September 2020 Suggestions/Advice

southerngirl76 wrote:

I am trying to plan our 2020 family vacation.
We have two weeks including weekends and would like to go middle/end of September.
It is me, my husband, 2 kids ages DD17 and DS8 and our dog and our kids are homeschooled.
We drive a 24 foot class c which my husband and I both drive.
I need help figuring out where to go. We are between Houston and Austin Texas.

Some locations I am thinking of are Grand Canyon with stops at Wupatki NM and
Sunset Crater, maybe Tucson and Tombstone;
Yellowstone; Badlands/Black Hills;
Great Sand dunes, Buena Vista area, Mesa Verde Colorado.
I'm not sure which one to chose.
I am OK with having a couple of long days getting to and from but once we get there mostly want to have a leisurely pace and enjoy our time without rushing from place to place.
We do not need full hookups or luxuries.

We are a very active family and love outdoor activities - hiking, rafting, kayaking.
We also enjoy museums and quirky places.
Not so much big cities.
My son is interested in seeing native american ruins and he has never been to the mountains.
My daughter says she doesn't care what we do and my
husband says whatever you want honey just tell me when to take off work lol.
Not a bad position to be in but they are no help in planning.

I want to add that we are used to super long car trips as we go visit our friends in Minnesota every other Christmas and will be in the car up to 12 hours at a time.
I have done solo road trips to Colorado driving home in a long day.
Activity wise I am an adventure traveler.
My friends and I do week long canoe/backpack trips thru the Boundary Waters Canoe Area every summer and in May I'm hiking Guadalupe Peak, the highest point in Texas.
My husband and I just got back from a jungle trip in Costa Rica. When I go someplace I intent to truly experience it.

With all that being said what can we realistically do in 2 weeks without being too terribly rushed?
Input is greatly appreciated.

Well don't let it be said that we need more info - maybe Eye and Hair Color....:) just kidding.

Links to look at that will/may help;

Family like you wanted to do it all - http://www.cross-country-trips.com/

Images - Stan says a lot with very few words Images show you where to go when you get there - https://www.pbase.com/sparker1/root%26view=tree

You say September, I suggest the last couple weeks of September - Few more Images that might help with the decision - https://lynn.smugmug.com/Travel/Colorado-Mountains-and-Aspens/i-tsVRkXg

Last Images in the San Juan's - Special and Close to you - https://www.flickr.com/photos/michaelunderwood/14787340840/in/photostream/

Class C - two weeks three weekends - start with the Camper ready when the Hubby gets off work on Friday leave at 4 - nice easy 8 hours to get as far as possible towards Colorado, say 400 miles+:)

Points that you might consider in and around Colorado;

Great Sand Dunes - Buena Vista/Collegiates/Twin Lakes/Independence Pass/Maroon Bells/ second week Ouray - Silverton - Durango - Mesa Verde - Monument Valley - Canyon de Chelly - Window Rock - long drive home

More here/there to do than you can do but pick some - do some - drive through some - you only have 16.5 days likely 4.5 days just coming and going - MAP - https://binged.it/2NnUG99

Lot more to see and do while in all the areas mentioned, but you only have 16.5 days and you need to get there and Back... Texas is a Big State, just getting out is a task:)

Look over and see if I'm in the right areas you desire, if so we can help more if not we'll see - Just a note - Reason I suggest Colorado is that we have Family there and they are similar to yours - all girls 7-13 and we watched then when the DIL went to Tetons and did a week hike along Crest Ridge - 50 miles - real Hiking - They Love just getting in the Car and tent Camping - think they would love this trip. Just a note for the DD Aspen/ski resort when you visit Maroon Bells and the area there might give her a day in the town that she might enjoy, Girls love to Shop:).

Late September is my Favorite Month of the year to Travel - Cool Crisp nights and those Golden Aspen - Heaven!

Hope this helps,