Community Forums

dannynpat · 06-20-2015, 12:00 PM

Hello folks, we have traveled to the adjoining states of Mississippi but have yet to venture out to destination unknown! Our home has been on the market and we have an offer to lease for a year with an option to buy...so we're taking off around the first week in July. Suggestions appreciated for the best route this time of year, east or west?

Steve Ownby · 06-20-2015, 12:30 PM

I would head for the Grand Canyon or the high country of the south west. You might even plan to hit Yellowstone by late Aug or early Sept.

Steve Ownby
Full time since '07

twogypsies · 06-20-2015, 01:14 PM

Much of the Southwest will be VERY hot the first part of July.

If you're thinking of hitting some of the national parks, I would NOT suggest the Grand Canyon or the wonderful southern Utah national parks - except for one - Bryce Canyon which is high elevation.

So....from Mississippi head to Bryce Canyon Nat'l Park, Utah as your first major stop. A good place to stay for hookups is just outside the park entrance at Ruby's.

Then head north and you could head to Grand Teton Nat'l Park at Jackson, Wyoming. Stay IN the park for the best experience. The full hookup RV park is called Colter Bay. There are two non-hookup campgrounds that don't accept reservations but they each have 300 sites and rarely fill. One is Colter Bay campground right next to the above Colter Bay RV. The other is closer to the town of Jackson and is Gros Ventre campground. We prefer this one for its wonderful views and bison and moose that come through.

You could then do Yellowstone or Glacier Nat'l Park in Montana.

Or a completely different trip would be to head toward the California/Oregon coastline where it'll be cool.

I think the eastern states would be hot in July/August. Northern Michigan would be a possibility and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Beautiful country but crowded in the summer.

By Sept and to mid-October you could begin heading south again and stop at any of the above-mentioned parks but also include the other southern Utah parks such as Capitol Reef, Moab, Zion, Canyonlands. Then Monument Valley and the Grand Canyon.

Lots of places for full-timers to go without a schedule. That's the beauty of it! When you decide definitely where you're heading, come back and ask detailed questions. Have fun!

nothermark · 06-20-2015, 01:21 PM

In July head north! East or west or the middle depending what you want to see and do. All that southern stuff gets better in the Fall/Winter. ;-))

The real question is what do you want to see and/or do? Tell us and somebody will have information on doing it.

dannynpat · 06-21-2015, 06:48 AM

Thanks for the replies! Don't really know where we want to go first, out of this humidity for sure! Would love to head toward Wyoming and Montana or the east coast, toward Maine. I was just trying to figure which would be better for this time of year. Going to take our time either way.

Ramets · 06-21-2015, 07:27 AM

This time of year it'll take a few days to get out of the heat. Just a warning...DO NOT head to Maine. I'm in the process of creating a Lobster shortage.

Tony Lee · 06-21-2015, 07:54 AM

You will eventually figure out for yourselves that Nike got it exactly right with their slogan "Just DO IT"

The other good one comes from a Japanese businessman

Quote:

"No matter how deep a study you make, what you really have to rely on is your own intuition, and when it comes down to it, you really don't know what's going to happen until you do it."
Konosuke Matsushita

dannynpat · 06-21-2015, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ramets

This time of year it'll take a few days to get out of the heat. Just a warning...DO NOT head to Maine. I'm in the process of creating a Lobster shortage.

How is the weather there? Is it cold and raining? Where would you suggest staying on a trip through that area.

Cooperhawk · 06-21-2015, 11:46 AM

We live in Minnesooota, but still one of our favorite places in the heat of the Summer is Duluth. Lake Superior is a natural air conditioner and the area north of Duluth is spectacular! Duluth itself is also a great place to visit.

anneb · 06-21-2015, 11:58 AM

Keep a god eye on your finances. You may think that fuel is the biggest expense, but a lot depends on your preferences. A fancy rv park can run 50/60 bucks a night,
full of amenities that you have no interest in-- a fancy kids entertainment area when your kids are middle age.

Taking too much stuff- you will be moving around more. No one will notice that you wore the blue jeans 5 days in a row.

There are a lot more items of interest- but you can figure them out on your own and the decisions you make will suit you.

JFXG · 06-21-2015, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tony Lee

You will eventually figure out for yourselves that Nike got it exactly right with their slogan "Just DO IT"

The other good one comes from a Japanese businessman

Another Japanese businessman you may have heard of refined it a little bit.
----- Do it, but think it through first. But don't get paralyzed thinking it over.

"Action without philosophy is a lethal weapon; philosophy without action is worthless". - Soichiro Honda

Fulltiming since '12
2002 DSDP 40, FL, Cat 3126

Ramets · 06-22-2015, 04:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dannynpat

How is the weather there? Is it cold and raining? Where would you suggest staying on a trip through that area.

This is a great time to be downeast. Beautiful temps. w/low humidity. Where to stay is a personal choice. We like to stay in Bucksport, because it's centrally located for any day tripping we want to do. But we've stayed as far north as Harrington and really liked that too. Our experience with the southern part of Maine has been that it's a little too touristy for us, and crowded. It's might be a good idea to try and make reservations. A lot of places will be pretty full. If you come up this way, I'll try and leave a few of those tasty crustaceans for you.

nothermark · 06-23-2015, 07:41 AM

If you are not in a hurry head for Maine. Better weather than the midwest right now. Hit every welcome center on the way up and check the racks for things to see and do. There are a lot of things! Don't be in a hurry once you get past NY heading up. Look at what you might want to see in MA and the coastal states or Cape Cod then drift north. When you get bored or cold head west across ME into NH, VT and NY. Follow the St Lawrence valley or stop in the Adirondacks or both. ;-) If you have passports consider running across Canada to Michigan. Depending on how long you poke and look you can head south anywhere across that route to get to warmer weather ahead of winter. Take your time and enjoy life.

plasma800 · 06-23-2015, 07:49 AM

From MS, this time of Year!!! I would go north. Start in the Smokey Mountains (find smokey bear campground, and if you like to fish, ping me - I know a supurb hidey hole), the keep going north, Boston (minute man campground), Then to Maine - stop in Portland, then push on to Bar Harbor / Acadia National Park.

From there you can push over into Vermont or Canada, or both.

You could easily add DC in the mix, New York City if that stuff interests you. Virginia is pretty. Rhode Island has some neat campgrounds.

Maine in September is unreal - beautiful..... and empty

As the cold starts to get cool, come across the US heading roughly in the direction of Hot Springs AR. Visit Hot Springs. Consider dropping into Texas if there's anything here you would like see. You can drop into New Mexico - Albuquerque is beautiful - Arizona, Kingman or even further south. Lot's of neat stuff to see and do all over

Take your time, enjoy. I would be getting to Maine from where you are in 3 months

Enjoying the full 3 months to get there!

I have a buddy who lives on the rules of 3. He travels no more than 3 hours, or 300 miles, and he stays wherever he lands for no less than 3 days.

Stated before, take less stuff. Uncluttered life is awesome!

Our first bunch of outings, we rushed. We don't rush anymore.