"To Disney & Beyond" ~ Road Trip 2010 ~ Final Drive & Final Thoughts

[Spartangirl]

So jealous that you are going on a cruise!

I see you have a trip planned yourself! Very cool!

That ornament is adorable! I hope when I have a class I get cool things like this

Thanks...it was quite an unexpected surprise!

Can't wait to hear about the rest of your trip! And have fun on the cruise...I can't wait to escape this frigid MI weather too!

More about my trip coming right up. Wow...I see you're going to the bowl game...how cool! You're going to have so much fun...I hope our Spartans play well!!!

So happy to hear about your cruise!!! And what a great time of the year to go, when winter is really getting old!

Thanks! I agree completely...February is such a nice time to get away to warmer weather!

What a cute ornament! Disney gifts are always the best.

I agree...I was so happy and surprised to get the gift!!!

Hurray for a trip to look forward to -- it will be here before you know it!

I know...the countdown is already on!

Good luck with the coming week. We only have one more week left, too, and it is going to be crammed full of final exams, grading, and hyper kids! I can't wait for next Friday!

Thank you...I may need the luck! Best of luck to you too! This week is always so tough...I know the kids are ready for the break now!

 

[Spartangirl]

How nice to get a new official Disney World ornament from a thoughtful student!

I thought it was so sweet!

Tennessee has been cold enough lately. Michigan weather would be more than I could bear, I bet. It will be great for you to get a break from the cold...
and to collect more travel ornaments for the tree, of course.

Michigan weather is sometimes more than I can bear too. We already have 5 inches (and counting) snow on the ground. Hope you're hanging in there...I heard you might be getting some snow too. Keep warm!

Happy planning!

Thank you!!! It's one of my favorite things to do!

Jarvis is from Michigan, but truthfully, I don't even know what part exactly. I'll have to ask him.

I think I noticed him wearing a Michigan State hat in one of your pictures! I'd be curious to know what part of MI he's from!

Aww that is a very nice ornament and its from WDW so thats even better

Thank you...it was so nice to have a "part of the world" brought home to me!

Where are you visiting on your cruise?? That is very exciting to be going somewhere warm!

We are headed to the Southern Caribbean...San Juan, Puerto Rico - St. Croix - St. Kitts - Dominica - Grenada - Trinidad & Tobago...I can't wait!

What a great gift! Seriously I envy you right now! What ship/islands are you doing? I sooo need a cruise. Its been a year and I am really missing the sea. Brian and I were looking into cruises for the end Febuary but decided it probably won't be in our budget with buying our house and everything . You will definately have to post pictures and tell us how it goes!!

We decided to try Celebrity Cruise Line this time...we've been on many cruises and like to try out the different lines just for comparison...plus, this route has several islands we've never been to yet. We're going to San Juan, Puerto Rico - St. Croix - St. Kitts - Dominica - Grenada - and Trinidad & Tobago. Like you, I get to the point where I miss the sea.....February is a great time to cruise to warmer weather...I think this is our 3rd or 4th time going during that month. I completely understand having to put your travel plans on hold at this time though...buying a house is a HUGE investment and so exciting!

It now looks like we will be heading to Gatlinburg/Nashville in April. UNLESS you have any other good 8-10 hr drive locations (from Ohio) we should visit. You seem to be a vacation expert ..so I will take any of your ideas as well!

OOooohhhhh Gatlinburg/Nashville would be perfect. If you guys like to hike, definitely check out the Smokies...so pretty! Vacation expert? I don't know about that! However, I DO love to research travel destinations! Huummmmmm...I'll have to think about other 8 -10 hour locations from Ohio...you're not too far from us, so it would be about the same travel time!

I hope you enjoy your Christmas break and get lots of delays

Hope you have a great Christmas too!!!

I'm so excited for you to be taking a Southern Caribbean cruise!!! That is what I'd like to try next!!! I do hope you'll do a TR!

The Southern routes are my FAVORITE!!! I think this is our 3rd or 4th time heading out from Puerto Rico. Definitely take that route if you get the chance!

How nice your student brought you an ornament! Minnie and Mickey are so cute!

I was so excited and surprised about the ornament!

Let's see now...Your travel ornament tree is super special.

Thanks!

Your sunset photos were absolutely stunning!

Thank you!

And your upcoming cruise sounds like the perfect plan.

Sounds like the perfect plan to me too!

 

[Spartangirl]

Friday, August 6, 2010
I WANT a Segway!

