Thirteen days after we left home for our “vacation,” we rolled back into the driveway. We had done it and survived. My six year old son, Zack, my almost two year old daughter, Emma, and myself trekked through 8 states and 6 cities. There were lots of laughs, a few tears, and even some blood shed when Emma fell and skinned her little knee. But in the end, we were all stronger for it.
I can’t say the same for our poor little rental car. We put over 3300 miles on it, and the rental car company took it out of circulation for maintenance when we returned it. No, we didn’t destroy it, but it was obviously overdue for an oil change.
We’ve actually been home for a few weeks now and are fully recovered from our trip. I’ve painted a room. We’ve gotten back into our regular schedule. I’ve actually put the suitcases away. I know, right? Yours must sit out for weeks like mine do.
Even though our fun is over, that doesn’t mean that it has to be for you. I’ve been teasing you for a month about the giveaway for the awesome Bag of Swag that would occur at the end of the trip. Well, folks. Today’s the day!
Introducing the Ultimate Most Awesome Ever Bag of Swag! WHEEEEE!!!
Within this beautiful kraft paper bag, you’ll receive all sorts of trinkets and treasures from our trip. Every city visited is represented…well, except for Destinations #4 and #6, because I forgot to buy something in those places. So, 4 out of 6 places are represented by touristy, truck stop tschotskes. I’m telling you, it’s the Ultimate Most Awesome Ever Bag of Swag.
What? That’s not good enough for you? You feel like I’ve been dragging this out for so long that it should be better. Well, fine. I’ll throw this in, too.
So, now your Ultimate Most Awesome Ever Bag of Swag has a $50 Visa Gift Card inside of it, too. If I were you, I’d use it on gas for your next road trip. But, if you want to use it to do something like buy new pillows or supplies to paint your own rug, feel free to do that, too.
I just wouldn’t use it to buy a new portable GPS unit….
…’cause you’re getting one of those, too! TomTom is graciously sending the winner a brand new TomTom Start 45 TM GPS navigation unit. My TomTom (I call her Janice) and I were best friends on this trip, and this one is even BETTER than the one I have. You’ll be able to update traffic and map updates for free. It also has some really cool stuff, including the ability to find the lowest gas prices on your route.
Okay, that’s all you get. Don’t be greedy, m’kay?
Details:
To enter this giveaway, you need to leave a comment on this post giving your guesses for each city of our destination in the proper order. If you are reading this post via email, please click the title of the post and come on over to my blog to leave your comment – emailed guesses can’t be accepted.
As a reminder, here are my hints about our destinations:
Destination #1
Destination #2 – nearest Metro area is okay
Destination #3
Destination #4 – nearest Metro area is okay
Destination #5
Destination #6
Read them. Study them. Answer correctly and your name will be added into a hat where the winner will be drawn. I’m also issuing this warning – don’t just copy and paste what the commenter above you has said. There have been lots and lots of wrong guesses so far, and I know you don’t want to cheat off of someone with the wrong answers!
Good luck!
Giveaway rules: Giveaway open until midnight CST on 8/8/2012. No purchase necessary. Odds of winning are based on the number of entries. One entry per person. Open to US residents, 18 and older. Winner will be randomly selected and notified by email. If winner doesn’t respond in one week, another winner may be randomly drawn.
TomTom gave me a GPS unit to giveaway. The TomTom unit I used on my road trip and the opinions represented here are my own.
Maybe you should hide comments like some other bloggers do. 😉
Here are my guesses: (Thank you, Google, otherwise I’d have no clue for some of these.)
#1. Gulfport, MS
#2. Pensacola, FL
#3. Destin, FL
#4. Atlanta, GA
#5. Lawrenceburg, TN
#6. Texarkana, TX
That’s a good idea! I wonder if I could figure out how to hide comments but still let people comment. Hmmm…I’ll look into it.
Destination #1 – Gulfport, Mississippi
Destination #2 – Tampa, Florida
Destination #3 – Destin, Florida
Destination #4 – Atlanta, Georgia
Destination #5 – Lawrenceburg, Tennessee
Destination #6 – Texarkana, TX
Great bag of swag for sure.
#1. Gulfport, Miss.
#2.Tampa, Florida
#3. Destin, Florida
#4. Atlanta, Georgia
#5. Lawrenceburg, Tenn.
