You Must Be Trippin'

Largo, FL to Yellowstone National Park and taking the long way home via the Northeast US should produce Unforgettable & Unplanned Summer Vacation Experiences during the 8000 mile trip.

I tried to post a story but it rejected it as "wrong"
anyway... I posted about your contest here;
http://www.fabulouscanadianfreebies.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8670

My unforgettable trip was travelling from Ontario to Cape Breton and back in 5 days with no itinerary in January. Really needed to get away and set my sights on an Abbey there. I didn't even have a plane reservation when I went to the airport.
Everything flowed getting there but the Abbey was closed to outsiders. Met many wonderful people who opened there doors and their lives and went to Halifax and Truro as well. I learned a lot.

Lucerene, Switzerland

We went to a little country museum called The National Costume Museum. It was set in a country manor and staffed by a little old women. She made it a point to take us around to every exhibit and explain each thing. We would have mad a quick walk-through in 30 minutes and instead had an exceptional 3 hour tour.
Remember it is the people along the way.

Our most memorable vacation was a trip to Arizona where we just hit the road and didn't plan anything, just went where we wanted when we wanted and got a room when we were tired. We had a blast.

On a trip to Peru, we had interesting flights to and from Cuzco, going to Machu Pichu. On the flight up, the airport was fogged in and the pilot could not find the airport (no radar). When he did spy it through the clouds, he did a dive straight to the ground that scared everyone on board.

On the returning flight, the airplane was only half full when we boarded. After a long wait, the plane was filled with students. Upon our arrival in Lima, we learned that our luggage would arrive in five hours on another plane because the plane we were on could not take off and clear the mountains loaded with passengers and luggage. We were happy to wait for the luggage!

Bahamas last summer!!! Wish i was going again this summer.

Headed to Melbourne tomorrow and then to Florida in mid June. I would love to have one of these flippers!

On our recent family trip to visit family in Las Vegas for the first time, we drove across the Midwest to Nevada with no idea of what we might see in between. We "stumbled" across the Hoover Dam and had a great time taking pictures of it and educating our children about this impressive structure.

We recently travelled to Calgary to vist with our young grand children,staying at a near by Best Western. We are hoping to return this summer and stay at the same place. As the pool was under construction,when we return it should be open, then we'll have a "sleepover and pool party " with the little ones.

Hi,

One of my most memorable vacations was in Myrtle Beach, SC. We went during SOS, which is a ten-day event for shag dancers. There are at least eight dance clubs within walking distance of each other and people come from all over, just to dance and visit. I met some incredible people that I now look for every year when we go back. We had very sore feet, but also memories that will last always.

Last summer my fiancee' was on an internship in Helena, Montana. At that time, we lived in Austin, TX, so the drive back for her was going to be pretty rough. I decided that I would fly up and drive back down with her on Fourth of July weekend. I mistakenly flew into Billings, thinking that it was the city much closer to Helena. I didn't realize this until I landed and called my fiancee'. She was pretty upset, because Billings is a 3.5 hour drive from Helena, as opposed to less than an hour drive to Butte. I didn't want her to have to take off early so I was able to convince the Avis shuttle driver to take me into town to the location of their cars. I had originally planned to rent a car one way and drive it to Helena, but it was going to be very expensive to do that. Luckily I had my PDA so I looked up the Greyhound station in Billings, and it was only a few blocks down from Avis's store. I asked one of the Avis workers for directions, just to be sure that my map was right, and he gave me a ride there, even though I wasn't renting a car. I arrived at the Greyhound station and waited for my Bus for a couple of hours. I finally boarded and was on my way to Helena. Everybody on the bus was pretty friendly and the ride across Montana was beautiful.

Three days later we started our drive from Helena to Austin. We drove through Wyoming and stopped in a state park there one night. It was very pretty. We tent camped in a valley and in the middle of the night strong gusts of wind came through and almost knocked down my tent. That was probably the loudest wind we had ever heard. It was hard to sleep with the sound, along with the fear that my tent would collapse at any second.

The next day we drove through Colorado and stayed in Raton, New Mexico. We had originally planned to stay at the Sand Dunes State Park, but the chance of rain was so strong that I didn't want to risk it. I called Best Western and the representative I talked to found the perfect place for us to stay in Raton, New Mexico. I had enough points so my stay was free. We drove all the way to Austin the next day and were pretty sick of driving, but all in all, it was the best road trip that I've ever been on. It's funny how some of the things that made us miserable at the time they were happening (the tent almost collapsing) actually made the trip more memorable and more enjoyable overall.

