B r i a n V e r k l e y

Trip Planning

2010-02-02 01:01:55 • by Brian Verkley

This evening was trip planning.  Over the weekend we were lucky enough to talk to Cecilia and Paul and others from my extended family who have vacationed in most of the areas we will be visiting.  Some rather recently.  They lent us guide books and so we have been reading and filling out our itinerary.

There are lots of things on the west coast that I would love to do.  It will be no trouble filling our days out there, but the middle, commonly referred to as fly-over country, my plans are sparse.  Yellowstone was on the list from the beginning, and a 10 minute stop at Mt. Rushmore seems fitting, but past that?  ummmm.

So we read.  Did you know there is a corn palace in South Dakota?  Me either.  We're going.  It was one of the few things we were interested in AND open during the winter.

We also made a list of things to pack, and a list of things to do so the things we need to pack will be ready.  Lists make me feel better, then more stressed because of all the things left to do, then more organized, then naively confident.  It is my personal four step program to preparation.  Today we added one thing to our list which is to be done after we leave home, but before we leave Toronto.  Ya, starting to cut it close, eh?

Oh, and today was Mom's birthday.  Happy birthday, Mom.

Comments

by Brian jackson • 2010-02-02 06:41:52

Are there any places along the way where maybe a favourite movie was filmed?
Is Chicago on your list of places to stop? Theresa and I loved it there

by Brian Verkley • 2010-02-02 14:09:51

Field of Dreams in Iowa, but there may not be much corn in the winter... I think we're going anyway.

There is a Flinstones set somewhere, but closed in the winter.

There are 150 year old ruts from the real Oregon trail, but about a 5 hour drive out of our way.

Chicago is definitely on the list, and likely our last stop before retuning to Canada. What was the highlight of your Chicago trip? I'd like to see a Cubs home game, but I don't think they'll be there in March.