Summertime plans

[Doc]

What are your summertime vacation plan? Where you going and what do you planning on doing?

Me, we are headed to Atlantis. Its our ever other year trip and we didn't go last year. We own a timeshare and traded last year and went to Cancun so this year its back to Atlantis. Of course we did go last year when UK was there but that just a short couple days. This is a week and no basketball to watch so it will be a week of water park and beach fun. Might spend some time in the Casino but I'm not a gambler. I was hoping to cash in my ticket from last year but unfortunately UK failed me!

I'll also be headed up to Augusta in July for the Peach Jam. That's my birthday gift to myself. A weekend of peace and quiet. A weekend of Wafflehouse and HS basketball sans wife! Likely also take a spontaneous trip somewhere with my wife for my birthday (late July) since the AAU nationals are in Louisville rather than Orlando. Do a weekend get away bargain deal.

Other than that, nothing til November when we head to Nashville for UK/Vandy (football) to Chicago for UK/Duke (basketball)

[suncat05]

It probably won't be this summer, depending on circumstances, of course, but we may be headed to the Philippines for a visit toward the end of the year.
However, her Mom's health is deteriorating due to strokes and Alzheimer's. So, that trip may be sooner rather than later. It's all kind of up in the air right now.

[Darrell KSR]

I don't have nearly that many things, Doc. Somewhat stuck in Birmingham mostly--son is in a soccer camp, and playing on a basketball team. Will also have basketball "voluntary" workouts with the high school in July.

We have plans to go to the beach for a week, but as of this moment, do not have a condo. We are last minute people, and are trying to figure out if there are any basketball tournaments my son may miss if we go in a particular week. We have looked at Orange Beach, Santa Rosa, Pensacola Beach, Gulf Shores, Fort Walton, Destin, St. George, and even Panama City (which I do not like, but would tolerate the west side if I had to). I'm trying to talk them into going East coast since we rarely take a full week, but since we'll be a multiple car family, with son/daughter driving for part of the time due to school, we are going to be closer (those areas are about 4 hours from us). Also the same reason we won't be at Disney as we had hoped.

Daughter is in a musical theatre audition intensive for a week, and is cast in a play for three weeks that require rehearsal all summer. She listed the week of conflicts, but we're somewhat stuck until after that time elapses. She is now 16, and wants her license so she can drive herself to rehearsal, but a) fat chance, and b) no chance, and c) less than zero chance of that happening, as bad a driver as she is. It's complicated by the fact she thinks she is a good driver. I wish she understood just how bad she is. She's bad.

I am hopeful of making an early trip to Lexington for football, but no immediate plans.

[KSRdallen]

We're taking the first real vacation since I joined Ole Miss in January 2012. The wife and I are going to Alaska for 11 days/10 nights. It's a train tour of the state with a detailed agenda set up by Alaska Tour and Travel. It should be amazing based on reports from other friends who've taken the same trip. I've got a few other trips planned, but they are all work related.

[KSRBEvans]

What are your summertime vacation plan? Where you going and what do you planning on doing?

Me, we are headed to Atlantis. Its our ever other year trip and we didn't go last year. We own a timeshare and traded last year and went to Cancun so this year its back to Atlantis. Of course we did go last year when UK was there but that just a short couple days. This is a week and no basketball to watch so it will be a week of water park and beach fun. Might spend some time in the Casino but I'm not a gambler. I was hoping to cash in my ticket from last year but unfortunately UK failed me!

I'll also be headed up to Augusta in July for the Peach Jam. That's my birthday gift to myself. A weekend of peace and quiet. A weekend of Wafflehouse and HS basketball sans wife! Likely also take a spontaneous trip somewhere with my wife for my birthday (late July) since the AAU nationals are in Louisville rather than Orlando. Do a weekend get away bargain deal.

Other than that, nothing til November when we head to Nashville for UK/Vandy (football) to Chicago for UK/Duke (basketball)

Doc, where did you stay when you went to Cancun? How did you like it?

Mrs. BEvans and I are looking at a winter trip next January/February to Cancun. We went in 2013 and stayed at Live Aqua and liked it, but looking for some other options.

We did our NOLA trip (http://www.kysportsreport.com/forums/showthread.php?25004-New-Orleans-what-s-good) (lots of fun) and we're done for the year. The Mrs. started a new job and needs to build up some vacation time.

