At the FOur Corners,

and parents, Sandy and Lucinda Rosen-
rrange for Sydney, 14, to be in Arizon
o, Ut and Colorado, all at
-

_e t'

Road Trip!

Family travels the country and helps promote recycling.

Shelli Liebman Dorfman

Staff Writer

I

f you think of travel as an escape,
a time to unwind and return home
refreshed and relaxed, then be glad
you didn't spend your summer vacation
with Sandy and Lucinda Rosen and their
kids.
After mapping a route to all 50 states,
purchasing a recreational vehicle and set-
ting up a Web site for a travel and photo
journal, the West Bloomfield family spent
50 days journeying 14,000 miles by RV,
plane, trolley, subway, tram, tour boat and
kayak. Throw in the message they spread
about the importance of recycling and you
have a glimpse into the family's June 18-
Aug. 6 adventure.
The plan for the ambitious, meticu-
lously arranged expedition started a few
years ago with the realization that Carly,
16, Ryan, 14, and Sydney, 10,"were getting
to the age where they wouldn't want to
keep hanging around with us," said Sandy
Rosen. "So we picked a few destinations
we wanted to get to before then."
A top choice was a trip by plane out

West. This quickly became a road trip,
then a road trip via RV to a few Western
states. Then they decided, `What the hey,
let's just go to all 50,'" Rosen said.
Turns out, they went to all 50 plus
Washington, D.C. And they were able to fit
the massive excursion exactly into 50 days.
Actually, they re-entered Michigan on
day 49, but decided to spend that last night

in a hotel in Marshall to make it an even 50.
Besides, they had to stay true to the
words plastered on the sides and back of
their van: "A Rosen Family Adventure — 50
States in 50 Days!"

Keeping Busy
Because 50 is a lot of days to spend in very
close quarters, the Rosens stocked up on

activities and ideas. Having done family
trips before, they already knew they trav-
eled well together.
And because the family typically spends
summers at their cottage on Harsens
Island, near Lake St. Clair, they know what
to take to stay occupied.
"We brought a DVD player, a Play
Station 2 and video games," said Sydney.
"We had one Internet card and two com-
puters." As the youngest sibling, she added,
"I was rarely on the computer."
The Rosens also took time to learn
about where they were going, making a
game out of a deck of cards with trivia
about each state.
And they read, and they read, and they
read: books they brought with them,
books they purchased on the road and
books mailed to them by friends house-
sitting for them.
"We also did a lot of talking," Lucinda
said.
"And we entertained each other',' Carly
added. "We sang to the radio; and, at some
point, we began singing a song from an
old childhood CD."

In Washington D.C., Sandy Rosen show his dismay near a garbage can, filled

with items that could have been recycled.

Road Trip! on page 31

)14

August 24 2006

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