Random questions for our first big-big trip

[runswithdogs]

We've had our 25RB for 15 months now. Retirement is just a couple of days away (Yesssss!! ) and we're finalizing preparation for our first long trip in the AS - 10+ weeks of wandering around the upper midwest. I'll spare you all the minutiae but let's just say the project plan is long and detailed. We're now moving from the planning list to the packing list for an early May departure. AF has been critical to the planning process; we've learned so much here!


Only a few reservations have been made for important dates: Memorial Day and the 4th weekends as well as a stay in Duluth during Grandma's Marathon (that was a tough rez to get!). We're hoping to wing it for most nights. Looking forward to boondocking in SD/ND as well as staying in small-town city campgrounds. We hope we'll have time to venture into Canada. We've got our America the Beautiful pass, HH and Boondocker's Welcome memberships. Campendium and Allstays, too. And paper maps...lots and lots of them...for entertainment as well as offline nav.


While we have a general plan of where we're going, there's no route. We'll be chasing cool temps, trying to avoid the flooding that looks inevitable this year and keeping an eye open for surprise opportunities. A few questions that I don't think I've seen addressed here, in no particular order:

1. Should we expect that the "big bugs" will be out in force this early in the season? Opinions on Thermacells? Do they work? We've prepped the dogs for bugs but it's not that easy for us.
2. Any tips for interesting out-of-the-way places to visit? We bike, hike and run and have no limitations. Send us somewhere FUN!
3. What do you wish you knew before your first long trip?

All thoughts and opinions welcome!

[BigSxyWhtGuy]

I haven’t been to the area so can’t recommend places. We are full timers in an 18 classic, in our 30s, and always looking for an adventure so we actually are in NY jumping to Maine and Nova Scotia this season.

We have been warned about black flies aka blood sucking helicopters. We have big repellent but not sure what we are going to do overall with these things. Playing it by ear.

We do travel with a dog as well, not doing anything special for her.

As far as what we wish we knew before our big trip — we knew this but didn’t realize it until after our first big trip. It’s about the journey, not about the destination. Be okay stopping. Enjoy lunch in a comfortable place. We limit our driving to about 200 miles/5 hours (which ever comes first). This allows us time to enjoy life a bit more, walk our dog, and just be less stressed. As a result, we actually make very little reservations (I think our next reservation is in August for Disney world).

Enjoy the journey! Find your purpose once retirement is official. You’ll be surprised how much it feels like vacation for the first few months, then you find yourself wondering through life. Have fun. Hope we can cross paths eventually.

[Piggy Bank]

How Exciting!!

Here are some travel tips you may find useful.

1-Always clean up before bed. If you need to bug out early morning to get ahead of bad weather you will be glad you did.

2-If you must have your coffee (like me) and know you have to get up and get on the road early, make coffee right before bed, put into a thermos, and put it in the tow vehicle.

3-Geeky headlight lamp thing is awesome for walking the dog at night. A must have.

4-Shout Color Catcher Sheets. If you don't know what these are-you put them in the washing machine with your clothes and they absorb excess dye/color in the water. Allows you to mix loads and not have pink socks.

Here are some places to stop by if you are in the area:
Beaver Lake in Northwest Arkansas. There are corps of engineer campgrounds.
Make sure to do a day trip into Bentonville (45 minute drive) and visit the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art

Tallgrass National Wildlife Preserve near Storm City KS. Hike and see the buffalo.
Convenient corps of engineer campgrounds about 45 minutes away at Cottonwood Falls or Melvern Lake.

Weston State Park north of Kansas City MO. On the river, shady, has a dog park and nice hiking trails. Convenient to the KC metro or to the town of Weston. Lewis and Clark route went through here.

[Julie-Bob]

Medora ND. See the Medora Musial eat the Pitch Fork Fondue Then see the Ted Roosevelt NP.

[PKI]

Thermacells are reported to be great. A set now sits in our loadout box for trial this year. Have seen bug nets that fit over your hat. In Minnesota such may be mandatory.