#6. Texarkana, Texas
Thanks for the fun trip. Hugs, Marty
Destination #1 – Gulfport, Mississippi
Destination #2 – Pensacola to Orlando/Disney to WinterHaven/LegoLand {Florida}
Destination #3 – Destin, FL: Probably one of my favorite beaches ever!
Destination #4 – Atlanta, GA {Maybe Smyrna or Marietta specifically?}
Destination #5 – He went to school in Lawrenceburg, TN and the Amish community is in Lawrence County/Lawrenceburg – so that’s what I’m going with.
Destination #6 – Texarkana, TX
1 – Gulfport MS
2 – Orlando FL
3 – Destin FL – I need to go there one of these days
4 – Atlanta GA
5 – Lawrenceburg TN
6 – Texarkana, TX
Destination #1 – Gulfport, Mississippi
Destination #2 – Orlando, Florida
Destination #3 – Destin or Santa Rosa Florida
Destination #4 – Atlanta, Georgia
Destination #5 – Lawrenceburg, Tennessee
Destination #6 – Texarkana, Texas
Gulfport, MS
Orlando/Lakeland, FL
Destin, FL
Atlanta, GA – Go Jackets!
Lawrenceburg, TN
Texarkana, TX
#1 – Gulf Port, MS
#2 – Orlando, FL
#3 – Destin, FL
#4 – Atlanta, GA
#5 – Lawrenceburg, FL
#6 – Texarkana, TX
Gulfport, Miss.
Pennsacola, Fl.
Destin, Fl.
Atlanta, Ga.
Lawrenceburg, Tenn.
Texarkana, Tx
One: Gulfport MS, two: Orlando FL three: Destin FL four: Atlanta GA five: Lawrenceburg TN six: Texarkana tx
#1 – Gulf Port, MS
#2 – Orlando, FL
#3 – Destin, FL
#4 – Atlanta, GA
#5 – Lawrenceburg, FL
#6 – Texarkana, TX
Gulfport, MS
Pennsacola, Fl.
Destin, Fl.
Atlanta, Ga.
Lawrenceburg, Tenn.
Texarkana, Tx
#1 Gulfport MS
#2 Orlando FL
#3 Destin FL
#4 Atlanta GA
#5 Lawrenceburg TN
#6 Texarkana TX
1. Gulfport, MS
2. Orlando, FL
3. Desting, FL
4. Atlanta, GA
5. Lawrenceburg, TN
6. Texarkana,TX
Destination #1 – Gulfport, Mississippi
Destination #2 – Orlando, Florida
Destination #3 – Destin, Florida
Destination #4 – Atlanta, Georgia
Destination #5 – Lawrenceburg, Tennessee
Destination #6 – Texarkana, TX
#1 Gulfport, MS
#2 Orlando, FL
#3 Destin, FL
#4 Atlanta, GA
#5 Lawrenceburg, TN
#6 Texarkana, TX
1. Gulfport, MS
2. Winterhaven, FL
3. Destin FL or Santa Rosa Beach, FL
4. Marietta then Atlanta
5. Lawrenceburg, TN. Did ALOT of research on this one so I hope I’m right…lol
6. Texarkana, Texas
Gulfport, MS
Orlando, FL
Tampa, FL
Atlanta, GA
Lawrenceburg, TN
Texarkana, TX
?
1-Gulfport, MS
2-Orlando, FL
3-Destin, FL
4-Atlanta, GA
5-Lawrenceburg, TN
6-Texarkana, TX
#5 was a definite head-scratcher, but here are my guesses:
1. Gulfport MS
2. Legoland near Orlando FL
3. Destin FL
4. Atlanta GA
5. Lawrenceburg TN
6. Texarkana TX
Sounds like a great trip!
You are much braver than I am taking that trip with your kids! I’ve been to 4 out of 6 of these when I lived in the south! Good times!
Here’s my guesses:
Destination #1 – Gulfport, Mississippi
Destination #2 – Pensacola, Florida
Destination #3 – Destin, Florida
Destination #4 – Atlanta, Georgia
Destination #5 – Sheffield, Alabama
Destination #6 – Texarkana, Texas
Destination #1 – Gulfport, Mississippi
Destination #2 – Orlando/Disney lego land..(my son thought it was heaven LOL)
Destination #3 – Destin, FL
Destination #4 – Atlanta, GA
Destination #5 – Lawrenceburg,
Destination #6 – Texarkana, TX
MY BRAIN hurts..LOL!
