Natchez Trace Parkway

We are easing into our world travels with a warm-up trip in the continental US.  Ironically, our warm-up trip started with record cold weather in much of the Midwest, including Ohio where we traveled on January 2nd to see family and friends.  After a long weekend of enjoying the familiarities of home, we headed south to check the first item off of our bucket list, The Natchez Trace Parkway, an historic 444 mile route stretching from Nashville Tennessee to Natchez Mississippi.

Our road trip on the Trace was enjoyed at a relatively relaxed pace.  We stopped at a variety of sites such as:

• Jackson Falls
• Memorials (Meriwether Lewis and the War of 1812)
• Native American ceremonial mounds (Bear Creek, Pharr, and Emerald)
• Cypress Swamp (pictured above)

Along the way we witnessed a variety of wildlife including deer, turkeys, and hawks.  It was a beautiful, well organized, and well maintained route; we recommend it to anyone wanting to get off the highway and return to an unspoiled environment.

TripAdvisor's 10 Destinations on the Rise

TripAdvisor's 10 Destinations on the Rise offers a great idea generator for the upcoming trip.  We noticed a few destinations already included on our list of "must visits" and some new considerations as well. 

For those targeting specific regions, the article offers an option towards the top which reveals TripAdvisor's picks for the top 10 destinations in the United States, Europe, South America, Asia, and the South Pacific.

Cameron Area Wind Farm - Tehachapi Pass in Southern California

Road trips allow you to slow down and see sites you may have never noticed normally.  We loved seeing the Cameron Area Wind farm at Tehachapi Pass in Southern California.  It's the largest number of turbines we have seen. 

7 Weeks Until We Leave!

Implementing this 10-year goal brings back memories of planning our wedding in Hawaii.  There was a bunch of planning upfront, a lull in the middle when things just happen, and final preparations kick-in as the goal nears.

The latest activities included purchasing quick-dry clothing, new hiking boots, and travel-sized health / beauty items.  We met with our financial advisor, tax account, insurance agent and doctors; we are now fully vaccinated!  Our old 2001 Jeep is road trip-ready and we are preparing to sell the 2012 Jeep.  Our coup de gras was securing Global Entry passes to quickly maneuver through TSA and customs.

There is still more to do including scanning documentation, reserving hotels for the start of our trip, and ensuring phones are travel-ready.

It’s fun to know travel adventures are just around the corner!