2018 Spring and Summer Travel Plans

We have been slowly debating the pros and cons of where to travel to this year.  So many places we want to see and so many things to do.  Our original plan was to see most of the country in three years and then find a location to finally settle down.  It has now become obvious that our country is so large that our plan will probably need to be extended, God willing.

Last year, (2017), in my first year of retirement our original plan was to start in Savannah, GA and move up the east coast to stop in Maine.  Due to some changes and running out of time, we only made it as far as New York.  We could have covered more ground, but our primary objective is to move about 150 miles once per week and to do and see everything in that area before moving on.

So this year, we are going to include some of our favorite stops from last year and include as many states in the Northeast as possible on our way up to Maine.  The main objective is to see all major highlights and to keep moving along the 75 degree line.  As it warms up, we will keep moving north to seek out the cooler temps.

We will be leaving our winter home of New Port Richey next week and will spend an overnight near Jacksonville, FL with our next destination the lovely city of Savannah, GA.  We enjoyed the area so much last year that we decided to spend a month there this time around.  There are many old homes to tour, restaurants to sample, and pubs to hang out in.

Next up will be Lexington, SC for a few days, then a week in Asheville, NC.  I have heard some very interesting things about the culture in this town.  We have never really been there before, only a day trip to Biltmore a few years ago.  Of course, will need to tour the mansion again to contrast the difference from our tiny home.

Then we stay a couple of days in London.  Kentucky that is.  It is on a stop over on the way to Bardstown KY.  In Bardstown, we tour the rest of the Bourbon Trail that we missed the first time through.  This is tough work folks.  Maybe pick up some product for Mr. LaPlante while there.

After some detox period, we move north again keeping up with the temperatures to the Hoosier capital of Indianapolis.  We will visit family and friends there for a week before making somewhat of a U-turn and head back down to Cincinnati, OH to see the Creation Museum and the Ark.

After our visit with Noah, we drive back to our Virginia home for a 2-week stay at Claytor Lake SP.  We will visit with our family and friends again and enjoy the peaceful outdoor park.  I may even work in a few visits to our favorite old haunts in Blacksburg VA, my former work hometown.

From there we drive eastward to spend a week in Williamsburg, VA to soak up the history, enjoy some of the authentic tavern meals, and to visit with some RVer friends Calvin and Sue.  Then we move northbound up to Washington DC.  Not the best area to drive an RV through.  Although this is a great destination with more free things to do than anyplace else.  And we get to visit with our son Bryan and his fiancee Jen.

Northbound again to the Lancaster PA region to see the Amish country, watch a show at the Sight and Sound Theater (thanks to former co-worker Connie I learned of this) and to be immersed into the local culture.  From there we go to the northern Pennsylvania border to a Ives Run Park, a Corps of Engineers park right on Hammond Lake for a week in a neat natural setting.

Then we move north again to the New York Finger Lakes region that we have heard so much about.  This 9,000 square mile area has 11 glacial lakes and 1 great lake and countless wineries.  We will stay in Waterloo, NY at the Harbor campground along with some RVer friends Bob and Lois.

From there we travel over to Boston, MA for about 11 days.  This will be a first time for us and look forward to exploring the Freedom Trail and all the city has to offer.  Then it is another 11 days in Hampton Falls, NH., another resortish area right along the coast.

Finally, it is a month and a half in Maine at three different locations, the longest one in Bar Harbor, ME.  Looking forward to the many lobster shacks and sights to see.

This will take us through late August, when we will start moving back south again, to make a stop in DC for our son Bryan’s wedding in the fall, the slowly back across the country to winter in south Texas.

Spring 2018 Travel Map

Summer 2018 Travel Map

Now that the summer is booked, we need to start planning the fall and winter and make all the required reservations.  We should probably take a day per week for this research instead a week long marathon.  Let’s see how that works.

We hope to meet up with our family and friends along our travels.  Take care and God bless.