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Sample Itinerary
Organized Travel
Below is a sample itinerary from a trip our family took several years ago. The longer I have to plan a trip, the more detailed my itineraries become. I'll admit the hourly schedule is probably overkill (although it sure helped us in Europe when we were juggling so many train schedules), and you may have no need or desire to plan your vacations down to 15-minute increments, but do consider keeping a master list of mileage, routes, hotel confirmation numbers, and information concerning sites you'd like to see along the way. A little advanced planning and preparation can make the journey more joyous. Scroll down to read the sample itinerary, or click on links below to view other trip notes in pdf format.
Deep South - East Coast - Europe - Florida/Caribbean - Midwest - New England - Pacific Northwest - Southwest
Flanders' Road Trip to California - Spring 2000
All Itinerary Details Subject to Change without Notice
Friday, March 24
- 3:00 - Dress for trip - royal blue T-shirts, jeans, summer plaid
- 3:30 - Load Suburban/ pray/ set trip odometer to 000
- 4:00 - Tyler, TX >> Mesquite, TX via I-20 (99 mi)
Listen: George Washington Carver biography tape (1 hr)
Travel bags: coloring books and markers
- 5:30 - Dinner out with Cowans and Hancocks - Tony Roma's (coupon)
- 7:00 - Visit @ Nana & Papa's
- 8:00 - Mesquite , TX >> Arlington, TX via I-30 (about 30 mi)
- 8:30 - Hotel check-in
Springhill Suites - 1975 East Lamar - (817) 860-2737
One room, 2 double beds, 1 fold-out couch, 1 crib - $69
Confirmation # 8098 8233 (7 kids "no problem")
- 9:00 - Swim in heated pool before bed?
Saturday, March 25
- 7:00 - Up and dress - teal diabetes T-shirts, summer plaid
- 8:00 - Continental breakfast at hotel
- 8:45 - Pray/ Check gas
- 9:00 - Arlington, TX >> Abilene, TX via I-30 to Ft Worth, then I-20 (170 mi)
Listen: John Bunyan's HOLY WAR (3 hrs)
Snacks: cheese-n-crackers, water in sipper cups, Doritos
Travel bags: puzzles, stickers, gum, books
- 12:00 - Lunch in Abilene
- 1:00 - Visit Grace (Children's) Museum
102 Cypress Street - (913) 673-4587
Open Tue-Sat 10-5, Thurs until 8:30
No charge with DSP card
- 3:00 - Abilene, TX >> Big Spring, TX via I-20 (108 mi)
- 4:30 - Take bathroom break at Heritage Museum
510 Scurry Street - (432) 267-8255
Open Sat 10-5
No charge with DSP card
- 5:00 - Big Spring, TX >> Eunice, NM via Hwy 176 (100 mi)
- 6:30 - Reset watches to Mountain time (back one hour)
- 5:30 - Eunice, NM >> Carlsbad, NM via Hwy 62/180 (70 mi)
- 6:30 - Eat dinner in Carlsbad
- 7:30 - Carlsbad, NM >> Whites City, NM via Hwy 62/180 (18 mi)
- 8:00 - Hotel Check-in
Best Western Cavern Inn (505) 785-2291, (800) 730-2851
Carlsbad Cavern Hwy: 62 /180 at jct. SR 7
Military rate $55 per room per night
Two adjoining rooms reserved w/ 2 double beds ea.
Includes free passes to adjoining water park, but no breakfast.
Confirmation # 113-359-996
- Dusk - watch bats?