[Doc]

We stayed Westin Lagunamar (http://www.starwoodhotels.com/westin/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=5646&language=en_US) and liked it a lot. Its a bit far from the night life though which is where the road bends if you look at the map, but then we have outgrown the all night tequila drinking party life. We had our 16 year old son and his best friend. We had a 6th floor end unit that had ocean view on three sides so no complaints. I'd stay there again without reservation. 4 stars out of 5

[Doc]

I don't have nearly that many things, Doc. Somewhat stuck in Birmingham mostly--son is in a soccer camp, and playing on a basketball team. Will also have basketball "voluntary" workouts with the high school in July.

We have plans to go to the beach for a week, but as of this moment, do not have a condo. We are last minute people, and are trying to figure out if there are any basketball tournaments my son may miss if we go in a particular week. We have looked at Orange Beach, Santa Rosa, Pensacola Beach, Gulf Shores, Fort Walton, Destin, St. George, and even Panama City (which I do not like, but would tolerate the west side if I had to). I'm trying to talk them into going East coast since we rarely take a full week, but since we'll be a multiple car family, with son/daughter driving for part of the time due to school, we are going to be closer (those areas are about 4 hours from us). Also the same reason we won't be at Disney as we had hoped.

Daughter is in a musical theatre audition intensive for a week, and is cast in a play for three weeks that require rehearsal all summer. She listed the week of conflicts, but we're somewhat stuck until after that time elapses. She is now 16, and wants her license so she can drive herself to rehearsal, but a) fat chance, and b) no chance, and c) less than zero chance of that happening, as bad a driver as she is. It's complicated by the fact she thinks she is a good driver. I wish she understood just how bad she is. She's bad.

I am hopeful of making an early trip to Lexington for football, but no immediate plans.


Last minutes trips are some of the best deals out there.

[dan_bgblue]

Other than being with the Daughter and her family, which is the only reason I will do this, I am once again doing the thing I like the least and that is visiting the state of Florida and getting sand in my shorts. The other thing I will be doing is trying to get the sand out of my shorts

[MickintheHam]

We are getting the family together for a trip to Grayton Beach in August. We'll have a house for the entire we sokids can come and go to fit their plans. It will be our blowout to get ready for some football. Hope to make a trip to Lex before that.

[badrose]

Either going to North Myrtle or Charlotte (Carowinds for the kids.) I'll have a 40yr class reunion in Sept I plan to go to.

[Crazy4Blue]

Going to Grayton Beach (Destin area) in two weeks, can't wait. Have a 3300 sg ft home and sharing it with my brother and his family.

[Doc]

Either going to North Myrtle or Charlotte (Carowinds for the kids.) I'll have a 40yr class reunion in Sept I plan to go to.

We are headed to Charlotte the weekend of June 13th for my nephews graduation but just for the weekend. Likely head up there sometime during the summer as well for a longer stay to visit my folk and play at the lake for a few days.

[BigBluePappy]

At North Myrtle now.
it may be a close tie for second to my all time favorite L.A.
Come on down,the water is fine.

[jazyd]

We're taking the first real vacation since I joined Ole Miss in January 2012. The wife and I are going to Alaska for 11 days/10 nights. It's a train tour of the state with a detailed agenda set up by Alaska Tour and Travel. It should be amazing based on reports from other friends who've taken the same trip. I've got a few other trips planned, but they are all work related.

David, I am jealous. One of my favorite trips was our Alaskan cruise

We are doing nothing. Why? Because our help/ employee situation does not allow us to leave and let any of them be in charge. Going to be a long year

[Doc]

I'm sitting here killing time in pre-op waiting, getting ready for the summer. Having my annual back procedure that I skipped last year so it's been two years since I've had done. This will allow me to enjoy my summer activity. Last year Peach Jam bleachers out me in bed for three day due to my back and my pain management guy was out of town. This year I'm going proactive and getting it done now. Usually works for 8 to 12 months.

[jazyd]

Doc, what do you have done, injections? I need to get mine down again next month as last years have worn out.

