Thursday, December 25, 2014

Parks on Parks on Parks

Merry Christmas!

Denali National Park will be a major sight seeing stop. There’s tons of tours including flight-seeing of Mt. Mckinley and hanging out with sled dogs. Unfortunately there aren’t a whole lot of lodging options. There’s either camping in the car which is cold, or paying a lot of money for a bed and breakfast.



















63°20′0″N 150°30′0″W

♡Steph

Thursday, December 18, 2014

A Trip to The Coast

Kenai Fjords National Park- is located near Seward, Alaska. We’ll have to take a train to Seward from Anchorage, which won't be fun but it’s the only way. We'll probably end up taking a sled dog tour to Exit Glacier since most of the park is closed to cars then get back to Anchorage and continue on to Denali, and then eventually Fairbanks.  







☆Connor

Thursday, December 11, 2014

Anchorage or Bust!

Once we’ve finally made it into Alaska our first official stop is Anchorage! Anchorage is one the largest cities in Alaska so it has quite a bit to offer. We’ll stop at some breweries and museums during the day. Depending on when we’re actually in Anchorage, we might be able to catch the International Film Festival held there and there’s also a Christmas Village around December 20th.



Thursday, December 4, 2014

Good 'ol Fresh Air!

Whitehorse- our second stop in Canada, and only other planned one besides Vancouver. It seems to be a nice little stop, although there doesn't seem like it has much going on. But it is along our route, and its a great little place to stop, and spend a night if needed. We’ll definitely be able to walk around and stretch here. Get some air (it’s apparently the city with the least air pollution in the world). Also by this point in our trip we’ll be losing more and more daylight seeing as we’re going farther up north with each passing day.




☆Connor

Thursday, November 27, 2014

You like the Canucks, eh?

Vancouver is the last stop of a long, three stop day. We’ll get dinner here and find a place to sleep. In the morning we’ll check out the Olympic Complex, get some breakfast and head out for the incredibly long drive to Whitehorse, Yukon. Before starting on this long journey north, we’ll stop by Koko Monk, a well known fancy chocolate and hot coco shop with unique flavors (you can check them out here http://www.kokomonk.com/ ).




Thursday, November 20, 2014

Starbucks Anyone?!

Apart from the fact we want to see the original Starbucks, we think Seattle will be a great intermediate stop between Portland and Vancouver. It’ll be a great place to stop, get food, drinks, fill up on gas, and hopefully find a park to walk Kota. We probably will do a quick look around, but other then that we have to get back on the road if we want to make it to Canada. We do have a schedule to keep after all! These short stops (Portland included) will give us the time we need to re-energize and switch drivers. On the other hand, since we’re on such a tight schedule we wont have time to stop at all the other cool tourist attractions, such as the Space Needle. We only have 15 days total to get from Phoenix, up to Alaska, back to Phoenix.












☆Connor

Monday, November 17, 2014

Check, Check, 1,2,3

It's time for the monthly check in! Since not all of us will actually have updates every month (Connor), we've decided to combine all our updates into one joint post. First off, we have officially decided to go in June of 2016 instead of December so we don't kill ourselves! Yay! As mentioned earlier, we also got a third person, Steph's childhood friend Elena. We also recently spent about a week really ironing out our itinerary. We have all the stops we plan on making, how long it is to drive to each place, what we plan on doing and where we plan on camping out for the night. This also gave us a better idea of how much money it will really cost with all the activities we want to do. We are also keeping in mind that there may be more activities not planned, so we have decided to bring a little extra than the bare minimum.

After Steph talked to her about it a little bit, Elena has decided to move to the great, HOT state of Arizona to move in with her, in the middle of next year which will help her cut down the cost of flying to AZ for the trip. Elena sent in her paperwork for the correctional officer job, and should be hearing back from them soon with an appointment for an interview. Some of you are probably sketchy about her being so positive about getting the job, but her sister works there and is helping her out, and they also hire everyone. The mental and physical tests that occur after being hired determines her abilities. She has also decided to take a turn for the better and get her body healthy and in shape. She will be ready to climb mountains and run with Kota before no time, since Steph is so lazy.  So everyone should send her good vibes, and motivation! She has ordered a few other state maps and road trip booklets to help her make a sweet journal/ itinerary for the trip. Steph also made a bomb countdown out of the back of an old frame, some paint, chalk and stickers.

Thursday, November 13, 2014

Hipster Central

Portland, Oregon is our first quick stop. My roommate said we absolutely have to go to Voodoo Donuts, the 24/7 home of many delicious, unique donuts. You can also apparently get married at Voodoo Donuts. Our other stop in Portland will be to Powell’s City of Books, where we’ll have to take turns watching Dakota and searching the shelves for a few books to bring along and maybe trade with fellow travelers along the way.




Thursday, November 6, 2014

Home of The 300 Foot Trees!

