14,474

That's a lot of miles.

In fact, it's the added up total estimate for our Year of America road trip. With all our specific stops and sight-seeing interests, 14,474 is the distance in miles that it will *roughly* take us to travel in a big circle through all 48 continental United States.

I crunched the numbers officially this week. Take that number and figure out the cost of gas, plus lodging, plus food, plus incidental expenses, car maintenance, also paying ahead on our rent for while we are gone, and having a buffer for emergencies (not to mention our inevitable desire for souvenirs and the occasional novelty food that is famous in a particular state here or there...) and you've got a BIG undertaking.

SO big, that it's too much for our little family to handle entirely right now.

We knew going into this plan that it might be way over our heads. But we went for it anyway! I don't regret at all hoping that we could make it. I thought that MAYBE if we stretched we could make a big chunk of savings by the Summer, but it looks like the numbers are a little more grand than my imagination supposed. :)

That being said, we are happy to announce a modification to our trip! We are going to complete the first couple weeks of the original plan, and cut the loop down to 7 States on the West Coast.

New road trip map! Roughly.

I know that is 41 states less than our original plan, but we're going to save our goal of seeing the Midwest, East Coast, and Southern States for another time. We are pretty bummed about the friends and family that we will be missing, as well as all the National Parks and landmarks that we will have to wait on, but ultimately, this modified version is going to rock, and we're still super excited!

The main point of this trip was to see America. And we will still be doing that.
We wanted to go and see places that we had never been. And we will still be doing that!
Most of all, we wanted family togetherness, bonding, and building a tradition of travel and exploration. And we will still be doing that. :)

With our new plan, we will:
A) be spreading out our stops to see MORE of the parks and friends and family that we were already going to be hopping between,
B) have the ability to travel comfortably and explore WELL within our budget, and
C) we will easily be pulling off this trip completely debt-free while not breaking the bank for the time we are gone.

The New Route
Start: Rexburg ID
Craters of the Moon National Park, ID
Lehi, UT
Bryce Canyon National Park, UT
Grand Canyon National Park, AZ
Flagstaff, AZ
Sedona National Park, AZ
Mesa, AZ
Las Vegas, NV
Hoover Dam, NV
Bakersfield, CA
Clovis/Fresno, CA
Sequoia National Park, CA
San Francisco/Oakland, CA
Loomis/Sacramento, CA
Humboldt Redwoods State Park, CA
Portland, OR
Yelm/Seattle, WA
Coeur d'Alene, ID
and back to Rexburg, ID!
(I highlighted all of the stops that either Jon or I --or both of us-- have never been before!)

This whole major road trip has been such a learning process. It's also been great practice for our family to work on setting realistic goals (ha!) and working together toward a savings plan. :)

The new 7-State Loop has some awesome features, and best of all it is full of some of our most favorite people! Ultimately, it's going to be a couple weeks, instead of 6. It's going to be a mix of camping and sleepovers with friends. It's going to be one of the craziest family vacations we've ever done.

It's going to be awesome. :)

Oh, The Places We'll Go!

Earlier this month we shared our new and exciting theme for the year: a United States road trip of epic proportions! But there are a lot of different ways that we could make this happen. This whole trip plan started based on the concept of the optimal road trip, outlined in Randal Olson's blog post here.

We took the map and list of landmarks, and customized it to the Alston family's interests, and where our friends and family live. Below is a general overview of our planned stops and landmarks we will be visiting! (All cities and states are listed in the order we plan to go.)

This is BASICALLY the route we will be going, except for some specific stops that have been changed to suit our needs

I tried to make this as easy to read as possible... States are listed in CAPITAL LETTERS, and different state visits are separated with a line that only has a hyphen. Cities where we are planning to stay overnight (or close areas) are indicated in parenthesis, in case you would like to volunteer to have us visit you, or know someone we should visit! Otherwise we will be camping almost the entire way. LDS Temples we plan to stop and take a picture at have ** around them. (We probably will not have time to do work in these temples, especially because we have two toddlers with us.) The main goal is to see the temples and share the beauty of a unified worldwide church with our kids. :) We have even added a couple more to the list in the past few weeks!