[Doc]

Depends. Rhizotomies which is where they actually destroy the sensory nerve is the big one the made the biggest difference. I get those when the annular tears flares up. I have 2 of those. When the dics (herniated x 3) flare up I get steroid injections into the facets which is what I had today. Its nowhere near as radical and basically an epidural. I'll have that repeated in a couple weeks. The rhizotomy is the magic one for me

[bigsky]

1995 boat and 1998 RV at Canyon Ferry (Missouri river dammed up) 8 weekends, Yellowstone Lake one weekend. Targhee music festival one weekend.

[Darrell KSR]

Add 4th of July weekend in Nashville, watching USA play Guatemala in men's soccer.

[Doc]

I can watch the Guatemalans play soccer any weekend. All I have to do is head to any local park LOL

[blueboss]

I don't have nearly that many things, Doc. Somewhat stuck in Birmingham mostly--son is in a soccer camp, and playing on a basketball team. Will also have basketball "voluntary" workouts with the high school in July.

We have plans to go to the beach for a week, but as of this moment, do not have a condo. We are last minute people, and are trying to figure out if there are any basketball tournaments my son may miss if we go in a particular week. We have looked at Orange Beach, Santa Rosa, Pensacola Beach, Gulf Shores, Fort Walton, Destin, St. George, and even Panama City (which I do not like, but would tolerate the west side if I had to). I'm trying to talk them into going East coast since we rarely take a full week, but since we'll be a multiple car family, with son/daughter driving for part of the time due to school, we are going to be closer (those areas are about 4 hours from us). Also the same reason we won't be at Disney as we had hoped.

Daughter is in a musical theatre audition intensive for a week, and is cast in a play for three weeks that require rehearsal all summer. She listed the week of conflicts, but we're somewhat stuck until after that time elapses. She is now 16, and wants her license so she can drive herself to rehearsal, but a) fat chance, and b) no chance, and c) less than zero chance of that happening, as bad a driver as she is. It's complicated by the fact she thinks she is a good driver. I wish she understood just how bad she is. She's bad.

I am hopeful of making an early trip to Lexington for football, but no immediate plans.

We did PCB for two weeks the first of May, it was the first time I've been there since 1977-78...oh my!! Has it grown!! We stayed on the west side, Laguna Beach in a low rise (7 floors), place called SeaChase. The unit we rented 2 bds /2bths, was one of the nicest places we've ever rented. It was newly remodeled and with just the two of us extremely spacious, and very nicely appointed.

I was reluctant to go the PCB area because of how commercial it's gotten to be. Of course going in May is a bonus because it falls in between spring breaks, and school letting out and it's pretty quiet at that time. We enjoyed it so much we may pop back down in Sept/Oct.

I have surf fished up and down both sides of FL and this may have been the best fishing I've ever had, including all the years I lived down in the Stuart area. I was hauling in 20-25 lb redfish, monster sheepsheads, and pompano, speckled trout, and even a couple flounder.

Plus we met some condo owners and they directed us away from the tourist trap restaurants so the food was outstanding as well.

... Oh yeah, we also got to enjoy Oak Mountain St Park along the way, home of the worlds largest pine cones


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[jazyd]

Depends. Rhizotomies which is where they actually destroy the sensory nerve is the big one the made the biggest difference. I get those when the annular tears flares up. I have 2 of those. When the dics (herniated x 3) flare up I get steroid injections into the facets which is what I had today. Its nowhere near as radical and basically an epidural. I'll have that repeated in a couple weeks. The rhizotomy is the magic one for me

I get the steroids, will ask about the magic one

[Darrell KSR]

Anybody know anything about the water and beaches at Fort Morgan?

Have a buddy of mine that owns a condo there that just offered me a 3BR one for way, way under market. He and I have coached together, sorta, when the main basketball coach hasn't been able to make it. (In fact, he offered it to me for free for this week if I wanted it, but I can't make it).

I hate to pass up a bargain, but my perception is the water just isn't great for swimming, beaches aren't as clean as some areas, etc. Any recent real-life experience there with somebody that can compare it to Santa Rosa Beach, Pensacola Beach, etc.?

[Darrell KSR]

Anybody know anything about the water and beaches at Fort Morgan?

Have a buddy of mine that owns a condo there that just offered me a 3BR one for way, way under market. He and I have coached together, sorta, when the main basketball coach hasn't been able to make it. (In fact, he offered it to me for free for this week if I wanted it, but I can't make it).

