Tropicana Rewards has a B1G1 for Tom Sawyer's Cave (something I definitely plan to do!). This is a savings of $15.95 for everybody over 12 and $9.95 for everybody 8-12 (it's only $2.10 for children under 8). To get the rewards, go to this website and register. Then you can enter codes from the lids of your orange juice (get double points if you purchase the OJ at Smith's - put Kroger as your store and let them know you used your card). There are a couple of "freebie" codes (the site divides the codes in half):

BLOGG-HER11
FBOOK-TROPI
MOMCE-NTRAL

Then, before the trip make sure to print off the coupons (they're only good for two weeks after printed so don't print too early). Just "explore rewards" and type in zip code 63401 (Hannibal). This is the deal under "Amusement/Water Parks." Hooray for coupons!

Just a reminder that you can NOT check luggage because Burlington is not a full station. This means we each get two carry-ons. Here are the requirements:

So, I wanted to see some pics of the inside of the train and thought you might be interested as well. Here are some that I found. I'm thinking room for a small cooler is while in the observation lounge/viewing car - whatever they call it. Doesn't look like room for much in the regular coach seats - although everybody says they're quite comfy and much more than an airplane. :)

ITINERARY??

Everybody post and let me know what you want to do and when. Here are a few things that have a schedule that I would like to do...

1) The trek needs scheduled. I'm thinking about scheduling that for Monday. Let me know if this does NOT work for you. Otherwise, I'll call and schedule it that day. I'll schedule the unguided tour so that however many of us are up to it that day can trek. :)

2) I'd like to schedule Hannibal for Thursday as that's the ONLY day that there is an event in Hannibal - and it's an outdoor concert. It is in the evening and it's definitely not hugely important that we're there on that day... just seemed like a good day for Hannibal.

3) I'd like to attend Sacrament Meeting in Nauvoo on Sunday. There are meetings at 8, 10 and 2. There is more info here. The 8 o'clock service is for visitors and missionaries. The 10 and 2 times are local wards (but, of course, we can visit one of those).

4) The BYU Young Ambassadors will be performing the entire week while we're there. They do a special Sunday concert that might be nice to attend. All of the concerts (and most all activities in Nauvoo) are free.

5) There are tons of plays, etc. Also, if you haven't yet seen the Joseph Smith movie - it's very worth watching. If you haven't seen it for awhile - worth watching again. Anyhow, more entertainment listed here... with a calendar of events here.

6) Carthage... I was thinking I'd like to go to Carthage on Tuesday. This puts a day between travel to Hannibal and breaks up Nauvoo. OR, we could go to Sacrament Meeting and then go to Carthage on Sunday.... let me know what you think. Summer hours are: Mon-Sat, 8am-9pm. Sun, 11am-7pm. It looks like there is a beautiful park in Carthage where we could maybe have a picnic lunch. I'd also like to visit the Town Hall in the town square, and the Kibbe Museum (they have Mormon stuff and Lincoln stuff). Admission to the museum is free and the hours are: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 1-4 p.m. Sunday.

7) Temple day - we need to decide when we want to attend the temple. Are we going to try to have the grands do baptisms on the same day the adults do a session? Is everybody wanting to do a session? The children can stay at the Visitor Center while the adults do a session. There are films, etc.

Most things (carriage rides, etc.) in Nauvoo are available every day - so no stress about scheduling. As you all come up with ideas of what matters most to you (or things you DON'T want to do) just post them.

I'm reading a lot about train travel and I'm just going to post some tips I find as I find them... I'll keep coming back and adding to this list. Feel free to add your own. :)

1. According to the wiki, "The published schedule is almost always wrong. The train generally leaves on time from Chicago and Emeryville, if there are no major expected delays. The train reliably loses three hours in Nevada, generally standing still while everybody is asleep to allow freight trains to pass.
   The standard delay for arriving at a final destination ranges from 3-7 hours." I'll definitely call before we leave to see if it's running on-time. :)
   
2. There is 2" more leg room on the stair side of the train. Read that from Utah through Colorado, you want to be on the left side of the train for the best views??