Last year we drove south from BC to LA in our van pulling a tent trailer (2 adults, 2 kids under 5, and a large dog). We made it down there in 2 days. Spent 5 days camping in Ojah, then spent another week taking our time driving up the coast. We didn't have reservations anywhere and it all worked out great. Santa Cruz and San Francisco were highlights. What fun we had. We want to do it again.

Best Western.....Whenever-Where-ever!!!
I travel all over the whole West Coast, mainly the 6 Western States for Business. I always stay at Best Western whenever and where-ever I go. Over the past 10 years, almost without exception, I always get a very nice room for a very reasonable price. Typically, there is a restaurant either attached or very near.
A little better than a year ago, I had surgery that created some mobility issues for me. Now my wife travels with me to help me out and we still are able to stay at Best Western just about everywhere we go and they have Handicap Rooms and Facilities that makes our travels easier and more enjoyable.
There are many, many very beautiful places and things to see in the Western United States. Best Western has played a key role in going there for us as well as played a key role in the sucess of my business.

In Sept 2006 my daughter and I went to Germany to visit my 92 year old Omi. Georgia was only 4 but was the best traveler ever, I was so proud. It was my first time in my ancestors country, and oh my it was gorgeous. My Aunt was to show us around Hamburg, the Elbe River & the tiny village to the south where they struggled to survive after my grandfather died during WWII. But sadly both Auntie & Omi were down with the flu, so for the whole week we had to stay away from the house from morning til night so they could rest.

It didn't matter. That late September the area around Omi's townhouse was still covered in full-bloom flowers, and it was sunny and 25C every single day. Early every morning I'd have to coax Georgia out of the abundant raspberry patch. Then we'd take off and explore the beautiful suburb of Harburg by foot, all day long -- foreign parks, playgrounds, lakes, graveyards, countryside fields. We came across the oddest little neighborhood -- about 10 acres of teeny, tiny cottages in amongst gardens, with just footpaths throughout. It was surreal. Once we found ourselves being chased by 3 donkeys and another day we were chased by swans -- so we chased them back. Each evening -- after coaxing Georgia out of the raspberry patch again -- we'd fall into one of those huge, soft, feathery, very European beds & repeatedly read the only English book Omi had, 'Carebears'.

Omi died 3 days ago. She was an amazing woman. I took out the pictures from our trip and poured over them with Georgia -- it's so important that she remembers Omi, but she was so young then. But deep inside, she will, forever, feel the beautiful-warm-sunny-flowerery-happy-exploring-together joy.

J. Scott Francis, Thank you for your comments. We appreciate your comments and continued loyalty to Best Western. We look forward to welcoming you again.

Sincerely,
Best Western

My sister, my 11-year-old niece and I are looking forward to a road trip next month from Petaluma, California to Grand Marais, Minnesota. We've set a loosely woven itinerary that will include Yellowstone National Park and Mt. Rushmore. Most of all we are looking forward to the Unforgettable and Unplanned Experiences of our trip.

It's a great idea to capture "spur of the moments" on a Flip Video Digital Recorder, I hope we win one!

Best Western is generally my choice of hotel when I travel. Much of our route will depend on where the next Best Western will be. :o)

Last summer my wife and I traveled to South Florida to visit friends. We had decided we wanted to try snorkeling, and randomly stopped in Jupiter on the east coast (at a Best Western of all places!). After checking in my wife went online and found an article titled "The Ten Best Snorkeling Spots in Florida". Number three on the list was right there in Jupiter, less than two miles from where we were staying! Needless to stay, we spent a few extra days there and had a great time.

We took our "summer" vacation in the winter, and somewhere between the Statue of Liberty and the Crayola Factory, we hit a big traffic backup. We jumped off the Interstate and onto the back roads, and ended up seeing how beautiful western New Jersey is. We drove through a beautiful little town in a hilly area that we wouldn't have seen if we'd stayed on the expressway.

We recently went to Iowa for a family graduation. My husband was out hunting mushrooms with his father when we received a call to meet them for lunch. We drove one hour on windy, hilly roads (who said Iowa was flat) to Gunder, IA (A populated place that is not a census designated or incorporated place having an official federally recognized name.) to the Irish Shanty where they serve 1 lb hamburgers for $8.00. I wasn't brave and ordered the 1/2 pound one and it was the best hamburger I have ever eaten anywhere in the world.

