Trip Recap

Trip Data

Miles travelled = 5,387.2 (about 235 miles or 4 hours per day)

Money spent = $2,751 (about $17.09 per person per day for lodging, transportation, food and entrance to attractions; not included are souvenirs) - for those of you wondering how a pastoral family of 7 can even afford that, we saved for it and used our tax return (with child tax credit) to cover the cost

Lowest elevation = 0 ft. above sea level in Pine Point, ME (we stepped in Atlantic Ocean)

Highest elevation = 6,283 ft. above sea level in Mount Washington, NH (same day as 0 ft above)

Farthest North = Lancaster, NH

Farthest South = Saint Petersburg, FL

Farthest East = Pine Point, ME

Farthest West = Saint Petersburg, FL

States Visited = 18 (Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Rhode Island, Ohio, West Virginia)

Non-States Visited = 2 (Washington, DC and Ontario)

Number of National Monuments/Parks = 29 (Ft. Sumter, Ft. Moultrie, Jamestown, Yorktown, Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania, Ford's Theatre, Old Post Office Tower, 56 Signers of the Declaration of Independence Memorial, Vietnam War Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, World War II Memorial, White House Visitor's Center, Jefferson Memorial, Ft. McHenry, Gettysburg, Independence Hall, Castle Clinton, Liberty Island, Ellis Island, Steamtown USA, Old North Bridge, Lexington Battle Green, Bunker Hill, USS Constitution, Roger Williams' House, Antietam, Appomattox Court House, Ft. Frederica)

Number of Other Monuments/Parks = 11 (Mount Vernon, Marine Crops War Memorial, Arlington National Cemetery, US Holocaust Memorial Museum, Betsy Ross' House, Benjamin Franklin's House, Washington's Crossing, Amistad Memorial, Salem Witch Trial Memorial, Boston Freedom Trail, Monticello)

Number of Other Attractions = 17 (National Archives, US Capitol, Supreme Court, Library of Congress, Smithsonian - American Indian, Smithsonian - Air and Space, Smithsonian - Natural History, Smithsonian - American History, Smithsonian - Castle, Bureau of Engraving and Printing, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia Mint, Empire State Building, Mount Washington, Plymouth Rock, Mayflower II, Niagara Falls, Heinz Field)

State Capitals Driven Through = 6 (Richmond, Trenton, Hartford, Boston, Providence, Albany)

Favorite Attraction - something you saw

Tim = My kids wandering around Grandma and Grandpa Kroll's farm
Lisa = Ford's Theatre
Makenzie = Gettysburg (cyclorama)

Makaylah = Maid of the Mist

Jordan = Heinz Field and PNC Park

Jariah = Gettysburg (army activity)

Jedidiah = Washington DC

Least Favorite Attraction - something you saw

Tim = Washington's Crossing

Lisa = Amistad Memorial (because we didn't get to really see it)

Makenzie = Heinz Field

Makaylah = Heinz Field

Jordan = Ellis Island

Jariah = Gettysburg (weird hat)

Jedidiah = a squirrel

Favorite Event - something you did

Tim = 25th High School Reunion

Lisa = Saw family

Makenzie = Riding cousin Jerry's ATV

Makaylah = Green Valley Book Fair

Jordan = Riding cousin Jerry's ATV

Jariah = Riding cousin Jerry's ATV

Jedidiah = Riding cousin Jerry's ATV

Least Favorite Event - something you did

Tim = Driving about 5,100 miles of the trip

Lisa = Driving/riding for so many miles

Makenzie = Walking around Washington DC

Makaylah = Walking up stairs into Crown of Statue of Liberty

Jordan = Walking through Washington DC

Jariah = All the time spent while driving in the mini-van

Jedidiah = 

Favorite Hotel

Tim = Marriott in Woburn, MA (hot breakfast/cookies/suite)

Lisa = Marriott in Woburn, MA (hot breakfast/cookies/suite)

