driving Vacation...Again

We are trying to plan another big, family driving vacation for this summer.  This time, we're hoping to actually get to go on the vacation (last time was interrupted by a family tragedy, and no one wants to have to go through that again, thank you). 

This has kind of come together on the fly.  My planning is a little all over the place at the moment -- completely not me, as I am much more of a type A plan-a-holic about this sort of thing.

The plan is a sort of cross-country jaunt, punctuated in between by working weeks for Mr. ReddHedd at various offices along the way.  It came about because he had to be out of town for meetings in various places while we are off for our all-too-short summer break, and we decided that we'd like to actually see him for more than 2 or 3 days at a stretch, thank you very much...and thus, the driving idea was born.

Our plan is to go from here to New Orleans for a couple of days, to ride the street cars and see some glorious old mansions and live oaks, and perhaps listen to a little live jazz as well, if we can find a place or two that will allow The Peanut to jam along with us.

From there, we'll head over to Houston on the coastal road of I-10, and stay for a week.

Then across Texas to the Alamo, then Carlsbad Caverns, then over to Tucson, then Phoenix, Arizona to see family for a several days stay.

Then, we'll drive up through the Rockies and over them, taking in the glorious mountains and perhaps a little Mesa Verde as well, then over to Denver for a week's stay there.  Then, we'll head back over across the plains to home.

Thus far, I've managed a lodge reservation at the Grand Canyon, and I'm pretty proud of myself for finding space at this late date.  Yay!

Beyond that, though, there is a lot of planning ahead.

Planning A Trip Back To Normal

As of the last week or so, life has finally begun to feel "normal" again.

Whatever "normal" means in the wake of a major breast cancer scare and the associated surgery, chemo and radiation frenzy that follows, anyway.

Mr. ReddHedd says he knew we had turned a corner when I was willing to not only talk about a vacation, but then actually begin to plan one for our family that included making real reservations and everything.  Who knew that planning something more than a week in the future could be so daunting?

When the breast cancer diagnosis happened, he tried to get me to think about some vacation of some sort, so we would have something to look forward to on the horizon past the exhaustive slog of treatment.  But I could not do it.

I just could not allow myself to think about this in terms of "future me" when I was so caught up in the "me that is surviving today and trying to inch forward to tomorrow."  So scary and limiting, and completely unlike the me of before who loved to plan and think and dream about future fun.

Cancer treatment tended to shorten my horizon window a bit, because the hour to hour changes that occur -- especially during chemo -- didn't allow for a lot of future planning.   "Risk averse" doesn't begin to describe it.

Sunset on Hilton Head Island

Our last day of vacation truly was magical.  The Peanut and I got up for a sunrise walk and saw some dolphins out frolicking in the surf:  a momma and her young one trying to catch a little fish and having a lot of fun while doing so.  The Peanut was spellbound, as was I, as we scurried along the beach trying to keep up with them.

It was gorgeous and I have plenty of pictures to share with everyone once I get time to get everything re-sized for the blog.

Great Blue Heron

As you probably guessed, we took a little trip just after Christmas.  It was a desperately needed and well-earned vacation, and we enjoyed every minute of it.

But we got back the afternoon before classes began again for The Peanut, and we had to hit the ground running from the moment we pulled into the driveway.

Alas, because I've been so crazy busy since we got home, this poor little blog has suffered for it.

Allow me to make up for it a little bit with a couple of pictures.

There will be many, many more to come in the days ahead not that I've finally gotten a chance to upload them this morning -- but these two were taken in a kind of serendipitous, magical moment that I wanted to share first.

During our trip to Hilton Head, SC, we spent part of a morning hiking through the Sea Pines Forest Preserve.  If you ever find yourself on Hilton Head Island and have an hour or two to view some spectacular scenery and enjoy the heck out of life, this is a wonderful way to do it.

We visited the preserve our last day on the island, and it was one of the best days of our entire vacation.  We had such a blast.

Be Our Guest

If I had it to do all over again, I might have tried be an Imagineer at Walt Disney World.

