With 1100 miles under our belts, we are well into our secret journey. I honestly started having panic attacks the night before we left, but I have been pleasantly surprised with how easy it has been so far.
On Saturday morning, we left at 8 am for what should have been a 9 hour drive to our first destination. Instead of trying to push as hard and as fast as I could go, I made the decision that the entire trip would be about patience and doing what I needed to do to keep the kids happy. That meant that we would end up stopping every two hours for the first leg of our trip, and a 9 hour drive would turn into an 11 hour drive.
We had to stop for lunch just four hours into the trip, but we Skyped with Daddy as we enjoyed some Chicken McNuggets. Emma didn’t eat much since she was so busy talking.
One of my readers had suggested that we stop at each state Welcome Center and take a picture in front of the sign. I loved that idea, so we diligently stopped at the first state we entered. The state marker was around behind the Welcome Center, and when we went back there, there was a shady dude camped out next to it. So, I told the kids to hightail it out of there.
We still wanted to figure out something “fun” to do as we crossed into a new state, and Zack decided he’d like to collect state maps. So, that’s what we’ve been doing. I think it’s a pretty neat thing for him to do, and I’m proud of him for thinking of it.
After many stops, several movies in the DVD players and a few new maps, we finally arrived at our overnight location. One of my favorite cousins lives there, so we got to visit with him over a fun dinner on the water. We stayed at a hotel that night, and getting the kids to actually go to sleep was a challenge, but in the end we all got a good night’s sleep.
Here are a few hints about our first destination…
1. The restaurant logo on the kids’ menu from where we ate with my cousin. I removed a few letters so that it wouldn’t give it totally away. Google will probably help.
2. Scenes from a post card I picked up at a truck stop. I’m a sucker for truck stop tschotskes.
Anyone want to venture a guess?
Mississippi, the Magnolia State
Gulfport, Mississippi
Ha! that menu was a give away. Gulf Port, Mississippi.
Gulf Port, Mississippi.
Gulf Port, Mississippi!
The dock–Gulfport, Mississippi http://www.thedockgulfport.com/
Gulf Port, Mississippi! The oysters and mussels at The Dock are just amazing!
Gulf Port, Mississippi (The Magnolia State)! You’re next-door to my state (The Yellowhammer State)! 🙂
The Dock Bar and Grill at GulfPort Lake, Mississippi!
I am visiting my daughter right now in Gulfport, MS. Maybe we saw each other! I’m going to ask her if she knows this place.
Gulfoport, MIssissippi!
Gulfport, MIssissippi!
Gulfport! I’ll be there later in the month(I’m in another neighboring state: hint: humidity, crawfish, fleur de lis, the french quarter)! Have fun!
Gulfport, MS!!! Love the idea with the maps. I bet there is a cool way to display them on pinterest……..
Gulfport, MS
We gobble like turkeys when we cross state lines. 🙂 The whole family does.
Gulfport, MS!!!! Grew up in New Orleans and traveled there many times!
Gulfport, MS
already enjoying this game!
Mississippi!
Gulfport, Mississippi it is!
Gulfport, Mississippi it seems to be!
you are next door to me…im in louisiana !
You were right next door to my home town (Biloxi).
Gulfport, MS
Gulfport, MS
Gulfport, MS
Gulfport, MS
Gulfport, Mississippi
Gulfport, Ms.
on our beautiful Gulf of Mexico!!!
Gulfport Mississippi