I hate to pass up a bargain, but my perception is the water just isn't great for swimming, beaches aren't as clean as some areas, etc. Any recent real-life experience there with somebody that can compare it to Santa Rosa Beach, Pensacola Beach, etc.?

Well, I will give my opinion on it when we get there. Best I could tell, it's close, but water clarity if still not quite Destin, but beaches nicer and a ton quieter.

We'll see in a little over a week.

[Doc]

It appears as if we are now going to do a 2 week African safari in early October. Had sort of been planning but nothing firm but looks like this is a go. My parents are wanting to take each child on a trip while they are still able and they figured with my profession that Africa would be something special for me. Have to say that it will be very cool. They have done several and always enjoyed them.

[badrose]

Doc, if you give me some notice I'll try to make it to Charlotte when you come. It's about a 2 hr drive from Pinehurst.

[Doc]

We were there this weekend but it was just as short trip. Arrived friday morning and left sunday morning. But when we come up, likely late july or early aug, I'll let you know.

[MickintheHam]

It appears as if we are now going to do a 2 week African safari in early October. Had sort of been planning but nothing firm but looks like this is a go. My parents are wanting to take each child on a trip while they are still able and they figured with my profession that Africa would be something special for me. Have to say that it will be very cool. They have done several and always enjoyed them.
My aunt, a very proper librarian, went on an African Safari when she was 82. They camped out much of the time. She had a blast! Hope you and the parents have half the fun she did. You will thoroughly enjoy it.

[kingcat]

I get the steroids, will ask about the magic one

The wife had the radio frequency rhizotomy but it didn't seem to help her for more than a week or so. The injections had little affect either as she really struggles with the pain

[Doc]

The wife had the radio frequency rhizotomy but it didn't seem to help her for more than a week or so. The injections had little affect either as she really struggles with the pain

This is what I get for my annular tears. My herniated discs get intrafacet steroid injections. I'm having round two tomorrow. Hopefully will help me as we head to the Bahamas on Sat for a week of fun in the sun.

[blueboss]

It appears as if we are now going to do a 2 week African safari in early October. Had sort of been planning but nothing firm but looks like this is a go. My parents are wanting to take each child on a trip while they are still able and they figured with my profession that Africa would be something special for me. Have to say that it will be very cool. They have done several and always enjoyed them.

You could save them some money and go on safari in Tibilisi Georgia. Be wary of the lions.


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[Lfbj00]

We are bypassing the beach vacation thing this year, and are heading to Mt Olympus Water Park in Wisconsin in mid-July. Never been north of Chicago, so this is definitely gonna be different for me. Wisconsin Dells is supposed to be the water park capital
of the world...I guess we will see. May stop off for a day on the way back home and stay in Chicago for a day. Wanted to go see a Cubs game, but they're on All-Star break that week.

[Doc]

We are bypassing the beach vacation thing this year, and are heading to Mt Olympus Water Park in Wisconsin in mid-July. Never been north of Chicago, so this is definitely gonna be different for me. Wisconsin Dells is supposed to be the water park capital
of the world...I guess we will see. May stop off for a day on the way back home and stay in Chicago for a day. Wanted to go see a Cubs game, but they're on All-Star break that week.

Love a game at Wrigley! If you go to Chicago, do the Wrigley field tour. It's pretty cool and if they are off then you go back into the locker room which is neat

[KSRBEvans]

We are bypassing the beach vacation thing this year, and are heading to Mt Olympus Water Park in Wisconsin in mid-July. Never been north of Chicago, so this is definitely gonna be different for me. Wisconsin Dells is supposed to be the water park capital
of the world...I guess we will see. May stop off for a day on the way back home and stay in Chicago for a day. Wanted to go see a Cubs game, but they're on All-Star break that week.

Mrs. BEvans and I were in Chicago for parts of 2 days a couple of years ago, and we did a food tour with Tastebud Tours (http://tastebudtours.com/tours/chicago-tours/). It was a neat way to have some Chicago food favorites while getting a tour of the Loop. Lasted about 3 hours.

[kingcat]

The wife and I have been invited to Siesta Key with my daughter and her husband (and four grand babies) in two weeks. Ride and beach lodging completely furnished. I hear it's a nice beach.

