Our greatest adventure in the past couple of years has been trying to figure out where we were going to live. We really weren't happy with where we were. We're blessed to be able to both work from home and be very "portable", so we just wanted to find somewhere we both could be happy. And somewhere we could afford a single family home.
This took us on a three year search for just the place. We traveled to Denver, CO; Dover, NH; Portland, ME; Cary, NC (where I had such a bad allergic reaction to whatever pollen was high that day, that it immediately ruled the area out); Harrisonburg, VA; and a few other places.
In addition to our "where do we want to land?" search, we were looking for a single story house. We knew that 1) eventually my mom will be moving in with us and 2) we really don't want to sell this house for a LONG time - so we needed it to be "grow old" friendly.
We decided that we really love the Shenandoah Valley area & started to concentrate our search there. We finally found not just an area that we loved, but a floor plan that we just knew was right for us.
So, we signed the contract in Sept 2016 and our build started in Feb 2017. We just signed allllllll of the paperwork today and got the keys! We're excited to be in a single family home of our own (the last time either of us lived in a single family home was when we lived with our parents).
Because of the new house purchase, there are very few trips planned for this year. We'll be using our seasonal space for most "getaways", but mostly, we'll be getting settled in the new place.
Showing posts with label Not Camping. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Not Camping. Show all posts
Monday, May 22, 2017
Saturday, January 28, 2017
Tampa RV SuperShow - January 2017
Sometime in September 2016, we decided to head to Tampa for the RV SuperShow. It fell over a weekend we were preferring to be out of our area, so it was perfect timing.
We decided to drive - as we were considering taking the Brave down. Instead, we ended up needing to get the Brave into the dealership to service it, so we kept our driving idea and just booked a hotel.
We told a couple of friends that we were headed down & asked if they wanted to go with us. They ultimately decided to fly down & meet us there - with an agenda. We were officially helping them shop for a rig that would fit their family of five. They love their Airstream, but have outgrown it for the time being.
On Monday, we took the Brave to the dealership. We had them looking at the small slide, roof for caulking, seals/caulk everywhere on the rig, and a couple of other small things.
We made it a 2-day trip down, starting on Tuesday. On Wednesday, we arrived in Tampa and checked into the Residence Inn Tampa Sabal Park/Brandon. It was the perfect location for our stay. Just about 2 miles from the fairgrounds & about 2 miles from Brandon. There are a couple of traffic issues right around there, but it's nothing we haven't experienced close to home.
Thursday, we got to the show at 9:30. It was crazy to get in, but we managed. We met up with Renee & Tim - fellow Brave owners - after we got into the show. It was great to meet them in person! After meeting them, we headed out to start looking at rigs. The show was so busy!
Around noon, we met up with RH & Jessica and started looking at toy haulers. This is a world we haven't really ever dove into. We spent the day looking at toy haulers & enjoyed learning more about them.
Thursday night, we went to Outback to have dinner & review our notes from the day.
Friday, we set about to look over the top two toy hauler choices and then to look at smaller trailers. It was great to see the different things that the industry is working on. Jon & I helped some friends look after their kids while they did a live video from the show (they're podcasters that are pretty awesome). We went out with the podcasting friends and a BUNCH of other people to Columbia Restaurant in Ybor City Historic District.
On Saturday, we went with our friends back to the toy hauler that they had selected & when the boys started talking $$, the girls ran around and looked at a bunch of rigs that there were no way we were buying. Different things - everything from travel trailers to Class A, B, and Cs.
After finding that they could get a better price closer to home, we decided to head over to LazyDays in Tampa to visit. We couldn't skip a visit since we were so close (only a few miles from the show). It was definitely worth the visit! If we were ever in the area again, we might consider staying at their campground, if we couldn't get into one of the state parks in the area.
We were pretty tired after all of the running around for three days, so we left on Sunday (instead of Monday). It turned out to be a good decision, as the weather was pretty crappy all day. We drove until NC & stopped for the night and then finished up the drive Monday.
All in all, it was a great trip! I'd definitely recommend visiting the Tampa RV Super Show!
We decided to drive - as we were considering taking the Brave down. Instead, we ended up needing to get the Brave into the dealership to service it, so we kept our driving idea and just booked a hotel.
We told a couple of friends that we were headed down & asked if they wanted to go with us. They ultimately decided to fly down & meet us there - with an agenda. We were officially helping them shop for a rig that would fit their family of five. They love their Airstream, but have outgrown it for the time being.
