The big adventure ahead!

So, I am feeling sooooo excited, yet overwhelmed at the same time because we have for some time now had a trip planned – plane tickets all paid for, for the kids and my husband and I for a trip to the US !

It was all a bit unexpected to be honest.
After our earlier trip this year where we took the kids to the Philippines we of course got bit by the travel bug.
As luck would have it, these ridiculously cheap airfares popped up for flights to New York so on a whim hubby bought them – surprising us all.

You should of seen the kids faces when we called them into the kitchen and handed them the tickets. Stunned silence then squeals from my daughter….
My son was obviously excited, but a bit freaked out because he doesn’t like “flying over water” and to him there seems like an awful lot of water between Australia and the US. (Doesn’t he realise we live on a big ole island?)
“No…we can’t get there by boat son.”

Never in our wildest dreams did we imagine we’d be able to afford to take the kids to America!
Ok, so just the two youngest. The eldest two now have lives of their own and when they lived at home all we could afford were camping trips to the desert. Something I think they’re feeling a bit miffed about. They must have enjoyed it though because one of them now LIVES in the desert!

Fifteen years ago I visited the US with my husband and I was just blown away, partly because it was like walking into a giant movie set. All the familiar landmarks, especially in New York, and the accents!
I had so many confusing moments there though, particularly in public restrooms.
Ohh I must have looked like an idiot trying to work out where the damn toilet flusher was (it was different in every bathroom!) and how the taps worked… Even in the hotel I couldn’t work out where the bath plug was.
And lets not even talk about how distracted I got over the squirrels! Oh my – I could just watch them all day, never mind sightseeing!

So we have until November to get ourselves organised here and actually PLAN what we are going to do with our three weeks there.

Goes without saying we will take the kids round New York and pretty much do the typical sightseeing things there.
Our other must see destination is Niagra falls but I want to see it from the Canadian side (I’ve read that it’s better?) and seeing as we’re so close we’ve now decided to have a look round Canada itself.
Obviously not TOO far North from the border.
I’m just not sure WHAT to see, WHERE to go…. It’s confusing because I’m so used to the vast distances we have to travel here, whereas over there you can pass through many states in one day!

Another must go to destination is Ohio – as that is where we purchase all our candle fragrances from so we want to have a day at least of sniffing. (Kids are not thrilled about that.)

But that’s it…. I have no idea what is along the way to get to all these places and though I’ve looked on a map, and tried googling a few things I feel – overwhelmed.
I just don’t know!
So much to see, so little time to see it all!
Any suggestions?

Me personally, I prefer beautiful landscapes and interesting character filled towns, old castles, ghost tours, historical stuff, quirky markets, rather than glitzy cities and theme parks (sorry kids- not on the agenda!) but it’s going to be cold I imagine so I don’t think we’ll be spending too much time hiking around in freezing conditions, especially not while up further North.
And besides…there might be bears. lol!

It’s a shame we’re going to miss the spectacular “fall”. I expect all the leaves will be gone by the time we get there.
But we do hope to see some SNOW – somewhere! Even a little bit would be fun, and different, and pretty.

Anyway, I’m just excited! And nervous…. oh that long long plane trip. How I hate flying!
But….if you don’t take risks, you don’t LIVE.

Guess I need to be getting my head down and start researching.
And perhaps buying some extra suitcases.
And getting my video camera fixed!
Oh yeah….there will be another travel documentary – just the looks on the kids faces will be amusement in itself.

And as for NEXT year?
Definitely another big outback trip in Winter. I can’t wait! It’s been too long away from our most favourite parts of the country.

AND….at some point, I’d like dear hubby to come on a cruise with me. 🙂
But that may still take some convincing.