We accepted naturally. If for no other reason than potential breakfast run in with Dick Vitale at "The Village"

[BigBluePappy]

"We accepted naturally. If for no other reason than potential breakfast run in with Dick Vitale at "The Village""

Be sure to keep an eye out for him... Lord, I apologize...

[Doc]

The wife and I have been invited to Siesta Key with my daughter and her husband (and four grand babies) in two weeks. Ride and beach lodging completely furnished. I hear it's a nice beach.

We accepted naturally. If for no other reason than potential breakfast run in with Dick Vitale at "The Village"

IIRC he routinely eats breakfast at the broken egg.

[Darrell KSR]

Most of family still on vacation, but I'm back with daughter. Fort Morgan was pretty good; but water appearance definitely not what Destin, Santa Rosa, Fort Walton, or Pensacola Beach is. More of a grayish-green, although it was clear, and clean. Just not as pretty. Beaches were spectacular, however. Sugary white, like the others, but so, so soft. You literally sink into the beach with every step. Like pillows for your soles. I was amazed every time I stepped on it.

We were so secluded from commercialization, it was a good trip. But 15 miles to a Dollar General store was the closest thing, and 25 miles to a Walmart. Can be good or bad.

[Darrell KSR]

Heard the beach there is very nice as well.

Make sure you guys stop at the Broken Egg, and wear UK shirts. Get pics with Vitale, and post 'em! He loves UK fans.


The wife and I have been invited to Siesta Key with my daughter and her husband (and four grand babies) in two weeks. Ride and beach lodging completely furnished. I hear it's a nice beach.

We accepted naturally. If for no other reason than potential breakfast run in with Dick Vitale at "The Village"

[BigBluePappy]

'Beaches were spectacular, however. Sugary white, like the others, but so, so soft. You literally sink into the beach with every step. Like pillows for your soles. I was amazed every time I stepped on it.'

That's it, rub it in.
Been three years since or more since I saw my beloved L.A.
Sigh...
Oops I take that back, there was one vacation from Hell (the folks who went with us) three years ago.

[Edward100]

If you ever watched “Vacation” starring Chevy Chase, you watched one of our vacations. I had everything planned from sunup to late night. Things have changed. My wife explained the reason for a vacation is to relax, recoup and have fun. We now do vacations in a differently.

We make no reservations and we travel in a direction, say south. We travel and see what’s on the route. If either of us sees something that looks interesting, we stop. Sometimes we just take a road to see where it goes. Wherever we are around sunset, we get a room. Some of the advantages of doing a vacation this way are you have no deadlines, tickets that must be used and if you don’t show up you won’t be charged .

We have had some very interesting vacations. It amazes what we can do, how far we can travel and the sights we see that we never knew existed and are not tourist traps. We’ve seen and done whatever we wanted to do. The best things is when we get back, we’re well rested.

[Darrell KSR]

We had this discussion a few years ago, and came to a conclusion--a trip is different from a vacation.

We have boths, but more trips than vacations.

A trip involves things to do. A vacation involves rest and relaxation. Both are fun, both can be of value.

Now, how we determine which one we're doing depends on a lot of things. We recently had a vacation--a week-long stay at the beach. We had two planned activities; one round of golf, and one round of footgolf (while girls went shopping). That's it; nothing else. We did manage to drive 2 miles to Fort Morgan, and visited it for an hour or so, but absolutely nothing else but beach, pool, and family time with games like "Fibbage." We had one lunch adventure planned around the footgolf/shgopping, and one "go to dinner" (plans got thwarted on that, as the wait time was too long for us, so we went with Plan B.

Why was this a vacation, instead of a trip? Length of time is a part. We can't have a vacation unless it is an extended time, preferably a week or more. Could be as little as 5 days, I guess, but anything else, and there's not enough time to decompress in the R&R world. Familiar surroundings/lack of "must" see/do things are also a part. Nothing--and I mean, nothing--is a "must" see or do on a beach vacation. Name it, and we can "pass," whether it's golf, Navy Blue Angels show, terrific restaurant, or whatever. Now, if you're going to Paris, there are "must" see/do things that will turn that into a trip.

