Go on the roof and dump a bucket of water on them.
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I am trying to plan a family adventure for my son to take before kid #2 arrives in July. I want it to be a vacation that he will remember because I know memories at age 4-5 are hard to hold onto unless they make a big impression. The coolest trip I remember as a kid was at age 5 we spent a week traveling the Parkway. We went from Tweetsie railroad, to Blowing Rock, Grandfather Mtn., Maggie Valley, and Cherokee. I may just plan a trip like that for him and get a cabin right in between everything so I was wondering if you guys have any suggestions for a good place/area to stay that is quiet and will give him that log cabin in the middle of no where feel.
Also, if I decide to explore Tn. instead, have either of you been to The Lost Sea? I heard it was cool, just not sure if it is worth the drive that far up. Thanks in advance to all you Mtn. Top locals.
Jeremy
Also, if I decide to explore Tn. instead, have either of you been to The Lost Sea? I heard it was cool, just not sure if it is worth the drive that far up. Thanks in advance to all you Mtn. Top locals.
Jeremy
About Swiss Mountain Village
Jeremy, this is a place I have taken my kids for the last 20+ years. Right off the parkway in Blowing Rock. Great memories from fishing in the pond to skiing at App. Rent runs from 80 to 120 a night I think with a 2 night minimum. There is a kitchen and gas fireplace and more. Just a suggestion.
Kenny
Jeremy, this is a place I have taken my kids for the last 20+ years. Right off the parkway in Blowing Rock. Great memories from fishing in the pond to skiing at App. Rent runs from 80 to 120 a night I think with a 2 night minimum. There is a kitchen and gas fireplace and more. Just a suggestion.
Kenny
Jeremy, I've been to lost sea caverns many times with the scouts. I wouldn't do it without a group. My scouts talk about it for years, but as a group, you get to do an extended spelunking tour and spend the night in the cave. As a walk in, you just get a touch of what we do. It is cool to go for the glass bottom boat ride, though.
My most memerable trip as a child was at Maggie Valley. We stayed for a week, saw the shootout, rode the train, and played in the stream. A neighbor was there at the same time, and we spent some time with them, also.
Marshall, I saw the signs and all the butts at the parts swap when I went to walk the dog...Maybe a butt bucket (aka lg drum) would help.
My most memerable trip as a child was at Maggie Valley. We stayed for a week, saw the shootout, rode the train, and played in the stream. A neighbor was there at the same time, and we spent some time with them, also.
Marshall, I saw the signs and all the butts at the parts swap when I went to walk the dog...Maybe a butt bucket (aka lg drum) would help.
Thanks for the link Kenny. That place looks sweet and centrally located as well. I will show it to the wife tonight and see if I can talk her into it. Looks like all the fun of camping but the comforts of home for her seeing as how she will be 6 months pregnant then.
Thanks! That's what I was looking for David. I saw the camping in the caves package and figured it would be better to wait until he was 9 or 10 so he could really explore the place. That's a long drive just to peak into some caves and ride the boat. Tweetsie Railroad and Maggie Valley sound like the way to go. That is of course as long as I can talk him into not going to Disney.
Jeremy
would any of y'all buy and install ambulance doors specific for a 55?
I have a chance to buy an aussie back half of a 55 with ambulance doors..but there is a blind spot in my 40 thats pretty annoying... but the novelty.... but it may wear off if I have more of a huge hassle than normal sourcing any parts for them... I am tossing it around...
I have a chance to buy an aussie back half of a 55 with ambulance doors..but there is a blind spot in my 40 thats pretty annoying... but the novelty.... but it may wear off if I have more of a huge hassle than normal sourcing any parts for them... I am tossing it around...
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While the tailgate on a 55 is a pain in the ass to deal with. It's one of the coolest features of the truck. I personally hate the amby doors.
ok i need a new mattress really really bad. Our current pillowtop is like sleeping in a ditch. Anyone have any suggestions??
Go to big lots. They have a ton of beds to choose from.
Gonna spend a little more $$ than that this time around. Tired of replacing mattress every 3 to 5 yrs...