Karin
http://www.artisbeauty.net
I enjoyed reading about your trip. Here are my guesses:
Destination #1 Gulfport, MS
Destination #2 Orlando, FL
Destination #3 Destin, FL
Destination #4 Atlanta, GA
Destination #5 Lawrenceburg, TN
Destination #5 Texarkana, TX
Glad you & your family are back safe & sound!
1-Gulfport, MS
2-Orlando, FL
3-Destin, FL
4-Atlanta, GA
5-Lawrenceburg, TN
6-Texarkana, TX
My guesses! Hope I’m right!! 🙂
1 Gulfport ms
2 Orlando fl
3 Destin fl
4 Atlanta ga
5 lawrenceberg tn
6 Texarkana tx
Here goes:
Destination 1: Gulfport, Ms
Destination 2: Pensacola, Fl
Destination 3: Destin, Fl
Destination 4: Atlanta, Ga
Destination 5: Lawrenceberg, Tn
Destination 6: Texarkana, Tx
Glad you made it through all of that!!! What amazing memories for your kids 🙂
1. Gulfport, MS
2. Orlando, FL
3. Destin, FL
4. Atlanta, GA
5. Lawrenceburg, TN
6. Texarkana, TX
And I figured these out without looking at anyone else’s answers!
Gulfport, mississippi
Pensacola, fl
Destin, fl
Atlanta, Georgia
Lawrenceburg, tn
Texarkana, tx
You are a brave woman!
1. Gulfport, MS
2. Pensacola, FL
3. Destin/Santa Rosa Beach, FL
4. Atlanta, GA
5.Lawrenceburg, TN
6. Texarkana,TX
This is was so fun! Seems like you had a blast on your trip! 🙂
Dollie
#1: Gulfport, MS (very close to us!)
Then you showed a picture of Pensacola, FL but ended up in
#2: Winterhaven/Orlando, FL
#3: Destin, FL
#4: Atlanta, GA
#5: Lawrenceburg, TN
#6: Texarkana, TX
What an awesome road trip!
1. Gulfport, MS
2. Winter Haven, FL
3. Destin, FL
4. Atlanta, GA
5. Lawrenceberg, TN
6. Texarkana, TX
1. Gulfport, MS
2. Orlando, FL area
3. Destin, FL
4. Atlanta, GA
5. Lawrenceburg, TN
6. Texarkana, TX (Texerrrkana!)
Sounds like a good trip! This was fun to follow along.
1.Gulf Port, MS
2. Orlando, FL
3. Destin, FL
4. Atlanta, GA
5. Lawrenceburg, TN
6. Texarkana, TX
#1 – Gulfport, MS
#2 – Orlando, FL
#3 – Destin, FL
#4 – Atlanta, GA
#5 – Lawrenceburg, TN
#6 – Texarkana, TX
(Phew, I just spent WAY too much time on Google.)
1-Gulfport, MS
2-Legoland,Winter Haven, FL
3-Destin, FL
4-Atlanta, GA
5-Lawrenceburg, TN
6-Texarkana, TX
It sounds like you had a wonderful time!
Destination 1: Gulfport, Mississippi
Destination 2: Orlando, Florida
Destination 3: Santa Rosa Beach, Florida
Destination 4: Atlanta, Georgia
Destination 5: Lawrenceburg, Tennessee
Destination 6: Texarkana, Texas
1- Gulfport, MS
2- Winter Haven, FL
3- Destin, FL
4- Marietta, GA
5-Sheffield, AL
6-Texarkana, TX
1. Gulfport, Mississippi
2. Orlando, Florida
3. Destin, Florida- Hope you tried the key lime pie at The Donut Hole 🙂 world’s best
4. Atlanta, Georgia- I like Southern Hospitality too!
5. Lawrenceburg, Tennessee- My state!!!! Go Vols!
6. Texarkana, Texas
1. Gulfport,MS
2. Pensacola,Fl
3. Destin,FL
4. Atlanta,GA
5. Lawrenceburg,TN
6. Texarkana,Tx
NICE TRIP!!