How fun is this? To be able to create something that brings so much joy to people who love a particular movie? That would be such a blast.

Turtle Time At The South Carolina Aquarium

While we were in Charleston, SC, we spent two days exploring their aquarium.  One of The Peanut's favorite things was getting to spend some time up close with the sea turtle in their big aquarium.

She absolutely loves sea turtles, and was thrilled that we could make a donation to the South Carolina Aquarium's sea turtle rescue program.

The above shot was taken on our first visit, while The Peanut and I were standing next to their big tank window gazing at all the fish and sharks.  The sea turtle decided to come down and swim around right in front of us -- serious fun! -- while The Peanut just stood there staring at her completely mesmerized.

Here's a closer view of the sea turtle -- she cooperated and came in even closer while I was snapping a few pictures:

Bon Voyage?

Next year will be our 20th wedding anniversary.  (I know.  Where did the time go?!?)

In anticipation of this, Mr. ReddHedd asked if I'd like to celebrate our anniversary by taking an extended trip to Paris, France, a city I have always wanted to visit but have never quite gotten to as yet.

Crazy to have been to Moscow in the Soviet days, but never haven gotten to Paris yet, but there you are.

My mother's day gift this year was a Rosetta Stone course on French to brush up my rusty college skills and so everyone else in the family could learn at least how to ask for the restroom and directions if lost.

Thus far, I've wasted away a number of hours browsing rental apartments in Paris and am having a blast just taking a little mental vacation here and there by dreaming about an apartment with a lovely view of Notre Dame or a terrace that peeks out at the city lights...but magically fits within our budget and also has some air conditioning, since we plan on going in the summer once The Peanut is out of school.

This is proving a little more complicated than I initially hoped.  But I will persevere, gazing longingly at luxury apartment rental listings and then moving on to more realistic ones that may or may not have all the amenities a soon-to-be-10-year-old girlie might want as well.

If anyone has some travel experience to share about Paris or a month-long vacation apartment rental, I would love to hear your advice!  Especially if there are rental agencies and/or neighborhoods you think we should avoid like the plague -- or ones that were so wonderful you would recommend them highly.

Whatever we end up doing, just the early planning stages alone have been really, really fun. Nothing like a little mental vacation to give you a much needed break, even if you've only travelled as far as your desktop computer with a cuppa French Roast and a day-old croissant.

Bits And Pieces From A Busy Librarian

It's been a busy couple of days, and I have neglected the blog shamefully.  Mea culpa, gang.

Wednesday was a teaching day, and it was a hot, sweaty sprint from start to finish.  If anyone has some tips on dealing with kids who have a serious case of "summer-itis," I'd love to hear them.  My management skills are being tested and, since it is my first year, I'm a little worried that I'm not doing everything I can to succeed.  I'd love suggestions on what worked for you in the past in terms of classroom management as the term comes to a close.

Thursday, I drove a couple of hours south of here to Charleston, WV, because Scholastic was having a huge book warehouse sale.  They had books marked down from 25%, 50% even a "scratch and dent" shelf where really great books with something like a crease in the cover or a tiny tear were selling for $1 or $2 each.

I managed to pick up 46 books -- some hard backed, some classics, several nature/science/animal, lots of beloved series, and a few new picture books for story time -- for less than $130.  Woo hoo!

Slowly but surely, our little library collection is growing and older, battered books are being replaced with newer copies.  It certainly takes a while, doesn't it?

It's Friday! It's Dolphins Up Close!

While we were on vacation in Florida, we took a day away from the Disney parks and spent an entire day at Sea World.  For The Peanut, whose greatest ambition in life at the moment is to be a marine biologist and/or dolphin trainer (depending on the day you ask her and how recently she's seen Dolphin Tale), it was the greatest day EVER.

We booked a behind-the-scenes up close with dolphins tour before we left.  But we didn't tell her about it until we were on the way to Sea World.  And she had no idea about the up close tour until we lined up for it to begin.