Sunday, March 26
- 6:30 - Up and eat breakfast food (fruit cups, granola bars, juice)
- 7:00 - Dress - dark green polos, green plaid
- 7:30 - Pack up/ Hotel Check-out
- 8:00 - Pray/ Check gas
- 8:30 - Carlsbad Caverns opens: Big Room Tour
Admission $5 adult, $3 ages 6-12,under 6 free [$22 total]
Bring jackets; allow 1 ˝ hours
- 10:30 - Whites City, NM >> El Paso, TX via Hwy 62/180 (150 mi)
Listen: Scott O'Dell's Sing Down the Moon
Snacks: beef jerky, juice, granola bars, raisins
Travel bags: beady buddies, markers
- 1:00 - Lunch in El Paso
- 2:00 - Magoffin Homestate Historical Site
1120 Magoffin Ave, (915) 533-5147
No charge with DSP card
- 3:00 - El Paso, TX >> Las Cruces, NM via I-25 (46 mi)
- 3:45 - Las Cruces, NM >> Tucson, AZ via I-10 (about 280 mi)
note - If ahead of schedule, tour Amerind Foundation Museum
in Dragoon (closes at 4 pm. $3/adult, under 12 free)
- 6:00 - Dinner on the road
- 8:30 - Hotel check-in
Clarion Hotel Tucson Airport - (520) 746-3932
One room w/2 queen beds, 1 crib (no charge), $75
Includes free kids, breakfast buffet, late night snacks/drinks
Confirmation # JH 031500
Monday, March 27
- 6:30 - Up and dress - kelly green T-shirts, jeans, green plaid
- 7:30 - Breakfast buffet/ check-out
- 8:00 - Pray/ Check gas
- 8:30 - Visit Sonora Desert Museum (open 7:30-6:00)
Tucson Mountain Park - allow 2 hrs. min
Admission: $8.95 adult, $1.75 ages 6-12, under 6 free [$24.90 total]
- 11:00 - Lunch out with Uncle Henry and Aunt Imogene
- 1:00 - Tucson, AZ >> El Centro, CA via I-8 (292 mi)
Listen: Louis L'Amour
Snacks: water in sipper cups, oatmeal cookies, cheetos
Travel bags: Crosswords, math drills, stickers, yarn crafts
- 5:30 - Reset watches to Pacific time (back another hour)
- 4:30 - El Centro, CA >> San Diego, CA via I-8 (114 mi)
- 6:30 - Eat dinner??
- 8:00 - Hotel Check-in:
Holiday Inn Express - 3950 Jupiter Street - (619) 226-8000, (800) 320-0208
One room, 2 double beds + crib, $89/night, includes continental breakfast
AAA Tour Book, p. A451. Confirmation # 64959194
- 8:30 - Ask concierge about discounts to Zoo and Legoland ?
Tuesday, March 28
- 6:00 - Up and dress - red polos, red plaid
- 7:00 - Breakfast at hotel
- 8:00 - Pray/ Check gas
- 8:15 - Walk around Balboa Park - listen for Carrion Bells
- 9:00 - San Diego Zoo opens - off I-5 at Pershing Dr. exit - (619) 234-3153
General admission: $13 adult, $6 ages 3-11
Deluxe: (incl. bus tour, aerial tram, children's zoo): $19 adult, $11 ages 3-11
[$56 total general/ $93 total deluxe]
Ask about group rate/ family membership?
- 1:00 - Drive to Old Town - eat on the way?
Robinson-Rose House - 4002 Wellas - (619)220-5422
- 2:00 - Walking tour of Old Town (free)
- 4:30 - Eat at Casa de Pico in Old Town (Jeske's recommendation) - 2754 Calhoun St
(619)296-3267
- 6:00 - Swim in hotel pool?
Wednesday, March 29
- 6:00 - Up and dress - yellow polos, jeans, red plaid
- 7:00 - Breakfast at hotel
- 8:00 - Pack up/ hotel check out?
- 8:15 - Pray/ Check gas
- 8:30 - San Diego, CA >> Carlsbad, CA via I-5 (30 mi)
- 9:15 - Stop at Beachview Lodge to get discounted Legoland tickets? ($25 ea)
Go North on I-5, exit Carlsbad Village Drive.
Go west, TR on Carlsbad Blvd,
hotel is next right - must fill out paperwork, then get tickets at sister hotel 4 blocks away.
- 10:00 - Legoland in Carlsbad, CA
30 million bricks; 5000 models, 40 attractions
Open 10 am - 5 pm. Information: (760) 918-5346 [$210 total]
Admission: $34 adult, $27 ages 3-16, under 3 free; parking $7 (MC/V)
Ask about group rates?
- 5:00 - Eat dinner
- 6:00 - Hotel check-in:
Best Western Beachview Lodge - 3180 Carlsbad Blvd - (800) 535-5588
One suite with King bed, foldaway sofa, crib? $154, includes breakfast Confirmation # 26777
- 6:30 - Walk along the beach? Swim?
Thursday, March 30
- 6:00 - Up and dress - New Orleans T-shirts
- 7:00 - Continental breakfast at hotel
- 8:00 - Pack up and check out
- 8:15 - Pray/ Check gas
- 9:00 - Carlsbad, CA >> Laguna Beach, CA via I-5 to Doheny/ Hwy 1 (50 mi?)
- 10:30 - Laguna Beach
Park and walk to beach. See sea lions, sea anemones, urchins, starfish.
- 11:30 - Laguna Beach, CA >> Los Angeles, CA via Hwy 1 to I-110 (30 mi?)
Listen: Your Story Hour
- 11:30 - Eat lunch on the road
- 12:00 - Visit Exposition Park (off I-110)
- 12:30 - Tour Natural History Museum of LA - 900 Exposition Blvd. (213) 744-3466
Tue-Sun 10-5, Admission: $6 adult, $3 ages 5-11 [$24 total]
- 2:45 - Tour California Museum of Science and Industry?
