Travel plans

[rootofnewt]

Plans for this spring/summer . . .

We're finally using the resort/timeshare week Tom's parents gave us for our honeymoon (hey, it's only been a bit over a decade). We wanted someplace within driving distance and near a national park, which gives us . . . . Gatlinburg. We figure that we can deal with the traffic and have a decent close base to Smokey Mountains NP. That will be a Saturday-Saturday week in the last half of May. I can't remember quite when. I have to get Whiskey up to NJ before we drive south. MiL is dogsitting (we don't know if FiL knows this yet). Thank god the resort has a heated pool, two whirlpools, and a sauna. I'll need them after two full days' driving.

My family reunion is on 12 June in Mississippi this year. We're thinking of going out 9-16 June (Wed-wed) and spending most of that time camping between here and there. We'll probably have Whiskey for that, though we have to figure out something to do with him during the reunion itself. I asked my mom if he could stay with their dog in their motorhome (different "rooms"), but she was confused by the proposition. We can't afford to board him for a week, though, so not sure what we'll do. Maybe there's a good place to board him in Tupelo. Maybe I can find a doggie daycare open on Saturday. He'd like that.

Other than that, we have no firm plans. We'll spend a week in NJ at the end of March. Probably another in July, depending on when his folks go on vacation. Tom's semester starts in late August.

Comments

[schmoomom.livejournal.com]

If you can make it up to Maine, you're more than welcome. With dog :-).

[krasota.livejournal.com]

Sadly, the manbeast only has a couple weeks vacation and I can't do any long trip with urchin alone. :/ I'd love to visit Maine again--maybe another year!

[donnastarr.livejournal.com]

the Smoky Mountains are beautiful. I've made many many trips to the area over the years. Lots and lots of hiking possibilities, but also plenty of touristy stuff if weather's inclement. I've never been , but I know there's a nice aquarium there. there's a place over in Pigeon Forge, which is just a few miles from Gatlinburg, which is kinda touristy but I think Ronan would enjoy it. It's called the Mine, and they've got a water slue (?) and you buy what looks like a bag of dirt, but you get some screens and sift through the dirt, in which is hidden different rough gemstones. I've done this both as a child and as adult and it's fun, especially if you're wanting something vaguely nature-y to do but still wanna sit down. Feel free to pick my brain when it's closer to time if you want.

[krasota.livejournal.com]

Pigeon Forge & Gatlinburg were my dad's favorite vacation spots when I was a kid/teen. I've done a lot of stuff in the area. We're hikers, so we're looking forward to the NP. I don't think Ronan has the attention span for The Mine just yet.

Maybe you can tell me how bad traffic is in recent times, though. If the weather's crappy, I was thinking of hitting a museum & zoo in Knoxville, which googlemaps claims is about an hour away.