Surprises are so awesome, aren't they?

Making A Splash

For a while now, The Peanut has been semi-obsessed with all things ocean.  But especially dolphins.

After seeing Dolphin Tale twice now, the love of dolphins has ratcheted up to a full bore obsession, and she is now discussing a desire to become a marine biologist on a daily basis.  We've spent time researching everything there is to know about dolphins on various science websites, in library books, and magazines.  We've watched countless documentaries on netflix the last couple of weeks.

It's fun to learn new things.  And it is even more fun, as a parent, to watch your child love to learn something like this.

Last night, as we were cuddled together watching a documentary after dinner, I was thinking that life is really, really sweet for us at the moment.   Just had to share my momma smile this morning.

Planning A Disney Vacation

There is nothing more fun for me than planning for a vacation.  Truly, I get way too excited about digging out new and fun restaurant choices, activities and trivia galore for each and every vacation we ever take.

Securing a dinner reservation in advance at a great restaurant makes me happy.  Ditto for putting together an agenda schedule that we can print off and try and follow.

I'm weird that way.

Walt Disney World happens to be one of those places we have visited, off and on, since our honeymoon in the summer of 1993.  It is our happy place -- always has been.  Something about turning yourself back into a 7 year old kid that just makes us giggle.

And when you add in being able to see it through the eyes of The Peanut?  Pure bliss.

We haven't been there in a while because we've had a bit of a rocky road with losses in the family and other obligations.  At this point, after the roller coaster of the last few years, we are exhausted and emotionally worn out, and desperate for a goofy, purely for fun trip -- so we are beginning to plan for another Disney vacation -- hopefully in January of 2012, which is the first space available on our calendars or we'd already be on our way.

A trip to Disney World takes a LOT of planning.  It is huge, there is a LOT to see and do, and failing to plan means that you'll end up standing in long lines in the heat and not having a whole lot of fun.  That's just the truth of it.

But if you plan a little bit?  It can make a world of difference as experience taught us.

Dreaming Of Sea Pines Forest Preserve On Hilton Head Island

I had a vivid dream last night, about one of my favorite places:  Hilton Head Island in South Carolina.

It has been a few years since we've had time to get down there for a vacation.  Too many losses over too little time in our family of late, and not nearly enough space on the ends of everything for actual vacating in the truest sense of the word.

Our last trip there, Mr. ReddHedd had the flu and Mother Nature conspired to keep us indoors for a lot of the trip by stirring up serious windstorms that made the beach miserable with blowing sand being thrown in your face constantly, and cold, driving rain pelting you otherwise.

But The Peanut and I managed to find some lovely shells and take a few walks anyway, and even fit in some dolphin watching.  And I have a beautiful lettered olive shell, that we found at low tide the morning we were leaving from our trip, on my computer desk as a reminder of our fun.

For some reason, the marshes and beaches of Hilton Head Island call to some internal voice in me -- the confluence of water, waves and wildlife, I suppose, which the island has in abundance.

When we have visited in the past, we've gone during the "off" season, in winter or very early spring usually when the summer crowds have long disappeared and the beaches are quiet because it is well into sweatshirts and gloves weather.  Perfect for a woman who turns into a lobster instantaneously even with a heavy dip into the sunscreen, and also perfect for someone who loves quiet and solitude.

Which is why I've been dreaming of the island, I think.  Some internal drive for a wee bit of peace and quiet.

Waaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh

As long-time readers know, we have been planning a big family driving vacation to national parks -- Mt. Rushmore, Yellowstone, Grand Teton, and Dinosaur National Monument -- and also assorted Laura Ingalls Wilder spots as well.

Alas, that trip is no longer happening this year.

sniffle loudly here

I just spent the last 20 minutes or so canceling all of our reservations.  Boy, that was painful.  It honestly made me physically ache to make those calls, that's how much fun I was having with the vacation planning for this trip.

But it cannot be helped, because canceling this is the right thing to do. 