WEST COAST ADVENTURE- MY HUSBAND AND I LOAD THE CAR WITH THINGS WE NEED FOR A TWO WEEK TRIP. NUMBER ONE ITEM IS THE BEST WESTERN HOTEL GUIDE & ROAD ATLAS (WHICH YOU CAN GET AT ANY BEST WESTERN) THEN WE'RE OFF. AS WE CHECK OUT THE OCEAN WAVES, OR BIG RED WOOD TREES. WE CHECK HOW FAR WE WANT TO GO, TO BE ABLE TO GET IN AT A TIME WHERE WE DON'T FILL RUSHED TO GO OUT TO A NICE RESTURANT. WE JUST CHECK THE ATLAS AND CALL ON OUR SELL PHONE TO MAKE OUR RESERVATION. STARTING AT THE COAST IN CALIFORNIA WORKING OUR WAY TO THE TIP OF WASHINGTON. NEXT IS THE EAST COAST.

Today my husband and I took a random exit to escape highway holiday weekend traffic for a bit and came upon a crab shack on the water. We sat in the sun eating hardshells watching boats go by for an hour. Although we had to get right back in the traffic to get home, we were a whole lot happier.

First of all, thanks for hosting this contest!

My unforgettable and unplanned summer vacation was a few years ago. A friend of mine has a summer house in Marthas Vineyard so one long weekend we decided to just head over there to relax. Of course, it's hot, tons of people out, everyone is friendly and beautiful women everywhere.

Well, we were sitting on the porch in our little rocking chairs (yes, we're still young and we like rocking chairs) about to do our own little bbq when a beautiful girl walks by. Since everyone is so friendly, she smiled and said hi to us... and we waved back in awe as she walked away.

She happened to walk back like 10 minutes later when we decided we would go talk to her for a little while. She was so down-to-earth cool, beautiful and so on and so on. She thought I was so funny and had a great personality that she was telling me I "had to be" taken... of course I was single at the time.

But the reason why she stood out and the vacation stood out is the fact that we happened to be flirting with Warrick Dunn's girlfriend! Dunn was the starting running back of the Tamba Bay Bucs at the time and she was telling us that a bunch of other big name football players chill with her in Marthas Vineyard as well. And she invited us along...

That's my story! Can't forget that one... we were flirting with the hottest girl on the island and it happened to be a pro football players girlfriend... damn!

Hey, I also blogged about the contest at http://www.bloggingcontests.com/2009/win-a-flip-mino-video-digital-recorder/ for an extra entry.

Thanks!

I was driving from my Virginia to my "real" vacation in Miami, Florida. My car broke down near Asheville, North Carolina and I needed to stay there for 24 hours until the part would get there.

Asheville turned out to be a pretty amazing place with lots of interesting people, so I ended up just finishing my vacation there and had a wonderful time!

Would have loved to video it . . . hint, hint. Next time!

My family and I had one of the best spontaneous vacations while "running" away from Hurricaine Isabel!
We live in Virginia and one morning the news reported that a Hurricaine was going to directly impact our area. The news reporter said it was going to be like "nothing seen before" and that we should "prepare for the worst". I don't handle natural disasters well, so I called my husband home from work ,gathered my 4 children and some clothes and we all piled into our van..clueless as to where we would go - only that we had to head away from Virginia. We ended up traveling through Marland, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee and finally two days later - back to Virginia. It was an incredible journey.
During that time, we spent a wonderful night at Best Western in Ohio. The hotel was impecable and they had a GREAT indoor pool for the kids to swim in - which they did for hours!. We loved every minute of our stay and hope to take another trip like that again.
It turned out that our area was hit hard but not as terrible as the reporters had expected. People could not drink the water for 2 days and peoples homes, businesses and streets were flooded - but all in all, it was repairable. We laugh about our "hurricaine trip" and all the fun we had cooped up in the car - sightseeing, hitting all the Cracker Barrels and staying at Best Western!

i love best western in ohio the hotel was great the pool was good to went alway like the bed and the people

By BW Innsider on December 9, 2009 9:25 AM

Thanks for your comments. We're glad you enjoyed your stay.

Flips are awesome! we bought them for our children for christmas and they play with them all the time.

A million thakns for posting this information.