On Monday, we took the Brave to the dealership. We had them looking at the small slide, roof for caulking, seals/caulk everywhere on the rig, and a couple of other small things.
We made it a 2-day trip down, starting on Tuesday. On Wednesday, we arrived in Tampa and checked into the Residence Inn Tampa Sabal Park/Brandon. It was the perfect location for our stay. Just about 2 miles from the fairgrounds & about 2 miles from Brandon. There are a couple of traffic issues right around there, but it's nothing we haven't experienced close to home.
Thursday, we got to the show at 9:30. It was crazy to get in, but we managed. We met up with Renee & Tim - fellow Brave owners - after we got into the show. It was great to meet them in person! After meeting them, we headed out to start looking at rigs. The show was so busy!
Around noon, we met up with RH & Jessica and started looking at toy haulers. This is a world we haven't really ever dove into. We spent the day looking at toy haulers & enjoyed learning more about them.
Thursday night, we went to Outback to have dinner & review our notes from the day.
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| Show Map |
Friday, we set about to look over the top two toy hauler choices and then to look at smaller trailers. It was great to see the different things that the industry is working on. Jon & I helped some friends look after their kids while they did a live video from the show (they're podcasters that are pretty awesome). We went out with the podcasting friends and a BUNCH of other people to Columbia Restaurant in Ybor City Historic District.
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| Airstream Basecamp all decked out |
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| Hymer Touring 550 - Hopefully they'll get it to the US soon! |
After finding that they could get a better price closer to home, we decided to head over to LazyDays in Tampa to visit. We couldn't skip a visit since we were so close (only a few miles from the show). It was definitely worth the visit! If we were ever in the area again, we might consider staying at their campground, if we couldn't get into one of the state parks in the area.
 |
| LazyDays Tampa |
We were pretty tired after all of the running around for three days, so we left on Sunday (instead of Monday). It turned out to be a good decision, as the weather was pretty crappy all day. We drove until NC & stopped for the night and then finished up the drive Monday.
All in all, it was a great trip! I'd definitely recommend visiting the Tampa RV Super Show!
Wednesday, August 31, 2016
Vancouver, BC & Alaska on the Disney Wonder - August 2016
Not a camping trip, but man did we have a great time. I was a few months out from surgery, so we weren't sure how my energy level would be as we went through the trip. It turned out to be a good thing we canceled one of our hiking excursions, as I wouldn't have been up to it. Since I slacked & it's been so long since the trip (I'm actually writing this in Feb 2018 - oops!), I'll just post some highlights.
Vancouver, BC
* We LOVE Vancouver. It's such a great city, with plenty to do. This trip, in addition to a lot of walking, we did a seaplane around the city, which was pretty cool. We also went to the aquarium, which was a great way to spend a morning.
* Pre-cruise, we stayed at the Pan Pacific & man did it make getting to the port easy (since it's AT the port).
*Post-cruise, we stayed at Fairmont Vancouver Airport in Terminal Hotel. It was really nice just to be at the airport & relaxing. We should've spent the day exploring a bit more, but I was tired after the cruise, so we just relaxed and spent the day watching tv and chilling out.
Disney Cruise
* We had been on basically this same cruise with another line 6 years earlier. It was nice to get out and do other things - some of which hadn't been options on the other line for various reasons.
* I love a Disney Cruise. Having to be gluten free (for medical reasons), I know I'll ALWAYS be ok on a Disney cruise. There's no guessing - and it's amazing.
* On the "at sea" days, go out on the deck or be on your balcony. We saw SO MANY humpback whales this trip. At one point, there were so many, we had no idea where to look next. They were everywhere. Best "free" excursion - whale watching without the extra fee.
*Don't be afraid to split your party up for excursions. This is the first trip where I felt so strongly that I wanted to do a certain excursion and Jon had absolutely no interest, that we split up. I was a little nervous about it, but it turned out to be a great idea!
* In Skagway, we did an excursion that allowed us to take the White Pass Rail - starting in Fraser, BC - and then do a hike in the Tongass National Forest. We got to have lunch on a beautiful river and hike (albeit at a much faster pace than we normally hike!). If you ever get an option to do this and you're able-bodied enough to do it, DO IT! I was really worried about this particular excursion so close to my surgery, and it did wipe my energy, but it was 150% worth it.
* In Juneau, we originally had a hike planned (as an excursion). We decided to cancel it before we went on the trip. I was EXHAUSTED after the hike in Skagway and needed an easy day. We ended up taking the tram up Mt Roberts, which we hadn't been able to do the previous trip. After a few pictures and a tiny (0.1 or so) "hike" on a dirt path around the top of the mountain area right at the center, we came back down to town. We walked around town a bit, grabbed lunch, Jon got coffee, and then we headed back to the ship. Nice an easy day.
