5226 mile vacation.... our adventure on the road.

So, in the very beginning of July we left and started our vacation west. We ended up driving 5226 miles to Colorado up to Wyoming and then back to Virginia which took us 17 days. It was AMAZING!! We had the best time and the kiddos did awesome in the car. However, I wasn't really worried about them having any issues because they love to be on the go. Montana had a check up at St. Jude in Memphis so we decided to combine our vacation with his appointments. Our family was just meant for the road. Something about being free to go where ever you please and to explore the open road... we thrive on that. The memories and the experiences we created with our children are priceless and I wouldn't trade it for anything. I only wish we could do it more often.

 Instead of writing a really detailed list of everything we did  I'll just post where we were on each day so that you can see how our trip went.... lots of driving. :) Here is a snap shot of our lovely vacation and because there are so many photos, I'll post them by location so you don't get lost. This is what 5000 miles looks like.

“It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end.”  

- Ernest Hemingway

                                                                          

June 30: Drove to Bryson City, NC to kayak and play in the river.
July 1: Drove to Gatlinburg, TN to alpine slide go through Smokey Mountain National Park and then back to Bryson City to kayak again.
July 2: Drove to Memphis, TN
July 3: Spent the day at St. Jude to get Montana checked out and then drove on to Springfield, MO
July 4: Spent the 4th of July with Chris' family in Springfield, MO
July 5: Drove to Colorado Springs, CO
July 6: Spent the day in Colorado Springs, met up with our friends, & did a family photoshoot
July 7: Went to Garden of Gods in Colorado Springs and then drove to Cotopoxi, CO
July 8: Drove to Salida, CO to do a SUP lesson on the river, kayak and tube
July 9: Spent the day in Salida, CO kayaking and tubing
July 10: Drove to Winter Park, CO after stopping in Buena Vista, CO and Frisco
July 11: Spent the day at Winter Park
July 12: Our friends leave and we go through Rocky Mnt National Park to drive up to Casper, WY to kayak
July 13: Drive to Devils Tower and then to Rapid City, SD
July 14: Drive through Custer National Park, go to Mnt Rushmore, Bedrock City and stay in Custer, SD.
July 15: Drive to Des Moines, IA
July 16: Drive to West Virginia
July 17: Drive to Virginia... HOME!!