What is it about planning a trip? My wanderlust tendencies grow stronger at just the mention of a trip and as I start planning – fuhgeddaboudit. I might as well declare myself useless in all other major projects. I become smitten with the entire process of planning and preparing and then drive everyone batty with all of the details.

At least I admit it.

We’re in the process of planning a trip out west this summer. My husband has business obligations in Colorado and we decided it would make a wonderful time to load up the RV and travel along.

We made a similar trip a few years ago with stops in Nashville and St. Louis where we then hopped on I-70 W with stops in Topeka, Denver and then on to Breckenridge. After Breckenridge, we stopped in Taos, Amarillo, and a few other amazing places.

While the trip will be somewhat similar on the way out, we’re  planning on driving on to Yellowstone National Park for a visit and to spend some time in Montana and Wyoming. We haven’t visited there in about five years and there are so many breath-taking and inspiring things to see and do there that we don’t want to miss.

I’d love to hear about your “must-see” spots in that area so I can include as many of them as possible in my planning.

And you know I’m going to share tons of RVing and camping tidbits as we’re planning and then along the way.

Happy Trails! (Corny, I know. I just couldn’t resist.)

Love ya,
Robyn xoxo

© Robyn for Traveling | Add a Pinch | Robyn Stone, 2012. | Permalink | All Rights Reserved. Add to del.icio.us
Post Categories: Camping, RVing, Traveling
Post tags: camping, Traveling

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The boys, meaning my husband and Little Buddy, are just wrapping up a big overnight camping trip with my son’s Cub Scout group. My husband came home from a week full of meetings, grabbed their camping gear and they set up camp near our local regional airport.

I went out for a little while last night to take a couple of extra chairs to them with the hidden agenda of checking in to make sure they didn’t need me.

Of course, they didn’t.

They had big plans for the evening of skits to be performed, cooking supper over the campfire, and of course S’mores and Dutch oven cobbler to be devoured.

But bright and early this morning, I headed back out for their big breakfast of pancakes and bacon. As I rounded the corner to the area where they were camping, I swear I could already smell the bacon cooking. And let me just say, if you’ve ever smelled bacon cooking over a campfire, you know the smell that I mean. Bacon just smells better cooked out in the wide open spaces. The smell just hangs in the air tempting you with every breath you take in.

I don’t think I was the only one that loved the smell, those boys did away with that bacon before I could blink twice!

I’m going to begin sharing more about our camping and RVing here in Add a Pinch Traveling. I plan to begin providing some tips we’ve learned along the way, more great campgrounds we’ve discovered, and information on recipes we absolutely love. We’ll see where it goes from there!

I can’t wait to hear what you think!

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We just rolled back in yesterday from a two week trip to Daytona, Florida for Speed Weeks 2012. It starts the week before the actual Daytona 500 with various races that we like to watch,  practicing for the different races, qualifying for them, and then the actual big race of the Daytona 500. It’s the opening race week of the season which will run through November – one of the longest seasons of any sport.

Did you happen to see this year’s race?

Regardless if you are a NASCAR fan or just live anywhere but under a rock, I bet you at least heard about it. There were a few things going on that caused it to be a bit news-worthy.

• Race included a woman driver for the first time ever – and the woman was Danica Patrick (double news!)
• Race was rain-delayed for the first time ever
• Race was on a Monday for the first time ever
• Race was at night for the first time ever

Oh, and yeah, there was the thing where a race car crashed into a jet dryer and caused a big KABOOM for the first time ever.

That definitely was news!

I’ll share more about our trip to the races soon.

I’m still going through 585 photos or so from our trip to avoid doing what seems like 585 million loads of laundry from said trip.

I promise, I’ll dig out from under it all soon so I can show you all of the cool things we saw. It was pretty interesting indeed.

© Robyn for Traveling | Add a Pinch | Robyn Stone, 2012. | Permalink | All Rights Reserved. Add to del.icio.us
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Post tags: daytona, Florida, Traveling

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Every year when we visit Daytona for the NASCAR race, we like to take little “field trips” to learn more about the area. We usually have a stop planned for our little side excursions, but we also like to just get in the car and drive to discover something new. Through the years, we’ve found favorite spots and activities like our eco tour in St. Augustine, the walk on the beach in Amelia Island, a trip to Kennedy Space Center, driving on Daytona Beach, and a few others.

