I thought I would get off the machine beading thread with this traveling conversation. Yes, angels do walk this earth. We’ll see. I went to Disney in Florida with four kids and my adult cousin. But I felt very secure because we flew down and had a rented van waiting and I rented a house for us. It was my two granddaughters, a young male cousin and my granddaughters young female cousin. Each teen had their own room and the two youngest shared a room. Each adult had a room. It was a great experience. So I have started. That was last year in July. I loved the trip. One of my dreams came true. I would travel by car across the country with a few responsible adults with me though.
Rodezzy, Fiber Artist
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The trick is in the planning. I figured out roughly how far we could travel without becoming too tired, planned stops at attractions, historic stops, museums, and tourist information booths. I always had good maps and a plan B. I always asked people sitting near in restaurants where were the best places to go, esp the 35-65 set. The trip was planned with kids in mind, but we did stop in a few of my fav's too. The next time you travel somewhere to visit, play tourist. Get the feel for it. Even in your own city you can Travel. A lot of it is just becoming familiar with what to do. DH and I spent a whole weekend playing tourist in a town only 30 min. from home. It was wonderful. Never knew they had so much to do there. Cathy
Each Spring there is a promotion in our city, it is called "Be a Tourist on your own home town", lasts for about four days, tickets at a very reasonable price to go to all the highlights the tourists from out of town want to see (this part of Canada is a tourist destination all months of the year). It is a great idea, and you are right, sometimes you can live in a place and not bother to see all the attractions.
Last summer I took my visiting grandchildren to some local tourist attractions here and saw it all again through their eyes. There are several festivals here that I don't go to any more. I hope to schedule their next visit during at least one of those. I used to work as a volunteer for two of them. I'm out of the volunteering period of my life -- my choice -- but that doesn't lessen the fun that can be had....
My fav tourist trip in winter is watching the ice sculpures on the Rideau Canal during winterfest. And the Beavertails. Cathy
Edited 8/27/2008 7:01 am ET by ThreadKoe
Yes, planning is key. You really have some great suggestions. I'll give it some thought. And it is good to start in your own backyard. I'll have to do some research. This is a good thread, I've enjoyed reading all of the responses from everyone and their travels. I've seen some shows about that big garage sale. Would be fun to go.
I've always wanted to go to the World's Longest Garage Sale that spans, Kentucky, Tennessee, into Georgia and Mississippi. Something has come up every year so that I couldn't. Now with gasoline prices so high, I don't know how much I'd really enjoy it. TeeHeeHee...
My recently divorced friend wants to take a leisurely drive up through Arkansas sometime soon. I think this fall would be nice for that trip. We'll see.
My DH have done the Garage Sale for 3 out of the last 5 years. We start at Oak Ridge TN and head north. That way we are getting close to home when we finish after 3 days. Lots of junk but lots of good stuff. Very interesting and you meet lots of nice people. Unless you have done it, you can't imagine how many people have items out. Many places will have lots of vendors. Try it, it is fun!
TW
Is it just overwhelming? All the vendors? I think I would thoroughly enjoy it. We have an abundance of yard sales here, and it's the entertainment du jour every weekend.
It is not overwhelming if you don't try to do too much each day. For example, one year we drove from home (Indy) to Oak Ridge where we spent the first night. We didn't stop at all sales that day. The next night was spent in Somerset KY and the third night near Lexington KY. Home on the fourth day for total mileage of 950 from home to home. 127 goes through some beautiful scenery and neat towns. Be sure to take change and small currency.
TW
Please could you explain this further? IT sounds fantastic fun and I am a bit of a sale goer - as is hubby - could this be a basis for a holiday in the USA??
Jan -- here is a link to their website. http://www.127sale.com/I think it would be the perfect basis for a visit stateside if you like yard sales. It basically follows US Highway 127 except in Georgia and Alabama through some scenic countryside. In recent years there has been additional mileage added so that it is now over 600 miles long. I'm sure it has become commercialized with a proliferation of professional vendors, but from what I can discern, it still has a plethora of true yard sales. Since twreeder has actually been to it, I hope she joins in and tells us more of her experiences. It has always sounded like a lot of fun. That said, it is held in August, and the heat can be terrific in the southern US during that time. Was it unbearable tweeder?
Thanks for this link - bookmarked it to show hubby - possibly a basis for a trip next year??
Had a thought though - what would I do with all I bought, flying back to the UK - no good saying I wouldn't buy much - famous last words!
In one show I saw on TV about the sale, there was a group of women from California who drove over in an SUV. They shipped all their goodies back to California. They had planned to do that from the start because they knew they'd buy a lot. That sound like the only viable plan to me. Just think how much fun it'd be.
There was a lot of thought and planning in that trip. Wonderfully smart ladies!
Hiya!
I just thought I'd add that there is yet another road trip yard sale in Washington State (not Washington DC near New York, but Washington State on the same coast as California).
It's in June and is along a lovely rural highway near the mountains.
http://www.13milesofyardsales.com/
As for getting everything home, our post offices sell shipping supplies too. Surface mail mightn't be too much, unless you like cast iron things or furniture. I've shopped the UK and mailed my purchases home. You just have to keep the receipts for the items and for the postage to present at Customs upon your return.
It is fun to consider it, isn't it?
:) Mary
I have put a lot of stuff on the bus. As long as a parcel is under 75lbs they will ship it. Not that expensive either. My folks and I sent Christmas and Birthday packages 'cross Canada that way for years. Seldom any problems. Some of them were pretty darn big too! One year it was a rocking horse. Cathy
That sounds like an adventure. Would get me across country. Who's going? Would be a chance to meet you.
Heya Rodezzy!
Wouldn't that be a blast! I have the Washington yard sale trip tentatively planned for next June with hubby, but likely won't make the others. If gas is $5+, we may not go...
:) Mary
Well, June is a long way off for now. So let's see what happens. Maybe some others will want to go too.
That would sure be fun - the folks from Gatherings gathering! :) It would be a delight to meet you.
:) Mary
same here, it would be great!
If I knew how to put my e-mail address in so you could find it, I would write more on the 127. I need help! There is also a long sale on US 11. Have never done it but I think it sort of parallels I-81. It is in May.
TW
I sent you an PM. Looking forward to hearing from you.
If you go... be on the lookout for those wonderful handcrafted white oak baskets! I have collected several on our trips through Arkansas and highly recommend them, not only as decorative, but very useful.
M.A.
I can't seem to get started each day until after I visit Old Faithful to see how things are going there!
http://www.nps.gov/PWR/customcf/apps/stream/stream.htm?parkcode=yell (they stop this little video after a few minutes, but you just click the play button again and it will stay on) this is almost as good as being there! You can almost smell the pine trees.
http://www.nps.gov/archive/yell/oldfaithfulcam.htm this is the still camera version; if you look in the top left of the picture you will see the time of the next eruption (prediction, but usually pretty accurate give or take 10-15 min.)
Hi sewelegant: I brought your thread over here, I hope you don't mind. People looking for machine beading info will wonder what the heck is going on. Here we are chatting about everything but. Please don't be upset.
I will be checking those sites if I can. Thank you so very much for your response and for reaching out to me, helping me to experience this grand ole' land America!!!!
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