You are here

Move Update

NotYourAverageStepMama's picture

So today we are 5 weeks exactly until we leave from the East Coast to the West Coast. Two days ago we reserved a pet friendly air bnb in Montana for two days so we can go see Yellowstone National Park on our journey. That is our big thing to see on our way and everything else will be little pit stops besides sleeping in a hotel somewhere for the night. The pets have been to the vet, got updated on shots, got the medicine for the cat, and some advice for the journey. Started packing up some things even though we have people coming to pack our apartment a few days before the move, I don't want them packing our bedrooms personally. We have signed a lease and paid for an apartment, but hope in a year or two to buy a home out there. DH is all set to start his new job a few days after we get there and I am awaiting the contract from my current boss to work remotely for a few months for the same company while out on the West Coast. Basically everything that can be set this far out is and in the next few weeks we have some more phone calls/arrangements to make for everything else.

We have the letter to be mailed to BM all printed out and ready to go for our change of address, but since our lease does not start until 5/15, we are waiting to mail it next week so she gets it just before 30 days out. Already sent the letter to the court last week once we officially signed our lease. DH's friend is going to pick up the key for us on 5/15 because the movers do not deliver on the weekend so that way we can come on 5/15 or 5/16, depending on how our journey is going, but do not have to revolve it around when the leasing office is open. If any of you are concerned about our friend picking up the key, I already talked to our leasing lady and arranged it with her.

I am super excited for the change and we are really ready to move on to this next stage of life together. There are some beautiful parts of VA, but living this close to DC and such, we are OVER the traffic, the crazy amount of people here, etc. Plus it is a fresh start in a new place together.

If anyone has ever driven from the east coast to the west coast going the northern route through Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and Montana and has any suggestions of things to stop and see or do, I am all ears! We have already done the journey by car from VA to Chicago, IL, so anything worth seeing on that leg we have already done which is good because it allows the first bit to fly by.

Comments

justmakingthebest's picture

I have gone from VA to CA and back, also WA to VA. I hate road trips so I have no good advice!

Enjoy it, and enjoy eachother- and if you don't kill eachother by the time the trip is over, your relationship is rock solid! LOL

NotYourAverageStepMama's picture

the furthest road trips I have ever been on were with DH before we were married or even engaged, 13 hours one way was the record, but it is 31 hours from where we are to our air bnb in Montana.

Hahaha, yes I agree, plus adding in the cat and dog factor, I think it will be a great test of our marriage!

GrudgingSM's picture

Got a national parks pass, but check out the Tetons just south of Yellowstone, and if your path take you through the Badlands of South Dakota, those are beautiful too. I'm North Dakota I don't know much but if you're on the far northern route, another cool national park is Glacier National. Oh and near Yellowstone is Custer State Park where you will definitely get to see bison and other cool animals. I think I saw more wildlife there than Yellowstone.

You mentioned your AirBnB was pet friendly but if you want to check out other dog friendly places along the way, there's an app called Bring Fido that can tell you where nearby parks and businesses are.

enjoy the travel and the fresh start!

caninelover's picture

Agree, check out Grand Teton too.  It is beautiful, as is Yellowstone!  And a National Parks pass will probably be a good value for you!

Enjoy!

Nette5's picture

If you like Little House on the Prairie, there's Walnut Grove Minnesota & DeSmet South Dakota. In Mitchell South Dakota, there's also the Corn Palace. Are you going to stop to see Mount Rushmore & Crazy Horse? 

NotYourAverageStepMama's picture

Little House on the Prairie! Probably not for Mount Rushmore, I think it is too far off our route, but I haven't fully estimated how long it would take just by looking at the map, it is probably not feasible Sad

lieutenant_dad's picture

Only piece of advice I have is to invest in some good audio books. DH and I have taken a few longer trips (not cross country), and an engaging audio book helps. If you're a fan of sci-fi, I highly recommend the Bobiverse series.

I am SO jealous of how easily it sounds like your move is going. Not that ours is being overly complicated, but I hate it (and we're only moving one town over). 

Congrats on getting all this sorted and it working out so smoothly!

NotYourAverageStepMama's picture

usually of the drama variety for entertainment, but audio books sounds like a great idea!

Well it is only going as smoothly as it because we aren't buying a house like you are or trying to sell a house! We lucked out we only applied to one apartment complex, DH's friend drove by and did a tour of it for us, and we got it like a day after we applied! We did a lot of research before on what apartment complexes we might want to live at and this one is exactly what we need and the most financially smart when wanting to buy a home in the near future!

Thank you! DMO has been a whole different thing. Hasn't been TOO complicated, but because we are going further than his home of record, we will have to pay the difference. Luckily his home of record is 1/3 of the way, BUT we found out we won't know how much we are responsible for until after the move and we get the bill in the mail. Luckily we have been saving thousands for this move so it isn't going to stress us too much, but I hate not knowing and will not wanting to spend like crazy until we get the bill. haha

I hope your new house works out for you all Smile

justmakingthebest's picture

I love audio books! Every time we drive to KS I get a few. It is 21 hrs in the car over 2 days, I hate it! But the books help.

Even the kids are into them- the last 2 trips I got some "young adult" fiction ones and they are all about it. James Patterson has some decent ones that we all can get into!

NotYourAverageStepMama's picture

I have seen that on the map!

CLove's picture

Im in California. Love it, except for droughts and fires and eathquakes.

Biggrin

You get used to them.

Enjoy Yellowstone, its on my bucket list. Yosemite is awesome.

NotYourAverageStepMama's picture

We are very excited for Yellowstone! I definitely do want to make it out to Yosemite too!

Exjuliemccoy's picture

I've only taken the middle route via I-80, but have travelled throughout MN and across South Dakota a time or two. I love the Black Hills area, and of course Wall Drugs.

All I can suggest is, be prepared for emergencies. You'll be passing through some remote places that might not have cell reception, so have water, blankets, food etc at hand.

 

NotYourAverageStepMama's picture

We have a plan of what we want to put in the bed of the truck, but need to do a dry run to make sure it all fits.

Plus have a map and an atlas already with the route mapped out on!

Cover1W's picture

The Rockies in MT will be wonderful to driver through and good for you for going to Yellowstone! 

It depends on where you are going from there.  I take it you will be on Interstate 5?  Not too much to see after coming out of the mountains, mostly hills and prarie with a couple big towns; Coeur d'Alene is a nice place to stop.  There's a bike/hike trail that goes along the river from there to past Spokane I think, a good place to stretch your legs and get dogs out of the car.

And of course the Columbia River Gorge is amazing. You could follow it along WA/OR border or just cross it if you are heading to the west side of WA state (there's a petrified forest walk on the west side of the Gorge off I-5 that's pretty cool.  If it's not too hot (if you leave kitty in car) I'd check it out.

Then you'll eventually get to the Cascade Mountains or into the OR foothills/Cascade range. I-5 West here will be traffic clogged most likely (maybe? COVID?) but it's still pretty either direction.

So exhausted's picture

Lamar Valley in yellowstone park is my favorite part of the park. Just stunning really. I also second the Tetons. If you can take an extra day to see it all it would be totally worth it. There is a great little place near the gardner entrance Chico Hot Springs with little rental cabins and a massive pool filled with natural mineral water and a bar.