Road Trip 2015 - Texas to California!
After talking with my kids we have decided on a road trip out to California next year. We are planning to leave mid May when my oldest daughter gets out of college however that could change to early June depending on her dance team. Anyway here is a short recap from my other thread - family of five, two adults, kids my son will be almost 3, girls will be 12 & 18 and we are tent campers that plan to overnight a few times in motels. We have two weeks for this trip and will be driving a 4x4 Nissan Armada. We are a very active family that has to tone it down a bit due to our toddler. Here is what we have so far. Please add your thoughts, comments or suggestions.
Day 1 - leave SE Texas and head to Amarillo where we plan to stay overnight at possibly the Big Texan motel and have dinner at the Big Texan Steakhouse. Relax and let the kids enjoy the pool.
Day 2 - leave Amarillo and head to the Cadillac Ranch for a short stop. My 18 yr old is particularly interested in this. We plan to drive parts of the trip on old Route 66 and stop at as many old roadside points of interest that we can. The current plan is to stay overnight at the WigWam motel in Holbrook, AZ.
Day 3 - Head to the Grand Canyon! First stop Winslow, AZ because I love The Eagles and I must have a photo of me standing on the corner. Next head to Flagstaff for groceries then on the GC where we will camp two nights at Mather.
Day 4 - spend the day at GC
Day 5 - leave GC for LA. I have no idea where to stay but probably a motel not camping. I am still working on this.
Day 6 - Basically this will be a day of sightseeing in LA for the girls. According to the kids we must do the following things - go to the Chinese Theater so they can put their hands in the prints of the movie stars, see the Hollywood sign, drive thru the Hollywood Hills and Sunset Blvd.
Now we need to decide whether or not we are going to go to Disney Land. I'm just not sure yet. If so we will add an additional day in LA.
Day 7 & 8 - After LA we thought we would drive to Malibu and camp hopefully at Leo Carrillo SP for two nights. Does anyone have any thoughts on this? From the research I have done it looks to be quite nice. This would also allow us to drive at least a small portion of the PCH.
Now after two nights camping in Malibu we are open. We drove Route 66/I-40 on the way to Cali so we thought we might take I-10 home essentially making a huge loop. My husband and I are interested in a stop at Tombstone and/or Carlsbad Caverns if we return this way. Other than that we have no clue. Should we return this way? Should we return a different route? Any and all suggestions are appreciated.
Day 1 - leave SE Texas and head to Amarillo where we plan to stay overnight at possibly the Big Texan motel and have dinner at the Big Texan Steakhouse. Relax and let the kids enjoy the pool.
Day 2 - leave Amarillo and head to the Cadillac Ranch for a short stop. My 18 yr old is particularly interested in this. We plan to drive parts of the trip on old Route 66 and stop at as many old roadside points of interest that we can. The current plan is to stay overnight at the WigWam motel in Holbrook, AZ.
Day 3 - Head to the Grand Canyon! First stop Winslow, AZ because I love The Eagles and I must have a photo of me standing on the corner. Next head to Flagstaff for groceries then on the GC where we will camp two nights at Mather.
Day 4 - spend the day at GC
Day 5 - leave GC for LA. I have no idea where to stay but probably a motel not camping. I am still working on this.
Day 6 - Basically this will be a day of sightseeing in LA for the girls. According to the kids we must do the following things - go to the Chinese Theater so they can put their hands in the prints of the movie stars, see the Hollywood sign, drive thru the Hollywood Hills and Sunset Blvd.
Now we need to decide whether or not we are going to go to Disney Land. I'm just not sure yet. If so we will add an additional day in LA.
Day 7 & 8 - After LA we thought we would drive to Malibu and camp hopefully at Leo Carrillo SP for two nights. Does anyone have any thoughts on this? From the research I have done it looks to be quite nice. This would also allow us to drive at least a small portion of the PCH.
Now after two nights camping in Malibu we are open. We drove Route 66/I-40 on the way to Cali so we thought we might take I-10 home essentially making a huge loop. My husband and I are interested in a stop at Tombstone and/or Carlsbad Caverns if we return this way. Other than that we have no clue. Should we return this way? Should we return a different route? Any and all suggestions are appreciated.