3. Bring binoculars.


4. Bring MP3 players, games, books, and other entertainment.


5. Bring a light blanket (army-type blanket), pillow (inflatable?), Breathe RightTM nasal strips (if you snore), sleeping pills, earplugs...


6. Bring a wash cloth & baggie for washing up + soap/soap dish, moist towlettes, usual toiletries


7. Wear comfy clothes & shoes.


8. "Long distance trains will have a snack bar and almost always a dining car. The Timetable shows this info at the bottom of the page for each route. Eat at least one meal in the dining car if your train has one. It's fun, only a little more expensive than the snack bar (for equivalent items), good food -- and an "obligatory" part of the Amtrak Experience. Don't be in a rush. Eating in the dining car is often going to be leisurely. Patience is really a virtue here. Seating is 4 to a table so you'll be meeting new friends at each meal unless you are a part of a fixed four-some. By the way, the staff will request that couples sit alongside, not across from each other since many people are uncomfortable sitting side-by-side with a stranger. Reservations are normally taken for lunch and dinner, breakfast is first come first served. Listen carefully for announcements; usually sleeping car (first class) passengers get first choices." - Menu is HERE (click "National Dining Car"). HOURS - Breakfast: 6:30am-9:30am (board by 9:00am) Lunch: 11:30am-2:30pm (board by 2:00pm) Dinner: 5:00pm-9:00pm (board by 8:30pm)


9. There is also a snack bar (hours: 6am-11pm).


10. You can bring your own food - but cannot eat it in the lounge or dining car. There is room for a small cooler between seats if you want to bring drinks. There is a fruit stand and small convenience store in the station at Grand Junction, Colorado.
    
11. Photos - "To optimize your shots, find a clean window and wipe the glass down with a clean cloth to remove smears. Turn the camera flash off, select a fast shutter speed and keep your lens on or as close to the window as possible. Use a polarizing filter to eliminate any remaining glare and reflections." (I'm going to bring Windex... yeah, I know...)
12. Dry air - like airplane air - for 30 hours. Bring lozenges, hard candies, lots of water... I'm bringing Airborne.
13. Bring a surge protector in case you find an outlet you can use. That way you can share the power and make people happy. Also maybe flat extension cord.
14. 1-800-USA-RAIL - to check the schedule!

Here is a map of the route our train takes. I found it HERE along with a Printable Route Guide so go check it out for lots of information about the scenic trip we'll be taking. :)

• Rocky Mountains
• Sierra Nevadas
• Moffat Tunnel
• Colorado's Gore, Byers and Glenwood Canyons
• Winter Park
• Truckee River
• Donner Lake
• San Pablo Bay and the Carquinez Strait "

Okay, we are looking at hotels in Keokuk, Iowa. I am pretty convinced that my little family will be staying at the Holiday Inn Express. They have the best value in town, I think. I called both Hampton Inn (319) 524-6700 (where the Palmer family is staying) and Holiday Inn Express (319) 524-8000 for better/group rates. Both receptionists were extremely friendly - but Hampton Inn did not offer to let me speak to a manager (maybe she was a manager?) and wouldn't do better than the Orbitz rate of $89/night for a double Queen. Through Orbitz you can still use the code: 25HOTELORB for the additional $25 off (the whole stay, not each night) so it's actually a better deal online!

*UPDATE* - Okay, the girl got back to me and can do $67.90. With taxes these rooms will be about $467.40 for the six nights (per room). This was almost exactly the same as going through Orbitz, so I went ahead and reserved them under my name. Everybody can pay sep. once we're there. Let me know if you DON'T want them. Ben & Candi, I didn't reserve one for you, but I can call and add a room for any nights you want to stay there (unless you just want to extend at the Hampton Inn for the price quoted above). Just let me know. :)

Address of hotel: 325 Main Street