Dream come true- advice?

[pocomom]

Well, dh and I have decided to go ahead and have a trip we've been thinking about for some time. I homeschool and I'm taking the kids across the country for 6-8 weeks and we leave in one month! Wondering if anyone has some good resources to recommend? We'll be staying mostly at walmarts and cheaper campgrounds until South Dakota which will be our first major stop- we would like to stay a week at a home base around there. By then we'll need full hookups. Anyone know anywhere nice around Rapid City area or other South Dakota landmarks? Then on to Yellowstone , after that we'll wander down through Arches, Bryce canyon and Zion to the Grand Canyon and back home the southern route hitting the Smokeys. Mamouth and Shenadoah before returning home to NE PA.

 

[ChrisinNJ]

No advice, but I will be looking for the responses and to your post trip update as we would like to do a similar trip next year from NJ. Ours would need to be shorter though (probably 3 weeks) so we would not see as many sites.

 

[Running_Bell]

Try http://www.rv.net/forum/ and go down to the Locations area of the forum... there is a lot of helpful travel advice for all over the country. Sounds like fun.

 

[Wests4Disney]

I took my kids on a US trip for 3 months about 5 years ago. For South Dakota, we stayed in the Custer/Mount Rushmore KOA. We had joined Passport America where we received up to 50% off the listed price at select campgrounds. The KOA was not one of them that was covered, but since we were in a tent trailer, we tried to do a KOA for the showers and laundry at various locations.

 

[Wests4Disney]

While in the area, we went to Mount Rushmore (morning and night visit), it is different, Crazy Horse monument, Reptile Gardens, Bear Country USAl, Reptile Gardens, Trout Haven, 1880 Train, Presidents' Alpine Slides. Sitting Bull Crystal Caverns, Wind Cave National Park, Rushmore Cave

The most memorable things for the kids after the trip was the Alpine Slides, Reptile Gardens, and feeding the cubs at Bear Country USA. We went on a bus tour that included Crazy horse, reptile gardens, bear country and lunch.

they also enjoyed the train and fishing (the ranch cleans the fish and all you have to do is cook it), I enjoyed that part, since I am a mom that was willing to drive across the US without my spouse, but I am not willing to clean fish and then cook it. We went on a bit longer trip than yours, so we stayed for several days in each location, South dakota was I believe 4 or 5 days.

 

[Born 2 Fish]

A nice long vacation like that sounds like the fishing trip of a lifetime to me !
Just think of all the different kinds of swimmers ya'll can catch and teach the young'ns about clean'n and eat'n bone in fish and being responsible with catch and release

All the other stuff ya'll see an do on the vaca will just be a bonus,

 

[CamperMomma]

We had reservations here last year: http://www.rafterj.com/ Has WONDERFUL reviews on tripadvisor. Sadly had to cancel the trip, so no first had experience.

 

[pocomom]

Organizational ideas:Ok, we'll we've got hard plans now! Ressies and everything, thought I would post updates from time to time here. In case anyone is thinking of doing a similar trip . So here we are about three weeks from departure. We've brought the rv home from the storage place to start packing. We have a 32 ft, coachman freelander bunkhouse. Love the model for our family because the kids each have a dedicated sleeping space that fits their stuff, but in the past the kids just kind of throw their things in their bunks and I find clutter and such much more bothersome in such a tiny space. So here's some solutions -first on my last trip I got them all matching bedding. Much easier to look at then their crazy collections of blankets and teddy bears ( which they still have just under the comforters ) second I took an over the door shoe organizer and cut it across in strips of four pockets which I then used industrial strength Velcro to attach to their bunk walls. Now they have pockets for their phones/iPads/ cameras/ and in the case of my little ones all those little toys like Matchbox cars , and animal figures. Loved it so much I gave the kids all an extra strip and made some for my dh and i's bedroom for our electronics/ chargers . Ours is a nicer fabric one but for the kids I used ones with clear pockets so they could see what is inside. Then I took blackout curtains with noise reduction and attached them to the top off their bunks with Velcro so they now have a door for their " rooms" I am the queen of cheating on these projects so I just measured out pre made curtains and turned them sideways and they worked great, no cutting or sewing! . Hoping it will keep the dogs out of the little one's bunk, give them all some privacy when siblings are getting on their nerves, and help them sleep. And again it will help everything look neat, when they are using them of course Tomorrow I am making magnetic hooks out of some super strong magnets, attach a felt back so they don't scratch the rv, glue to hooks and use for keys etc ... I also took a metal tray and added grippy shelf liner to the bottom and i am adding magnets to the bottom of the kids pencil cup etc, so it will all stay in the tray and it will stay put and organized for the things they need for school work etc. yay for no more pencils, crayons and erasers flying all over the rv! love to hear any other organizational ideas you have tried!

