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

[MAGICFOR2]

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!

Lynne, I'm so sorry you have had such a hard Holiday season. I'm glad your grandfather seems to be doing okay. I hope he continues to improve. We'll be here for you when you can come back!

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.

I hope Brian's grandpa will do better also. So scarey when these things happen, and so hard to see them sick.

 

[Charleston Princess]

Lynne, thoughts and prayers for your grandfather!!!

 

[Tracy161]

So sorry to hear the news about your grandfather but I'm so glad that he's doing better now! I hope he continues to feel better and better! And I hope that you are able to catch up on some rest this weekend!

 

[Shannon84]

Lots of hugs and prayers for you and your family

 

[Jennifer48]

Thoughts and prayers for you and your family. Take your time, we aren't going anywhere!

 

[SoonerGirl]

I'm sorry to hear about your grandfather Lynne, I hope he continues to improve

 

[Spartangirl]

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)!

I bet the ghost tour was great! Chris and I went on one in New Orleans and LOVED it...we just couldn't get over the number of them in Gettysburg!

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

So glad you have enjoyed my report...thanks so much for reading!

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!

The Segway Tour was so much fun...I definitely want to try the one in Disney now! Give it a try...I bet you'll love it!

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 wouldn't stay there either!

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

I bet she is...it was such a neat experience!

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 )

They are a blast!!!

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

That would have been so cool if they would have used your footage!

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!)

Thanks so much for following along! Glad you were able to head down to watch MSU play...I just wish they would have "shown up" for the game.

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!

You would probably surprise yourself...you could do it! I really thought I was going to tip one over before trying, but I found it easier than I thought it would be!

Thanks so much for continuing to follow along!!!

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

It was FANTASTIC!!!

 

[Spartangirl]

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.

How are you doing with the wedding planning? I remember the stress of the planning all too much........but, it's so much fun too! Chris and I LOVE cruising too...it's so crazy to think that in just over a month we'll be boarding the ship!!!

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.

The segway tour was a blast!!! I appreciate you continuing to follow along! I'm not sure if I'm going to do a TR or not for my cruise. I wasn't sure how high the interest would be since it's not a Disney cruise.

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

TRY IT!!! You would do fine!!! It is so much fun, Shannon!

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.

We love to see and do new and exciting things and just love being together!

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

OH MY GOSH!!! I LOVE IT!!!

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

That was our first visit to a Perkins too and I will happily say that we will be back...our breakfast was great!

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!

Wasn't that neat? I loved the fact that the segways were named after the horses! The tour really was fantastic and so much fun!

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

It's definitely on my to-do list!

how nice of your student!

I thought it was so sweet!

for your cruise!

Thanks...just over a month to go!

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!

No need to duck your head in shame, Michelle! I'm glad you're still here! I have no room to talk...I'm FINALLY updating after about a month! If you love the Civil War and history, you'd probably love to visit Gettysburg. I'm not a huge history buff (like Chris) and I was quickly drawn into everything around me...it was so interesting!

 

[Spartangirl]

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

It is DEFINITELY on my to-do list!!!

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.

That's a hard choice...both sound like fantastic choices! Did you decide to go with the skiing???

 

[Spartangirl]

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.

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.

I hope Brian's grandpa is doing ok...thoughts and prayers are with you guys!

Lynne, I'm so sorry you have had such a hard Holiday season. I'm glad your grandfather seems to be doing okay. I hope he continues to improve. We'll be here for you when you can come back!

Lynne, thoughts and prayers for your grandfather!!!

So sorry to hear the news about your grandfather but I'm so glad that he's doing better now! I hope he continues to feel better and better! And I hope that you are able to catch up on some rest this weekend!

Lots of hugs and prayers for you and your family

Thoughts and prayers for you and your family. Take your time, we aren't going anywhere!

I'm sorry to hear about your grandfather Lynne, I hope he continues to improve

You guys are the best! Thank you so much for all of your thoughts and prayers...I truly appreciate it! My grandpa is currently in a rehabilitation center and seems to be doing ok. In the next couple of weeks we'll have to make decisions about next steps...

 

[Spartangirl]

Saturday, August 7, 2010
Final Drive & Final Thoughts

Chris and I were on the road by around 9:15 a.m. for our final and shortest leg of the trip. During a good portion of the morning we were on highway 30 navigating the hairpin turns through the mountains of Pennsylvania.

We made it to the Ohio border by around 1:45 p.m. and crossed the Michigan border by around 4:40 p.m., safely arriving home about an hour later. Home sweet home!