This year, we made a short drive to Ponce Inlet for lunch and a visit.

The area has the best of both worlds with the beach on one side and the inter coastal waterway on the other. We spent most of our time along the waterway.

It was so relaxing to watch the fishing boats as we walked along the pier.

After a leisurely walk around the pier, we were ready to enjoy our lunch inside.

The restaurant Down the Hatch had actually been recommended to us by family who had eaten there before. Let me just say, if you are ever in the area of Daytona – you have got to go! It is so worth the 20 or so minute drive the coast to visit Ponce Inlet for lunch at Down the Hatch. Their Southern Clam Chowder was out of this world delicious!

I don’t think I can live without it until next year when we come back!

Down the Hatch

4894 Front Street
Ponce Inlet, FL 32127

Be sure to grab a table by the window and watch for the dolphins as you enjoy your lunch.

One of the tallest lighthouses in the United States is also located at Ponce Inlet. Climbing to the top is a great excuse for revisiting the area so that no one thinks I’m just coming for the chowder.

Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse

931 South Peninsula Drive
Ponce Inlet, Florida 32127

http://www.ponceinlet.org/

Do you like to just get in the car and drive when you travel? Where have you discovered lately?

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Post Categories: Guides, Traveling
Post tags: Florida, Lighthouse, Restaurants, Traveling

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There is something about walking into Disney’s Magic Kingdom anytime of the year, but when the park is decorated for Christmas – it is even more magical!

A few weeks ago, my family celebrated my son’s birthday with a trip to Walt Disney World. Luckily, they were just beginning the Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party while we were there.

If you’ve never heard of Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, it is a special event held at the Magic Kingdom park in Walt Disney World on selected nights during the holidays. To attend the event, you purchase tickets specifically for the party. The park is closed early to all but party attendees and Disney World rolls out the red carpet for the Christmas season – or I guess I should say they roll out the garland, twinkle lights, and fireworks!

The official time of the Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is normally from 7:00 PM to midnight; however, you can be admitted earlier into the parks with your ticket. Just ask at guest services about early admittance times. You’ll definitely want to get there as soon as you can to not miss a second of the fun!

Many of our favorite rides are open during the party with lines so short you can just walk right on.

Here is a list of the rides that have been open the last few times we’ve visited for the Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, of course you’ll want to check the schedule when you purchase your tickets for the event.

(...)
Read the rest of Disney’s Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party

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Post Categories: Favorite Places, Traveling
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We visited the beautiful state of Idaho for the first time earlier this summer. I was immediately captivated by the beautiful landscape, friendly people, and lack of humidity! And just in case you were wondering, a lack of humidity is always impressive to a girl from Georgia during the summertime.

We stayed in Boise and I fell in love with the ability to drive past the Idaho State Capitol on 8th Street and right onto unpaved roads in just a few minutes. Then, even more quickly, those roads became impassible in our rental car. The vistas were breathtaking of hikers and mountain bikers enjoying the trails in the afternoon after work.

We spotted wild sunflowers growing along the roadside and road runners darting about. We explained to Little Buddy that these were the birds that Road Runner of Bugs Bunny Cartoon fame was based on  – right here in real life.

We also drove into the Boise National Forest a short drive from Boise. The photographs just simply do not do this area justice. Mountains and valleys, trees higher than I could see the tops, rivers snaking and tumbling over giant boulders making such a noise we couldn’t help but stop every few miles to take it all in.

Boiling Springs was a sight we just had to see. Hiking about half a mile to see it brought a bit of a shock as we rounded the corner to find someone enjoying the spring in all their “natural” glory. I’ll just say, it took me a minute to realize that he was not wearing a flesh colored bathing suit. I’m not sure about you, but I just can’t talk to someone without their clothes on. I can’t figure out where to look! But thankfully, that was the only odd moment of our trip.

While visiting we found a few local restaurants that are surely hits in my book and worth visiting if you are ever in the area:

The Egg Factory

This is a definite must-visit restaurant for breakfast, brunch or lunch while you are in the Boise area. But, if you are going for breakfast, either get there early or go a little bit after the rush. Their farmstyle breakfasts definitely draw a crowd – or maybe it’s those cinnamon rolls!