700 State Drive
Open daily 10-5. Free admission to museum
- 3:30 - Leave downtown before rush hour
- 4:00 - Hotel Check-in - Best Western Golden Key - Glendale
123 W Colorado - (818)247-0111
One room w/ 2 Q beds + crib: $116.10 first night (SAM's Club)
Includes: free continental breakfast, free video movies, popcorn and peanuts.
Check-in at 1pm, Check out at noon. Cancel by 4 pm date of arrival.
AAA Travel Guide p. A244. Confirmation # 534-940-290
- 5:00 - Eat dinner
- 6:00 - Do laundry at hotel
Friday, March 31
- 6:00 - Up and dress - yellow polos, jeans, red plaid
- 7:00 - Eat breakfast at hotel
- 8:00 - Pack up/ hotel check-out
- 8:15 - Pray/ Check gas
- 8:30 - Tour Forest Lawn Memorial Park - 1712 S. Glendale Ave - (213) 254-3131
Park open daily 8-5, Museum open daily 10-5 (Admission: donation)
Artwork: "Last Supper shown every ˝ hour 9:30-4
Artwork "Crucifixion and Resurrection every hour 10-4
- 9:30 - Last Supper?
- 10:00 - Resurrection?
- 11:00 - Lunch
- 12:00 - NBC Studio in Burbank? (p.103)
3000 W. Alameda Ave - (818) 840-3537 - Mon-Fri 9-3
1 hr.15-min. tour: $7 adult, $3.75 ages 5-12, under 5 free
- 2:30 - Stop by Visitors Bureau in Beverly Hills - get free driving tour guide
239 S. Beverly Drive - (310) 271-8174, (800) 345-2210
- 2:45 - Tour Beverly Hills/ Hollywood
- 4:00 - See Mann's Chinese Theater - 6925 Hollywood Blvd.
- 5:00 - Eat Dinner
- 6:00 - Los Angeles, CA >> Tulare, CA via I-5 (170 mi)
- 9:30 - Hotel Check-in:
Best Western Town & Country - 1051 N. Blackstone Ave - (559) 688-7537
One non-smoking room with 2 Queen beds + 1 crib, $58
Confirmation # TRACY
Saturday, April 1
- 6:00 - Up and dress - red polos, red plaid
- 7:00 - Breakfast/ hotel check-out
- 8:00 - Pray/ Check gas
- 8:15 - Tulare, CA >> Sequoia National Park, CA via Hwy 63 to 198? (50 mi?)
- 9:15 - See Sequoias
- 10:30 - Sequoia National Park, CA >> Las Vegas, NV via Hwy 198 to Hwy 65 to
Hwy 58 @ Bakersfield to I-15 @ Barstow to Vegas (about 360 mi)
Snack: goldfish, juice
Travel bags: yarn crafts, activity books
- 12:00 - Eat lunch on the road
- 4:30 - Leid Discovery Children's Museum? - 833 Las Vegas Blvd
Open Tue-Sat 10-5
No charge with DSP card
- 5:00 - Eat Dinner - Rainforest Café? Use coupon.
- 6:30 - Hotel Check-in:
Fairfield Inn - 3850 Paradise Road - (702)791-3600, (800)443-6000
Non-smoking King Suite w/ sofa sleeper + crib: $80
Includes free continental breakfast. Cancel by 6 pm date of arrival
AAA Guide p. A688. Confirmation # 8287 1458
Sunday, April 2
- 1:00 - Reset watches for Daylight Savings Time (forward one hour)
- 6:00 - Up and Dress - dark green polos, jeans, green plaid
- 7:00 - Breakfast at hotel
- 8:00 - Pack up and Check-out
- 8:15 - Pray/ Check Gas
- 9:00 - Tour Hoover Dam - (702)293-8321
Park along US 93 and ride free shuttle
40-min. tour: $5 adult, $2.50 ages 10-16, Under 10??
- 11:00 - Crossing into Mountain time (no time change - no daylight savings in AZ)
- 11:00 - Las Vegas, NV >> Flagstaff, AZ via US 93, I-40 (251 mi)
Listen: Scott O-Dell book
Snack: Cheerios, raisins, nuts, water in sipper cups
- 4:00 - Flagstaff - Lowell Observatory
1400 West Mars Hill Road, (520) 774-3358
(This observatory was founded by Percival Lowell, a Boston aristocrat and
amateur astronomer who built it back in 1894, hoping to find life on Mars.
In the past century, Lowell Observatory has helped discover Pluto, map out
the moon, locate the rings of Uranus, and provide evidence of an expanding
universe.)
