Readers & Writers discussion

If you have done any traveling lately your fortunate. The economy is a killer. We managed to afford a short trip to the Smoky Mountains and Myrtle Beach, S.C. last month. Motels was the biggest expense, and my bar tabs!

We took a road trip from Michigan to Iowa and Nebraska, meeting friends in NE for the Michigan/NE football game in September. It was much more expensive than I'd thought it would be! We also flew out to Seattle to visit my brother for a long weekend.

I'm going with our daughters to Charleston SC in January, if anyone has any tips for me.

Susan I was in Charleston S.C. last month for 3 days. Was not impressed, but it could of been because it rained everyday. The city is really spread out and laid out weird. Stayed at the La Quinta hotel which was the most reasonable. Highlight of Charleston was a restaurant right by the hotel and water front called California Dreaming, good food and drinks.

Wow! How fun for you both. I guess I have a good time wherever I am. I just refuse not to. I will be traveling sooner than later I hope. I think there are 30 some days until winter and I hope to be on my way prior to that....but I'm going with the flow at the moment.

I have come to really hate the cold, so though I don't want to wish time away, I look forward to possibly being a snowbird or moving south after retirement. I suppose it depends partially on where our kids end up.

Lisa wrote: "Wow! How fun for you both. I guess I have a good time wherever I am. I just refuse not to. I will be traveling sooner than later I hope. I think there are 30 some days until winter and I hope to be..."

I hate the cold and I hate the heat, so I’m just out of luck!

In June we took an overnight train trip from Seattle to Sacramento for my granddaughter's birthday. In my opinion, the train is the only way to go. Get a sleeping car and the meals are complementary. Very relaxing, and the views are great. Now that my husband and I are retired, we don't have to be anywhere in a hurry!

We spent a month this summer traveling to the Black Hills and back to central Illinois. Advantage of a camper is e we can go almost anywhere. Stayed in the “wall” by badlands National Park on Bureau of land Management land. Found a nice remote campground in Wyoming near Devils tower for a few days then went near Deadwood South Dakota to enjoy and explore. Spent a day exploring on an off road four wheeler finding fire towers and remote trails throughout the hills. After our remote time ended up in the Ozarks with family and enjoyed the swim up bars and lake activities. No clocks, no appointments and no worries

My husband and I drove to Key West a couple months ago. ..it is a really magical place,, as is the overseas highway with water on both sides for many miles a beautiful shade of blue, you’re surrounded only by water and sky.

And they have chocolate covered key lime pie on a stick, which is also magical!

I love road trips and I'm going to Erie PA to see the eclipse in April. I've driven all over New England, Mid Atlantic, TN, KY, GA, MI, OH, TX, CA and have about 10 states to go! I hope to get to the Peace & Justice museum in AL in the fall.

Been in Carrollton, Texas for the last week visiting my youngest daughter. Heading back home to Missouri tomorrow.

Next week my husband and I are leaving Seattle on the train and heading cross-country to Minneapolis where we'll spend a day visiting some of my cousins. We're doing it for the train ride. The cousins are just an added bonus. Then we'll rent a car and drive south to Ottumwa, Iowa where I was born. We'll see some old acquaintances and visit the little Swedish community nearby where my parents grew up. There's a Swedish pioneer cemetery located there. I think I'm related to half the people buried there! After a couple of days, we'll board the train again and head west to Sacramento where we'll visit with two of our daughters and their kids. Then it's back on the train to Seattle. All in all, we plan to be gone about two weeks. Can't wait!

Any fun plans for Memorial Weekend? We haven’t decided yet. When you’re retired it’s just another weekend it seems.

My husband and I are heading out to Quartz Mountain State Park in Oklahoma for the holiday weekend.

My husband is working Fri-Sun. I plan to go with my daughter to plant flowers in the cemetery urn, and do my usual volunteer shift at the cat shelter. I've been away a lot, so I hope to just spend some time at home.

We are very lucky to be in Aruba right now. This is our home away from home. We bought a time share 10 years ago and love it here.

We took a road trip to Arizona in March. We were gone for 6 days. We are playing a trip to South Dakota and Colorado in July. We booked a 4 day cruise to the Bahamas in February.

I recently flew to Arizona to visit with my granddaughter, as well as my husband's sister and her family. Then, I flew to south Texas to attend a friend's annual tea party and visit with friends I left behind when I moved a few years ago. It was a fun trip! Next, one of my sons and I will travel to Idaho to attend my step-grandson's wedding. I'm sure I will enjoy everything but the actual trip. Flying isn't fun anymore--more like a cattle call. I think I will try for a train trip or a cruise next time.

I recently just went to Portugal. My husband is a copier salesman and the salesperson is within like the top 28 of each title (like AE (Account executive) or SAE (Senior account executive)) then the company takes them and a guest on an all expense paid trip. This year was Portugal. It was beautiful there. We went the beginning of May. No rain and 80 degree weather.

Ohhh, Portugal is on my list! I just got back from Seattle, where I was lucky to see 2 nephews graduate from college and one graduate from high school. It was a busy trip, but I'm SO glad I went.

Kellie and Susan , it sounds like fun , especially Portugal. Good times. I’m going to California again end of August to visit my daughter, her boyfriend, and dogs and cats.

I plan a couples trip every year. Last August 2023 It was Bali. It was 4 couples. In January 2024 3 couples went on 14 days cruise to 7 countries- Aruba, Curaçao, Costa Rica, Colombia, Panama Canal and Cozumel,MX. it was amazing. Currently planning the next couples trip 2025. We are debating on either Greece or Spain.

