February 15 ~ Southern California
Spring is coming!
We are hoping that this year will be primarily about exploring in our compact RV (Ellie Mae Camp-it), seeing more bits and pieces of the USA and Canada, including our desire to start checking a few more National Parks off of our every expanding wish list.
But we also have a few International destinations in the works as well. Here is a snapshot of what we are working on to keep us out of trouble in 2017…
January – We got to have a maiden voyage with Ellie Mae, taking a stop to visit relatives in Phoenix and a swing through Southern Arizona.
February – Mostly homebodies, with Tim filling in for our General Manager who is traveling home to Brazil to see his parents. We did manage to get in a six night stay at three different RV parks along the California coast.
March – Depending upon the flower reports, we may take a quick trip over to Death Valley to try to see the desert in bloom. We were fabulously lucky in 2005 to catch the 100 year bloom and would love to return. Then mid month we fly to Washington State to see my sister and brother-in-law for a week on Whidbey Island.
April – Gate 1 has been our Go To tour company for the past several years and we will be taking their April 4th Copper Canyon trip from Phoenix to Mexico. There is still room on it if anyone wants to join us!
May – Las Vegas reunion trip.
June, July, August, September – This is when the majority of our RVing will take place. Starting in Los Angeles, we will probably travel up through Arizona, Utah, Wyoming, and Montana, then cross over into Canada to explore Alberta and British Colombia before heading back south into Washington State. Not sure if we will just cut through Oregon or add in Idaho and Nevada, before returning to California.
October – A week in New York City where we plan on seeing the 9/11 Memorial and Museum, some Broadway plays, stroll through Central Park, visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art, check out the views from Top of the Rock Observation Deck, and go up in the Empire State Building. This will be followed up with a one week fall foliage cruise on Regal Princess that departs from NYC on October 7th. We will have stops in Newport, RI; Boston, MA; Bar Harbor, ME; Saint John, New Brunswick for the Bay of Fundy; Halifax, Nova Scotia and returning back to NYC.
November – Who knows…
December – Another Princess Cruise is booked that will take us through the holidays and into the New Year. The Cape Horn and Strait of Magellan cruise is sailing from Santiago Chili on December 20th on the Emerald Princess. It ends in Buenos Aires, Argentina and we are looking at adding on an additional week that will take us to Iguazu Falls and on to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
GRATITUDE MOMENT: Today I am grateful that I am snug and warm inside and enjoying the peace and tranquility I find here in our mountain cabin. Some days it is more than enough to simply “BE IN THE MOMENT” and I can do that easiest here. It gives me a chance to reflect on how blessed we are to have the means, time, freedom and health to be able to explore so freely.
I’m also extremely grateful for the wonderful friends we are collecting as we explore this amazing planet. We passed a milestone recently and now have over 3,000 followers. I would write this blog regardless, as it remains my memory tool, but believe me, the feedback, warm comments and support that all of you bring into the mix is priceless!
A Note From Abroad 
Sounds like a fun-packed year. I’ll wave to you when you’re traveling through Utah. I have three trips planned so far and the first is just over 2 weeks away- Hawaii with my hubby, his mom and three of her friends. Then at the end of May my two sons and I are going on a history trip to NYC, Philadelphia and Boston. (We’ll catch two Broadway shows too.) And in September a friend and I are meeting up in Nashville for a homeschool conference. Happy travels!
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Camie, it sounds like your year is filling in as well. I love starting with a fresh slate each year and watching it grow in to something wonderful. Do you have any recommendations for great shows on Broadway this season? I have not even started looking yet.
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I think we are going to see Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Anastasia (I could be remembering wrong. We are going with a group of families and it’s decided for us but last time they made great selections and the guide is very familiar with Broadway.) I’ve always wanted to see Wicked. Phantom of the Opera is always a favorite that we saw last time. Groundhog’s Day looks fun.
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It looks like it is time to start doing some research into what is playing. We have seen Wicked and Phantom several times. Wicked was very good, but Phantom remains one of my all time favorites.