* In Ketichkan, Jon went on a Bering Sea Crab boat excursion. One of the boat captains was on Deadliest Catch at some point. He said it was a really interesting trip.
* Also in Ketichkan, I went on a snorkeling excursion. It. Was. Awesome. The water was 62 degrees, a little murky, and just so much fun. I mean, how many people can say they've been snorkeling in Alaskan waters?
* Sometimes it pays to be out on your balcony when it's an "at sea" day. We saw a bunch of dolphins playing in the wake of the ship near Vancouver Island.
* One night, our friends, their parents, and their other set of friends decided to do Palo for dinner. We had done it before and opted out. We got to have dinner with just the oldest daughters from each family - it was so much fun. Both girls are funny, nice, and generally just awesome young adults. We genuinely had fun having dinner with them. The girls basically ordered 2 of each course. It was the only night they did it and they really enjoyed it. They both tried things they wouldn't have normally and were great food critics. We laughed quite a bit. Lesson? If your friends ask if you mind having dinner with the oldest "kids", do it!
Vancouver, BC
* We LOVE Vancouver. It's such a great city, with plenty to do. This trip, in addition to a lot of walking, we did a seaplane around the city, which was pretty cool. We also went to the aquarium, which was a great way to spend a morning.
* Pre-cruise, we stayed at the Pan Pacific & man did it make getting to the port easy (since it's AT the port).
*Post-cruise, we stayed at Fairmont Vancouver Airport in Terminal Hotel. It was really nice just to be at the airport & relaxing. We should've spent the day exploring a bit more, but I was tired after the cruise, so we just relaxed and spent the day watching tv and chilling out.
Disney Cruise
* We had been on basically this same cruise with another line 6 years earlier. It was nice to get out and do other things - some of which hadn't been options on the other line for various reasons.
* I love a Disney Cruise. Having to be gluten free (for medical reasons), I know I'll ALWAYS be ok on a Disney cruise. There's no guessing - and it's amazing.
* On the "at sea" days, go out on the deck or be on your balcony. We saw SO MANY humpback whales this trip. At one point, there were so many, we had no idea where to look next. They were everywhere. Best "free" excursion - whale watching without the extra fee.
*Don't be afraid to split your party up for excursions. This is the first trip where I felt so strongly that I wanted to do a certain excursion and Jon had absolutely no interest, that we split up. I was a little nervous about it, but it turned out to be a great idea!
* In Skagway, we did an excursion that allowed us to take the White Pass Rail - starting in Fraser, BC - and then do a hike in the Tongass National Forest. We got to have lunch on a beautiful river and hike (albeit at a much faster pace than we normally hike!). If you ever get an option to do this and you're able-bodied enough to do it, DO IT! I was really worried about this particular excursion so close to my surgery, and it did wipe my energy, but it was 150% worth it.
* In Juneau, we originally had a hike planned (as an excursion). We decided to cancel it before we went on the trip. I was EXHAUSTED after the hike in Skagway and needed an easy day. We ended up taking the tram up Mt Roberts, which we hadn't been able to do the previous trip. After a few pictures and a tiny (0.1 or so) "hike" on a dirt path around the top of the mountain area right at the center, we came back down to town. We walked around town a bit, grabbed lunch, Jon got coffee, and then we headed back to the ship. Nice an easy day.
* In Ketichkan, Jon went on a Bering Sea Crab boat excursion. One of the boat captains was on Deadliest Catch at some point. He said it was a really interesting trip.
* Also in Ketichkan, I went on a snorkeling excursion. It. Was. Awesome. The water was 62 degrees, a little murky, and just so much fun. I mean, how many people can say they've been snorkeling in Alaskan waters?
* Sometimes it pays to be out on your balcony when it's an "at sea" day. We saw a bunch of dolphins playing in the wake of the ship near Vancouver Island.
* One night, our friends, their parents, and their other set of friends decided to do Palo for dinner. We had done it before and opted out. We got to have dinner with just the oldest daughters from each family - it was so much fun. Both girls are funny, nice, and generally just awesome young adults. We genuinely had fun having dinner with them. The girls basically ordered 2 of each course. It was the only night they did it and they really enjoyed it. They both tried things they wouldn't have normally and were great food critics. We laughed quite a bit. Lesson? If your friends ask if you mind having dinner with the oldest "kids", do it!
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