OMG Crazy Trip planning for family of 7!! Need help!!!

[lsumommaof4]

Hi everyone! We are a family of 7. We are possibly (hopefully, all fingers crossed) planning a major trip with our family. Background: I am a stay at home mom (I love disney), my husband is taking his sabbatical next summer. We have decided (we are parents to five kids) to do a major expedition (ok that's my take). My plan is to leave our home (Baton Rouge, LA), drive in our vehicle to Dallas, TX. Rent a RV then do a major road trip to Vancouver, Canada. Okay, full disclosure we are not actually sleeping in the RV. We plan to do HOTELS, and not sleep in the RV. The RV is to enable our kids not to be cramped and (more) moody during this major expedition. My plan is to leave dallas first stop Amarillo, Tx. My husband wants to show the kids the Big Texan place. Not sure why. Next stop, Albuerque, New Mexico. Next Grand Canyon (movie Vacation is popping in my head), then two nights in Vegas, then Mammoth Lakes, Ca (my husband is a Starwood Member so we are trying to use his starwood points as much as possible). Then, San Francisco (again more starwood points), then just to break up the trip so the kids don't cause riots we plan to stay in Klamath, Ca. then to Portland, OR (again using starwood points). Then we have to wake up pretty early to drive to Seattle, Wa to drop off RV at rental place, rent a car, then drive to Vancouver and stay two nights in Vancouver then drop off rental car at Vancouver Canal Place AND take a Disney Cruise to Alaska. Then either take a flight from Vancouver or Seattle to Dallas. OMG I'm crazy!! Any and all input or knowledge is desired!! TIA!! And if anyone has any MUST SEES in our road trip above please let me know! This is overwhelming!!

 

[Flossbolna]

In the Disneyland section of the boards there is a Californian and the West subforum. You might want to post there as well to get more input about the areas you are travelling through. Hope you will have a great trip!

 

[Disneyteachers]

I thought my plan for Alaska was involved (Seattle, Vancouver, cruise, Vancouver, DL in Anaheim, CA then home.)

 

[KristiMc]

Wow - what a great trip. We did the Alaskan cruise in June and it was amazing. If you have any questions about the cruise part - ask away.

 

[jdb in AZ]

Have you checked how much it will cost to rent a car in Seattle and drive it across the border? Some companies don't even allow you to drop off the car like that. It may be simpler to take the train.

 

[KristiMc]

We did 2 one-way rentals with Alamo. There was no drop off fee and they have a location at Canada Place. For our family of 4 it was cheaper to do the rentals than to ride the train and we got to work on our time schedule.

 

[Mrs Green]

I love your idea OP!!! I would do that in a heartbeat if we had the time off needed to accomplish all that! Couple things...why not sleep in the RV some nights especially near the Grand Canyon? Will you be trying to drive the RV into cities like San Francisco? Will that be difficult for y'all or are you familiar with driving such a large vehicle? Will parking the RV at Starwood hotels be an issue? I am not very familiar with RV driving but my dad was a truck driver so I tend to think about these logistical issues.

 

[Fuzzywuzzy]

Can I come?

 

[ahain]

I echo the idea of sleeping in the RV, but I don't know of too many motor homes that can "comfortably" sleep 7 - even if a few of them are half-sized.
Be certain you are realistic about gas/diesel mileage and costs....depending on the size of your RV, you are probably looking at 7-12 mpg (we have a 37' diesel, and we get 7-9 mpg). In our area (Michigan), diesel is much more expensive than gas, too. Also, be certain you/DH are familiar with the logistics of the motor home - how to navigate turns without taking out whatever is next to you; how the electric/converter works; how the toilet/sewage/water system works; how to drive in the mountains to minimize risk of engine overheating; you might want to a checklist of things to check before you take off from an overnight/rest stop (i.e....levelers up? awning in? antenna down? slider in?all inside doors/cabinets shut & locked?; electrical cable/sewer hose disconnected and stowed?, etc.) ....think of the movie "RV" which pretty much shows you many of the things that can go wrong.

 

[DahliaRW]

You may be better off renting a full size van over an RV to drive around. The RV is going to get terrible gas mileage and be a pain to park just about anywhere in a city (and drive as well). Sounds like a fun trip, though!

 

[turtle27]

If you could, drop south a bit and head to Tombstone, AZ, then head up to Grand Canyon. Also, while in Amarillo, see Texas!, it's cute. Oh, in Flagstaff, AZ, there is a restaurant where the waiters and waitresses sing, it is fun. Enjoy your trip!