After a long day the previous day, we decided to sleep in. At around 10:00 a.m. we headed up the road from our hotel to Perkins. Chris and I thought that a nice sit-down brunch would be fantastic before our tour. Perkins was a first for us...we've seen the chain before, but never stopped.

Chris ordered the Tremendous Twelve. He said it was great, but wow, was it HUGE!

I ordered the strawberry and banana French toast...again HUGE, but so good!

It was pretty close to tour time for us, so we headed over to SegTours. After our full group of eight was present, Jake (our tour director) and his brother gave us the low-down on segways. I started feeling a little nervous at this point in time because I didn't want to tip one over.

I soon learned that my fears were there for nothing...the first minute on the segway I was a bit wobbly, but after about two minutes I was cruising around. By about five minutes I was a segway pro! Not really, but at least I had a bit more confidence!

We were given plenty of practice time to maneuver around cones and get familiar with the segways. Getting started was a bit intimidating because the only flat spot in the parking lot was a five square foot spot where we boarded our segways. The rest of the lot had a sizable slope to it and our "obstacle course" was on that slope.

When we all felt comfortable with our segways we headed out for our 2 1/2 hour Western Battlefield Tour. We were equipped with helmets, water bottles, and an audio device that included narration from a licensed battlefield tour guide. Between the input from Jake, our guide, and the audio, we were provided with a ton of interesting information. We soon learned that all of our segways were named after horses ridden by generals in the battle. Chris was on "Gray Eagle" and I was on "Firefly."

At the halfway point in our tour we stopped and got off the segways and Jake brought out some fresh cherries, cheese, and pastries. There also happened to be some Confederate reinactors camping at the site where we stopped so we were able to ask them some questions.

We continued back on our tour going up and down all sorts of hills, up and over Little Round Top, and along both Cemetery and Seminary Ridge. Our tour ended way too fast!

Chris and I loved our time spent on the segways and wouldn't hesitate to book another segway tour in the future! We both said how much we'd love to own a segway after having taken the tour. However, we have absolutely no use for one and it's an awful lot of money for what would be a novelty for us. Oh well, guess we'll have to book another tour in the future to ride one again!

After our fun on the segways we headed to the Gateway Theater which was in the same plaza as our hotel.

We were told to go see a 1/2 hour movie called Fields of Freedom.

This was FANTASTIC!!! It was all about Pickett's charge and had viewpoints from both the Confederate and Union sides.

After the movie, we headed back downtown and made a stop at the Schriver House Museum.

The tours were finished for the day, but we had fun checking out the little shop and trying on hats.

We were a bit hungry at this point in time and came upon Ororke's. It had a nice patio where we could eat outside...we chose this since it was such a nice night and it would be good for people watching!

Chris ordered the shepherd's pie with a dinner salad. He loved his meal!

I ordered a chicken salad with honey mustard dressing. It was HUGE, but very good!

After dinner, we walked around town for a little while and laughed about the MANY different ghost tours that were offered just within a couple of blocks. Chris and I finally decided to call it a night. We were at the end of our vacation, yet we still had a big drive ahead of us!

Up Next: Final Drive & Final Thoughts

 

[Tracy161]

Wow, the tour sounds amazing! I had to laugh, though, when you mentioned the ghost tours... many, many years ago I went on one in Gettysburg and it was really spooky (but actually quite interesting and surprisingly filled with history)!

So sad that your trip is coming to an end... I have REALLY enjoyed it! A perfect blend of many different styles of vacationing!

 

[Aburns8]

That tour sounds fun! I should book one of those when we are in Disney next! As long as there are no cliffs I think I would like to try a Segway I like the bonnet you tried on. We live near Colonial Williamsburg and they sell those as well. They even rent out little kid outfits!

 

[hlrababy]

Love the Gettysburg update! After reading it, I have been researching the Farnsway inn...there is NO WAY I think I could stay there!! lol

I showed Hollie the Tiger conservation place and she is begging to go!

 

[ashleighbass06]

Aren't segways so much fun! We did a segway tour in Raleigh and afterwards I really wanted one (I thought it would be AWESOME to drive around campus )

Funny story about that (if you don't mind me sharing), when we were on our segway tour they were filming a Subway commercial in one of the parks and we were asked if we wanted to be in it ON THE SEGWAYS. Unfortunately I don't think they used our footage (they said it was hard to hear us say our lines) but how awesome would that have been...I could've been famous in the Raleigh area

So sad your trip is coming to an end. Hope your drive went well (I will be doing that drive in a couple weeks now! So excited! GO STATE!)

