On July 30th Emma and I are taking a road trip from Michigan to Yellowstone. For the first half of the trip it will just be the 2 of us and then my sister will join us for the last half.
I’m so excited to have the opportunity to spend some time with Emma exploring the West. The trip is scheduled to take 3 weeks. I wish I had more time, but I’m attending Bloggy Boot Camp in Chicago on August 20th.
Our tentative schedule looks like this:
July 30: Drive from Cadillac, MI to Ludington, MI. In Ludington take the S.S. Badger ferry to Manitowoc, WI. Drive to Bloomington, MN. Very excited about taking the Badger across Lake Michigan. I just hope its smooth sailing, I don’t do well on rocking boats.
July 31: Visit the Mall of America. Nickelodeon Universe, Moose Mountain, Lego Land are all must sees. Start the drive West. I think we might make it 2 hours before we call it a day.
August 1: Drive to the Badlands. Stop at Corn Palace, and any other points of interest we may find.
August 2: Visit the Badlands, hike, draw, take photos, gorge ourselves on nature’s beauty. Camp.
August 3-5: Visit Rapid City, SD. Include visit to Spirit of the Hills Wildlife Sanctuary. Couch Surf.
August 5-7: Camp at Custer State Park. Visit Mt. Rushmore, Rushmore Tram/President’s Slide.
August 7-10: Visit Wild Horse Sanctuary, drive to Wyoming to visit my kick-@ss wonderful bloggy friend.
August 10: Leave WY bright and early to drive to Denver, pick up sister at Denver airport. Drive to Estes Park, CO to visit the Stanley Hotel (take ghost tour). Couch Surf
August 11: Head to Jackson, WY. Camp.
August 12-15: Yellowstone. Camp. Hike. Hike. Hike. Take photos, be in awe of all that Yellowstone has to offer.
August 15-20: Make our way to Chicago. This part of the trip doesn’t really have any plans. We are going to let the wind take us where it will. 
We plan to make this trip as budget friendly as possible by camping, couch surfing and packing food. Our biggest expense will be gas (ugh!). We are very lucky that some very generous peeps are allowing us to crash their couches a few night, other nights we will camp–in a tent (Y’all know there will be some fun blog posts from that!) We are still looking for a place to stay near Mall of America and in Jackson so if you know someone will to offer us shelter for the night please let me know.
Do you have any suggestions or “must see” suggestions for us?? Do you live in an area along our route. We would love to meet up with you!
Do you have any road trips planned this summer?
I am freaking envious! Have a wonderful time. Where do you stay in Chicago? I could ask uncle Jack whether he would put up with 3 shortofcrazy ladies! BTW he is completely crazy himself!
Safe travels! The ghost tour sounds fascinating, I wonder if I’ll have time for that if travel to the area as well.
One thing to mention about Yellowstone: Ole Faithful can be a rather anticlimactic experience, mostly because it draws a large, obnoxious crowd who just sit there in a long line staring at the hole for 30 minutes before it finally erupts. Like Disneyland in Yellowstone.
Rather, I believe the CAN’T MISS destination are the Geyser Basins (Upper, Midway, Lower.) Think Lord of the Rings experience, with the added bonus of picnic areas.
Woohoo! Can’t wait for you to get here. Wine on the deck! Ride along with the popo to see the hot firemen and coppers. Relax time! Party!
Oh wait…does your hubs read this? Scratch the eye candy and party. We are going to knit and read books.
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Fun site you have here cannot wait to meet and host you for your couch surfing event. You are going to be in Rapid City at the start of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally so bring your leathers for you and the handcuffs for your daughter. Excited to be part of your journey if you roast out in the badlands I am only an hour away for a cool room and shower. HAVE FUN ON YOUR ROADIE!
Couch Surfing Host,
Jennifer
p.s. bring momma fargo with you too.