Thank you to EVERYONE who has contacted us so far with ideas and your favorite places to see. We are adding in and researching as many of your suggestions as possible!

Also, big thanks to Nonna and Papa Alston for the Idaho State Parks pass, and Beth Alston for the National Parks pass. :D  #ExtendedChristmasAwesomeness

Ready to see where we're headed?? Here we go!

Leaving from: Rexburg, IDAHO

Craters of the Moon National Monument, IDAHO

-

Lehi/Orem/Provo area, UTAH (overnight)

*Provo Temples*

Bryce Canyon National Park, UTAH (overnight)

-

Grand Canyon, ARIZONA (overnight)

Phoenix, Flagstaff, Sedona, Mesa, ARIZONA

*Phoenix, Gilbert, and Mesa Temples*

Mesa (overnight)

-

Hoover Dam, NEVADA

*Las Vegas Temple*

Las Vegas (overnight)

-

Fresno, CALIFORNIA (overnight)

*Fresno Temple*

San Francisco, CALIFORNIA

*Oakland Temple*

*Sacramento Temple*

Loomis, CALIFORNIA (overnight)

-

Portland, OREGON (overnight)

*Portland Temple*

-

Yelm, WASHINGTON (overnight)

Seattle, WASHINGTON

*Seattle Temple*

Sammamish, WASHINGTON (overnight?)

-

Coeur D'Alene, IDAHO (overnight)

-

Glacier National Park, MONTANA (overnight)

-

Fort Union Trading Post, NORTH DAKOTA (overnight)

-

Mount Rushmore, SOUTH DAKOTA (overnight)

-

Ashfall Fossill Bed, NEBRASKA (overnight)

-

Fort Snelling/Minneapolis, MINNESOTA (overnight)

-

Olbrich Botanical Gardens, Madison, WISCONSIN (overnight)

-

Des Moines, IOWA (overnight)

-

check out the border of KANSAS

head to Nauvoo, ILLINOIS

*Nauvoo Temple*

Springfield, ILLINOIS (overnight)

-

Gateway Arch, St. Louis, MISSOURI (overnight)

*St. Louis Temple*

-

West Baden Springs Hotel, INDIANA 

-

Louisville KENTUCKY (overnight)

or just straight to Mammoth Cave National Park, KENTUCKY

-

Cincinnati, OHIO (overnight)

-

Detroit, MICHIGAN (overnight)

*Detroit Temple*

-

Christmas Story House, Cleveland, OHIO

*Kirtland Temple*

Edinboro, PENNSYLVANIA (overnight)

-

Niagara Falls, NEW YORK (overnight)

*Palmyra Temple*, Hill Cumorah, Sacred Grove

-

Shelburne, VERMONT (overnight)

-

Mount Washington Hotel, NEW HAMPSHIRE

-

Acadia National Park, MAINE (overnight)

-

USS Constitution, Boston, MASSACHUSETTS (overnight)

Harvard University!

*Boston Temple*

-

The Breakers, RHODE ISLAND

-

The Mark Twain House

Hartford, CONNECTICUT (overnight)

Yale University! New Haven, CT

-

New York City, NEW YORK (overnight)

Statue of Liberty, Central Park, Times Square

*Manhattan Temple*

-

Liberty Bell, Philadelphia, PENNSYLVANIA

-

Cape May Historic District, NEW JERSEY (overnight)

-

New Castle Historic District, DELAWARE

-

Annapolis or Silver Spring, MARYLAND (overnight)

*Washington DC Temple*

-

The National Mall: White House, Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, etc.

WASHINGTON, DC

-

Arlington National Cemetery, VIRGINIA (overnight)

Williamsburg, Mount Vernon, VIRGINIA

-

Cape Hatteras National Seashore, NORTH CAROLINA (overnight)

Wright Brothers National Memorial, Kitty Hawk, NORTH CAROLINA

-

Lost World Caverns, WEST VIRGINIA (overnight)

-

Charleston, SOUTH CAROLINA (overnight)

Fort Sumter and/or Fort Moultrie

-

Okefenokee Swamp Park, GEORGIA (overnight)

-

Spring Hill, FLORIDA (overnight)

Orlando, FLORIDA

*Orlando Temple*

Harry Potter World!!

