Trip Planning in Shafferland

The sun has been out for two days now, which means I'm ready for vacation. Never mind that it hasn't been remotely warm...but did you hear the part about the sun?

Shari asked me yesterday how Ryan and I picked our county tours, and her question sparked a little blog post in my mind! Trip planning!! There is, of course, no right or wrong way to plan a trip, but I thought it would be fun to write a post on it. Maybe you can glean a tip or two, and if nothing else, in thirty years, I can look back and laugh at how I did things. (Because you know, if I'd been writing this thirty years ago, we'd be talking about stocking up on Traveler's Checks and buying a new atlas!)

So here's how trip planning goes in Shafferland:

Choosing a Date and Location:
* We start early around here, because Ryan does not have the kind of job that allows him to just decide on a Wednesday that he wants to take a long weekend. We typically choose our vacation dates and locations 3-5 months in advance so he can be sure to get the time off work.

* We choose our locations based on the amount of time we'll be gone. If it's a long weekend kind of thing, we won't go far, because we don't want to spend all our time traveling. We also choose where we land based on the cost for the time of year. We try really hard to avoid peak seasons everywhere because stuff is so much more expensive. I have a road trip board on Pinterest where I try to pin ideas as I see them throughout the year, so when planning time actually arrives, I have some options already waiting.

Research:
* As soon as we have the date and the location, we launch into research mode. Ryan normally takes over research for lodging. He has unending patience for reading pages and pages of reviews, so he usually hunts out the best deal he can find. We have also created standards about the difference between saving a buck and risking a communicable disease. You remember this hotel, right?

* I normally do all the rest of the trip research, because I'm the one with the unending patience for hunting through Pinterest and other forms of social media for fun things to do and see while we're gone. I'm such a nerd that I'll create a Word document with a full itinerary of each day, including all the names and addresses of not just where we'll stay, but also plans for restaurants, excursions, and other fun. (And as needed, ticket prices and websites.)

* I always ask the locals, if I know any locals. Internet research is great, but the best recommendations come from those who live there or have been there. So I'll post to Facebook while I'm in the research phase to see if anyone has ideas on what to definitely miss or not miss. I compile all that research into my nerdy Word document, too. And in the event that our vacation includes staying with locals, I just let the locals do all the planning. Such was the case when we went to visit Mark and Lynnette a couple of years ago. They took us all kinds of great places, and it was extra fun for me, since I didn't have to plan any of it!

* I try to find as many free things to do as possible. Gas/lodging/food take up most of our trip budget, so we try to find fun, free things to do, and we usually unearth some treasures! On the vacation pictured above, we spent one whole day exploring a state park that was completely free because it was not peak season!

Prep Time!
* I work really hard in the days leading up to the trip so I can fully enjoy the time away. I make sure the house is clean (no one wants to come home to a disaster), the laundry is caught up (so we have all available clothing options when packing time comes), the dishwasher and trash are emptied (so stink doesn't fester), someone is lined up to watch the house and Braeya, and the car is fully serviced. Ryan is actually in charge of the car, but I'm usually the one who takes it in.

* I also make snacks for the road so we don't end up eating a bunch of junk while we drive. Fruit, protein snacks, bottled water - I make sure we're stocked up! I also pack things like paper towel and disposable plates/cups/silverware in case we need them along the way.

* I stalk the weather app and figure out what clothes I need to take, and I'm such a nerd, I usually lay out each complete outfit and take a picture of it on my phone, so I know what I want to do each day. I know. It's ridiculous. I also throw in a couple of extra options in case I'm not feeling what I planned or in case the weather turns or I drop ketchup on my shirt. (That has literally never happened, but the first time I don't have a backup, I imagine it will.)

* Ryan picks out his own stuff, but I actually pack all the suitcases and pack the car, too. (Because I'm the one with the time to do it.) I also keep a nerdy Word document for this, and I start working on it days in advance, so I can add to it as I think of the things I'm afraid I'll forget. (Sunscreen, medicine bag, phone chargers, our chalkboards etc.)

* If the road trip is long, I'll also scour Pinterest for road trip ideas (games, scavenger hunts, quizzes, etc.) so we can stay entertained on the road. (Ideas here, here, and here if you need some!) We don't play games constantly on the road, but it's nice to have options when we get tired.

HAVE FUN! AND DOCUMENT IT!
* When it's time to actually go on vacation, our favorite part is just being together. We always have a great time, no matter where we go, and we take a billion pictures so we can come home and put it all in a scrapbook to enjoy forever!

* Things don't always go as planned on our vacations, but we just laugh at the mishaps and have fun anyway. Some of our favorite disasters include:

The tulip-less Tulip Time Festival

The beach visits in hats and gloves. In May.

Getting caught in a rainstorm on a bike ride - right before family pictures.

* But mostly, we have a blast. Grateful for these memories! Every bit of prep work that goes into these trips is totally worth it!

Sunset dinner cruise in Sarasota. (Suggestion from a local!)

Stumbling upon an empty beach in Nassau.

Christmas lights in Lincoln Park Zoo.

Hiking to Abrams Falls.

So many more great memories  - in all seasons!

And now...can we take a vacation, please?

Linking up with Tamar!