I've never bought one from there, but they do carry name brand mattresses. Vera wang, serta etc
Costco memory foam. The wife and I bought one and we will never have anything else - PERIOD.
Before the Costco memory foam we bought a Sealy from Big Lots. It worked great for about 6 months but turned to garbage after that. After another couple of months of turning the mattress we donated it. It was absolute junk and a waste of money.
my ultimate family trip
wait until it's too cold here in SC to stand.
Start heading south. Once you find weather that's 60+deg. you can primitve camp any spot you find along the way. I'd recomend camp grounds but some more daring fools as myself will choose to find what looks like abandoned farm houses if it's just a night or along hiking/nature trails.
Primitive camp grounds by ICW,the ocean or lakes would be ideal. If the fishing/hiking/scenery is good stay longer than others.
Take a tour of the everglades via air boat. Try to catch as much gator sight seeing as possible.
The fishing in salt, fresh, black water is always good!!! Fish any spot you can find.
Continue south heading towards the keys. Stop at random beaches along the way to hang out. If you can bring kayaks along with you on the roof it would be great to just head down hwy 1 and if you see an island you think is cool off in the distance find a parking spot and head out to explore for the day...maybe more.
once you get to the keys
Take a charter fishing trip.
Take a private charter to swim with the manatee since they will probably all be together in warmer areas this time of year.
Find a private sailboat to take a trip to the dry tortugas for 2 days.
would require some dedicated time off. I like to leave things realitively unplanned so i'm not rushed if something interesting comes my way we can stray off course without any issues.
I'd avoid all hotels and chain resturants along the way.
If i wasn't eating fresh fish i'd be cooking local stuff from the markets if they can be found as well as little mom/pop joints.
Packing gear light enough to fit camping supplies for a week in two ocean kayaks would be ideal.
If you can get local info on where manatee, good snorkeling spots are or fishings spots you can bypass the charter trips and save money making your own tour and can travel at your own pace.
I'm not sure that i would like the everglades in a kayak with a little kid.
But 10,000 islands might be a nice trip along the way too in kayak. If weather/conditions are right one could spend a week or more there.
Thanks. That sounds like the ultimate man trip, not smething for a 6 month pregnant wife and a 4 year old kid. I'll keep that in mind though.
For the time being I think we are going to head to Disney next week while the temps are in the 80's and lines are short and rates are low. We will still do a mountain trip in April though.
Jeremy
For the time being I think we are going to head to Disney next week while the temps are in the 80's and lines are short and rates are low. We will still do a mountain trip in April though.
Jeremy
pregnant wife...not unless she's a real trooper. As far as the 4 yr old...i don't know about your kid but mine never puts up a fuss to do anything with me when it comes to going somewhere especially if it's something other than the norm.
When weather is nice i even make the little guy walk from falls park to cleveland park. Then have him play on every play ground along the way.
Then he walks back.
By the time we hit the road home he's asleep.
The only place i've found that he didn't like was hiking along narrow/rocky mtn trails. He wanted to be carried because he kept tripping on the rocks.
When weather is nice i even make the little guy walk from falls park to cleveland park. Then have him play on every play ground along the way.
Then he walks back.
By the time we hit the road home he's asleep.
The only place i've found that he didn't like was hiking along narrow/rocky mtn trails. He wanted to be carried because he kept tripping on the rocks.
He's a trooper, and is my hiking partner. My friend also owns an air boat in Florida, but I would never dream of putting a 4yo on an air boat.
Jeremy
Jeremy
i would trust mine in one so long as the operator takes it easy and there was some way he could sit in my lap.
I wouldn't want to be out there with a dare devil operator.
Air boat and "takes it easy" don't usually go together, but I agree. I took him 13 miles offshore in a 21' Ranger Bay Boat when he was 2. He loved it. However, now that he is older and can think for himself he seems to be a little more cautious. Plus he has his mother whispering in his ear.
Jeremy
Jeremy
come on...the kids in the tv show flipper used to ride an airboat everywhere!