Field Trip USA Highlights

We have been home for a month and are now immersed in the standard cadence of our everyday lives. Brian is enthralled with all things Jazz. Returning to Sunset High School in the middle of his sophomore year, he plays in the Jazz, Funk, and Concert bands. This past weekend he was fortunate to see McCoy Tyner and Joe Lovano perform at the Portland Jazz Festival. Laura is back in 8th grade at Stoller Middle School with all her old friends. She secured one of the lead roles in the school play – a super hero named Wombat Woman – should be a perfect fit! ;-) I’m back at work at Click Commerce, helping out on the business development side and enjoying reconnecting with former customers and work friends. Teressa is thrilled to be in a house without wheels – even though she has spent most of the last month “moving” us back in.


As we reflect on our amazing six and a half month journey, we thought it would be fun to share some of the highlights and lowlights of the trip:


Top 5 Natural Scenic Wonders:

1. Fall Colors, Robert Frost’s House, White Mountains, New Hampshire


2. Grand Teton Mountains viewed from Moran Junction, Wyoming


3. The Badlands – Makoshika State Park, Montana; Theodore Roosevelt National Park, Medora, North Dakota; Badlands National Park, South Dakota


4. Canyon de Chelly and Monument Valley, Arizona


5. Acadia National Park, Maine

Top 5 Man Made Wonders:

1. The space shuttle Enterprise, Dulles Airport, Washington, DC


2. Mount Rushmore, Black Hills, South Dakota


3. Times Square and Broadway, New York City, New York


4. The Gilded Age Mansions, Newport, Rhode Island


5. Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, California

Top 5 Experiences:

1. Shaking hands with Barack Obama at the 4th of July parade in Butte, Montana


2. National Park Rangers, Every National Park we visited, USA


3. Attending “Spamalot” with Clay Aiken on Broadway in NYC


4. The dolphin and whale shows at SeaWorld in Orlando, Florida


5. The Laser Light Show and Lightening Storm at Grand Coulee Dam, Washington

Bottom 5 Lowlights:

1. Wildlife carnage on the roads


2. Trailer tires – we bought 14 on the trip!


3. Lack of recycling or recycling information in most states


4. Litter on the freeways


5. Toll roads

Top 5 Bargains

1. US Park Service Annual Pass - $80 for unlimited access to Mother Nature


2. Trailer Life Directory – the inside scoop on where to camp


3. Kyocera wireless router – a connected family is a happy family


4. HP OfficeJet J6450 printer – a map a day keeps the GPS in play


5. Panda Express restaurant – healthy fast food

Top 5 Amusement Park Rides

1. Millennium Force, Cedar Point, Sandusky, Ohio


2. Kraken, SeaWorld, Orlando, FL


3. Shiekra, Busch Gardens, Orlando, FL


4. Superman Tower of Power, Six Flags over Texas, Arlington, TX


5. Top Thrill Dragster, Cedar Point, Sandusky, Ohio

Top 10 RV Parks

1. Normandy Farms, Foxboro, MA – the Ritz Carlton of RV parks


2. Cherry Hill RV Park, Washington, DC – best activity programs


3. Mt. Rushmore KOA, Hill City, SD – best KOA campground


4. French Quarter RV Resort, New Orleans, LA – best inner city park


5. Lake George RV Park, Lake George, NY – best biking trails


6. Audubon Point , Memphis, TN – friendliest staff


7. Fort Robinson, Nebraska – best camping bargain


8. Catalina State Park, Tucson, AZ – best state park and best hiking


9. Fort Getty Recreation Area, Jamestown, RI – best view of the Ocean


10. Kissimmee / Orlando KOA, Orlando, FL – nicest restrooms and fireplace