 

Goodwood Barbecue Company

Now, when it comes to BBQ, we are sort of particular. But the BBQ at Goodwood’s was some of the best I’ve ever tasted. Smoked to perfection and served with delicious sides. But be sure to save room for dessert, their Texas Sheet Cake is almost as good as my family recipe for Chocolate Sheet Cake. But I won’t tell my Mama that.

I can’t wait for the opportunity to visit Idaho again and if you ever get the chance, take it! Here are a few tips:

• Visit the Boise National Forrest. Be sure to give yourself plenty of time to explore the trails.
• Take a walk downtown.
• Drive past the state capitol and go up into the recreation area point overlooking the capitol and city at sunset.
• Have a cinnamon roll at The Egg Factory.
• Share a Big Judd’s Special.
• Go whitewater rafting.
• Grab a guide and go fly fishing.

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My family loves to pack up our RV and hit the road on an adventure to see parts of America we’ve not yet seen and show our son many of our favorite areas of the US.

Some of our trips we plan for months, even a year in advance, while others we just decide to take a quick weekend and hit the road.

Both are relaxing, rejuvenating, and provide us with time away as a family that we thoroughly enjoy.

I’d like to share many of our favorite spots with you and hope you’ll share yours with me. We’re always on the lookout for planning trips!

One location we discovered during our RV trip the summer of 2010 was Crater of Diamonds State Park in Murfreesboro, Arkansas.

Crater of Diamonds State Park is the only location in the world where the public has access to look for diamonds and then keep what they find!

The old grammar school saying of finder’s keepers actually applies here.

The diamond field is a wide open field ready for you to walk through looking for glimpses of shiny objects you’ll want to inspect more closely. Who knows, it really may be your diamond just waiting on you.

You’ll find visitors who are there with their families for a day of fun as well as some who come back day after day for months in search of their fortune.

You’ll even spot some little guys who are just certain they’ll find the largest diamond possible in their bucket of volcanic sediment.

There is very little shade provided in the field at Crater of Diamonds, so be sure to wear a hat, bring your sunscreen, and dress in light, cool, comfortable clothes if you visit during the summer.

There’s no need to bring buckets, shovels, and screens with you when you visit. You can rent all of the equipment you’ll need for a day of searching for diamonds for a fee at the entrance to the actual diamond field.

However, the more serious explorers we met bring their own pop-up tents, five gallon buckets, and shovels. They fill their buckets during the day, pack them up at the end of the day, and then screen their buckets when they return back to their camping area or home.

If you are a serious diamond seeker, I guess that is a pretty efficient way to do things.

You are going to get dirty while exploring, so be sure to wear clothes you don’t mind getting mucky.

You’ll be surprised how hard it is to wash the sediment away, so you may even want to pack along plenty of wet wipes.

I sure wish I’d had some.

While none of the finds equal the size of the diamond in Kim Kardashian’s engagement ring, the finds are still pretty inspiring and reportedly a diamond is discovered nearly every day the park is open.

While we were there and as we were walking out of the field, two cute teenage girls found a diamond as they were walking down the main pathway into the field.

Just what you want to see after a long, hot, dirty afternoon of looking, right?

Really, we were all proud for them. They were just too cute.

And this was waiting for us just steps away!

Yes, as hot as the diamond field is in the summer sun, the state park brilliantly placed a great pool with wading area and fountain between then field and the parking lot.

You leave refreshed, cool, and thinking, “hey, that was fun. Want to come back tomorrow?”

Crater of Diamonds State Park

209 State Park Road
Murfreesboro, Arkansas   71958
Phone: 870-285-3113

Camping and RVing: The park offers camping sites, walking and nature trails, picnic areas, laundry, and gift shop. While we visited, the camping areas were undergoing refurbishment and we were not able to visit that area. We camped offsite at a small, private campground.

Things you’ll want to bring: hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, camera, wet wipes, and bathing suits

If you’ve visited Crater of Diamonds, I’d love to hear about your visit. Did you find a diamond?

© Robyn for Traveling | Add a Pinch | Robyn Stone, 2011. | Permalink | All Rights Reserved. Add to del.icio.us
Post Categories: Favorite Places, RVing, Traveling
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Our national parks are such an amazing treasure that my family always enjoys exploring when we travel. Whenever we are planning a trip, I visit the National Parks Service website to help plan our itinerary for visits to lighthouses, forts, presidential libraries, as well as the national parks.