 Our first actual planned stop is to the Redwood National Forest and State Parks, in California. Since we’re taking the Pacific Coast Highway and its along the way, we decided it should be on the list. Plus who doesn't want to see nearly 400 foot tall trees? Some fun facts about the Park is that it covers 112,618 acres, it was established in 1968 and it became a protected UNESCO World Heritage Site 12 years later. It’s a beautiful place full of both fauna, flora, and wildlife. It’s going to be a great first stop and Steph and I are both really excited. Fun Fact: Im 6' 4" (I'm the giant of the group) here I'm finally short!












☆Connor

Thursday, October 30, 2014

Starting Point

We’re starting our trip in Phoenix, Arizona where I live. Connor is going to fly in from New Jersey as soon as possible after finals are over and we’re going to start our amazing journey! The current plan is to have everything packed up and ready to go so when I pick him up at the airport we can start driving. If he lands late at night however, I’ll show him around town and maybe go to Mill, a whole street of bars, for a drink or two. We’ll take it easy of course since we have to be up bright and early to drive fifteen and a half hours to the Redwood Forest!


Tuesday, October 28, 2014

The Third Person, Elena.

Hey y'all. First off, I would like to thank Steph and Connor for letting me come on this adventure with them. I have always had a passion for nature, and a sense for traveling. Although, this is first major road trip I will ever go on, I can't wait to get on the road. I am 22. Currently in school to be a Pharmacy Tech. My ultimate goal in life is to become a Marine Biologist which was Influenced throughout my childhood as I grew up on the beach in Norfolk, Virginia.  That is where I met Stephanie actually. We have known each other since the 8th grade, and it blows my mind that we are see each other again soon :) I lived in 4 states , Washington, Oklahoma, Virginia, and I'm currently living in Tennessee. Ive experience both worlds in a sense of city and country, and my heart seems to belong in both. I can't wait to start my traveling experience with an amazing trip with two awesome people!

Monday, October 27, 2014

Oops! We forgot Dakota!

Last night we realized that we forgot to post about Dakota! Dakota aka Kota, is a four year old Greater Swiss Mountain Dog mixed with some sort of hound based on her very "talkative" nature. She's about 65 pounds, which is small for a "swissy" which are usually about 100 pounds.I adopted her from the local shelter on September 8th after seeing her picture online for a few months. When my roommate and I went to check her out before I left for the weekend, she didn't seem very interested in either of us and I was a little disappointed. I thought about whether or not I should take the chance on getting a dog that didn't seem to particularly like me. When Monday came around and we went back to the shelter I had made my decision. I walked up to the counter, told them her kennel number and filled out her paperwork. Within an hour she was officially mine and renamed from "Fallon" to "Dakota".

Once she was out of the shelter she became a totally different dog. She was instantly happy and became attached to me within a few days. Now, she follows me around everywhere (even without a leash!) and she loves snuggling and sleeping all day. Tennis balls are her favorite toy and if you throw more than one she'll try to pick them all up at the same time. I recently found out that Dakota is also a great camping dog and will wander around the camp site as long as she can always see where I am. If she loses track of me, she actually starts looking around for me and gets all happy when she finds me. She also absolutely loves car rides and sticks her head out the window the whole time. I think she'll love going on this trip with us and she'll be even more mellowed out since she'll be six years old by then.




♡Steph

Sunday, October 26, 2014

Summer Possibilities

Hey guys!

I've been reading a book about camping in Alaska and of course, most of it is about summer. Reading all of the great possibilities (not that winter doesn't have awesome ones as well) made me start thinking about moving the trip up a few months. I talked to Connor about it and we made a list of the different activities we could do along with the pros and cons which I've put below. This isn't set in stone, it's just another course of action that we're considering. We're always open to suggestions!

Festivals and Events
  • Fairbanks Farmers Market
  • Kodiak Crab Fest
  • Midnight sun (around June 21)


Activities
  • Bear and Wolf viewing
  • Hiking
  • Salmon fishing
  • Glaciers
  • Breweries/Wineries
  • River trips
  • Horseback riding
  • Marine wildlife kayaking (whales and otters!) (multiple times XD)
  • Dog sledding


Lodging
  • Camping in most places (car or tent) (saves on money)



Pros and Cons
+warmer
+save money on gear
+safer
+midnight sun
+more wildlife (whales, otters, salmon, bears, wolves, eagles and other birds) (FOOD)
+ Connor can drive anytime :D (yay!)
+easier on car
+extra week
+not missing any holidays
+more things open
+less things to bring (big bonus- less carry ons)
-possibly very rainy
-northern lights
-amount of time off (jobs)

-MOSQUITOS (eww GIANT ones) GROSS


♡Steph

Monday, October 20, 2014

Directions

Hello!

As you guys have noticed, our trip is going to be long and expensive which is one of the reasons why we decided to go in two years instead of sometime sooner. Connor and I are both getting jobs in the near future to fund this trip and all the equipment required. With just the two of us going we have to save up about $2000 each, Connor needs slightly more for the flight to Phoenix. We're trying to find a third person to cut down costs a little bit and have someone to help do all the driving. 