Places to go - everywhere - do try Corp of Engineering campgrounds (ATB gets half price) - Wallace State park is near Hammilton Missouri (quilting theme small town) - the SAC base in Omaha Nebraska did have a nice museum (B36, Vulcan ... ) - always thought the Upper Michigan Penninsula was worth a look - you have to get some Wisconsin cheese (maybe a foam hat from Green Bay) - Eisenhower, Truman and Clinton Presidential Libraries are worth a visit. There is the Seelye Mansion in Abilene KS with original furnishings (unusual to see) - The Stroud's restaurants in Wichita and Kansas City serve pan fried chicken (not deep fried, the real deal) - the Lincoln House in Springfield Illinois is a chance to see that part of our history - the Russel knife factory is in Rogers Arkansas, not too far from Beaver Lake mentioned above ------ yes, see it all!

You can buy it as you go. No need to carry it all. A 1000 lumen flashlight is a good walking companion - buy two. The inexpensive LED lanterns make good secondary lighting and save main battery bank power. DVDs can be good entertainment for dull nights. A case of wine can help with those too. Canada, Missouri and Arkansas produce wine too.

A trip up the Parkway through the Blue Ridge mountains and a drive through West Virginia can be a great tour if that route is near your path.

Good luck with the trip. Chase those smiles. Pat

[cazual6]

Very excited for you. I am still 20yrs away from doing what you are doing.

But the most important tip I can give you:

Don't forget the wife.

[Pjsepski]

Great product, we have 2 hand held and a couple of lanterns. Camping World has them in the store near us. Stock up on the cartridges and wick type repellent. And yes, you need about 20 minutes for it to start sending out the wisps of repellent. Hope you have a safe and adventurous trip.

[Overstreet]

Originally Posted by cazual6

……...Don't forget the wife.

Strangely enough many KOAs have that on a sign at the exit to the park.

[yarlj]

county fairgrounds usually have RV hook ups and places to park and not too expensive.

[Acheron2010]

Omaha Zoo - the cheetah exhibit is a must see.

[AgBullet]

I have hunted with a Thermacell for quite a few years, and can say it's the real deal. As mentioned, the lantern version would suit camping very well. Safe travels.

[Overstreet]

Thermocell.......it didn't work in the back country last weekend in the Okefenokee Swamp. Skeeters we're just too relentless and numerous. Sun goes down, frogs start singing, skeeters invade. Hide in the tent.

In their defense there was a breeze.

[Mollysdad]

Originally Posted by runswithdogs

2. Any tips for interesting out-of-the-way places to visit? We bike, hike and run and have no limitations. Send us somewhere
3. What do you wish you knew before your first long trip?

2. By sheer accident we were in Red Lodge, MT, when the state fiddling championship was being held at the H.S. Auditorium. I felt like I time traveled to 1965, and it restored my faith in real America! One of my fondest memories. Totally unplanned.

3. I wish I'd have gone sooner.

[PKI]

Red Lodge is the gateway to the Beartooth Pass into the NE door of Yellowstone. Beautiful drive and a jewels in the area. The pass is towable, but solo is advised. Pat

[Mansderm161]

Waterproof shoes and/or galoshes; i learned that on one of first trips...luckily had rubber bands and used them with plastic garbage bags over my shoes. Take B complex....it lowers your risk for insect bites. Definitely flashlights. Hot spot. Deep woods off insect repellent.

[BillfromWI]

This maybe more than you wanted to know, but it doesn't even scratch the surface. I've lived in Wisconsin all my life and I think this part of the Midwest is excellent.

Have fun.



Minnesota
· The Duluth waterfront around Grandma’s has a lot to do
-Great Lakes Ore Boat tour
-Lake Superior Railroad Museum
-food, drink, shopping, etc.

· The “North Shore” of Lake Superior (US 61) is very scenic all the way to Canada with several state parks
-Access to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCA).
-Grand Marais American Legion may be offering fried fresh Lake Superior herring (aka Cisco)—not to be missed.
-Grand Portage passenger ferries; shortest passage to Isle Royal National Park; the largest island in the largest lake in the world. It also has a substantial moose and wolf population. See also MI UP, below. This could be a day trip from here.