 

[MAGICFOR2]

How cool you got to ride the Segways! I'm not sure if I'd have enough coordination. Now you have a new activity to put on your planning list! I'm sorry to see your trip ending soon - it has been really fun following along with you!

 

[MeMom]

[/I]

That is one huge plate, and it all looks so good!

 

[redsox721]

Love the ornament that your student brought you. How sweet. Congratulations on the cruise. I love cruising. Might need one after my daughter's wedding next year. Forgot how much work and stress it is to plan a wedding.

Love the latest update. The segway tour sounds like alot of fun. I love the picture of you in the prairie hat. So cute. Chris looks cute in his hat too. Sorry to see the trip report is coming to an end. Hope you do one for your cruise eve if its not Disney.

 

[Shannon84]

So glad to hear that you enjoyed your Segway tour...I work right by the capital building here in Richmond, so I see lots of groups out on them touring the area. It always makes me nervous since I am a klutz, but like you said it didnt take long for you to grasp it, I might have to try it out

 

[mickeystoontown]

I had gotten behind again but am all caught up. You guys always seem to have so much fun together and see so many interesting things.

My daughter showed me am cute Chick-fil-a video last night and I thought about you. You should take a look: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NsJHqstPuNo

 

[Charleston Princess]

We have never tried Perkins either, but I might have to rethink that after seeing the great breakfasts you enjoyed!

The Segway tour sounds like so much fun! Of course, I really love that they were all named after horses ridden by the generals in battle. I am so about details like that. LOL!

Now you will have to try the World Showcase Segway tour!

 

[Jennifer48]

how nice of your student!

for your cruise!

 

[SoonerGirl]

Hey Lynne, ducking my head in shame because of my extended absence I had to go all the way back to your coconut pizza update, but I'm all caught up - just in time for you to finish! I really enjoyed all of your Gettysburg updates, Don & I both love history, and the Civil War facinates me, I know we'd love a visit there!

 

[Jennifer48]

If you love the Segways you should book the Around the World on a Segway tour in Epcot. Its so much fun!

 

[AlienBrain]

We are headed to the Southern Caribbean...San Juan, Puerto Rico - St. Croix - St. Kitts - Dominica - Grenada - Trinidad & Tobago...I can't wait!

Cool!

We're trying to decide on if we will be going to ski for our first time ever (either Steamboat or Aspen area) or go cruising in March. I find it funny how I rack my brains trying to decide between two equally awesome things. I'm feeling a bit more adventurous, so I think we'll go with skiing.

 

[Spartangirl]

Hey Everyone! Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and New Years!

I apologize for the delay in my responses and final update. It seems as if my holiday season was here and gone in a blur. My grandfather went into the hospital on the last day of school for me...the day that my break was to start. We found out that he had a heart attack and has pretty much been in the hospital for the last 3 weeks, minus 4 days. On a better note, my grandfather had a few stents put in earlier this week and seems to be slowly recovering. We're hoping he's going to start in a rehabilitation center in the next few days to help to build up his strength again. So, needless to say, I've spent much of my time up at the hospital with him and the rest of my family, plus I had to go back to work this week. I'm exhausted both mentally and physically. Once things calm down a bit, I will be back with my final update, responses, and I plan on "catching up" on all of the TRs I'm reading! Thanks for being patient with me!

 

[MeMom]

I apologize for the delay in my responses and final update. It seems as if my holiday season was here and gone in a blur. My grandfather went into the hospital on the last day of school for me...the day that my break was to start. We found out that he had a heart attack and has pretty much been in the hospital for the last 3 weeks, minus 4 days. On a better note, my grandfather had a few stents put in earlier this week and seems to be slowly recovering. We're hoping he's going to start in a rehabilitation center in the next few days to help to build up his strength again. So, needless to say, I've spent much of my time up at the hospital with him and the rest of my family, plus I had to go back to work this week. I'm exhausted both mentally and physically. Once things calm down a bit, I will be back with my final update, responses, and I plan on "catching up" on all of the TRs I'm reading! Thanks for being patient with me! [/SIZE]

I am glad to hear that he is recovering. Take care of yourself and your family. We'll keep you in our thoughts and prayers, and we'll be here when you get around to us.

 

[Aburns8]

Glad you are coming back! I haven't had an update in a while on my report either. I hope your grandfather is doing better! Brian's grandpa had a heart attack back in November. He went in today to get another stent put in and they found out the stent in the artery that caused the heart attack failed and it was clogged again. So he is going to have to go in again later to get done what they were going to do today.