Now, about the "no plan" vacation--Edward, we've done that before, of sorts. We have had two occasions where we tried to stop and get a hotel in route, and found no vacancies. It is a miserable experience looking for hotel rooms late at night, when people are tired, grumpy, have to unload things out of cars, etc. We find it better to have a reservation somewhere in the range of where we might be at a certain time. But truthfully, we rarely go farther than about 5 hours on the road on our vacations/trips, so it doesn't matter that much. Once we went to Orlando, and on the way back had the bad experience not finding a hotel. Once we went to Houston and on the way back, had a similar bad experience. Probably terrible to allow two bad experiences over many, many years (the Houston trip was when I lived in Louisiana, before marriage, so we're talking 2 times in over 30 years), but I have a long memory ;).


If you ever watched “Vacation” starring Chevy Chase, you watched one of our vacations. I had everything planned from sunup to late night. Things have changed. My wife explained the reason for a vacation is to relax, recoup and have fun. We now do vacations in a differently.

We make no reservations and we travel in a direction, say south. We travel and see what’s on the route. If either of us sees something that looks interesting, we stop. Sometimes we just take a road to see where it goes. Wherever we are around sunset, we get a room. Some of the advantages of doing a vacation this way are you have no deadlines, tickets that must be used and if you don’t show up you won’t be charged .

We have had some very interesting vacations. It amazes what we can do, how far we can travel and the sights we see that we never knew existed and are not tourist traps. We’ve seen and done whatever we wanted to do. The best things is when we get back, we’re well rested.

[dan_bgblue]

Darrell I concur with the need for room reservations. Wife, daughter, and I had spent 6 days in Islamorada, FL having a vacation. We left on Sat morning planning to spend the night somewhere in southern or central GA. I gulf hurricane had ravaged parts of Alabama and the state of GA all the way north to Atlanta a couple of days before we left for home. There were no rooms available on our route home until we got to Chattanooga, TN. By that time, my wife and I agreed to just motor on home, after 17 hours on the road we got home a 1:30 am. That was a TRIP and a bummer

[Darrell KSR]

Hey, you take a month off, and you can call it whatever you want. I call anything a week or more a vacation, unless you're just helter skelter checking off "to do" items. But I've never had more than 8 days off, including my honeymoon, and so I'm just in a different world than you are.

I'll remain in disagreement with you about the hotels, though. It only takes one bad experience to sour you on the idea that traveling reservation-free is a good idea. I've had two.

[Edward100]

Darrell, retirement does have its benefits. When you retire you get years off. We’ve had bad experiences with getting a room after arriving late, after seven. That’s why we started looking for a room earlier. When the sun reaches the top of our windshield it’s around five o’clock. We’ve also found that getting a room either before or after a large metropolitan area helps.
As dan_bgblue mentioned about conditions as the weather, is another advantage for us. If I knew what awaited me in Georgia, I would have rerouted. Having to be at a certain place at a certain time is stressful. Either going to a place with reservations or coming back to be at work Monday morning. I doubt, after a 17-hour drive, dan_bgblue felt rested going to work the next day.

I worked and drove all over the country. When I was in my prime, it was nothing to drive 10 to 14 hours at a time. We would drive to Panama City Beach for the weekend. One night while we were entertaining guest in Owensboro, the subject came up about White Castle hamburgers. It was around midnight. We got in the car drove to Louisville, ate White Castle hamburgers, and drove back to Owensboro.
On another “Adventure”, I changed oil in my car (Owensboro) and went to K-Mart to buy an air filter. We decided to go to Lewisburg to visit friends. Lewisburg is a small town 60 miles south of Owensboro. The people we went to visit were not home. I told my wife, “It’s only about an hour drive to Nashville. Let’s spend the weekend there.” When we got to Nashville, there were no rooms available. So I said, “Well, it’s only about two hours to Chattanooga, let’s go there for the weekend” and off we went. As we were coming into Chattanooga, I saw a sign that said Atlanta 110 miles. We spent the weekend in Atlanta. We had to buy clothes and other supplies there.
As I mentioned before we don’t take vacations or trips, we take adventures. After that episode, we had luggage in the trunk of our car because we didn’t know what we were going to do or where we were going from that point on. We’ve been married 50 years and still laugh about many of our adventures.