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National Park Quest American Family McDowell
American Family McDowell
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Schedule of planning for tripsThis is a work in progress.
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Date What
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6+ months from dates to travelBook campsites Campgrounds have varying booking windows, so familiarize yourself and set reminders on your calendar on when to book. Camps fill SO fast.
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Book ToursRanger guided tours within the parks also have booking windows and fill fast. Plan accordingly.
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Reserve Pet CareOur neighbor kids come check in on our pets while we are gone. Best to plan all that in advance.
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Order Travel Guides
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1 Month OutStart to eat what is in your freezerMostly an OCD thing, I just like to use this as a reason to empty the freezer as much as I can. I will make a couple meals ahead and place them in the freezer for our return, nothing like home-cooked meal that I don't have to cook that first night home. I will make these meals when I make the meals for the trip.
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Plan ActivitiesHiking? Biking? River Rafting? Research the area, rent books and movies from the library, investigate online: find out as much as you can with your family. Ask them what they want to see or are interested in doing and book it! I like to create an itinerary that shows exactly what we are doing on each day down to the meals we will eat.
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Purchase Parks PassMostly so you don't have to do it when you drive in, makes things quicker. If you have a 4th grader be sure to utilize the "Every kid in a Park" Pass https://www.everykidinapark.gov/
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2 Weeks OutGather Suppies and Clothes
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Create MenuFreeze as much as possible so it can be another element to keeping your cooler cool
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1 Week OutClean Car
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Pause Mail
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3-5 Days OutCook Meals Ahead
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Make Ice PacksFreeze Jugs of Water or Make Ice Blocks with Square Ceramic Cooking Dishes (9x9). Solid Blocks of ice take longer to thaw then in jugs.
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Pack Camping Clothes and Essentials
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1 Day OutPut Ice in Cooler to Prep it for PackingA cold cooler is better to begin with in order to keep things frozen longer.
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Pack Car
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