TipsonRoadTripping 2012 Travel Review Part 2

July 2012

ITALY

Our first ever trip to Europe!!!!!

Leaning tower of Pisa

July 2012 took us to Italy for our first trip to Europe and it was WITHOUT kids..lol.. We spend 12 wonderful days visiting Pisa, Florence, Milan, Venice and Rome. It was an amazing adventure and look forward to visiting more of Europe in the future

Yup had to do it!!!!

View from our Hotel room just outside of Pisa

Florence

Milan

Always wondered how people afford Ferraris

Venice

Loving the canals of Venice and my Wife!!!

Venice was alot of walking to say the least but what an amazing city.

                       

                                                  

Yeah thats what I'm talking about

Thinking about this do...

 ROME

Enjoying dinner at our favorite restaurant in Rome. La Claudia.. Amazing food and amazing service with a great view.
Ristorante caffe da Claudia
Piazza della Rotonda 14a - 15, Rome, Italy

                  

Trevi Fountain

Vatican

Sistine Chapel

July-August
20 Day Cross Country Road-trip!!

First stop Roscoe IL
historicautoattractions.com/historicautoattractions.com

Historic Auto Attractions is not only home to famous cars, but also a wide array of movie memorabilia. Some of those pieces include Marilyn Monroe’s nightgown, a sweater worn by Hollywood legend James Dean, and an outfit worn by Elvis Presley. In addition a large section of the museum is dedicated to John F. Kennedy, along with the “Day in Dallas” display. 

 

       

        

                   The Pink Elephant in DeForest WI

                        We are frequent visitors and Wall of Fame members. LOL

                   Wisconsin Dells, WI

                                                                             

We finally made it to the water park after 2 years and we got rained out as they got on the first ride!!!! 

Thank to our friends Ernesto and Cathy Tapiz

for hosting us in Minnesota!!!

 Worlds largest Otter

Fergus Falls , MN

                                                                                                                                                   Roger Maris Museum.

                                                                                                                                      Bismark, ND 

     

Along the route from Roscoe IL to ND we saw many great roadside attractions and sights. Wisconsin Dells, WI which needed a stay of it own to see everything, The famous pink Elephant in DeForest WI, The worlds largest Otter in Furgus Falls MN, The Roger Maris Museum in Bismark ND (the museum was a store front inside the mall), The worlds largest Buffalo, Crane and Cow too..

                  

                                  

                                                             

 

Glacier National and Waterton Lakes National Park in Canada 

 

 

 

 

Kootenai Falls and the Swinging bridge was located on Us Hwy 2 between Libby and Troy
It was the setting for the movie "River Wild"
 An amazing unexpected find during our roadtrip. Great place for our afternoon picnic. they also have a small concession stand at the top of the trail.

OREGON

Oregon was amazing. Astoria, The Goonie's house, Fort clasp, Crater lake, Haystack Rock, and Beautiful Beaches there was so much to see.

Crater Lake 

Road Trip Tip: Always keep an eye out for the PO-PO!!!

California

We started in Northern California at the Oregon Border. Drove through Redwoods National Forest, Down route 1 over to Yosemite National Park and then to Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks.
From there we headed to Palm Desert, and found the Dinosaur Park from Pee Wee's Big Adventure!! How do you not stop and sit in the Dinosaur where Pee Wee sat? Great stop for the kids although I think I was more excited!!! Joshua Tree National Park was our next stop and then the long drive through the Mojave Desert  to our next stop of St George Utah.

THE FINAL PUSH HOME

Vegas, Utah, Arizona and Iowa

A quick stop to see the "Pawn Stars" in Vegas, then off to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon where in on the way we ran into a relative of Tow Mater!!
After the Grand Canyon we found the Most amazing surprise of our trip "Horseshoe Bend" in the Glen Canyon Recreation Area in Norther Arizona. This is a must see for everyone.. The most breathtaking scenery we have ever seen and we have seen a lot!!
A stop for our second visit to Arches National Park, Dinosaur National Monument and another surprise of running into longtime friends Jill and Charlie while in Vernal Utah

                                                                                      

Another stop at one of our favorite show "American Pickers"
Antique Archaeology in Iowa.
Unfourtunatley Mike and Frank were not there but we had a great time talking with the staff and looking around. Hannah was even able to "pick the pickers"

We even got our Kicks on Route 66 in Joliet IL. Got to see the Blues Brothers check out some cool cars and take a tour of the Rt 66 Museum in Joliet.. It was the perfect ending to our 2012 road trip as this will be the starting point of or 2013 Rt 66 road trip!

The Old Joliet State prison were Portion of the Blues Brothers were filmed!!!

OCTOBER
Corning Museum of Glass, Watkins Glen State Park, Costa Flying Service just to name a few of our stops .

                                                               

Costa Flying Service Painted Post, NY

 
We even survived a Panda Bear attack while hiking at Watkins Glen State Park!!!!!! 

 Our 2012 travel plans also called for a 10 day trip to Portugal but thanks to Super Storm Sandy and a visit to the ER, our Trip had to be cancelled at the last minute!!!  http://scotchplains.patch.com/articles/scotch-plains-police-officer-injured-while-bringing-a-resident-to-safety-during-sandy

SO HERE'S TO TRAVEL IN 2012!!!