Round We'll Go?

This year we're adding a new member to our family...Baby E #2 is due September 27!  We're very excited and can't wait to explore the world as a family of four, but while we're still a family of three we want to take one last vacation. I think we've decided on a road trip in June and a few ideas have been tossed around. The one that's sticking right now is to do the Lake Michigan Circle Tour.  We would go counterclockwise around Lake Michigan, starting in Chicago, heading north through Michigan, perhaps venturing into Canada, then heading south through Wisconsin and ending up back home in Chicago.  Stops along the way might include the Indiana Dunes, Saugatuck or Holland, Sleeping Bear Dunes, Mackinac Island, Sault Ste. Marie in Ontario (as long as we don't forget the passports) and of course we'll have to stop in Door County.  Although we'll leave the tent at home this year.  I can't imagine I'll want to rough it while pregnant, but we'll see!

Have you done the Lake Michigan Circle Tour? What are some of your favorite road trips?

Europe 2012 - Picking up our rental car in Germany. We've learned how to pack better since then!

Armchair Traveling

Tom and I love traveling and when we can't physically go on vacation, we like to watch travel shows.  Here are two of our favorites - both are available on our local PBS channels.

Globe Trekkers
This show was inspired by the Lonely Planet guidebooks and began airing in 1994. They really go off the beaten path and explore exotic locals throughout the world such as Morocco, Columbia, Nepal as well as Europe and the United States. They usually travel with a backpack, spend little and often stay in hostels. Most episodes involve an intense hike or two, eating local food and lots of adventures.  For us it's fun to escape for an hour and explore a new part of the world, because chances are we will not be taking any trips like these for a long time!

Rick Steves' Europe
Rick Steves is our travel guru for all things Europe.  His show began airing in 1991 and it gives you a slice of what a typical tourist will see and do, with some unique experiences thrown in - like spending Christmas in the Alps and riding sleds down the mountain with a freshly cut Christmas tree. He gives a lot of practical tips and is a big fan of spending the night to let you really explore an area without all of the day tripping tourists.  We follow that advice whenever we can.  One of my favorite overnight stops was Toledo, Spain.  This walled city was bustling with tourists during the day, but at night it felt like we had the place to ourselves as we wandered around to find a restaurant for dinner.  Now when we watch his half hour shows it's fun to revisit the places we've been and seek out new destinations.  Did I mention we have the first 80 episodes on DVD thanks to a PBS membership drive? We do!