Westward 2016

After a long break in motorhome travel, we are cautiously optimistic about taking a trip out west this summer.  We have a very loose itinerary, but our main goal is to have fun exploring together!  I love to plan, but in an effort to be flexible with our travel plans, I have not booked a single campsite for our entire trip!  We want to take full advantage of the benefits of traveling in the motorhome, and being able to stop and camp when we find a beautiful spot or even because the kids are having a difficult day, is one of the best perks of motorhoming. 

We are planning to break up the drive out with a stop in Springfield, Missouri to see the home of Laura Ingalls Wilder, and we are also thinking about spending a day at Silver Dollar City in Branson before we continue on to southern Colorado. 

Some of the places we are planning to visit are:

Great Sand Dunes National Park

Durango

Mesa Verde

Four Corners

Arches National Park

Canyonlands National Park

Bryce Canyon National Park

Zion National Park

And if all is going well and we have enough time, we are planning to continue on into Arizona to see the Grand Canyon and spend a few days in Sedona.   

The kids are so excited for the trip, and I hope their enthusiasm continues even after the first 500 miles on the road :)  I put together a few fun things for Big Sister and Little Bud to keep them occupied during our trek West (and eventually back East again).  I also found some cool hiking vests with accessories to hopefully help our overall hiking experiences on the trip.  Big Sister loves to be prepared whenever she is out and about (you've probably seen her lugging a 20 pound backpack or an equally heavy purse), so I'm hoping these vests will take the place of that for our hikes.  They have little pockets to store treasures and a place for a notebook and pencil, and have clip on accessories (mini lanterns, a compass, magnifying glass, etc) and they even have a special pocket for her beloved binoculars.