Looking for wide-ranging trip recommendations
Hello,
Looking for some recommendations for a family trip to the east. We're going tent camping in June from Tucson AZ to Cleveland OH, and plan on spending about 11 days for the one-way trip. OUr return will be in July from the Adirondacks, NY back to Tucson, taking about 12 days.
Below I listed some places along our route we are considering visiting. We are flexible (but with the limited time, huge detours are not really possible)
We have two easygoing kids, 8 mos and 4yrs, and we are into outdoor activites.
I'm looking for recommendations in the following areas along the route:
*Nice campgrounds (again, we are tenting, and do not need electricity or even water. Prefer natural settings. Near a stream is the best!)
*Waterfalls to see
*Nice short hikes (1-3 hours)
*Vegetarian or healthy restaurants, cafes, etc.
*Scenic areas/parks/rivers
*Any other interesing things to do with the kids. The oldest is interested in everything, the youngest doesn't know any better yet!
These are some of the current areas we are considering visiting/driving through
Outbound:
Tucson
Flagstaff
Four Corners
Mesa Verde NP
Black Canyon NP
Colorado Springs
Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana: On or along I-70 (we're not locked to the highway)
Ohio
Return:
Adirondacks
Ithaca
Central PA
Appalachian range (not sure exactly how yet)
Asheville NC
Smokies NP
Ozarks?
??? (Not sure what route to take or what to see)
Tucson
Thanks in advance!
Mark
RE: Camping with 8 mths old twins?
We took our daughter at 5 months old in March. Got pretty cold (high 30s), but we had her bundled up in 5 layers and a hat, in a playard with blankets. No problem. We also got one of those small electronic thermometers with a remote sensor and temp alarm. We put the sensor in the playard, and if it gets below the temp you set (say 38 deg) alarm will sound and wake you up. Good for those places where the weather is highly variable.
Cheers
Mark
RE: Full size van and tent
I've taken my Ford E-150 on trips. Also took an Olds silhouette minivan out for a month long camping trip. It's nice to have the space. We've slept in the back or tented depending on the situation.
With gas prices now, though, I've moved to a Prius with a car top carrier. Won't fit as much, and can't sleep in it, but for an 8000 mile trip this summer, I'll save $900-1000 on gas. It also forces me to take only what's necessary, which usually translates into more time with the outdoors instead of messing with the luxuries.
Cheers
Mark
RE: Tent too big??
I got the Trailhead 8 a month ago, took it out last week for the first time with the wife and two small kids. Tons of room, we had a playard in there for the youngest, camp chair for night feeding, three sleeping bags, and still had 6 feet of open space one the end for bags and stuff. Plus a vestibule out front gives you plenty of room for shoes, another chair, etc. You can stand in most of the area exept the far ends where it slopes down.
It can be setup by one person, but it's easier with two. Tear down is best with two, unless you have an open space nearby to drag the flycover for folding. I could see space being an issue if you have a designated tent setup area; we had to angle it between some trees.
Still, it's a killer tent, very sturdy when it's up. My 4 yr old tripped and fell against the outside of the tent at one point, she just bounced right back up.
The bag it comes in is big, so folding doesn't have to be up to space shuttle precision or anything. I pretty much folded everything in halves until I could roll it up, and threw it in the bag, and there was still plenty of room, even with the optional footprint in there. No narrow sack to fit the stuff into like my old tent. Not too heavy, I can easily put it into our cartop carrier with no strain at all.
I used a 3 person Mountain Hardwear tent before the second child arrived, and it's definitely a lot easier to find your stuff in the trailhead 8 tent!
Cheers
M
