Spring 2009
The great Mother/Daughter Road Trip of 2009 to celebrate daughter’s upcoming college graduation (December ‘09). Starting from her home in Nashville, Tenn., we headed across North Carolina and then up the east coast as far as southern Maine, where we ate lobster at an oceanside cafe, had a bull moose cross the road in front of us, and took pictures of a lighthouse. Other highlights included the big cities of the east: Washington DC, Philadelphia, New York, and Boston. Endless stories will come forth from this trip.
Fall 2008
I had a conference to attend in Minneapolis, and I’d never been to North Dakota before. Since the two states border each other, I figured this was as good a time as any to visit ND. After spending a day at South Dakota’s Fort Sisseton, we enjoyed the drive through North Dakota’s Sheyenne River Valley. We especially liked Fort Ransom. The theme of this trip was “Lost,” as I became lost more times than I wish to remember. In fact, the only state we went to without becoming lost was Kansas, and it wasn’t even on our route. I had two friends along, one of whom needed to ride in the front seat to prevent carsickness. She, of course, confessed that she wasn’t handy with maps. She was right.
Summer 2008
When Hubby asked where I wanted to go for our ‘08 vacation, I knew the answer immediately — The Great Lakes. We drove nearly due north and made it to the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area for the first night. Tip: even if you have a motel reservation, confirm it before they sell your room to another person — and never go to the Twin Cities during the annual car festival. That is, unless you wish to sleep in yours.
Summer 2007
Hubby & I went on our first “empty nest” trip and traveled just over 5400 miles in nine days. Traced portions of the Oregon Trail through Kansas and Nebraska, then headed up to the Black Hills of South Dakota before driving across Wyoming to Grand Tetons and Yellowstone National Parks. Rode horses in Montana, clipped a portion of southeastern Idaho, then headed through Utah down to I-70. Spent a day at Arches National Park before crossing Colorado, angling through Kansas into Oklahoma, and then arriving home in central Arkansas.
Summer 2005
Traveled with daughter & two of her friends on a church mission trip. Spent a few days in San Antonio en route to the Rio Grande Valley and Rio Bravo, Mexico. Following a brief encounter with Hurricane Emily, we spent a short time at South Padre Island on the return trip.
Spring 2003
Drove to Galveston, Texas, where we boarded a Carnival ship to Cozumel and the Yucatan Peninsula. Took the kids, who were 13 & 15 at the time.
Trip Highlights: Riding horseback through Mayan ruins on Cozumel and visited Xcaret. I would highly recommend a day trip to Xcaret for anyone planning to visit the Cancun area.
After disembarking at Galveston, we dropped the kids off for a visit with their biodad & stepmom, who live in New Mexico. When their stepmom asked my son if we could meet up with them in Amarillo, he said, “Sure. We’re going to be in Texas anyway.” Six hundred and fifty-one miles later . . .