- No charge with DSP card, open noon-5:00
- note - If we're running significantly ahead of schedule, we will see Tuzigoot National
Monument before heading back to Williams. It's open 8-5, $2 adult, kids free
(520)-634-5564
- 5:00 - Flagstaff, AZ >> Williams, AZ via I-40 (30 mi)
- 5:30 - Dinner
- 6:30 - Shop Safeway - 637 W Rte 66 - get picnic food for tomorrow
- 7:00 - Hotel Check-in:
Best Western Inn of Williams - 2600 W. Bill Williams - (800) 635-4445
Railway/ room package -- $402.66
Includes two non-adjoining rooms with 2 double beds each + crib, continental
breakfast, drinks, round-trip RR passage for 2 adults, 5 children, 2 lap children
See AAA Tour Book p A17**** Original room cancellation # 317 CXL
Confirmation # 402 TPD 169 B2
Monday, April 3
- 7:00 - Up and dress - kelly green T-shirts, green plaid
- 8:00 - Breakfast at hotel
- 9:00 - Gunfight in front of Grand Canyon Depot?
- 9:30 - Board train
- 11:45 - Arrive at Grand Canyon
- 12:00 - Eat lunch - Picnic??
- 1:00 - Trek around Grand Canyon Village, trails, and Visitors Center
note - In event of inclement weather, we can hop a bus to the Grand Canyon IMAX
Theater in Tusayan and see 34 minute film. Tickets $8 adult, $6 ages 3-11
- 3:15 - Train leaves Grand Canyon
- 5:30 - Back in Williams
- 6:00 - Eat dinner
Tuesday, April 4
- 7:00 - Up and dress - New Orleans T-shirts, jeans
- 8:00 - Breakfast at hotel - check out
- 9:00 - Pray/ Check gas
- 9:15 - Williams, AZ >> Albuquerque, NM via I-40 (356 mi)
Listen: Anne of Green Gables
Snack: malt balls, Wheat Thins, juice
Travel bags: books, flash cards, travel games
- 12:00 - Reset watches for Daylight Savings Time (forward one hour)
- 4:30 - Visit Explora Science Center in Albuquerque
800 Rio Grande, (505) 842-1537
No charge with DSP card
- 5:30 - Eat dinner
- 6:30 - Albuquerque, NM >> Tucumcari, NM via I-40 (about 174 mi)
- 9:30 - Hotel Check-in:
Holiday Inn Tucumcari - Exit 335 (East of town) - (505) 461-3780
One room with 2 double beds *request crib, $50.50 (Gov. discount)
Two Adults, 7 children, includes full breakfast
Confirmation # 6495 7015
Wednesday, April 5
- 7:00 - Up and dress - teal diabetes T-shirts, summer plaid
- 8:00 - Breakfast @ hotel, check-out
- 9:00 - Pray/ Get gas
- 9:15 - Tucumcari, NM >> Amarillo, TX via I-40 (100 mi)
Listen: Anne of Green Gables
Snack: oatmeal cookies, crackers
Travel Bags: stickers, postcards
- 10:45 - Reset watches to Central time (forward one hour)
- 11:45 - Visit American Quarterhorse Museum
2601 I-40 E at Nelson St exit 806, (806) 376-5181
Open Mon-Sat 10-5
No charge with DSP card
- 12:30 - Eat lunch
- 1:15 - See Don Harrington Discovery Center
1200 Streit Drive, (806) 355-9548
Open Tue-Sat 9-5
No charge with DSP card
- 2:15 - Look at Helium monument - world's largest quantity
- 2:30 - Amarillo, TX >> Oklahoma City, OK via I-40 (245 mi)
- 6:30 - Hotel Check-in:
Best Western Tradewind? - 1800 E Reno (at I-40/I-35 jct.) - (405) 235-4531
One room with 3 double beds + crib, $58.50.
Cancel by 4pm day before arrival
Confirmation # 224-940-891
Thursday, April 6
- 8:00 - Up and dress - royal blue T-shirts, summer plaid
- 9:00 - Breakfast at hotel?? Check out
- 10:00 - Pray/ Check gas
- 10:15 - Oklahoma City, OK >> Sulphur via I-35/ Hwy 7 (90 mi)
- 12:00 - Visit Aunt Gwen (405) 622-2711
- 3:00 - Sulphur, OK >> Madill, OK via Hwy 177/ 199 (almost 40 mi)
- 4:00 - Visit Aunt Irene (580) 795-2255
- 6:00 - Madill, OK >> Tyler, TX via Hwy 70 to Durant, then 69 home (about 170 mi)
- 9:00 - THERE"S NO PLACE LIKE HOME!!!
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