Family traveling from sea to shining sea

DELPHOS - From the Statue of Liberty's torch to Montana's big sky and almost everything in between, the Hirn family's vacation itinerary is a laundry list of America's biggest tourist attractions.

And in the spirit of America's roadside wonders, they're not ruling out the weird and the wacky.

"If we see something like the world's largest ball of twine, we want to be able to stop," Dan Hirn said jokingly.

On June 15, Dan, his wife, Becky, and the couple's two children will load up their recreational vehicle and embark on a year-long tour of the lower 48.

"We thought that spending a year on the road, maybe a week in each state if possible, is a good way to see the country and give our kids an opportunity they may not otherwise have to see all the amazing things around the country," Hirn said.

Becky Hirn said they've estimated that the trip will cover about 20,000 miles - an estimate that could be perfect or not even close.

"Somebody could probably tell us we're way off, and maybe we are, but we're hoping that's it," she said. "We'll know after a couple of months."

Regardless of how many, all the miles will be done in a 25-foot Ford recreational vehicle (checking in at a very un-Prius like 10-miles per gallon) pulling an 18-foot camper.

A hardcover AAA "Explore America" book rests on the RV's kitchen table, but they'll be putting their faith in a Tom-Tom GPS unit Becky's parents bought them for Christmas.

"They knew we'd need it," she said.

First is a jaunt northeast before dipping down into Florida and weaving back to Ohio for a short layover.

Despite that, it's going to be a lot of time on the road together, but the Hirns say they're ready for it and the separate vehicles will help.

And it's the togetherness that they're looking forward to most.

"The opportunity to be with the kids and spend time with my wife is my primary goal," Dan Hirn said. "And the secondary thing, you don't want to get to the end of the road and not have done some things. You always hear that you regret the things you don't do more than the things you do."

Along the way, they'll update their blog with photos and details of their journey - a journey that may have inspired a few jealous friends.

"A lot of times they'll ask me, can I trade lives with you?" said 10-year-old Abby.

Abby also said she's looking forward to seeing Mount Rushmore, something she recently learned about in school. The couple's son, Carter, is 4.

A year-long vacation may seem extravagant, but Dan Hirn said it's really about getting back to the basics.

"I think a lot of people get caught up on having things," he said. "We're going to try and collect experiences."