As of January 1, 2019, we have closed our forums. This is a decision we did not come to lightly, but it is necessary. The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk. The server software itself must be updated, and it cannot be without removing the forums.
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There are other changes as well.
Why? Well, the world has changed. And change with it, we must. The lyrics to "We Go On" for IllumiNations say it best:
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Moving on with the current of the years.
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It's time to move on and move forward.
PassPorter is a small business, and for many years it supported our family. But the world changed, print books took a backseat to the Internet, and for a long time now it has been unable to make ends meet. We've had to find new ways to support our family, which means new careers and less and less time available to devote to our first baby, PassPorter.
But eventually, we must move on and move forward. It is the right thing to do.
So we are retiring this newsletter, as we simply cannot keep up with it. Many thanks to Mouse Fan Travel who supported it all these years, to All Ears and MousePlanet who helped us with news, to our many article contributors, and -- most importantly -- to Sara Varney who edited our newsletter so wonderfully for years and years.
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DH and I have about 4 weeks to take a trip this August with our 7yo son. We live in Oregon. We're saving for bigger trips so it needs to be:
CHEAP. (We are really good at camping/groceries and other ways to save.
kid-friendly (meaning other kids around and not just hiking for activities) .
in a warmer-weather area with opportunity for swimming.
Near nature to satisfy my naturalist husband.
Near a town/city so I can get my city fix.
What would you all do? I'm considering Big Island but think it's not that kid-friendly and I'm worried about needing to rent a car all that time. Still might go that way...
I'd kind of like to revisit Oahu as it has more of my city fix with plenty of nature, but less opportunity for cheap camping, I think.
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I wouldn't normally call a Hawaii trip cheap, myself...have you checked the airfares?
Any other limits, like staying on the West Coast? I haven't been there since I was a little kid, but I understand there's lots to do in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, including Dollywood.
Since you're going in August, pretty much anywhere in the US is "warmer weather".
I'm personally partial to beaches; we love North Carolina's Outer Banks, where you can rent whole houses near the beach for not that much money, and then cook all your own meals. You have the ocean, of course, and some state and national parks. The Outer Banks stretch out a long way, so there are different activities in different parts. We stay in the northernmost part, near where the Wright brothers flew...the park there is wonderful. You also have three lighthouses fairly nearby, two of which you can climb, if you enjoy that kind of thing. The only thing is that the surf starts to get a little rough in mid-August, as hurricane season gears up. You would need to rent a car there, though.
Virginia Beach is more lively, if you're interested in night life (sounds like you're not, with a young son), but also more commercial and more expensive.
The Smoky Mountains in Virginia and points south are beautiful, too, with gorgeous state parks, and some nearby activities, though I haven't done this since I was kid, either.
with your planning!
Does your son have cousins or other friends you might want to take with you, or is he happy with just the three of you?
Thanks Ginger,
Hawaii is about 500 each for flights, which is only slightly more money than going to the East Coast. We did the East Coast last year, so I think we're going to stay west and likely go south. We went to Assateague island in VA last year, and to the Gulf Coast. We also went into the hills between VA and WV, that was great up in there.
It's still up in the air, but today I'm thinking a slow drive down hwy 1 might be AWESOME. Of course we then get close to Disneyland, which DH will hear nothing of since we're going in Dec...
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Thanks Ginger,
Hawaii is about 500 each for flights, which is only slightly more money than going to the East Coast. We did the East Coast last year, so I think we're going to stay west and likely go south. We went to Assateague island in VA last year, and to the Gulf Coast. We also went into the hills between VA and WV, that was great up in there.
It's still up in the air, but today I'm thinking a slow drive down hwy 1 might be AWESOME. Of course we then get close to Disneyland, which DH will hear nothing of since we're going in Dec...
Thanks Ginger,
Hawaii is about 500 each for flights, which is only slightly more money than going to the East Coast.
Wow! When you said you were thinking of Hawai'i, I had the same thought of how expensive the flights would be. I can't believe they're only slightly more than going to the east coast.
Geographically, Hawaii isn't far from Oregon, so I'm not surprised.
How about Missouri? Flying into KC would put you in easy range of Branson which has some cheap camping as long as you aren't intent upon being really close to Branson. Silver Dollar City there is a great little amusement park for kids your son's age and not terribly expensive. Then, there's Lake of the Ozarks with nice camping, gorgeous scenery and an upscale outlet mall about two hours' drive in the center of the state. Either area is hilly and thickly wooded for plenty of nature.
Would require a car, though. However, that could be your primary expense as gas is generally cheaper here than on either coast.
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Thanks, Dot...That said, I think we're staying west.
Last night DH and I were talking and I remembered the California Rail Pass.
This is a pass Amtrak sells for 7 days of travel within a 21 day period. And it is stinking cheap! 160 pp and 80 for the rug-rat. We'd have to drive into CA, but that's not a barrier. After that, we can cruise around CA. No Disney, though!!! HATE. If I had my way I'd buy annual passes and just camp outside of Disneyland for 3 weeks. I really would. But, I'm not the boss of the world. Deluxe APs don't make much sense for us, since we'd have to do 2 5-day trips in a year to make them worth the $.
Anyways...! The rail passes also allow travel to Reno from CA and Las Vegas from CA, it looks like. I'm looking at possible itineraries now. I think DS would have more fun in CA that on Big Island, and the train is always awesome.
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The rail pass sounds awesome! You can probably carry more luggage on a train, I'm thinking, which would be helpful if you camp.
I was wondering how you could fly somewhere and then camp...unless you pack much more lightly than I do camping, it might even be cheaper to buy everything at your destination, or mail it there, than to pay to fly it.
Right, Ginger. We have some connections on the Big Island, so we could probably borrow. We do train with camping gear, that's no problem, but flying. Yowch, unless it's international with a bigger wt limit.
I love the coastal-route trains in California. I've seen whales right from the train window on the LA-San Diego route. You get much closer to the ocean than the roads.
Have you been to the Utah National parks and the Grand Canyon. Plenty of opportunities for camping and when we were there in August the campgrounds will full of kids.
Have you been to the Utah National parks and the Grand Canyon. Plenty of opportunities for camping and when we were there in August the campgrounds will full of kids.
I was going to suggest the same thing . . . Zion would be beautiful choice!
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with your planning!
When you said you were thinking of Hawai'i, I had the same thought of how expensive the flights would be. I can't believe they're only slightly more than going to the east coast.
Deluxe APs don't make much sense for us, since we'd have to do 2 5-day trips in a year to make them worth the $. 
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