Family Vacation 2009 Overview

Each year we try to take a special family vacation. Kristi and I have traveled since we were married and never shied away from taking the kids, though we really enjoy our trips with just the two of us.

We live in Michigan and decided to hit states that were to our east this year. One of my personal goals has been to visit each of the 50 states. I have been to all but about six. The family has since taken on this same goal so we always are looking for trips that will take us to new places. We were planning to travel to the west along Route 66 and end up at the Grand Canyon, but when we started to plan out our summer with work, summer ball games, camping, the 4th of July with Kristi's family, a cruise for Kristi and me, and a conference for which Kristi had to give a presentation, it became very clear that there were not enough days during the summer to spread out these trips. We had to make our plans to be as close together as possible. One way to do that was to travel east instead of west and end up in Washington, D.C. where we could drop off Kristi for her conference. That became the plan!

Our plan involved going through Canada and stopping at Niagara Falls. From there, we would head to Montpelier, Vermont. We would travel through New Hampshire on our way to Bar Harbor, Maine. From Bar Harbor, the plan was to travel down the Atlantic Coast to Boston. After Boston, the plan called for a stop in New Jersey to see some relative who live close to New York City. Though we could do much in New York City, a limited day trip would have to do. The plan then got a little unclear because we needed to make sure we dropped Kristi off in Washington on the 13th. All of the plans were subject to change, but we started with a pretty good plan. Once we took in the sites in Washington, D.C., the kids and I would return home while Kristi went to her conference! That was the plan. The subsequent posts will provide information about these travels.