Cross-Country Travel Arrangements

I was so proud of myself for actually arranging my whole trip from Los Angeles to Dad's house in just a couple hours. Last time I drove from coast to coast, I used a AAA TripTik, which was pretty helpful. It gives you step-by step directions from destination to destination, with maps on every page, plus useful information like construction delay possbiilities, scenic routes, etc.

Now they have the TripTiks available online, for even people who aren't members (which is good, because the AAA website doesn't recognize my member number). I was able to type in my starting and ending address, plus the addresses of a couple friends I'm staying with along the way, and get a full set of directions, plus options for hotels and other stuff along the way. I checked out the hotel information for places I want to stop, and all I had to do was make some calls to check rates and make reservations. Then I just clicked on the hotels I will be staying at, and they are added to my trip, with the directions adjusted to compensate. Boo-ya.

I'm staying in Gallup, NM; Shamrock, TX; and St. Robert, MO for pretty good rates, plus stopping in Columbus, OH and New York City to see friends. This gives me pretty even travel legs each day; I'll be driving 650 miles the first day, but only 500-600 miles each day after that. I'm sure the kitties will be glad when we get to Maine.