After we lost our sister-in-law Amy unexpectedly last fall, Mr. ReddHedd and I decided that we needed to spend summer vacation with family instead of driving hither, thither and yon.  Which makes total sense for all of us, and is emotionally the right thing to do for all three of us this year, no question whatsoever.

But hear me now, Universe:  I am saving my ginormous notebook filled with trip research, activity pages, scientific information and assorted other trip goodies.

Exploring The Wonders In Our Own Back Yard

I have a goal for my family in the coming weeks and months:  this year, we will explore the wonders in our own back yard a little more, and learn to appreciate nature and quiet pleasures.

Because vacations and down time cannot always be about spending scads of money on a huge trip to some distant place, now can it?

And nature?  That can be enjoyed pretty much any time, anywhere, for not very much moolah where we live in WV.  That's a valuable lesson to teach The Peanut.

Plus, it's far more relaxing on so many levels to just enjoy a nice walk in the country not too far from home than it is to have to drive or fly forever to rush to a destination, only to have to rush right back home again after another long, stress-filled, tiring drive or flight. 

I could use a little more of the former this year, frankly, after the insanity of the last year or so in our family.

So, I have started compiling a list of a few things we can do within a few hours drive of our house.  And, lo and behold, it's not only fun-filled, but it is also pretty substantial.  Near us, we have several state parks with some lovely trail areas, a national forest area, a really cool mountain ecosystem area that is packed with unique flora and fauna, lots of "rails to trails" hiking opportunities, and lots, lots more for us to do within a very easy drive of our house.

Carlsbad Caverns Questions

Wow, there seem to be a lot of different options if you visit Carlsbad Caverns in terms of what to see. 

Anyone have opinions on the various self-guided tour entrances -- the Big Room route versus the Natural Entrance route?  Or the King's Palace guided tour, which seems the most likely one of the guided tours that we could do with an 8 year old who doesn't like getting dirty in tow?

Also, has anyone been to either White Sands or Guadalupe Mountains National Parks?   Both are fairly close to Carlsbad, and look like they'd make for some fun exploring.

While I'm at it:  Grand Canyon and Petrified Forest are must do's for us at some point, most likely on the next trip out to AZ.  Thoughts on those as well would be great. 

Especially if you have thoughts on any surrounding attractions, ruins, natural wonders, fossil sites (The Peanut says thanks in advance for hints on those!) or best pie in the universe diner recommendations.  Locals always know the scoop on that sort of thing -- and I've been known to detour for some really good pie or ice cream.

Things We Won't Be Doing At A National Park

Let's just put this on our list of "Things We Won't Try To Do While On Our National Parks Family Vacation," shall we?

Pretty sure this may be photoshopped, but we still won't be doing this.

Darwin in action, boys and girls.

Speaking of the national parks family driving vacation:  we may be changing our trip around a bit due to our family's recent loss. 

I've started planning an alternate route for us that would take us closer to Arizona so we can plan in family time with folks out there -- but still give us a driving vacation to see some national parks and other lovely things.  We're talking heading west from West Virginia, allowing for a stop or two in Missouri, Kansas (gotta get a little Laura Ingalls Wilder into the mix, right?), then into Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico and Arizona...and maybe a little of California.  Or thereabouts -- am just beginning to research the possibilities this morning.

If anyone has done Carlsbad Caverns, Grand Canyon and/or any other treasures along the southern/western route that they want to share, chime in, please.  I'm in the early planning stages and would love to hear suggestions about things to see between WV and AZ (and maybe Disneyland in CA, too, if we can manage it).

Bits And Pieces

It's been a busy weekend, so I thought I'd share some things I've found intriguing or fun lately:

-- This sesame noodles recipe is at once really simple, and incredibly yummy looking.  So much so that I want to have it for breakfast because I'm not certain that I can wait until later to try it.  (Found this via the NYTimes' Reader Recipe contest.)

-- Through the same NYTimes recipe contest, I found a new (to me!) food blog that I really like:  Opera Girl Cooks.  Huzzah -- it has clean eating recipes that are full of veggies and whole foods. 

