Spring is in the air!!! The flowers are blooming, and the worms are crawling out of the ground!!!!<P>So here we go.....<P>Summer break is right around the corner. <P>You have to get away!! Some good *family* bonding time is in order. So let's all share our plans for a *family road trip*<P>You have seven days to hop in the minivan. You, your Husband and your kiddios.<P>What's your destination?<P>What do you get to see along the way?<P>How do you keep the little ones happy campers on the road?<P>Where do you stay?<P>What do you eat?<P>How do you sneak away for a little *alone time* with that of so comitted man of yours?<P>No rules to follow. You can list things you will be doing or have done, or just your fantasy road trip!!!<P>Finger Crossed<BR>(who can't wait to hear all of your great ideas!!!)<P>

What a great idea, Fingers Crossed.<P>I have to think about it and get back to you.<BR>I can only hope this "road trip" goes better than<BR>our last one to Niagra Falls, when we had two sick <BR>kids in the backseat...<P>Thanks for the distraction!

Wow! What a cool idea...Ill have to put some thought in it<P>You know all of you who have come to support us are wonderful. I am going to have to much fun between this and the recipes!<P>thanks<P>bw

Just bringing this up again. We haven't been on any road trips, and will be moving soon where they will be more frequent so I could use some ideas of how to have the kids pass the time!

Can I talk about ones I USED to go on? I don't get to go on any now that my husband has moved to Florida with the slug... <P>Oops ... sorry - this is s'posed to be a 'HAPPY' THREAD!!!!<P>I think I might have to stick to recipes instead!<P>------------------<BR>terri<BR><B>Courage</B><P>Whatever course you decide upon,<BR>there is always someone to tell you<BR>that you are wrong.<P>There are always difficulties arising<BR>which tempt you to believe that your <BR>critics are right.<P>To map out a course of action <BR>and follow it to an end <BR>requires courage.<P><I>Ralph Waldo Emerson</I>

We went on a wonderful trip (even though one of our kids came down with Chicken Pox there!) to Disney World when I was pregnant with our 5th child . The best part was the leisurely drive home, where we stopped a a couple of farms, one in the Shenadoah Valley. It was on that trip that I really realized how wonderful it is to spend time as a family. It was probably the best 17 days of my life.

A road trip?? Hmmmm...<P>We went to Sea World and the Cleveland Zoo in 98. 6 HOURS with 3 boys in the backseat asking if we were "there yet" and fighting! LOL LOL<P>Me and the boys are going on our own road trips this summer. We've already been to DC to the Smithsonian. We're planning on going to the National Zoo in DC, Virginia Beach and who knows where else. I plan on being driven completely insane and plling my hair out but having lots of fun!!<P>Mitzi

LOL...does it have to be a road trip?<P>We took a two-week trip around the southern US last August with a 9-month-old and a greyhound in our SUV....and I thought it was tough surviving an affair! <P>Seriously, if we were to hop in the trusty vehicle right now we would probably go to Gettysburg, PA. H and I would look at the battlefield and monuments, our son would climb on a cannon, and the dog would lie in the shade and pant!<P>Where would YOU go, Fingers?<P>All the best.<BR>--HBC

Where would we go? Undoubtedly to some lake, where my H could enjoy his favorite hobby, fishing. He LIVES for fishing. We always have a good time, him with his pole in the water, me propped up reading my newest book, sunflower seeds and Diet Pepsi. <P>The problem arises when he hollers,,"HON, would you look at that fish,,it's HUGE!!",,pointing excited in the water. <BR>I look over the edge of the boat, seeing water and NOTHING else. <BR>He says "Babe, do you see it,,right THERE, just follow my finger, I'm pointing right at it." I see nothing but water. "HON, come on. Concentrate, you can't miss it, it's so big." <BR> Eventually, getting crosseyed by now cause I STILL can't see this fish, I give up and say "Ohhhh yeahhhhh, wowwww, that is big Honey. Why don't you try to get that one!" <P>....and go back to reading my book!

WELL WE WENT TO THE ZOO IN DC AND TO THE PARK.<BR>AND NEXT WEEK WE MIGHT GO TO LARAY CAVERNS IN WEST VIRGINIA.<BR>

I have to still get to this one up to the top!

Try Pfeifer State Park. It's up near Big Sur. It's absolutely gorgeous! Mountains, creeks, and ocean...all within walking distance.

Ensenada in the Spring is a LOT of fun! There's this place called La Bufadora that I absolutely love. I've been going there ever since I was a little girl. I went down there last spring with my family. Do you know, my dad still asks, as soon as we drive into the city, if I want to go there. The answer is always YES!

<B>HI there all you fantastic people</B><P>We are buying a motor cycle and are planning on going on several road trips. Providing my bottom doesn't get to sore. <P>Naturally we will be taking in as many of hubby's mountain bike races and camping for weekends. <P>Planning our annual "Up North" family vacation second week in July. We're in Michigan if you wondered. It's beautiful up there and the "Cherry Fesitval" is going on at that time. Best Cherry Pies you have ever tasted. Fireworks too. <P>I'll add some more of our activities that are planned later.<P>Hugs to one and all,<P>------------------<BR><B>God bless you and all of us. We are all going to make it, all of us! With God on our side we can't lose! What God has joined together let no man put asunder. <P>Samantha</B><p>[This message has been edited by A blessed Samantha (edited April 24, 2001).]

<B>How To Do 4100 Miles in 11 Days on Less Than 500 Bucks Per Couple</B><P>1. Own a paid-for camper, with an extended cab 3/4 ton pickup truck.<P>2. Have a H who invites friends to go without asking if you mind, first.<P>3. Each couple puts 500 bucks in a Baggie for expenses. The total of $1000 will pay for fuel, campground fees, groceries.<P>4. Prepare and freeze food ahead of time for the trip so you won't have to cook the whole time.<P>5. Be prepared to trudge across campgrounds to use the bathroom (at least for any serious business!) due to the lack of privacy.<P>6. Be prepared to go to bed before you are ready if the weather is bad, the other H wants to go to sleep at 8 pm, and the living room of the camper is his bedroom.<P>Yep, we made the whole trip up through N. Dakota, Wyoming, down through Yellowstone and back through Kansas and we had change left out of that $1000 we put into the Baggie.<P>In spite of the lack of privacy, absolutely no "alone" time, and having to ride in the back seat with my knees up to my chin, we did have a wonderful time. Our friends are easy to get along with, so that was good. H only got mad at his buddy once on the whole trip. H got mad at all of us for wanting to smoke in the kitchen one bad, windy night, even though we turned the ventahood on, opened the roof ventilator, and opened the windows in the kitchen.<BR>Leave it to H, huh? <BR>LC

Doin' my part to help ya'll...<P>Up, up, up!! <P>I never had any fun road trips!! Now THAT'S sad!! But I like this thread...<P>Keep it goin'

Sending this up. .....<P>L.