Tallahassee, FLORIDA (overnight?)

-

USS Alabama, Mobile, ALABAMA (overnight)

-

French Quarter, New Orleans, LOUISIANA

*Baton Rouge Temple*

-

Vicksburg, MISSISSIPPI (overnight)

Vicksburg National Military Park / National Cemetery

-

Elvis Presley's house: Graceland, Memphis, TENNESSEE 

-

Little Rock, ARKANSAS (overnight)

Toltec Mounds Archaeological State Park

-

Oklahoma City, OKLAHOMA

*Oklahoma City Temple*

Platt Historic District-former Platt National Park area

Chickasaw National Recreational Area (overnight)

-

Dallas, TEXAS

-

Carlsbad, NEW MEXICO (overnight)

Carlsbad Caverns National Park

-

Colorado Springs, COLORADO (overnight)

Pike's Peak, Cascade, COLORADO

Denver, COLORADO (overnight)

*Denver Temple*

-

Casper, WYOMING (overnight?)

Jackson, WYOMING

-

Rexburg, IDAHO

*Rexburg Temple*

The End

Whew! So there you have the gist of it. 48 states in 51 days. Some states we just pass through quickly, and others we spend a couple days exploring. It really is a sightseeing and photo taking tour as much as anything. We really have to be picky and choosy about where we are going and what we spend time and money to see! I wish we could do more in some areas, but experiences like So Cal, Chicago, visiting The Alamo, and seeing a show on Broadway will just have to be part of another trip someday. :)

So give us some input! And if you know anyone in these areas that might want to be part of our adventure, let us know. We love all you wonderful people and are excited for this great experience together!

"To travel is to live." -Hans Christian Andersen

Family Visits

As happens with most years, they get away from me quickly. This year has been no exception.

Since Christmas, we have had a rotating parade of awesomeness in family and friends coming to visit us, as well as our own travels to see people. I'm just going to give you all a quick run down here with pictures--you know, for posterity's sake :)

To finish out 2014, Jon's parents (aka Nonna and Papa) came to visit with Aunt Beth and help us celebrate New Year's:

Beth and Kate at Millhollow

hotties

Most of the trip was pretty much like this . . . HAHA jk it was almost midnight! Poor guy.

NEW YEAR'S EVE! The Alston's + The Jackson's

First snow adventure of the New Year!

It was super freakin' cold. Like -10.

In January we went to California for my Godson's baptism!

 

Seriously, holding all our children is ridiculous.

best friends for over 20 years :)

We got to see the DePaolas,

Emmett, Neil, and Kate reading bedtime stories

 
We saw the Joyner's (not pictured - boo), spent some time with the Jake and Dani (again, not pictured - double boo), had sushi with TERRA!

And of course our families were briefly visited as well ;)

coloring time with Grace and AnnMarie!

I really should have taken more pictures...

In February we visited my mom (aka Gram) in Draper over Valentine's day.

Then a couple weeks later she came to visit us in Rexburg!

 We went to visit California again for our Year of Outdoors at the end of February, and almost bought a Christmas tree farm.

 
We visited family:

naptime with Nonna

Kate and AnnMarie sharing bananas

 
hung out spontaneously with the Jake and Dani, and had In-n-Out with the Joyner's. (again, not pictured. I fail.)

At the beginning of April Nonna and Papa come to Idaho!

pretty sure this is the third time this picture has appeared on our blog

 
We checked out the Museum of Idaho (crime scene insects!) and drove up to the Targhee National Forest. AMAZING. (again, no pictures.)

Shortly thereafter, some friends from our home ward in Loomis came out to tour BYUI! It was great to see them for a few hours. Wish I'd gotten a picture! haha, story of my life.

The Stoddard family of 3 came up to Rexburg in May to visit us before the arrival of baby Asa just a couple weeks later :)

We ate at Big Judd's and had ALL the potatoes...

Kate and Avey were fast friends:

 

From there we went to Pocatello where we got to see Lynsi graduate from ISU in dental hygiene!