 

[lsumommaof4]

Thanks everyone! We are not sleeping in the RV. We want to spend any time in a city seeing things not setting up an RV. Also, we plan to rent through Cruise America and they said we would get a 30 minute demo when we pick it up.
The parking I did think of. My plan is to call the hotel in San Francisco and Portland to make sure there is parking for it (or down the street or where). The other places shouldn't be an issue.

And I have a extra long SUV that fits eight but we wanted to be able to let the kids spread out some and go to the bathroom. My husband hates making stops it's like he's in an imaginary race with someone else! And having an area they can eat will save time too.

 

[gumbypee]

sounds interesting, but why stop in Albuquerque NM? I live here and hate the place. What do you plan on doing here? I lived in Houston for nine years and would much rather spend time in Houston, Dallas, or San Antonio.

just curious

 

[jtba]

Thanks everyone! We are not sleeping in the RV. We want to spend any time in a city seeing things not setting up an RV. Also, we plan to rent through Cruise America and they said we would get a 30 minute demo when we pick it up.
The parking I did think of. My plan is to call the hotel in San Francisco and Portland to make sure there is parking for it (or down the street or where). The other places shouldn't be an issue.

And I have a extra long SUV that fits eight but we wanted to be able to let the kids spread out some and go to the bathroom. My husband hates making stops it's like he's in an imaginary race with someone else! And having an area they can eat will save time too.

parking within the city of San Francisco can be a premium so many hotels charge exorbitant fees for parking. if you really want the RV you might consider staying at a place outside of San Francisco, say, near the airport (which is about 20 minutes south of the city, though some of those hotels charge for parking too!).

good luck... i really hope you write a trip report of your adventures along the way!

 

[lsumommaof4]

Albuquerque has starwood hotels. Also, one of my daughters' love is Alex Bregman and he's from there. We love our LSU baseball! Geaux tigers! Also, that is a city on the way using starwood points (free) for us.
We plan on staying at the hotel in San Francisco near Alcatrez. We want to show the kids this. So, like I said, I will have to contact the hotel to see where we can store the RV for the night. Thanks again to everyone! Y'all are awesome!!

And, living in Baton Rouge we live so close to Houston (in perspective 4 1/2 hours away we don't have any desire to stay there). Our kids have never gone to Dallas, but many times to Houston.

 

[gumbypee]

Dallas has many things to do - Medieval Times (total cheese but fun), Six Flags (I think), all the history behind JFK assassination, sports stadiums to visit

have fun whatever you choose!

 

[TxT365]

Just a suggestion...in Canyon Texas (Just south of Amarillo) is Palo Duro Canyon. Each summer they do an amazing play in the amphitheater there called "Texas". If you plan on staying in that area, I highly recommend seeing it. Also, Palo Duro is the 2nd largest canyon in the country....behind, a slightly more famous one further west. Here's a link for you: http://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/palo-duro-canyon

I was born and raised in Lubbock and only got to see it once when I was about 20, but it made a lasting impression on me.

 

[Sytrace]

I can be your nanny. Sounds like an amazing trip!!!

 

[Plaid Princess]

San Francisco (again more starwood points).

My only tidbit here, is make sure if you are planning to visit Alcatraz Island, that you book your tickets as early as possible as this always sells out. Oh, and be sure to check out the Disney Family museum! Also... Carmel Pizza. It's a tiny place (basically a semi-permanent food truck) near Fishermans Warf, but SUPER yummy.

Then to Portland, OR (again using starwood points).

This is my hometown! Be sure to take the kids to the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI)... it's a really cool, hands-on museum with a retired submarine, and Imax theater as well. Not to be missed! Powell's City of Books, is also excellent, as well as the Food Carts. And Isabel Pearl... amazing breakfast burritos and rice bowls! Also, when you're in the Pacific Northwest, be sure to try Dutch Bros. Coffee; this is the largest privately owned coffee company in the US, and it blows Starbucks (and their over-roasted beans) out of the water! Don't look for stores though, in true Pacific Northwest style, they have drive-thru kiosks only! If you're looking for a quick bite, Burgerville is our local "fast food" chain... but it has delicious seasonal veggies and smoothies made with locally grown everything. Local cheese and dairy products too. Try Tillamook cheddar for the best Cheddar Cheese in the US; made in Tillamook Oregon. Basically, just show up to Portland hungry! Oh, and the Woodburn Outlets (no sales tax in Oregon!), and any Nike outlet within an hour of Portland has an awesome selection (Nike's headquarters is in nearby Beaverton).