How was your trip?

We travel a fair amount, but our destinations are largely determined by a gymnastics competition schedule and are rarely more than 2 or 3 states away.  So a lengthy trip across the country for the sole purpose of visiting iconic sites while spending quality family time together was a real treat.  Perhaps a once-in-a-lifetime experience, even.  

Preparations for this vacation began several months in advance.  As soon as basics like airline tickets and hotel reservations were secured, we started zeroing in on the details.  I simply cannot stand driving or walking in circles and didn't want any "What should we do now?" or "What do you want to eat?" back and forth banter to steal precious time from what I hoped would be a most memorable trip.  My kids like to know what to expect and I furthermore was convinced that planning the details would keep griping and arguing to a minimum.

We surveyed the kids to determine what sites they most wanted to see and paired those lists with the sites we most wanted to show them.  Google maps became my best friend.  I studied the locations of attractions in relation to one another so as to be most efficient with our time and then decided what transportation should be used to get from place to place.  I researched nearby restaurants that would allow for fun and new experiences, but also provide gluten-free and picky-eater options.  We contacted our local senator's office to set up tours of the White House and US Capitol.  We made countless reservations and printed what ended up being a very full folder of tickets.  New walking shoes and warm, humid weather-friendly attire were purchased.  Our excitement and anticipation grew.

After countless hours, the final itinerary was unveiled at an almost ceremonious family meeting.  Jon presented each of the kids with copies of the itinerary and then they took turns reading through the plan for each day of our vacation.  When we'd come to an item requiring a ticket, Jon would imitate Tom Hanks from the Polar Express and announce, "Tickets!  Tickets please!" while he checked the ticket folder to make sure they were included.  It was reiterated multiple times that the itinerary items in bold were non-negotiable because they involved reservations, but everything else could and may give.

There were other preparations, too.  We watched the musical 1776, which prompted me to read a 600 page biography of John Adams.  My big kids have studied U.S. history, but when I asked Natalie if she knew what the Declaration of Independence was, I was shocked to learn that she didn't.  So we held a viewing of School House Rock's, "America Rock."  I also went through the entire itinerary and pulled up pictures on the computer so Natalie could preview the iconic sites she would be visiting.

At long last, our bags were packed and we were on our way.

Anytime you return from a long vacation, thoughtful friends and family will ask, "How was your trip?"  They are not likely looking for a detailed blow-by-blow account and though the memories are countless and the stories to tell endless, we are often resigned to choosing one word as an insufficient summary.

Since this blog is our family's history, a detailed account of our vacation will follow.  But in the meantime, we have each decided on a one word answer to the "How was your trip?" question:

Incredible.  Amazing.  Awesome.  Memorable.  Breath-taking.