We must get out! Counting all the time spent at home during "lock down" and all the vacations, concerts, travel that has been cancelled or just didn't turn out very good this past year, Vicky and I needed to get away.
We planned to take the RV down to Universal Studios in Orlando Florida, mostly for Harry Potter World and to visit my Mom, who was visiting her sister and see my cousin and his wife in St Petersburg, Florida, before turning around and coming home, two weeks and 2600 miles of RV travel.
Day 1
St Louis MO to Memphis TN- 312 miles
We specifically wanted to try and take it easy on this trip and combine not only seeing some cool places but also not rushing or taxing ourselves to get from place to place, so we are going to employ the 330 RV rule. Do not drive more than 330 miles in a day, or if you do, arrive by 3:30 pm in order to relax and enjoy the remainder of the day.
Today's first stop was Memphis TN and specifically Graceland, the home of Elvis Presley. For this trip I also tried to only book RV sites that were independent. This RV park is owned and on the grounds of Graceland. We arrived just after noon, giving us plenty of time to set up rest a bit and head over to Graceland. This was just across the parking lot from the RV park.
I was surprised that Vicky had never been to Graceland before, Neither one of us are big into touring mansions or estates, on the inside, besides it cost a lot to get in, but we did walk all around the complex and got a view of the actual house from the street.
And his smaller private jet.
Yesterday, the first day of our trip down to Memphis, it would be the last time is rained on us the rest of our vacation. The morning dawned bright and sunny.
Memphis to Oak Mountain State Park, Alabama- 260 miles
We had a lot of fun at Graceland, We decided to go by Elvis's birthplace, Tupelo Mississippi.
In the same town was also the Tupelo National Battlefield Monument. So we stopped there first. We were a bit disappointed as the monument and memorial is just a very small square of land on a busy street corner and that is it?! Given the present wave of "wokeness" I guess we should be glad to see that it is still here.
We then headed over to Elvis's birth home. This turned out to be a very well done and organized private exhibit with a well built main building on 30 acres with many exhibits to Elvis on the property, a modern wedding venue, concert pavilion and a very peaceful walking path.
The one room house Elvis Aaron Presley was born in
A statue of Vernon Presley, Elvis's father.
The Church the family attended, which was originally a few blocks away, was brought to the property.
We were there very early and the museum portion did not open till 11 am. So after spending about 90 minutes walking around and looking at all the outdoor exhibits it was time to head toward Birmingham Alabama and our destination for today Oak Mountain State Park.
It turned out to be a beautiful evening with no bugs at all yet
Tonight was bbq night, so I set up and sat outside for a long time. Vicky and I took a walk around the entire Park and down by the beach. This was a very good choice for today's stop.
We did have some RV neighbors later in the evening. A class C pulled in next to us with a family of mom's and kids. It was there first ever time out in their RV, so when asked, I helped them with making a fire and answering RV questions. Later, after dark, I heard them start up the RV and looked out in time to see them preparing to drive away, with their awning still deployed! I rushed over and caught them before they drove off and tore the awning off, on the first tree! They said they only intended to come out for a few hours and then go home their first time. With crisis diverter and all secure they drove off, my good deed for the day done.
Day 3
Oak Mountain State Park to Triple C Campground Chattahoochee, Florida.- 271 miles
Not a whole lot to say about today other than it was a perfect day to drive and make it into Florida. This slow pace and smaller daily miles has been a real pleasure, so we have just been enjoying ourselves. Every morning I am up early to make Vicky a big home cooked breakfast before setting out for the day. I will say the highways around Birmingham do suck! but after Montgomery Alabama, the smaller highway 231, before reaching highway 10, was a pleasure to drive. This campground today is another independent RV park with a lovely young couple that manage it and treat it like it was their own. They called during the day to check on us and our arrival and the place was spotlessly clean. It is just off highway 10 but hidden in dense woods, surrounded by State Parks, very near an old abandoned jai-alai stadium.
We celebrated entering Florida by swimming in their pool, which was COOOOLED, but it was the first pool that was open as there was still some restrictions and concerns along the way. We did meet a few kids from a family of 11 staying in the park while their home was being built near by, they were talkative and very polite. 😃
Another beautiful night to relax and enjoy ourselves
Day 4
Triple C Campground to Universal Studios Florida - 289 miles
Where to stay around Universal Studios, like Disneyland is always an issue. It is a very expensive place for tourists, even with low attendance at the parks and some limitations the pricing for accommodations does not change much. Universal wanted around $130 per night for an RV site. I had purchased an RV route mapping software before planning this trip that revealed thousands of RV parks to choose from. On it, I found Bill Frederick Park at Turkey Lake. A small Orlando City Park just 15 minutes from Universal Studios with just 20 RV sites. I got the last full service RV site available for $25 per day! What a find. This City Park is even gated. the RV park was beautiful, and quiet.