Makenzie = Holiday Inn Express in Middleboro, MA (cinnamon rolls)

Makaylah = Holiday Inn Express in Middleboro, MA (cinnamon rolls)

Jordan = All the relative's houses

Jariah = Holiday Inn Express in Middleboro, MA (cinnamon rolls)

Jedidiah = Marriott in Stafford, VA (cool pool toys)

Least Favorite Hotel

Tim = Quality Inn in Greenfield, MA

Lisa = Days Inn in Washington DC (small room/one bed)

Makenzie = Days Inn in Washington DC (small room/one bed)

Makaylah = Days Inn in Washington DC (small room/one bed)

Jordan = Days Inn in Washington DC (small room/one bed)

Jariah = None

Jedidiah = La Quinta in Savannah, GA (no pool)

Favorite Restaurant

Tim = Clambake in Pine Point, ME

Lisa = Bull & Finch ("Cheers")

Makenzie = None

Makaylah = Bull & Finch ("Cheers")

Jordan = Bull & Finch ("Cheers")

Jariah = Family Cupboard in Bird-in-the-hand, PA

Jedidiah = Bull & Finch ("Cheers")

Least Favorite Restaurant

Tim = None

Lisa = Burger King

Makenzie = None

Makaylah = McDonald's

Jordan = None

Jariah = Seafood place 

Jedidiah = KFC

Dad's Recommendation - for those considering such a trip (some repeated from last year)

1. Get a National Park Annual Pass. They are only $80 and you can get your use out of them at a lot of places. (29 parks for us x 7 people = about 40 cents a person per park)

2. If you got to a National Park, checkout the Junior Ranger program. It is different in each park and easier in some than others but it really helps the kids learn about the park. (Our boys got 18 badges this year and we all learned a lot)

3. WiFi is a must-have hotel amenity. A pool is nice but not necessary if you are going to arrive late and leave early.

4. If you got more than 4 people, throw in a sleeping bag (or 3) into the car so you can get 1 room - save your money for attractions.

5. Arrive early and at least just before the park/site opens. There are few people that do and there is far less traffic (cars and people).

6. Take a cooler for the car and keep drinks (juice boxes, sodas, etc.) in it and have a good water bottle for each person. Take snacks so you can "refuel" on the road.

7. Get a portable DVD player (and car mount) so you can entertain for hours on the road. (If anyone needs one, we can loan you ours)

8. A hot breakfast (free) at the hotel is great but most continental breakfasts will do well at filling you up as well.

9. Print maps and directions before you go but also take a GPS. The printed maps will give you good information that sometimes the GPS won't but a good GPS will walk you through the "steps" ahead and will let you search the area for a restaurant.

10. You don't need to take as many clothes as you think. Over half of our hotels had laundry facilities. All of our clothes fit into 1 suitcase. We only took 3 changes of clothes per person and did fine.

11. Download or backup your pictures each night while you are recharging your camera batteries.

12. Remember you are taking the vacation to be with the very people on the trip that are driving you nuts. Remind yourself as often as it takes for you to enjoy the trip and for them to enjoy the trip. Being with them at the sites is the best part of the trip, not just the sites.

Dad's Helpful Websites

1.) www.nps.gov = Find and plan your trip to some of America's best places

2.) www.bestparking.com = Find parking garages in major cities as well as getting rate guarantees at some and even making reservations at others

3.) www.google.com = Use their map feature (I usually use Mapquest) and select Public Transportation option to find buses or subways in major cities or use the Walking option to figure time and distance for walking in major cities

4.) Airline websites = You can now book hotels (with fewer points than a one-way or round-trip flight uses) with your airline points through most airline websites

5.) Hotel Chain websites = You can check amenities at hotels and locations relative to public transportation

6.) www.recreation.gov = You can get tickets or reservations to many government places that you would otherwise have to wait in line for (ex. Washington Monument)

7.) www.blogger.com = Share your trip with others!