Road trip vacation

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

1. I didn't say you did, I said people the don't love road trips use that stuff as an excuse. "Those are the reasons that people that don't enjoy road trips use to justify their actions". Since you said you love road trips then I obviously wasn't talking about you, was I?

2. I also said that if time didn't allow I flew there. (Same thing you basically said)

3. I have never visited WDW without a car. If I didn't drive I rented one, even the one time that I bought a Disney 7 day package. I still rented a car and I used it because I would go insane staying onsite for a whole week when there is so much more to see outside the gates. If fact, in all my travels with two exceptions I didn't have a car, one was when I attended the wedding of a Nephew in Toronto ( We took a train from Montreal and my inlaws picked us up) and the other was about 6 years ago when I made a trip to Europe. There I took a plane (or two) to Paris, a train to Disneyland Paris, a plane to Venice, a train to Rome, another train to Pompeii, numerous subways in both Paris and Rome to see the sights, a train to The Port of Rome in Civitavecchia where We boarded the cruise ship Celebrity Silhouette to Livorno, Italy, Toulan, France, Barcelona, Spain, Mallorca, Spain and Tenerife, Spain before heading across the Atlantic to Fort Lauderdale. In Fort Lauderdale we went on a wait for the flight home to Raleigh, NC excursion on an Airboat in the Everglades. Not one single car there and it was terrific because the second best form of transportation are trains, especially European trains and then one sees the countryside from a quiet comfortable seat looking out the window.

Try not to take things so personally when things are said on a discussion board. Most people use a single quote to interject their own opinion and not to necessarily debunk yours. In fact we seem to have said exactly the same thing in different ways.

My comment you initially quoted was vacation time (as in the time you would have during your vacation for your vacation) with how much time off someone would have. To me they aren't excuses or rationales at all. They are practical reasons and I take them for face value that someone isn't just outright saying they don't want to road trip. We may be saying similar things (which I do agree largely) but I guess I wouldn't say someone who prefers not to fly is just making up excuses or rationales for why they don't want to fly. There's def. hassles involved there.

We don't visit WDW (although we also go to USO) without a car either, rental car for the win! We converted one of our DISer friends. Once he got a rental car despite staying onsite it was game over for him, although he moved there so that's a moot point but still. We rented a car as well in Hawaii but we also stayed in residential area of Hawaii not touristy area.

Your Europe trip sounds similar to what my husband is thinking about for next year although boy that seemed like a lot of action for you. Our Europe cruise this year is in the Mediterranean and it's not easy getting there plus Venice hates cruise ships now (understandable) and of course our cruise starts in Venice. One potential option for next year would start in Norway and take a scenic tour to fjords and a train down to..I forget where now where we'd pick up the cruise with Cunard and do a few stops in northern Europe ending in Southampton. We know we want to do northern Europe but my husband didn't end up liking the itinerary of the Seabourn cruise I really liked admittedly it wasn't as fjord-focused as he would have liked. A new company owned by MSC is Explora but with only one ship right now northern Europe options were slim. The other trip for next year we pretty much are set on is Japan and that one will be a lot more train-based there as we want to tour the country and a few days for Tokyo DL/Tokyo DisneySea.

 

[Frwinkley]

We took a road trip last summer. We drove from Denver to South Dakota and then onto Yellowstone and the Tetons before heading to Estes Park and then back to Denver. I know we drove over 2,000 miles, but I don’t have the exact number in front of me.

I like road trips; however, I’d rather fly just to save time. We are from PA and did save time by flying to Denver. I don’t have the patience to drive across the country.

We are planning on flying to San Francisco and taking a two-week road trip through CA in 2024.

We did something similar. Also from PA. We flew into Denver, drove to Moab Utah and did all 5 Utah national parks. Drove over 2200 miles.

I like starting a roadtrip first by flying somewhere!

I'd love to hear more about the trip you mentioned. How many days did you spend in each place? What time of year did you travel?

 

[goofyernmost]

My comment you initially quoted was vacation time (as in the time you would have during your vacation for your vacation) with how much time off someone would have. To me they aren't excuses or rationales at all. They are practical reasons and I take them for face value that someone isn't just outright saying they don't want to road trip. We may be saying similar things (which I do agree largely) but I guess I wouldn't say someone who prefers not to fly is just making up excuses or rationales for why they don't want to fly. There's def. hassles involved there.

We don't visit WDW (although we also go to USO) without a car either, rental car for the win! We converted one of our DISer friends. Once he got a rental car despite staying onsite it was game over for him, although he moved there so that's a moot point but still. We rented a car as well in Hawaii but we also stayed in residential area of Hawaii not touristy area.