Wisconsin
· Apostle Islands National Lake Shore HQ is in Bayfield WI, about 80 miles east of Duluth/Superior. Thompson’s West End [city] Park in Washburn is about 12 miles south of Bayfield on the coast with nice sites. This is a popular (somewhat touristy) area that is quaint and scenic. You might be there during strawberry season.

· Door County
The county is on the peninsula across the bay of Green Bay from the UP. Very scenic and busy with many, many art galleries and restaurants. Good biking on paved county highways.
-Peninsula State Park- (reserve camping now) hiking, biking
-Potawatomy State Park, Sturgeon Bay- (less busy) hiking, biking. Most of the tourist traffic is north of Sturgeon Bay and south of Sister Bay on the Green Bay side (WI 42).
-Newport State Park, backpacking sites only but nice hiking along the Lake Michigan shore.
-Washington Island ferry at the tip of the peninsula, and on to the Rock Island State Park passenger ferry. Rock Island was owned by inventor Chester Thordarson who had several impressive Nordic-influenced lime stone building put up. Nice hiking and a light house. Washington Island offers good biking on paved county highways. 8.5 mi from ferry dock to ferry dock. There is a campground on Washington Island and the ferries will accommodate your AS.

· I90/94 Corridor (north to south)
This is part of the most direct route from Georgia to Duluth. There is, of course, a lot more cool stuff along this route and in other parts of the state, but these may be on your way.

-Wisconsin Dells (aka “The Waterpark Capital of the World”) obscenely touristy but the Upper Dells Boat Tour is very nice, as are the Duck Boat Tours. The State Historical Society H.H. Bennett Photography museum on the main drag is good.
-Baraboo (13 mi. south of WI Dells)
The International Crane Foundation; savior of the Whooping Crane
WI State Historical Society Circus World Museum circus performances (Baraboo was the winter home of Ringling Brothers)
-North Freedom (12 mi west of Baraboo) Mid-Continent Railway Museum
-Devil’s Lake State Park( 5 mi south of Baraboo) spectacular top-of-cliff hiking above the lake (reserve camping now)
-Prairie du Sac (18 mi south of Baraboo) Wollersheim Winery & Distillery. A very nice winery that makes some fair-to-good wine, but Wisconsin is really a beer state

-Foster Cheese Haus (CTH HH, exit 81; 10 mi south of the US53 exit 70 to Eau Claire)
Sandwiches on homemade bread, wood fired pizzas, good selection of WI Cheese (Hooks Cheddar, yum yum), and a pretty good selection of bottled beer. Foster may have a population of about 20 on a good day.


Michigan Upper Peninsula UP
Generally not very busy until July 4. There is a lot to see and do. It is big and empty (29% of Michigan’s total land area, 3% of total population), with numerous waterfalls. Visiting Isle Royal from here is an overnight trip. Lodging is available at Rock Harbor Lodge
· Porcupine Mountain State Park (hiking)
· Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore (kayaking, hiking)
· Copper Harbor The north end of US41, it starts in Miami
-Fort Wilkins State Historic Park—nice sites
-Lake Superior beaches
-Estivant Pines Nature Sanctuary hiking among old-growth pines
-Ferry to Isle Royal

Tip: Michigan State Parks, and some Ontario parks, place power poles to serve more than two sites. A 30 amp extension can be handy. Most Wisconsin State Park sites are shaded. If you rely on solar you may want a portable panel.

· Houghton-Hancock
-Park Service ferry and commercial sea plane to Isle Royal
-City of Houghton RV Park (reserve early)
-Franklin Copper Mine underground tour
-Michigan Tech University gives the town an energetic feel

[Mansderm161]

Thanks. Great info for all of us!

