On the road again
(24 Reviews)
100% Recommended
Carole Burns
Oak Creek, WI
Special Needs and LGBTQ+ Adventure Specialist
I am dedicated to making travel accessible for everyone, believing that opportunities to travel should be limitless.
Travel can seem simple—just search online, book, and go! But what happens when unexpected challenges arise?
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I am dedicated to making travel accessible for everyone, believing that opportunities to travel should be limitless.
Travel can seem simple—just search online, book, and go! But what happens when unexpected challenges arise?
Whether it’s securing an unplanned accommodation, navigating accessibility needs, or ensuring peace of mind before departure, that’s where I come in.I have extensive experience with accessibility needs, hearing impairments, low vision, and mobility challenges.
As a Certified Autism Travel Professional, I can assist clients with sensory sensitivities. I work with Special Needs at Sea and Autism on the Seas and collaborate with a network of agents across the United States to ensure seamless, inclusive travel.
What are you waiting for? Give me a call and let's meet!
Can Be Reached At
1-262-227-8165
I have information from each state to plan trips
I come from a very large family - I have eleven siblings. That means that big vacations were pretty much out of the question. I remember going camping a few times (it always rained) and driving to Iowa to visit relatives (before the current US151 was expanded).
I took my first plane when I was 17 - and it was on my own. I discovered it wasn't necessarily my favorite form of travel. Looking out the little portal window I couldn't see much once we were above the clouds. I missed watching for strange named towns, the quirky tourist stops (my favorite is still the hoover museum - not the president, the vacuum) and just the anticipation of arriving. On a plane that all goes past in a blink of an eye.
Give me the road. I have teased that I will drive anywhere possible. I've created the 'Burns European Vacation' where we traveled from Wisconsin to New York to Canada only stopping in cities with European names.
Our unexpected trip to Nebraska when I took the wrong interstate (pre GPS) on the way home from Missouri - stop laughing! By the way, Iowa is mostly corn fields!
Many trips to Philadelphia to attend conventions (did you see the 'nerd' in my Facebook tag?) and one trip that took me from Wisconsin to Kansas City to Orlando and then back to Wisconsin - 3500 miles in four days.
But by far my favorite trip was Route 66 with my son. My love for the mother road began while I was working at Marquette University. Digital storytelling was my specialty and I began researching Route 66 as a suggestion for a summer program. I contacted other universities along the route for places to stay and collaboration. Unfortunately the budget was never available to produce the program. But the research did not go to waste.
My son had graduated from college and had a job offer in California. Since this would mean finding a way to get him and his 'stuff' to the new location I suggested we travel it in his car and combine it with a Route 66 exploration trip.
We didn't really plan much more than the route we would take. We had more than a week to travel to California - 2202 miles one way. We decided only on a few stops that we knew of - Pontiac Ranch, Pops Soda Stop, and of course the beginning of the Road "Lou Mitchells" in Illinois.
We would drive no more than 8 hours a day and would make at least 3 stops at attractions.
Traveling this way was a bit hard on the budget - but I wouldn't trade it for any amount of money in the entire world.
We sang, stopped for snacks, saw many billboards for the Mermac Caverns and experienced the Rainbow Bridge.
After spending the night in the famous Wigwam Hotel in Arizona we headed on to California and our final stop - the Santa Monica Pier.
I helped my son get settled in a extended stay hotel in Glendale, CA and sadly waved goodbye from the Amtrak window as I headed back to Wisconsin by train. If you ever travel that length by train, spend the extra money and get a sleeping car. I didn't and ended up sleeping on the floor in the club car which was much more comfortable than the chair I had reserved and sat in for all of 5 minutes.
I have to say every time I think of planning another road trip I look back on all my past trips and wonder how I am going to make the next one special.
You know what - each one is - special - and memorable. I only have 10 more states to hit by car (not counting Hawaii which could be a bit soggy or expensive if I take a car ferry - is there a car ferry to Hawaii?) and then I will be able to say I have driven in all 50 states.
On the road again, can't wait to get on the road again!