First Vacations!

I guess I like shorter Blogs...I want to journal Lex's Vacations since we are a family who loves to travel.  Even on a ridiculously tight budget we have managed to give our children opportunities to travel far and wide to experience things.  It is enriching for all of us.  I am proud of Lex for being not only a good little traveller but also for having some destinations under his belt before he even turned 3.

In December of 2009, for the occassion of his sister Annika's 9th Birthday, we visited Walt Disney World Florida.  It was our 2nd Family Visit but Lex's first.On our first Trip in December 2005, we flew to Florida but with Lex we drove.  It was 2 days to drive in each direction but it was a wonderful road trip.  We departed at 1am on the Friday of that week.  We putn the kids in the car figuring they would doze off but I guess they were so excited that they were awake for over 4 hours...they stayed awake as we drove from RI, through CT, NY and into NJ.  They feel asleep on the Turnpike.  I can't blame them for that because the NJ Turnpike is a dreadful 2 hour drive.  We lulled them to sleep with some CD's I brought of lullabies for kids.  They also had their DVD player for the ride which they used a lot...mostly Annika with her Barbie movies.

This trip was brought to us courtesy of a 1994 Dodge Caravan, Green in color.  We travelled with ease in the van, it was so comfortable.  Annika had a good setup there as you can see.  Lex had a great view!!!

Driving gave us plenty of Family-Bonding opportunities.  We stopped at South of The Border in SC.

Our Hotel at WDW, our favorite Hotel even if we have actually never stayed at any of the others, is the Pop Century Resort.  It is a Value Resort.  I got excellent rates for the week.  We visited the parks for 5 days on this trip, which is enough time.

CLASSIC LEX in this last picture.  Sadly we lost this hat while we were there.  I loved that hat.

In 2010, August, we went on another Road Trip Vacation as a family.  This time, we wanted to travel closer since 4 days on the road was a lot.  We chose to vacation in New Hampshire instead.  We stayed at Gilcrest Cottages while we visited Lincoln and Glen NH.  It was Great.  we visited StoryLand, Clarks Trading Post and Franconia Notch State Park.

We had a wonderful time.

In September we spent the day in Cape Cod walking Hyannis, eating in Yarmouth, visiting Museums.

It was September 11th 2010.  This was our last Road Trip before the Van's Timing Belt blew.  We are planning our next adventure but in a different vehicle of course.  Our car now is small and gas efficient...not exactly a luxury ride so we are looking at day trips or maybe a revival of New Hampshire.