Your Europe trip sounds similar to what my husband is thinking about for next year although boy that seemed like a lot of action for you. Our Europe cruise this year is in the Mediterranean and it's not easy getting there plus Venice hates cruise ships now (understandable) and of course our cruise starts in Venice. One potential option for next year would start in Norway and take a scenic tour to fjords and a train down to..I forget where now where we'd pick up the cruise with Cunard and do a few stops in northern Europe ending in Southampton. We know we want to do northern Europe but my husband didn't end up liking the itinerary of the Seabourn cruise I really liked admittedly it wasn't as fjord-focused as he would have liked. A new company owned by MSC is Explora but with only one ship right now northern Europe options were slim. The other trip for next year we pretty much are set on is Japan and that one will be a lot more train-based there as we want to tour the country and a few days for Tokyo DL/Tokyo DisneySea.

The trip to Europe was a self planned happening. We only did the one cruise and that was basically a two week trans-Atlantic cruise (also called a repositioning cruise). Every step of the way the flights, the train trips, the rented apartments in Paris and Rome. The touring itinerary wasn't done by anyone else but us. It wasn't part of a established tour, we just were winging it all the way. The ports of call during the cruise home were not chosen by us, it was just part of the repositioning cruise and our transportation back from Europe. It was detail planned by us months before we ever went, in fact, close to a year of planning, making reservations, paying in advance for a lot of it. Buying tickets on line to places like the Louvre, Eiffel Tower, Coliseum, The Sistine Chapel, Disneyland Paris and the cruise, of course, as well as our airfare, many train tickets (Euro passes, actually) It was, however, one of the greatest experiences of my life. Good timing as well, because less then a year after we returned I started to have spine issues and probably would never have been able to do that again. It's a lot of walking, a lot of walking!

 

[Travel60]

We did a week long road trip with friends in 2021 from Portland, OR, up Columbia River, down to Bend then Crater Lake. Then down to California to see the trees. Great fun.

Did 2022 road trip with same friends ..
Baltimore, MD to Lake George, NY, then across Vermont and New Hampshire to Mount Washington. Then to Bar Harbor, ME and Acadia NP. Finally down the Hudson to Hyde Park, NY.

Currently early planning for road/train in western Canada...Lake Louise...Rocky Mountain RR.

 

[Moliphino]

I never said I don't understand why people fly vs drive. I said I don't understand why people fly vs drive, then come to the Dis and everywhere else and complain about everything about flying. You then decided to argue with me and justify things that have nothing to do with anything I've posted. It would be better if you replied to people and address what they say rather than address what they don't say. So, what are your thoughts of deciding to fly, then rant and rave about everything that pertains to flying?

Are you also annoyed if people choose to drive and then complain about driving? Because there's plenty to complain about there, too (like how there is no good way to get through CT/NY from MA - 84, 95, and the Merritt Parkway are all hell on earth with traffic at all times of day every day).

 

[MIGrandma]

We love road trips. Have done many to Florida, also the Smoky Mountain. Leaving March 4th for another Smoky Mountain trip. Then in September we are planning a two week road trip with our camper to Duluth, Minnesota. We’ve talked about doing the Route 66 trip, that would be a lot of fun.

 

[disneyseniors]

We love road trips. Have done many to Florida, also the Smoky Mountain. Leaving March 4th for another Smoky Mountain trip. Then in September we are planning a two week road trip with our camper to Duluth, Minnesota. We’ve talked about doing the Route 66 trip, that would be a lot of fun.

You will love Duluth. There is so much to see and do there! We live in N. Mn. and the North Shore of Lake Superior is one of our favorite places to visit. It is absolutely beautiful on the scenic drive up the N. shore from Duluth. YOu will have a great time There is a maritime museum at the harbor in Duluth which is interesting. They have a layout of all the over 300 ship wrecks in the lake and other interesting things.

 

[disny_luvr]

We did something similar. Also from PA. We flew into Denver, drove to Moab Utah and did all 5 Utah national parks. Drove over 2200 miles.

I like starting a roadtrip first by flying somewhere!

I'd love to hear more about the trip you mentioned. How many days did you spend in each place? What time of year did you travel?

Hi!

We also want to visit the 5 Utah national parks. We were actually between that trip and the trip we ended up taking this past summer. Hopefully we'll make it to Utah in the next few years.