It was the first time I had unhooked the RV from the truck since starting our trip 4 days ago. This place was just fantastic and the price savings paid for a ticket to the park for one of us!
We celebrated by ordering one of the best pizza's I have ever had.
A Brazilian pizzeria named "Pie-fection". Oh my, was that pizza good! It will be up early and off to Universal Studios and Harry Potter World tomorrow.
Day 5,
First Day at Universal Studios, Orlando Florida
I am not a crowd person! So, this is the part of the trip I looking forward to the most, but also dreading. We arrived plenty early at the park, but to our pleasant surprise there was not a long line of lots of people. Yes there was a line, but we already had our tickets on our phones, so once we found the correct line, and the park opened, we were through the entrance in under 20 minutes.
The morning was beautiful and the park relatively empty
A view across one of the lakes to a different part of the park we would explore later.
The characters were starting to appear
We were making a bee line for HP World. As you approach you see some of the outside buildings. This one being the Sirius' boyhood home, the Order's headquarters, in Order of the Phoenix.
You enter into Diagon Alley. Disney still had a mask mandate going on, when you were walking the park. You could remove it in the restaurants.
Weasley' Wizard Wheezes
The Leaky Cauldron
It wasn't more than 15 minutes from being inside Diagon Alley that Vicky was off to do her first roller coaster ride. It was the Escape From Gringott's ride.
I wandered around and found that one of the outside shows was just starting. This was the telling of the Deathly Hallows and the Three Brothers. It was done with life size puppets and was really good.
I also found a tavern serving Butter Beer. This was tops on my list to try while here. I ordered the regular and the frozen version. I would like to say I ordered two in anticipation of Vicky being done with her ride and finding me, but not really, I was fully prepared to drink them both! Fortunately for me, Vicky did join me very soon, after receiving my order, and my 'thoughtful' gesture of getting some for her was appreciated.
Gringotts and the white dragon.
We had been walking around for a good bit and nothing had happened so when the dragon started up around 10 am, we were both startled and surprised. We can feel the heat, on the ground, no matter where you are standing.
The World of HP is split over two parks. Diagon Alley, that we are in now and the Village of Hogsmead. They are separated across the entire park and connected by the Hogwort's Express. Being that the crowds were very low we decided to jump on the train now.
You enter into a perfect replica of a London underground and the set decorations from the movies.
Harry's trunk and Headwig
The train arrives of course at platform 9 3/4
You can seat about 6 people in each car, but because it was not crowded we didn't have any others in our car. I am sure the covid regulations had something to do with that as well.
Once the train starts to move you get a realistic view from outside the train window and corridor
And perhaps a visit from the Dementors!
Arriving in Hogsmead
Hogsmead is really a nice place, but many more people here than in Diagon Alley
The building construction was really well done and realistic to the movies
Hogworts Castle
It is fully life-sized
Looking up from the base
Vicky had to get on Hagrid's Magical Creature Motorbike Ride (rollercoaster), So again I wondered around town. The ride had a bit longer wait, so after I while I tried to find a spot I might see Vicky on the ride.
I found her!
We then went over to the Castle to ride: Harry Potter's forbidden Journey Ride. I stayed in line the whole time, thinking that I might actually do this ride, until I got up to the very front and it reminded me too much of Space Mountain, many years ago, so I bailed and waited for Vicky at the exit!
It was after lunch time, so we went to the 3 Broomsticks for lunch. Fish and Butter Beer.
After lunch we headed back on the train again, but this case it was really, really long wait. I think around 2 pm we waited 90 minutes or more to board the train. We had an appointment at Ollivander's to get our wands in Diagon Alley, so I had to text them to say we would be late, not by much, but that helped and we got right in, when we finally arrived back on the train. That was a great one on one experience with all the special effects from the movie.
Vicky eyed up the other roller coasters, but didn't try this one!
I had turned on my Garmin watch to see how much ground we covered the first day.
11.5 miles in 8 hours of walking. The long blue lines are the two Hogwarts Express Train rides.
Day 6
Day 2 Universal Studios
We started on the other side of the park and did all the worlds.
Of course today was the day to shop for souvenir and gifts for the grandkids.
We wondered around and generally just popped in wherever we wanted.
Photo-bombed by a penguin
Vicky eyed up the big roller coasters and I was willing to wait and watch, but she didn't go. I think this one even intimidated her!
We even ran into Bumble Bee
We were off to the Looney Tunes part of the park next
This had the water rides that I can even go on. So we went on the Raging River adventure. Being that it was not crowded we actually got to go around twice before we had to get off, just because we were now soaked!
Around to the very back of the Park and Jurassic World area.
And it eventually leads you right back to Hogsmead.
The recreation of Hogwarts is really something to see
Finished our day and time at Universal with lunch at Jimmy Buffett's restaurant Margaritaville with some nice island food and adult beverages
This is the end of Part 1. We had a fabulous time here, but we will still had lots of places to go coming up in Part 2. stay tuned.
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