2010 Vacation Planning … Need Your Input!

For years now I have wanted to take a cross country road trip. Hubby and I traveled frequently until this past year when we got the pooch. Now hubby still travels but I did not travel much at all last year. We did not take a vacation last year.

When we went to the in-laws at Thanksgiving, Max went to a kennel. He’s not unfamiliar with the place, he’s stayed there overnight before and he goes two days a week to puppy day care at the same facility so the people are familiar to him. Max does have all his shots and had kennel cough up his nose, yet he still got sick after a week there, and lost weight he does not have to lose to boot! (Hmmm maybe I should spend a few weeks there?)

Sooooo I think we may finally do that cross country road trip in early summer. We told Sonny-boy if he does not find a summer job he’s coming with us, and he foiled my evil plan when he reacted positively to the idea! This may really end up being a family road trip, although I’m going to … er, he’s going to try his darnedest to get a summer job instead.

Now, I’ve been all over the east coast, basically everything east of the Mississippi River. I’ve also been all over the west coast (including Alaska and Hawaii). Where I have not been is the area in-between. The fly-over zone as it were. And in my case that is an honest definition because I have flown over the area many times.

Sonny-boy has been to all 48 continental states, he’s missing Alaska and Hawaii. I’m encouraging him to look for a summer job as a tour guide in Alaska this summer. Anyone know of any openings?

Hubby is a hit or miss kinda guy. I’m not exactly sure what states he’s never been to, but he definitely has not been to ND, SD and NE. I’ll have to quiz him on this, but I think is other missing states are in the New England area.

So I was thinking about taking this road trip on the I-90 to head west. With a little finagling, I think we could hit all the northern states I’ve never been to, or at the very least the northern states hubby has not been to.

Since we would be driving, we would have internet. Hubby and I could take turns driving (and so could Sonny-boy if he came along), and get some work done when the other person is at the wheel. There are a lot of pet friendly hotels now (more than I ever knew!) I have to look into what sites allow pets and which do not (otherwise we’ll be doing the ole drive by and woudjyalookatthat).

That is the background. Now here’s are my questions that I need a lot of input on:

Anyone here ever done anything like this? What route did you take? Are there any points to hit? Anyone frequently this blog live in any of those northern states? What are “must see” sites, especially the not so famous ones? When we travel west we’ll end up in Salt Lake for a week, then travel down to Las Vegas for 3-4 days. The ride back is completely open. Which way would you recommend? Which sites are “do not miss as they are NOT over-hyped”?

Also, what is the prettiest, most scenic ride? Two years ago hubby and I drove from Salt Lake to Boise and O-M-G that 5.5 hour drive seemed like it lasted three days. Except for the occasional coyote carcass there was little to see. Conversely, the very next week we drove across NYS through the Adirondacks, across Vermont and into New Hampshire and that 11 hour drive seemed like, well, 5.5 hours. It is some beautiful scenery and it made the drive go very fast. Are-we-there-yet ended up being Wow-we-are-there-already!

So, I have a month or two to plan this but I’m sure hotels will fill up fast. I know the Marriott has dog walkers available and do not prohibit leaving your pet if you go out for a few hours. Any other tips for pet travel (specifically a small dog)?

Any help or input if greatly appreciated. If you feel more comfortable doing so, please email me with your suggestions, tips and ideas.

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