Here is how our trip out west went. We went last June/July and were there for two weeks.
Day 1: Flew to Denver
Day 2: Colorado Springs - Garden of the Gods; Rockies game at night
Day 3: Drove to Rapid City; stopped at Scottsbluff National Monument in Nebraska; Mount Rushmore at night
Day 4: Mount Rushmore; Custer State Park and Needles Highway
Day 5: Badlands National Park
Day 6: Drove to Cody (We did laundry and went to bed early!)
Day 7: Yellowstone National Park - stayed at Canyon Lodge
Day 8: Yellowstone National Park - stayed at Old Faithful Inn
Day 9: Yellowstone National Park - stayed at Old Faithful Inn (this was 4th of July)
Day 10: Finished Yellowstone National Park and drove through Grand Teton National Park to Jackson
Day 11: Whitewater rafting; Grand Teton National Park
Day 12: Grand Teton National Park
Day 13: Drove to Estes Park
Day 14: Rocky Mountain National Park
Day 15: Drove to Denver and flew home

It was such a fun trip! We loved every minute of it, but were exhausted when we got home, but that's okay! We had a great time and made many great memories.

Let me know if you have any other questions!

 

[MIGrandma]

You will love Duluth. There is so much to see and do there! We live in N. Mn. and the North Shore of Lake Superior is one of our favorite places to visit. It is absolutely beautiful on the scenic drive up the N. shore from Duluth. YOu will have a great time There is a maritime museum at the harbor in Duluth which is interesting. They have a layout of all the over 300 ship wrecks in the lake and other interesting things.

DH has been wanting to go there for years, so this year is the plan. He loves seeing the freighters. We camp in Sault Ste. Marie and the freighters go by close up. We plan to take the ferry from Ludington over to Wisconsin and drive up with the camper. I love doing research for our trips, it’s about time to get busy on this one.

 

[Frwinkley]

Hi!

We also want to visit the 5 Utah national parks. We were actually between that trip and the trip we ended up taking this past summer. Hopefully we'll make it to Utah in the next few years.

Here is how our trip out west went. We went last June/July and were there for two weeks.
Day 1: Flew to Denver
Day 2: Colorado Springs - Garden of the Gods; Rockies game at night
Day 3: Drove to Rapid City; stopped at Scottsbluff National Monument in Nebraska; Mount Rushmore at night
Day 4: Mount Rushmore; Custer State Park and Needles Highway
Day 5: Badlands National Park
Day 6: Drove to Cody (We did laundry and went to bed early!)
Day 7: Yellowstone National Park - stayed at Canyon Lodge
Day 8: Yellowstone National Park - stayed at Old Faithful Inn
Day 9: Yellowstone National Park - stayed at Old Faithful Inn (this was 4th of July)
Day 10: Finished Yellowstone National Park and drove through Grand Teton National Park to Jackson
Day 11: Whitewater rafting; Grand Teton National Park
Day 12: Grand Teton National Park
Day 13: Drove to Estes Park
Day 14: Rocky Mountain National Park
Day 15: Drove to Denver and flew home

It was such a fun trip! We loved every minute of it, but were exhausted when we got home, but that's okay! We had a great time and made many great memories.

Let me know if you have any other questions!

Thank you for taking the time to answer! I like the laundry part! We never check luggage...always find a place to do laundry.

We actually did Colorado Springs and Estes as part of another trip where we started in Denver. We saw a concert at Red Rocks and then spent about a week in the Telluride/Durango area. We did the train ride from Durango to Silverton. Beautiful!

Denver is such a great starting point because from the Pittsburgh area, you can get out there on a nonstop flight.

 

[disny_luvr]

Thank you for taking the time to answer! I like the laundry part! We never check luggage...always find a place to do laundry.

We actually did Colorado Springs and Estes as part of another trip where we started in Denver. We saw a concert at Red Rocks and then spent about a week in the Telluride/Durango area. We did the train ride from Durango to Silverton. Beautiful!

Denver is such a great starting point because from the Pittsburgh area, you can get out there on a nonstop flight.

We absolutely loved Colorado! We need to go back! We drove past Red Rocks and were hoping to go see it, but there was a concert that night and they were already parking cars. One day I'd love to see a concert there.

We live in Hershey and fly from Baltimore. We like to fly from there to Orlando because they have several non-stops a day, and they also fly three non-stops to Denver each day, too.

By the way, we love Pittsburgh. My sons toured the University of Pitt in October and it is at the top of their list. I might be visiting Pittsburgh a lot more in my future.

 

[Frwinkley]

We absolutely loved Colorado! We need to go back! We drove past Red Rocks and were hoping to go see it, but there was a concert that night and they were already parking cars. One day I'd love to see a concert there.

We live in Hershey and fly from Baltimore. We like to fly from there to Orlando because they have several non-stops a day, and they also fly three non-stops to Denver each day, too.