To keep you guys updated on our progress, we'll each post a little something every month to help us stay on track. Starting next week we'll also start posting about the places we plan on visiting once a week. We're getting really excited about planning out this trip and we hope to take you on the journey with us!



♡Steph

Sunday, October 19, 2014

Check It Out

Hello All,

As Steph and I we're in the process of making our itinerary we thought it would be a great idea to start making a list of needed items. Everything from what we each needed individually, what Dakota (Steph's dog-sometimes referred to as Kota) needed, and what we needed for the car. As you can see I'm way more detail oriented (sorry Steph!). These lists cover everything and anything we might need ranging from the obvious to the less thought of, we will be in the middle of nowhere after all... and yes we had to put everything (it helps with planning).

As you guys can see a few items are bold and red. These are the items we need the most, yes I need my tripod. Last time I saw the Northern Lights (in Iceland if anyone was wondering), I had left it back home in New Jersey. And it helps for taking pictures of both of us when there's no one around. Just in case we cant find a 3rd friend to join us. The rest of the red stuff, besides Kota's rabies vaccination sheets (for access into Canada) are in case we get stranded/ items for the car.

Below is our check list.


Checklist:

Connor’s Stuff


  • Clothing
    • 7 shirts
    • 3 pants
    • underwear
    • swimsuit
    • PJs
    • hoodie
    • jacket
    • hat
    • scarf
    • gloves
    • socks
    • boots
    • sneakers
  • Shower/Toiletries
    • flip-flops
    • towel
    • wash cloth(s)
    • body wash
    • soap
    • shampoo
    • toothbrush
    • toothpaste
    • deodorant
    • razor
    • shaving cream
  • Camping gear
    • Sleeping bag
    • blankets
    • pillow(s)
  • Electronics
    • Camera
      • extra batteries
      • memory cards
      • RSR
      • tripod
    • Laptop
    • Cellular
    • Flashdrive (we can share, ill get it)
  • Miscellaneous
    • Passport



Steph’s Stuff


  • Camping gear
    • Sleeping bag
    • Pillow
    • Blanket
    • Sleeping pad (egg shell mattress cover/memory foam, queen/full size)
  • Mom’s camera (?)
  • Laptop
  • Passport
  • Shower
    • Shampoo
    • Soap
    • Flip flops
    • Toothbrush
    • Tooth paste
  • Clothing
    • Snowboard jacket, pants, socks and gloves
    • FreezeOut glove liners
    • Winter/fuzzy socks
    • All the hoodies in the world
    • Scarf
    • Jeans (three or four)
    • Leggings
    • Thermals
    • Long and short sleeve shirts
    • PJS (always forget)
    • Hat
    • Boots
    • Regular shoes
    • Underwear
    • Towel
    • Bathing suit (hot springs)



Both


  • GPS
  • Chargers for EVERYTHING
    • Phones
    • Laptop
    • Camera
    • Car Adaptors
  • Maps
  • MUSIC
    • CDs and Spotify
  • Medicines
    • Pain relievers (yes!)
    • Tums
  • Foods
    • Cooler
      • Snacks (bags on bags on bags of chips)
      • Water
      • Soda/Juice
    • Soup to go
    • Peanutbutter
    • Cookiebutter (its amazing)
    • CHOCOLATE (Spongebob fish voice, from that episode)
    • Plastic plates
      • silverware
  • Sunscreen (for the glaciers)
  • Tide Pods
  • Hand/foot heaters
  • Tent (borrow?)
  • Whiteboard with markers (pictures)
  • Flashlights
  • Matches
  • Extra batteries
  • Toilet paper
  • First aid kit
  • Two boxes of baking soda





Car Stuff


  • Plastic shelf containers instead of suitcases
  • Dryer sheets
  • Roof rack?
  • Tow strap
  • Garbage bags (inside box or container of some sort with baking soda)
  • Paper towels
  • Spare keys
  • Ice scraper
  • Corrugated cardboard (to cover radiator if it gets too cold)
  • Block heater
  • Battery blanket heater
  • Oil pan warmer
  • Flares
  • Candle sticks
  • Tin foil
  • Possibly borrow:
    • Air pump
    • Jumper cables
    • Shovel?
    • Gas cans
    • Tie downs/ratchet straps/bungee cords
    • Tow straps
  • Bag of kitty litter
  • Glove Box (or other easily reachable place)
    • Passports
    • Dakota’s rabies verification
    • First aid kit


Dakota’s Stuff

  • Rabies proof
  • Collapsible crate with bed
  • Travel bowls (spill proof water for the car)
  • Food and water
  • Leash/harness
  • Doggy bags
  • Treats
  • Booties
  • Sweater
  • Seatbelt
  • Pack
  • Dedicated closed container for poop with baking soda inside
  • LED light



☆Connor