-- Speaking of clean eating, I just finished reading Tosca Reno's new book and there was information in there that was incredibly helpful and encouraging.  Especially for someone who is on the front end of her weight loss and fitness journey (and still trying to figure out who she wants to be when she grows up, frankly, if we're being totally honest).  It's comprehensive, dealing not just with eating and exercise, but also the mental changes needed to sustain a healthier lifestyle and the support you need to give yourself to find the courage to take the steps to get healthy.  Well done book and well worth a read: Your Best Body Now: Look and Feel Fabulous at Any Age the Eat-Clean Way.

-- The high temperature average for Yellowstone in June?  68.5 F.  The low average?  36.6.  We'll be packing lots of layers.  LOTS of layers, because sometimes they still get a blizzard in June.  It's going to be such a great trip.

Grand Teton

Next summer, between our four nights at Yellowstone and time at Dinosaur National Monument, we are planning a nice drive through Grand Teton National Park.

Frankly, it is on the way between the two, so driving through it was inevitable.

But the scenery looks so gorgeous, we are looking forward to the lengthy drive.  Plus, we are hoping to stop for a picnic and some short hikes along the way if the weather and our energy levels cooperate.

I've been doing quite a bit of reading about all the parks, trying to wrap my brain around what other reservations we may need in advance.  Things book up so quickly that you can't afford to just wait until the last minute with these parks, it seems.

All the photos of Grand Teton are just gorgeous, but information on it is a little more scanty -- it is like the bastard stepchild of Yellowstone, even though there are so many things to do there.

Thankfully, the national park website is chock full of basic information.

Plus, I found a guidebook that has some incredibly useful information about hiking trails, vacation planning, and all sorts of other bits and pieces about Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons that ranks trails and other activities by how strenuous they are and the time it takes to do them. It's called Outdoor Family Guide to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks.

Lots Of Surprises

One of the coolest things I've discovered about Yellowstone in my research thus far?  There are native pelicans there.

You don't really think of pelicans as an inland bird, and yet there they are. 

I booked a couple of touring excursions for us while we are there -- they apparently fill up really quickly, too, and I wanted to be sure we got these.  One is a driving/walking tour of the Firehole Basin -- we'll get to see all the geysers, hot terraces, and bubbling mud pits one family could possibly dream of on this, and do so with someone who has a working knowledge of geology which is evenbetter.

The second is one I booked for myself at Mr. ReddHedd's urging:  it's a way-too-early in the morning photography "safari," which they try to keep to small numbers with an instructor who goes along to help you improve. 

Between now and then, the plan is that I'll have gotten myself a decent DSLR camera and worked on taking photos with it.  Am still looking at pros and cons of several models, but am having lots of fun with it at the moment without even having gotten a camera.

If anyone has suggestions, pros or cons, about a camera for a beginner who wants to do some nature photos, perhaps a few landscapes, maybe some decent macros, and just plain have some creative fun along the way?  Please let me know.

But today?  I have to run over to the Steptoe & Johnson old office building and spend several hours inventorying furniture that is being donated to St. Mary's (The Peanut's elementary school). 

For All The "Little House" Fans Out There

During this initial bout of long driving trip vacation planning, I've bought a few guidebooks and informational bits and pieces ("a few?!?" Mr. ReddHedd would say, were he here...).

One of the most fun arrived today in the mail, and I'm so excited that I had to share.

I ordered a book called The Little House Cookbook: Frontier Foods from Laura Ingalls Wilder's Classic Stories.

My nerdy, little girl Little House obsession overfloweth.

Ostensibly, this was purchased because I thought it might make things more real for The Peanut if we baked and cooked a few items throughout the year from the Little House books as we were reading them.  Having some context for pioneer life would be educational, too, I thought.

After receiving the book in the mail?

I realized that I really bought it for my own inner child.  Any enjoyment my own child gets out of this will just be a huge added bonus, because I unwrapped the packaging and squealed with glee.

Oooooh, I love trip planning.