Fall Road Trip Season!

Once a year, I go to Cherokee, North Carolina.  There I meet up with the last direct relative from my mother’s side.  She comes home and together we manicure the family graveyard.  I use my card and points whenever they are accepted.  Along with lodging, there are the non touristy establishments that we support.  On the way up and back, I use the card to stop and eat.

I’m planning of traveling to Wisconsin Dells this fall. I always stop at Denny’s and use my AARP discount. There are so many ways to save money and have fun too. Most hotels have discounts for seniors so ask for the those discounts, download the AARP app and show your card every where you shop, dine and stay. Happy Fall travels. 

The fall (around Thanksgiving) and spring (before it's hot) is time to wander visiting family and friends.  We practice patience and energy conservation (mostly ours) taking three days to an AirBnb within 10 miles of Woolmarket, MS (usually closer) and catch up with my extended family in that area.  Four days later we head to Helotes, TX to visit my wife's sister and extended family.  We stay in our favorite AirBnb along a river about 15 miles away, visiting a few hours each day and participating in at least one mob event over food.  When not visiting we wander the hill country in search of interesting things to eat and enjoy german inspired beer. Five or six days later we head back home.  Spring is a variation except we go by way of Arkansas and rural roads into that interesting Texarkana region enroute to Helotas.  We stay a few days in like manner until returning home by way of the southern route visiting along the way.

Planning a trip to CA / NV trip by car and bike and will use available gas and dining rewards along the way. I look for fun or unusual cafes and food options near each gas up to support local businesses and learn more about the area's history.

Husband Peter here.

On September 29, we are heading out on a 2 1/2 week roadtrip, Just me and my wife. So looking forward to it. We've been saving restaurant gift cards for months for the trip. We haven't had a trip just the 2 of us for 31 years.

Driving from Florida, up the East Coast to New York Adirondacks and back. Visiting family and camping out a few times, and then staying in motels.Taking our time.

We're new AARP members, so we're not sure ho the find and use thing yet.

Headed up to Hyde Park, NY to visit the FDR and Eleanor Roosevelt properties as well as the Presidential Library.  Will see the Vanderbilt Mansion as well.  Lunch at the Culinary Institute of America followed by a walk on the Walkway Over the Hudson (longest elevated pedestrian bridge in the world).  First stop, a boat ride and tour of Bannerman Castle in Beacon, NY.

Will use the app to find restaurants that will offer us some savings.    

Hoping to make my annual trip to Lake George fir the jazz festival or the following weekend.  

Going to Marsh-Billings Rockefeller National Park in Vermont for the day. On the way home stopping in Winsor VT to visit Simon Pierce Glass blowing, Having lunch at Harpoon brewery beer garden, then to Silo Distillery for gin tasting.

Heading to Chicago, then on to Madison, Wisconsin. Staying at brother’s condo in Chicago  that is downtown area. When in Madison staying with family at their newly built house. Looking for restaurants and places to visit.

Heading up to New England in early October, chasing the leaves through Vermont and New Hampshire. Doing a mix of small inns and a couple of chain hotels along the way, so I do try to time bookings around point promotions when I can.

I'm more of a save-it-for-the-big-trip type. I'll use a little cash back here and there for gas, but I'd rather stockpile points for the hotel nights since those add up fast on a multi-day trip. Best tip I've picked up is checking for transfer bonuses before booking anything, sometimes moving points to a hotel or airline partner gets you way more value than booking straight through a portal.

Have a great time at Lake Ontario, that drive through the leaves sounds like the best part of the trip.