By the way, we love Pittsburgh. My sons toured the University of Pitt in October and it is at the top of their list. I might be visiting Pittsburgh a lot more in my future.

My daughter graduated from Pitt in 2015 and had a wonderful experience. I’d be happy to help should you have any questions.

Happy college planning!

 

[Breck]

Hi!

We also want to visit the 5 Utah national parks. We were actually between that trip and the trip we ended up taking this past summer. Hopefully we'll make it to Utah in the next few years.

Here is how our trip out west went. We went last June/July and were there for two weeks.
Day 1: Flew to Denver
Day 2: Colorado Springs - Garden of the Gods; Rockies game at night
Day 3: Drove to Rapid City; stopped at Scottsbluff National Monument in Nebraska; Mount Rushmore at night
Day 4: Mount Rushmore; Custer State Park and Needles Highway
Day 5: Badlands National Park
Day 6: Drove to Cody (We did laundry and went to bed early!)
Day 7: Yellowstone National Park - stayed at Canyon Lodge
Day 8: Yellowstone National Park - stayed at Old Faithful Inn
Day 9: Yellowstone National Park - stayed at Old Faithful Inn (this was 4th of July)
Day 10: Finished Yellowstone National Park and drove through Grand Teton National Park to Jackson
Day 11: Whitewater rafting; Grand Teton National Park
Day 12: Grand Teton National Park
Day 13: Drove to Estes Park
Day 14: Rocky Mountain National Park
Day 15: Drove to Denver and flew home

It was such a fun trip! We loved every minute of it, but were exhausted when we got home, but that's okay! We had a great time and made many great memories.

Let me know if you have any other questions!

What company did you use for the white water rafting? We’ll be visiting Yellowstone and Tetons this summer.

 

[disneyseniors]

DH has been wanting to go there for years, so this year is the plan. He loves seeing the freighters. We camp in Sault Ste. Marie and the freighters go by close up. We plan to take the ferry from Ludington over to Wisconsin and drive up with the camper. I love doing research for our trips, it’s about time to get busy on this one.

We love to watch the freighters going under the lift bridge. Never get tired of that
Grandma's down by the waterfront is a fun place to eat. Way back in the day, it was a brothel and the sailors paid for their services with things they had, which are hanging from the ceiling in the restaurant. It's a fun place to be, even if the story is not true (but I believe it is, lol) There are a lot of interesting things hanging from the ceiling.
On the scenic drive to the N. Shore, there is a famous pie restaurant which has fantastic pies of every kind. It is incredibly busy but you might be able to get in if you go. I can't think of the name of it for some reason, but there is no missing the building.

 

[wvjules]

We do them often. We've done a waterfall road trip through, WV, TN, KY. Then last fall we went to upstate NY (Lake Placid is one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen). We've also done New England and one year we did California; started in SF, drove down the coast to SD, then came back up through the mountains. We alternate big vacations with road trips.

ETA: We also did a road trip in Europe. Flew to Paris, spent a few days, then got a car and drove to Luxembourg, drove through Belgium and the Netherlands and flew home from Amsterdam.

 

[wvjules]

To me, a roadtrip is the destination. Driving to WDW is just a means to get to WDW. My road trips are about the journey and sights along the way.

 

[wabbott]

We did three in 2021, one in 2022, and have two planned for 2023.

I love doing that way. We try to schedule about 200 or 250 miles each day, with a couple or three scheduled stops each day for attractions or sights. There is also time if something looks interesting that we didn't know about, we can stop.

An example, we left Coeur d' Alene, ID one morning drove north almost to the Canandian border, then turned east headed for Glacier NP. We didn't know about Kootenai Falls, located just east of the MT/ID border. We found it to be a beautiful stretch of whitewater and waterfalls with a pedestrian suspension bridge over the river.

A very welcome surprise.

 

[wabbott]

We love road trips. Have done many to Florida, also the Smoky Mountain. Leaving March 4th for another Smoky Mountain trip. Then in September we are planning a two week road trip with our camper to Duluth, Minnesota. We’ve talked about doing the Route 66 trip, that would be a lot of fun.

Watch Cars (Pixar) before you go. Stay here in Winslow, AZ. One of the few remaining Harvey Hotels in the US.
https://laposada.org/

 

[Jrb1979]

I will say is how amazed is how little people visit other parks other then Disney? For a country like the US that has as many parks as they do, I would have thought they would have been more popular then they are.

 

[goofyernmost]

I will say is how amazed is how little people visit other parks other then Disney? For a country like the US that has as many parks as they do, I would have thought they would have been more popular then they are.

Yes, there are a lot of parks in the country, but most are not worth a long trip for me.