We also took her grad pictures. She's hot stuff.

From Pocatello we shot straight down to visit Gram in Draper over Mother's Day:

 

While we were in Utah, Jon visited Mesa AZ for Beth's graduation from ASU. Master of Social Work, woot woot! (again, no pictures.)

Grandpapa came to visit us in Idaho at the end of May. We went to devotional, had pizza for lunch, and celebrated Grandpapa's 66th birthday together :)

Edwin napping on Grandpapa's shoulder at church

They LOVED having a reading buddy

Playing horsey rides

  
Watching Dumbo with Kate for the first time was a must.
 

family picture! Success.

Grandpapa was able to come up our way one more time at the beginning of July to see us for a couple days and kick off 4th of July:

dressing up in Grandpapa's hat and sock mittens

Napping is a big past time for these kids:

 

babysitting Grandpapa:

 
 Jon and I were able to go to the temple while my dad was here to hang out with the kids. We went out to dinner, played at the park, and even remembered to get a family picture on the 4th of July!

My dad attended Rick's College here back in the '70s, so Rexburg is kind of a big deal ;)

WHEW.

Now we have the rest of the Summer to go on adventures and jump into the second half of the year!
Booyah.

From the Ocean to the 80's

Another month into the year = more adventures and more pictures!

Technically this first adventure was at the end of January, but you get the idea.

We had planned a while back to head to San Francisco on January 27th because one of our favorite authors was going to be having a book signing in Redwood City that evening. It was such a fun day!

First, we stopped by Cocoabella's in Union Square so that I could get a ho-cho. I missed out last time we were in SF with my cousin because they shut down their ho-cho machine at 7pm... who does that?? Well, let me tell you - this really is the best hot chocolate in the world. I decided to go all out and with the help of my lactaid pills opted for the WHOLE MILK. I figured if I'm going to go for rich chocolate death in a cup, why not risk it all? Holy. Cow. The extra dark raspberry flavor was SO creamy and delicious. I forgot how good real milk is. It was the first time I've had it in over a year and a half. This hot chocolate is SO dense that you cannot chug it. It is sippable only. Too much at a time and your teeth will all burst into cavities right there. Amazing.

(p.s. I didn't get very sick - so it was worth it)

While sipping our amazing ho-chos, we stopped by the Anthropologie in Union Square. It totally puts the Roseville store to shame. I got this fantastic mug!!

Then we headed over to Ghirardelli Square and the edge of the Wharf, where we stopped by an oceanside park and got some pictures.

Dinner was happy hour at Boudin's on the Wharf :)

And then we took the drive down to Redwood City where we saw the most BEAUTIFUL sunset over the hills of San Francisco. I LOVE IT.

The Fault in our Stars tour van!

The Fox Theater was gorgeous. Even waiting in line wasn't too bad. Look, there's our show!

I know there is a lot packed into that marquee, so let me show you again:

Woohoo John Green! His book reading was amazing, and he talked for a bit about how our consciousness in this life is a gift and what we choose to spend our time thinking about is huge. It really made me consider what takes up most of my thoughts and how I choose to spend my seconds while it really counts.

John's brother Hank was funny, as expected, and played some awesome songs on guitar. They both were on stage for a bit answering questions and then they did the book/cd signing. It was so nice seeing them in person vs on YouTube. They are both very tall...

Jon did get a lot of videos from the show, but Blogger hates to upload, so for now that is all you get.

***THEN JON CUT OFF ALL HIS HAIR - SEE PREVIOUS BLOG POST***

Next up is Miss Ella's 35th birthday! The theme was "Pretty in Pink Prom" and the prom theme was "Under the Sea". They even made a backdrop for cheesy prom pictures.

This is how most of the night went:

And then Ella was crowned as a "spanish" princess. She's got some really interesting friends, let me tell you ;) We were probably the most "normal" ones there.

See what I mean? We could dress like this every day...

That dress was such an awesome thrift store find. I wish it had been a little more obnoxious, but with the huge shoulder pads and every inch being beaded and sequined I think my flourescent pink eyeshadow and hot pink nails (as well as the bright red lipstick and ratted hair) really made it come together.

Until next week...