For years, we’ve visited as many national parks as we could during our trips. From climbing the steps to the Lincoln Memorial to watching the fireworks display at Mr. Rushmore, we love to take time to soak in the beauty of each one. For example, we could only watch in amazement as Old Faithful erupted in Yellowstone National Park within minutes of it’s predicted time. It’s not likely an experience we’ll forget anytime soon.

Nor will we forget Little Buddy learning to fly fish in the gorgeous river near the campground on the same trip. Such clear, cold, pristine water surrounded by gorgeous woodlands is always a gift to experience.

Our national parks showcase the awesome beauty of our gorgeous majestic, snow-capped mountains and our winding, deep carved canyons and a little bit of everything in between.

During April 16th – 24th, our national parks are celebrating National Park Week with a ton of special events planned. Throughout this week, entrance fees are waived for many of the national parks throughout the country. It’s a great time to get out there and enjoy these national treasures and celebrate Earth Day!

What are some of your favorite national parks? I’d love to add them to our “must-visit” travel list.

© Robyn for Traveling | Add a Pinch | Robyn Stone, 2011. | Permalink | All Rights Reserved. Add to del.icio.us
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I’m excited to introduce you to a new endeavor that I’m proud to be a part, Go Savor ™.

Go Savor ™ is dedicated to getting out there and tasting the best life has to offer, whether down the street or around the globe.

Life has some tasty treats for us all – from restaurant discoveries to favorite travel destinations to fabulous recipes you can easily recreate in your own home.

Go Savor the best…

We also have a fun series, Go Savor the best… where we invite you to participate by listing the best you’ve experienced. We kick the series off with a delectable slice of cake and invite YOU to contribute information about the best cake you ever tasted.

Periodically, we’ll change the topic in the series for you to continually be able to share the best you’ve experienced and where!

As you travel, be sure to add the great finds you make or use Go Savor ™ as a tool to search for tasty recommendations.

Go Savor Culinary Retreats

Go Savor ™ also features Go Savor Culinary Retreats allowing an intimate number of food bloggers to gather for a fun weekend of sharing, learning and cooking together.

We are holding our first Culinary Retreat this March in the beautiful and historic Savannah, Georgia! We have a fun weekend planned for the attendees and look forward to planning additional retreats soon.

So, what are you waiting for?  Head on over and add your find to Go Savor the best… and share your find for the best cake ever. While you are there, check out my recipe for Caramelized Bananas with Coconut Rum Cream that will surely chase away any winter blues.

© Robyn for Traveling | Add a Pinch | Robyn Stone, 2011. | Permalink | All Rights Reserved. Add to del.icio.us
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On certain evenings during the months of November and December, Disney hosts Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party as a special ticket event in the Magic Kingdom. We’ve been able to attend the party a few years now and absolutely love it. Cookies and hot cocoa, visits with the characters, short lines on many of our favorite rides, and the best part… the parade.

All Disney parades are exceptional, but the Christmas party parade most definitely gets you in the Christmas spirit if you aren’t already.

Gingerbread men cuter than you can believe.

Marching toy soldiers you wish you could take home.

And everyone’s favorite characters from the classic Disney favorites to the princes and princesses we all love. The parade ends perfectly with Santa Claus in his holiday best. Speaking of Santa, you can visit with him at the top end of Main Street USA in the Magic Kingdom, too. Talk about major Christmas excitement!

Other attractions to be sure and catch are the Candlelight Processional and Holidays Around the World in Epcot, the giant gingerbread house at the Grand Floridian resort, the Osborne Family Dancing Lights in Hollywood Studios, and the Christmas Jingle Jungle Parade. To make certain of dates and times for these events, be sure to check the resources I’ve recommended for planning a trip to Disney.

If you have the opportunity to plan a visit to Walt Disney World during the Christmas season – do! The week between Christmas and New Years is one of the busiest, if not the busiest, times at Walt Disney World. So if crowds aren’t your thing, you may want to go in early November. But remember to pack your coat, gloves and a warm hat just in case. Even though it is in Florida, we’ve experienced some fairly chilly nights during November and December.

© Robyn for Traveling | Add a Pinch | Robyn Stone, 2010. | Permalink | All Rights Reserved. Add to del.icio.us
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