Susan wrote: "Ohhh, Portugal is on my list! I just got back from Seattle, where I was lucky to see 2 nephews graduate from college and one graduate from high school. It was a busy trip, but I'm SO glad I went."

It's beautiful there. That's great that you got to see your 2 nephews graduate. Awesome.

Geraldine wrote: "Kellie and Susan , it sounds like fun , especially Portugal. Good times. I’m going to California again end of August to visit my daughter, her boyfriend, and dogs and cats."

That's awesome Geraldine. We went to Sonoma California two years ago on my husband's company. Portugal was fun and beautiful.

Ivette wrote: "I plan a couples trip every year. Last August 2023 It was Bali. It was 4 couples. In January 2024 3 couples went on 14 days cruise to 7 countries- Aruba, Curaçao, Costa Rica, Colombia, Panama Canal..."

That's awesome Ivette!!

My brother went to Italy. For a couple of weeks, he was a tourist with his wife, and then she left to visit people in Thailand. I flew out to spend my brother's last week in Venice with him. He painted, and I wrote. Every day, while he needed specific locations to advance his paintings, I found a different, lovely, and charming place in which to write. Almost all of our conversations were about our progress. It may have been the most Zen week of my life.

Here is something really frigging weird:

In 1998, James Ruangsak Loychusak survived a Thai Airways plane crash in seat 11A. Astonishingly, in 2025, Vishwash Kumar Ramesh was the sole survivor of an Air India crash, also seated in 11A. This eerie coincidence connects two men across continents and decades, highlighting the unpredictable nature of fate and the profound impact of tragedy.

I went to Africa. Two safaris in South Africa, Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, and another two safaris in Chobe Botswana. An amazing trip.

Sounds great! I hope you have fun. I like cruises, but I haven't done a lot of them. I wanted to go Luray, VA to see Cooter's place, He was retiring & there was an open party. We made it to Chicago but the train was late & we missed our connection. The train only runs 3 days a week & we wouldn't have gotten to the party even if we had waited a few days to get the train.

Ruth wrote: "I’m not a world traveler. Sometimes I think it would be nice to go somewhere far away…I just never really had that passion. I do like the states though. My husband a d I are leaving Thursday to dri..."

Sounds like fun Ruth!!

About to visit Denmark, my grand mother's country.

I did all my traveling before I got married and had kids. P.R., Spain, Portugal, drove cross country, After marriage and kids we did cruises like Bermuda and Bahamas. Would love to go on another one. Meantime, last month I went to Myrtle Beach, S.C, - beautiful and hot but enjoyed watching my grandkids take part in a baseball tournament there.

Katarina wrote: "About to visit Denmark, my grand mother's country."

That's cool

Agnes wrote: "I did all my traveling before I got married and had kids. P.R., Spain, Portugal, drove cross country, After marriage and kids we did cruises like Bermuda and Bahamas. Would love to go on another on..."

I love Myrtle Beach, SC! I haven't been there for awhile though.

Cool fall weather is finally here. We are going to a wiener roast this Friday with friends. How long has it been since you did that?

I told the wife to get out a couple of wire hangers for the wiener roast. She said absolutely not and I am showing my roots. We will be taking nice skewers I guess. Women!

Fall weather has come here too, it’s my favorite season a good thing too since I can’t use my A/C.
I won’t have any money for traveling at this point either. (That’s the topic of this thread)

About the only traveling we have done lately for 2 or 3 weeks is go from our house to my sister's dayly. It's about an hour to get there. She broke her ankle in roller derby practice so we have been at her house helping her with her pets & getting her around. She had her surgery about 2 weeks ago. Now she's more mobile on her own. So hopefully we can slow down for awhile.

Man, I love bonfires and weinie roasts! We have them frequently. I refuse to use hangers. My husband uses one every time just to get at me I think. Hahaha. I definitely use skewers. Hahaha.

Yes! We travelled several places over the summer, back to Hawaii, Universal Studios, Texas for this band event. We recently attended a destination wedding in Sioux Falls, SD and a concert in Nashville. Nowhere fancy but plenty of places that are fun.

Teresa wrote: "Yes! We travelled several places over the summer, back to Hawaii, Universal Studios, Texas for this band event. We recently attended a destination wedding in Sioux Falls, SD and a concert in Nashvi..."

I love Universal Teresa, My husband and I have been there 3 times so far. Did you get to see the new Universal Land? I've been to Hawaii too. It's nice and I love Nashville. My uncle use to live there.

That's so cool! I wish I could travel more!

Anyone plan on traveling for Thanksgiving? I’ll be staying home and having guests for dinner. Turkey, ham, dressing, mash potatoes, gravy, sweet potato casserole, hot rolls, deviled eggs. No vegetables. Why ruin a good meal!

We are staying home, but our kids are traveling to my house. Of course, one lives next door and the other 1/2 mile down the road at the north end of our property. Hahahaha. We are having about the same menu, except NO SWEET POTATOES! lol. But we are having noodles as a side.

It’s funny you said NO Vegetables. My son asked in a group text if he could bring asparagus. WE ALL REPLIED NO at the same time. He said too bad, he’s bringing them. I said bring a serving of one.

We have the same crap for Christmas Dinner but we add the noodles.

It’s not crap. Well, ok. Unhealthy. But my doctor told me moderation was key. Instead of two servings of mashed potatoes, just take a tablespoon full. No. Who said 2 servings? I have 3-4 servings thank you. She needs to mind her own holiday. Let me enjoy mine. Ha. It’s a holiday and I shall celebrate.

We are going to my husband's sister's house. It'll just be him and I, his two sisters, the one sister's boyfriend and our one niece. We'll have turkey, mashed potatoes, not quite sure what else. We were there last year.