FINAL THOUGHTS & LESSONS LEARNED
~ We were thankful to have met so many nice people in all of the states we visited.
~We were glad we chose 4 different stops that were all so unique and different from one another.
~People watching was a "highlight" in all of our locations...I guess it's good no matter where you're at...we saw the good, the bad, and the unimaginable!

GATLINBURG, TENNESSEE
~We learned that we could hike in the mountains and still have fun, even with a heat index of 111.
~We learned that llamas don't normally spit at people, which is a good thing!
~Tennessee was absolutely breathtaking, especially up in the mountains.

DISNEY WORLD
~ We learned that the crowds are not always unmanageable in the summer.
~We learned that the quick service dining plan has some great food choices.
~We reinforced our belief that "people watching" in WDW is second to none and is a true highlight when vacationing there! LOL!
~The French Quarter is a lovely, quiet resort with beautiful grounds.
~FPs are still the way to go and we just don't get the fact that some people don't use them or know what they are.
~Walt Disney World is STILL the most magical place on Earth!

MYRTLE BEACH, SOUTH CAROLINA
~We learned that the water was warmer than we thought it would be.
~The TIGERS Preservation is amazing and words do not do justice to the size of the world's largest cat.
~Myrtle Beach is very touristy, but serenity can still be found in different places throughout the city.

GETTYSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA
~We learned that segways are the most fun way to tour the battlefield.
~We learned that ghost tours seem to be available everywhere you look.
~Although once the site of a great battle, Gettysburg is quite beautiful and peaceful today. There is so much history to explore.

ROAD TRIP
~After traveling 2,900 miles in such close proximity to one another, we still enjoy each others' company.

Would we road trip again? Absolutely!
This gave us a wonderful opportunity to get out and see so much of our country's beautiful landscape.


Well, this brings me to the end of my report...FINALLY! I'd like to take the opportunity to say thank you to each and every one of you for following me on this journey. I hope you enjoyed reading as much as I loved "reliving" my experience. Maybe I'll "see" some of you on future reports...Thanks again!

One more thing...I've had several people ask if I am going to do a TR for my upcoming cruise. I was thinking that I probably won't since it's not a Disney cruise and I wasn't sure how much interest it would get. However, for those of you on FB, I will be posting some pics after my trip. If you are not one of my friends on there yet and would like to keep in touch, please let me know!

Again, thanks for following along on my journey...I enjoyed "talking" with DISfriends from the past and new DISfriends that I met along the way!

 

[MeMom]

~Tennessee was absolutely breathtaking, especially up in the mountains.

~ We learned that the crowds are not always unmanageable in the summer.

~The French Quarter is a lovely, quiet resort with beautiful grounds.

~FPs are still the way to go and we just don't get the fact that some people don't use them or know what they are.

~Walt Disney World is STILL the most magical place on Earth!

I can relate to and agree with all of these things.
So glad you liked Tennessee.

I definitely enjoyed all of your adventures, Disney and non-Disney. We got to see a lot of cool places along with you through those beautiful pictures.

I'd love to follow along on Facebook.

 

[SoonerGirl]

Thanks so much for sharing your trip Lynne, I always enjoy your reports! I've got several new places on my must visit list too thanks to you

 

[Jennifer48]

Love, love your final thoughts! Thanks again for sharing your great TR! It was very informative and I've added a few of your stops to my "trips to do someday" list!

P.S I'll send you a PM about FB.

 

[Shannon84]

I am glad that you guys had such a great road trip, it has been a lot of fun following along with your trip I do agree Disney is still the most magical

I am sad to see your trip is over, but hope that you guys have a great time on your cruise!! I am on facebook and would love to see pics from the trip if you don't mind adding me

 

[TinksThree]

I really enjoyed reading about your road trip! It definitely made me want to begin planning my own! I hope you have tons of fun on your cruise!!

 

[Aburns8]

Thanks for sharing your trip Lynn! I hope that you have a Disney trip planned soon so that you can do another wonderful trip report.

Enjoy your cruise and as for FB, look for Andrea Burns Thomas and if there is picture with Brian, me and Mickey you found me!

 

[Charleston Princess]

Great final thoughts, Lynne! It was so much fun to "tag along" with you on your summer road trip! I will definitely be looking for those cruise photos on Facebook!

 

[ashleighbass06]

So sad that its over but it really looks like you had an AMAZING trip!

I recently got back from a roadtrip with DBF and I know exactly what you mean about not getting sick of each other in such close proximity! I have to say it was tough at times! lol

I look forward to reading another TR from you sometime in the future!

 

[Tracy161]

Amazing report Lynne!!! I really enjoying following along and think it's so great that you and your husband love to travel so much! Can't wait to read about your future adventures!