vacation ideas

Make one kid become navigator. Plan the route to include something interesting. Another will be responsible for finding a good campground on the route for mid-trip spots. The other responsible for finding meals within the budget requirements.

Make sure the kids have an input on the destination and route. Use the trip to teach them budgeting.

As you well know, most of Texas can easily be in the 100s in the summer. Durango is a great destination, but the mountains of New Mexico are closer. Red River has a lot of activity for kids and adults. Ruidoso is a good base for exploring around.

I personally like the Ouachita mountains and lakes of Arkansas/ Oklahoma, but it is better weather wise before Memorial Day and after Labor Day - which won't work with school age kids.

One activity which might be interesting is caves in the Texas hill country. Warm outside, but cool inside and several caves are around the area.

Personally I'd choose Inks Lake SP rather than a COE campground, because you will have swimmable water in that lake. Guadalupe River and Perdernales Falls State Parks have nice wading / splashing water. And you can get to Schiltterban in New Braunfels.

sorry it took so long to respond, im at work today. we did the san Antonio/fiesta texas/ seaworld 4 years ago. we had a good time, and may look into doing it again. we also did new braunfelds the next year.

we have talked about the hill country, and will look into it more. thanks BB_TX

I was looking into NOLA and Gulf Shores this morning before posting this topic. I don't do cruises. lol my wife is closterfobic (sp?) and said she wont go on a cruise.

2gypsies: I get up to 5 weeks vacation every year. as much as I would like to go to CO, it is a little further than I want to travel pulling the TT with three kids complaining about being stuck next to each other in the truck for two days each way. the Disney trip was 875 miles and we split it into two days each way stopping in Destin, Fl for two days each way. going there was not bad, but coming home was torture lol. everyone was tired and ready to get home, which made the drive that much longer. we even left around 3am each day to let them sleep most of the way. I would love to go back to CO. It is a beautiful place.

I am going to talk more with the wife and kids to see what they want to do. I would be ok with a destin, fl trip. just relaxing on the beach with a drink in my hand! I appreciate the input, please keep the ideas coming.

How much vacation time do you get? If you can swing it, how about the summer in the cool mountains? The Durango, Colorado area is 1200 miles from your home. The three teens would have a blast seeing more than beach and water for a change. Haviland Lake national forest campground is just north of Durango. It has some electric hookups and a nice lake for fishing. Nearby would be Silverton, CO a unique, beautiful old frontier western town. Rent a 4x4 and hit some of the trails or take a tour with someone else driving. You can take the Silverton RR for a day trip (op for the bus for your return) or just drive your own vehicle for the short trip. You and your family will never forget it. Take a raft trip or rent kayaks or a tube for a river trip in Durango. Take in a rodeo. Let the kids do a zip line activity. Durango has a fantastic rec center with a indoor pool and other sports for a day fee. There's awesome hiking trails or easy trails along the river. Fun restaurants and the assortment of gift/trinket shops to poke around.

How about going to NOLA and then do a 5-day cruise from there?

We have camped in Gulf Shores, AL several times, then stored the RV there, driven to NOLA and gotten on a ship bound for Mexico, then back to Nola, get RV out of storage, set it back up, camped for another 4-5 days, then headed back north.

Our kids, who are 7 and 10 LOVE to cruise. Before my kids were born, we used to take our niece and nephew with us and they loved the teen program. They can participate as much or as little as they want, but the program is well thought-out for 13-17 year olds. They have their own dance parties, which is usually the girls dancing and the boys sitting around watching, they have game rooms, and other things specific for that age. Then, there's always the pool, basketball courts, water slides, ping pong, just people watching and that kind of thing.

We always let them do whatever they were inclined to do during the day, but it was mandatory that we eat dinner together in the dining room.

You can get rooms that sleep 5 or you can book into adjoining rooms or to give everyone a break, book a balcony room for Mom and Dad and an inside room across the hallway for teens. (That assumes a certain level of trust).

Once you get to Mexico, you can book an excursion that is fun at one port and another that is educational at another.

Just my suggestions! That is a tough age and the more you can do with them and keep them talking and interacting with you, the better things will be all around.

Texas Hill Country? Several state parks, Enchanted Rock nature area for hiking, Old Tunnel Bat viewing, Sonora Caverns, a dude ranch for a couple days maybe, .......

Civil war battlefields? There are some not that far from you. History comes alive there

San Antonio river walk area? 9 hours really cuts down on the options.