[Firefly77]

We've done both spring and fall upper MW tours via Rt 2. June and early July were brutal for bugs (skeeters and black flies) in parts of the Michigan UP, Minnesota Arrowhead region and Devil's Lake ND. Daytime activities aren't so bad, but dawn and dusk near water and lowlands can be tough. Head nets and good deet-based repellent help when they are really bad. We put a small bug zapper in the trailer to clean up what came in with us during the day. The late August-October tour was mostly bug-free and the fall colors were spectacular.
Highlights included:

Lower MI: Rt 31 through Sleeping Bear Dunes, Leland, Traverse City, and the NW coastal towns up to the Mackinac Bridge. A lot of natural areas, quaint towns, cafe's, beaches, wineries and landmarks. Try tubing the Platte River from the Dunes to Lake Michigan on a warm day.

Michigan UP: Whitefish Point has great seasonal birdwatching and a maritime museum, Tehquamenon Falls SP is beautiful for hiking and camping. Pictured Rocks National Seashore has many great hikes and views, among them try Miner's Castle and beach, Chapel Falls, Munising Falls. There are a lot of good National Forest and state-run campgrounds in the area. One of my favorites is the Wide Waters campground on the Indian River. If you have time, take a side trip up to Copper Harbor, beautiful drive and quaint town.

Wisconsin: A nice diversion from Rt 2 is the Rt 13 loop through Bayfield and the Apostle Islands. Bayfield is a nice walk-around town with a lot to see & do: [URL="http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g60721-Activities-Bayfield_Wisconsin.html"]
We camped at a private lakeside campground at Herbster one night with beautiful Lake Superior beach and sunset.
Haven't been yet, but we hear the Door County region near Green Bay is wonderful. We stayed at Lake Wissota State park near Chippewa Falls once and it was very nice.

Minnesota: The run up Rt 61 along Lake Superior to Grand Portage is beautiful with a lot of State Parks and walk-around towns. Stop for a meal and pie at Betty's Pies in Two Harbors. Grand Marais is worth a day wandering the shops and eateries. Visit the amazing Nanaboujou Lodge a few miles north near Coville for breakfast or High Tea and hike the nearby Judge CR Magney State Park. If you head on up to Grand Portage, check out Portage Falls and the museum at Grand Portage State Park, and maybe consider crossing into Canada to Thunder Bay. If you have a few days to explore, consider the loop from Duluth up RT 53 to Rt 1 over to Ely and down to Tettegouche State park. Ely is a great town to wander the shops and catch a meal at The Chocolate Moose. Don't miss Jim Brandenburg's studio for stunning photography. We go to Ely every few years to canoe the Boundary Waters. There are a lot of guided or outfitted day trips available. If you head west from Duluth, look at the Mississippi Headwaters region and Eagle Center around Lake Winnibigoshish.

South Dakota: Badlands NP, Black Hills NF, Wind Cave NP, Custer SP, Mt. Rushmore and Crazy Horse Monuments and nearby Devil's Tower and Thunder Basin National Grassland are all well worth the time if you have never been.

We have done both May-June and Sept-Oct. trips here and both have pros & cons. Wildflowers are spectacular in June-July prairies and grasslands. Bugs in bug-prone areas are at their worst in June-July. Fall colors are fantastic in Sept-Oct and bugs are mostly non-existant, but weather can be unpredictable with the change of seasons. It's all good though, and you'll love it no matter when you go. We are heading back to Ely for paddling and fall camping in the Arrowhead region this fall. Happy Trails!

[runswithdogs]

Thanks to everyone! BillfromWI - really appreciate that detailed list.



Apostle Islands w/o the AS is a definite visit as is every possible cheese purveyor in the state of WI. I have a dairy problem (cheese, yougert, bring it on!) which pairs well with our beer/cider/mead problem. The 4th will be spent in Madison; already have reservations!



Would love to see Isle Royale but there's that pesky issue with no dogs allowed.



UP will be a dedicated future trip. We have friends there and really would like to participate in Eaton Air as well.



Keep those good suggestions coming!

[KL1979]

Visit the Corn Palace in Mitchell,SD.