 

[amylevan]

Just wanted to remind you that a lot of Yellowstone closes the end of September, looking at your timeline I didn't want you to be caught unexpected.

And I love your organization ideas. I hear you on clutter in small places!!! Have you thought of putting a hole through their metal trays so that they can hang on a hook when not in use? And depending on what school supplies you need, I'd be tempted to hang some folders or such on the wall so that they could keep their papers/notebooks organized.

 

[pednurse]

Have fun! We did something similar last year---hit 9 national parks & all but 4 states west of Indiana in 4 weeks. We had an awesome trip! I second the Mt Rushmore KOA. It was an unplanned stop for us (we received major hail damage while at Mt. Rushmore, requiring an overnight stop to do some repairs) but we greatly enjoyed the KOA---very nice with fun things to do for the kids. If you're going to stay at some KOAs on the trip, it would definitely be worth getting a membership for the discounts. Depending on the ages of your kids, something to keep in mind while you're at the national parks is having them participate in the Junior Ranger programs. Really neat learning experiences & they can earn patches and/or Jr Ranger pins. Each park's program is different with various requirements, but if you stop at any of the park ranger stations in the parks & ask, they will explain that park's program to you.

 

[pocomom]

Just wanted to remind you that a lot of Yellowstone closes the end of September, looking at your timeline I didn't want you to be caught unexpected.

And I love your organization ideas. I hear you on clutter in small places!!! Have you thought of putting a hole through their metal trays so that they can hang on a hook when not in use? And depending on what school supplies you need, I'd be tempted to hang some folders or such on the wall so that they could keep their papers/notebooks organized.

Great idea on hanging the tray ... Maybe I can figure something out for hooking it under the table.... Funny how when you rv/boat etc you start looking at empty space under tables as such a waste I did get a magazine organizer things for against the wall under the table for their workbooks, and papers. One for each kid.
Adding to today's plan, I'm measuring for building a platform to cover the stairs, great spot for one of our two dogs to hunker down during the driving portion, and at night. Been trying to convince the "little" one to curl up under the table, but she is convinced we are in constant danger. Hopefully by the end of this trip she will settle down!

 

[pocomom]

Just wanted to remind you that a lot of Yellowstone closes the end of September, looking at your timeline I didn't want you to be caught unexpected.

And I love your organization ideas. I hear you on clutter in small places!!! Have you thought of putting a hole through their metal trays so that they can hang on a hook when not in use? And depending on what school supplies you need, I'd be tempted to hang some folders or such on the wall so that they could keep their papers/notebooks organized.

Oh and thanks for the tip about Yellowstone, we'll just about be closing them down, but should be heading down south before it becomes an issue!

 

[pocomom]

Have fun! We did something similar last year---hit 9 national parks & all but 4 states west of Indiana in 4 weeks. We had an awesome trip! I second the Mt Rushmore KOA. It was an unplanned stop for us (we received major hail damage while at Mt. Rushmore, requiring an overnight stop to do some repairs) but we greatly enjoyed the KOA---very nice with fun things to do for the kids. If you're going to stay at some KOAs on the trip, it would definitely be worth getting a membership for the discounts. Depending on the ages of your kids, something to keep in mind while you're at the national parks is having them participate in the Junior Ranger programs. Really neat learning experiences & they can earn patches and/or Jr Ranger pins. Each park's program is different with various requirements, but if you stop at any of the park ranger stations in the parks & ask, they will explain that park's program to you.

Yes we loved the junior ranger program in the Rocky Mountain National Park, thanks for the reminder,

 

[pocomom]

While in the area, we went to Mount Rushmore (morning and night visit), it is different, Crazy Horse monument, Reptile Gardens, Bear Country USAl, Reptile Gardens, Trout Haven, 1880 Train, Presidents' Alpine Slides. Sitting Bull Crystal Caverns, Wind Cave National Park, Rushmore Cave

The most memorable things for the kids after the trip was the Alpine Slides, Reptile Gardens, and feeding the cubs at Bear Country USA. We went on a bus tour that included Crazy horse, reptile gardens, bear country and lunch.

they also enjoyed the train and fishing (the ranch cleans the fish and all you have to do is cook it), I enjoyed that part, since I am a mom that was willing to drive across the US without my spouse, but I am not willing to clean fish and then cook it. We went on a bit longer trip than yours, so we stayed for several days in each location, South dakota was I believe 4 or 5 days.

Well actually have a long time in South Dakota, as my dh will fly to meet us for a week there, so your list is really handy! Well have a rental car in that area too (not towing) so we'll have an easier time getting around to everything.