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Don’t take the “shortcut” over the mountains via Panamint springs to Death Valley (west side). It’s 26 miles of steep grades and switch backs all the way up and then all the way down. We ended up with a $2000 bill for ruined brakes. Take the easy route in on the east side. Death Valley is a wonderful visit!
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Ouch! Thank you for the heads up. Having ruined brakes is both scary and expensive. I believe the last time we went it was via the Western entrance.
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Looking forward to seeing the desert blooms; that’s my kind of scenery! Also, it’s good to know that Gate 1 has your recommendation of confidence; nice to know!
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Randy, we have taken over a dozen trips now with Gate 1 and can recommend them with confidence. Their guides are excellent and we find them to be very good value for the money.
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I’ve noticed that, and their company is charitable with their blessings, too, so that’s a positive factor, all-around.
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They are known to select a school in an impoverished area in many countries where they offer tours. They then meet with the head of that school, determine where the need is greatest, and then take on that project. We have participated in providing school supplies, toys, and food as well as witnessed the construction of extra classrooms, funded through the Gate 1 Foundation as well as donations from tour participants.
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Ellie Mae Camp-It. Great name! I never did name our RV. Your plans sound fantastic! Even when I am in the middle of a trip, other people’s plans make me jealous. Silly, I know.
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Leah, perhaps silly to name her, but we did get a chuckle in doing so 😃
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Not silly at all. Inspired!
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Sounds like an exciting year ahead!
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Hope you will join us!
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Maybe we could meet up when you’re passing through Portland?
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Merrill, we may or may not go through Portland on our way back to California, but I would love to meet up if it works out.
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Great and a fun packed year looks like Tim and Joanne. Good enjoy and do keep us posted of your lovely trips. God bless.
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I’m sure I’ll have lots of pictures to share.
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Great.
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Sounds like a fun year! Mike and I love the Regal Princess. We have sailed on her twice and are booked again on her for a Baltic Cruise in June.
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The Baltic cruise is still on my wish list.
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Chiricahua national park is a wonderful camping spot. Don’t miss Cochise Head.
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Just looked up some pictures. OMG, that is canny how realistic the Cochise rock formation is. Yes, would love to see it.
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Happy Travels!
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That summer trip sounds very exciting. And the December cruise, WOW, such a great way to celebrate the New Year. Have a great year you 2.
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Phew – busy!
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Yes, I think we will be – but hopefully in a fun way!
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Your year sounds fabulous! I look forward to reading about it here, and congrats on 3000 followers! 👍
One day we will take off in the RV for 4 to 6 months…this year it will more like 6 to 8 weeks. We are going from Georgia to Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, and Colorado and back starting in late April. Then an Alaska land tour and cruise in September. So excited!
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How wonderful! It sounds like you too have an amazing year to look forward to!
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Wow, maybe if I could stop my husband working through these early years of ‘so called’ retirement we could do some wonderful things like this. Sadly I know it is never going to happen. I shall have to enjoy your travels instead.
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Barbara I hope you are able to get him to compromise. Your dreams are important too…
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What a fabulous itinerary. How fortunate to get camping spots along the coast in California, not always that easy. We just returned from Death Valley and no big blooms this year. I am so anxious to explore Utah. We’ll look forward to following you on your Journeys.
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I understand getting spots along the beach during the summer are next to impossible, but midweek in the winter, with rain, the parks were wide open. Sorry you did not get any blooms in Death Valley. Perhaps too early this year?
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We were two weeks earlier than last year for the super bloom. Possibly but I’m not thinking they were expecting as much. We did see a few flowers at the higher elevation. It’s okay, we will be back again!
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It hit in February in 2005, but I understand that sometimes peak blooms are in March. The weather makes it rather unpredictable.
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I can’t believe we missed the 100 year event but at the time we were pretty much stuck on our annual Thanksgiving Death Valley trip. It’s been great to enjoy late winter and spring season these last few years.
