How important is my laptop?
I couldn't go a day without it. But, shouldn't you leave the gadgets at home while vacationing?
Absolutely not. The internet can be a lifesaver on a trip. I have a very small laptop that I don't care much for using, but it is portable and convenient when looking for nearby food and lodging.
When my husband is tired of driving, I'll check the map for the next city or town. I then Google the name of the city and "hotel", or "campground." Usually the names and numbers of the hotels and campgrounds pop up on the search page. Then, just call in your reservation and you're all set for the night. If you're looking for a campground, you have access to pictures and details about the grounds.
It's also handy for finding state parks and area attractions. How many times have you vacationed and later found out you 'd missed something? Well, I have, and it's rare that I'll ever visit the same place more than once. But, thanks to my little companion, I won't miss out on anything again.
And, if you travel frugally, like me, then its very handy for finding out what these parks and attractions cost beforehand. And, you can shop around for hotels.
Do you want to know the rich history of a town you're going through? Google it. You'll be surprised what comes up. The kids love it, too.
Just be sure to forget the social networking. You don't want to miss out on the scenery or family time while traveling.
There are many other uses for the internet and travel, like maps, weather, road conditions, etc. I would love to read your ideas and experiences.
Hope you enjoyed,
Ann 
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Last year the four of us took a nice week-long vacation in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee--for less than $1200.00.
"How?" It was the most commonly asked question when the cost was announced.
"Well, we packed our bags, went shopping, and headed out with groceries and a tent we bought on sale for $29.00 at Wal-Mart. Along the way, I looked up nearby campgrounds with my laptop and phoned in the reservations.
First stop for the night, Monte Sano State Park in Huntsville, Al. I highly recommend a stay here. It's a beautiful campground on top of a mountain with breathtaking scenery. (I'll post pictures later). Then, up at six a.m. for breakfast and the U.S. Space and Rocket Center. If you have boys, they'll love it. My son went through it twice.
We left the Space Center and drove straight through to Gatlinburg, TN, where we stayed at GreenBriar Island campground. The amenities weren't grand, but I would trade that any day for the sleep I got that night. The rushing of the river next to our tent put me out like a baby. The river circles the campground and pools up in a little swimming hole at the end of the camp. The children had their first experience tubing the rocks of the river, what fun.
That night we drove down to Pigeon Forge to Spin City USA for exercise. I wanted to ice skate because I'd never tried it before, but Brad was afraid, I think. I guess he feels better on four wheels. And then, of course, the go-kart rides were located just beneath the skating rink, so the guys had to indulge themselves in a race.
Who can stay in the Smokies without visiting DollyWood? After a full day at Dolly's, we were completely wiped out and drove back through the gorgeous mountains toward Gatlinburg, stopping off at the nature trails, and stayed one more night by the soothing waters of GreenBriar Island.
The next morning we drove to Sevierville to see the Forbidden Caverns. I am sorry to say that I forgot my camera in the car and was unable to capture the beauty of the caverns.
We spent the rest of the day sightseeing and goofing off.
Next stop, North Carolina. The mesmerizing scenery through Nantahala was my favorite part of the drive. There is so much to do, you could easily spend a week here. Just a tip: When you drive through the mountains, let your windows down. I love the feel of the fresh cool mountain air on my skin, and listening to the winding, rushing river. It's a beautiful place for rafting.
We went through Cherokee, and at Bryson City, stayed at Deep Creek Tube Center and Campgrounds. On the way to the camp, we passed the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad Station, where you can hop a steam powered train and take a ride through the mountains. We'd ridden the one in DollyWood and my daughter had had enough. Deep Creek was a lot of fun. The cabins there are very nice, too. I made friends with a lady staying in one and she was nice enough to show me around. I spent the evening relaxing and washing laundry. I was happy that my camp was right next to the laundry room and across from the playground. How convenient. The children made friends and we were invited to catch fireflies, and later, to a bonfire to roast marshmallows and weenies.
We heard about Sliding Rock near there, but instead, we started for home. I say we started, it was another three days before we arrived at the house. We rode through Ellijay, Georgia, to find a place we once lived and got lost. It changed quite a bit. So, we ended up staying at a hotel that night and ordered pizza and hot wings.
Six Flags! Need I say more? Hannah had more fun playing in the water park, I call it the water park tree house because that's what it looks like to me. After Six Flags, we journeyed to LaGrange, just outside of Atlanta, and stayed at a nice hotel there. We swam in the pool for a few hours and went out for the night. I wish I could recall the fabulous restaurant a few miles down the road. MMM...
Home sweet home, but not for long. We stayed one night in our beds, re-packed, and headed out to a nearby campground along the riverbanks of the Escatawpa. If you like to canoe, Escatawpa Hollow is for you. We camped, swam, and enjoyed the sun all weekend. Some friends came up to join us for barbecue and the kids told grotesque stories around the campfire.
It's hard to recall things in detail a year after, I'll be sure to keep a travel log and diary on my future trips--and lots of photos.
This trip made quite an impression on the children, and I'm not sure I can beat last year's vacation, but I will try.
All these memories made together. New friends we'll never see again, but will never forget. Most importantly, the quality family time spent talking and laughing. You can't enjoy these little things when your booked to your eyeballs and stressed over time and an itinerary.
And all of this, on less than $1200.00.
Our objective for this trip was to see how much fun we could have for less than $3,000. On Monday morning we opened a CD account with the $1800 we saved.
This is an example of how successful a vacation can be on limited funds. Of course, you'll want to be sure to carry extra cash in case of an emergency.
Check back with me, because I have an exciting vacation coming up and I want to tell you all about it. Click here for a preview.