1. Gulfport, MS
2. Winterhaven, FL
3. Destin, FL
4. Atlanta, GA
5. Lawrencebutg, TN
5. Texarkana, TX
I am a single Mom, and took a similar trip from Ohio to Montana with my 8- year old son and 12-year-old daughter in a Hyundai Elantra one summer. Left our home with no reservations, just knowing we wanted to get to Montana. Best trip ever!
Looks like a fun trip! Here’s my guesses:
1. Gulfport, MS
2. Winter Haven, FL
3. Destin, FL
4. Atlanta, GA
5. Lawrenceburg, TN
6. Texarkana, TX
Destination #1 Gulfport, MS
Destination #2 Orlando FL
Destination #3 Santa Rosa Beach, FL
Destination #4 Atlanta, GA
Destination #5 Lawrenceburg, TN
Destination #6 Texarkana, TX
Truly admire your patience, I went to Magic Kingdom with my 2 daughters, my husband, my in laws, my sister in law their girls and husband and almost go crazy. Hope to see more tricks on parenting and how not to loose my mind.
1. gulfport. mississippi
2. pensacola, FL
3. destin, FL
4. atlanta, GA
5. lawrenceburg, TN
6. texarkana, TX
Here is what I guessed: I have been to one of these places others family has visited or moved to!! Some I want to Visit SO BAD !!
#1. Gulfport, MS-Never been but wanna go SO Bad
#2. Pensacola, FL- My Cousin Lived there for awhile
#3. Destin, FL-My Aunt Went here to A BEAUTIFUL Beach. She want to move there
#4. Atlanta, GA-Cousins Moved there for a Job
#5. Lawrenceburg, TN- Been there myself I LOVE TN.
#6. Texarkana, TX-Another Place I wanna go SOOOO BAD. Friends went there
I did the Austin-to-Destin part of this trip earlier this summer and loved it! Here are my guesses:
1 – Gulfport, MS
2 – Pensacola, FL
3 – Destin, FL
4 – Atlanta, GA
5 – Lawrenceburg, TN
6 – Texarkana, TX
Gulf port, Mississippi
Pensacola, florida
Destin, florida
Atlanta, ga
Lawrenceburg, TN
1. Gulfport, MS
2. Orlando/Winter Haven, Fl
3. Destin. FL
4. Atlanta, Ga (Southern Hospitality blog)
5. Lawrenceburg/ Mount Pleasant, TN
6. Texarcana, Texas (Hawk Nation/Bryce’s)
Shuttermom77 at gmail dot com
Wow fun to do all the research and scary to know you can find that much info on web with little clues. :-/
#1. Gulfport, Miss.
#2. Orlando, Florida
#3. Destin, Florida
#4. Atlanta, Georgia
#5. Nashville, Tenn.
#6. Texarkana, Texas
1. Gulfport, MS
2. Orlando, FL by way of Pensacola
3. Destin, FL
4. Atlanta, GA
5. Lawrenceburg, TN
6. Texarkana, TX
Thanks!!
Destination #1 – Gulfport, Mississippi
Destination #2 – Tampa, Florida
Destination #3 – Destin, Florida
Destination #4 – Atlanta, Georgia
Destination #5 – Lawrenceburg, Tennessee
Destination #6 – Texarkana, Texas
#1: Gulfport MS
#2 Pensacola, Florida
#3 Destin, Florida
#4 Atlanta, GA
#5 Lawrenceburg Tennessee
#6 Texarkana, Texas
Thanks!
1. Gulf Port MS
2. Winter Haven FL
3. Destin FL
4. Atlanta GA
5. Lawrenceburg TN
6. Texarkana TX
Fun!!
Gulfport, Pensacola, Destin, Atlanta, Lawrenceburg (TN), and Texarkana. Those last two were tough! The others not so much as I’m a lifelong resident of the I-10 corridor. In fact, you drove right through both my hometown (Slidell, LA) and current city (Baton Rouge)! Is it creepy that I wish we could’ve hung out?
Oh, crap! I need to amend my entry! #2 is Orlando/Winter Park/Tampa! I saw the Blue Angels and jumped to conclusions. My bad.