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Hi:: Your up coming trips sound wonderful. Keep on trucking.
We are staying close to home this year. I am still redecorating my home.
Alice & Rod.
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Redecorating your home is quite a major project to take on. I look forward to seeing the end results.❤
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When crossing to Canada and if crossing via Montana I suggest starting at Waterton National Park and head towards Banff and Jasper. We were there mid September where the crowds are at least manageable.
Here are my posts for some ideas:
https://lowestravels.com/category/canada/alberta/
Thanks for liking my blog.
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Thank you for your recommendations. I look forward to reading the linked posts.
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Sounds like a really fun year. We have some trips to National Parks and other places planned too, beginning this week with a trip to Florida and the Virgin Islands. Here’s to continued travel and enjoying life!!!
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And the same good wishes to you. Do you have a favorite National Park or one at the top of your wish list to visit?
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Sounds like you have a full year of traveling ahead! Have fun and stay safe. We are heading to Sicily in June and Aruba in October (yearly trip). Hope to do parks out west next year. 😃
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Thank you! I still have Sicily on my (very long) wish list. Enjoy!
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December – Another Princess Cruise is booked that will take us through the holidays and into the New Year. The Cape Horn and Strait of Magellan cruise is sailing from Santiago Chili on December 20th on the Emerald Princess. It ends in Buenos Aires, Argentina and we are looking at adding on an additional week that will take us to Iguazu Falls and on to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
What a fun year! My husband is advocating for this cruise even though we have been in this area twice, it is THAT goo! Maybe we’ll see you on board!
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Cindy, that would be wonderful if you ended up on the same cruise. That really encourages me that you have already been there twice and are considering it again.
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sorry good!
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😃sometimes goo is good, lol.
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Fun to see my blog friend Cindy here as well! 🙂
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Congratulations on the milestone! Looks like you have another year full of adventures planned! Enjoy! 😉
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I have no doubt that there will be some changes and deviations along the way, but as always, excited to see where we end up. Thank you for joining us as we “stay open to the possibilities”.
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Sounds like an awesome itinerary. I hope you get to see the desert blooms… take lots of photos. I have not been able to time this right (or be in the right place).
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Your plans are wonderful; I’m happy that you will be going to so many interesting places and sharing them with us. Also, congratulations on your many followers. That’s wonderful progress.
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Hi Tim and Joanne, a great list well planned ahead. Enjoy yourselves guys, and keep writing with beautiful pictures wherever you may wonder, cannot wait to read from you. Take care of yourselves!
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Thank you so much. We will be on the road again next week. Stay tuned!
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Death Valley should be perfect for wildflowers. Everywhere, in fact. We were in Joshua Tree in mid-February: a little early, especially at the upper elevation. Hoping to get out to JT again or maybe Anza-Borrego, but Death Valley sounds wonderful. Happy travels.
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Brad, the wildflower reports from Death Valley were not great so we chose to pop down to Anza-Borrego instead. There now. Blog post coming soon…
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Ah, thanks for that. A-B is probably first on my list, anyway. I await your report! Many thanks.
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If you travels through British Columbia bring you to Kelowna let us know and maybe we can get together 😊
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Thanks, that would be lovely.
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I see where you plan to go to Montana. Wonderful place, where I was born and grew up. I am going this summer to spread some of my Dad’s ashes in a small, small place in MT where he was born in 1926 and died last month. Several great places are the Beartooth Highway between Red Lodge and Cooke City and the Going to the Sun Highway in Glacier. Of course summer is tourist season so they would be packed with tourists. A lesser known place that is special to me is the Ross Creek Cedars in NW MT, near Bull Lake. Have fun.
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Sandy, my sincere condolences on the loss of your father. May your good memories help you and comfort you. Thank you for the suggestions of the Beartooth Highway, Sun Highway and Ross Creek Cedars.
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Thank you. I look forward to seeing where all you travel.
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Visiting a new place every month sounds like great fun… enjoy guys…
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