The Perfect Family Trip 2017: Can't decide where to go.

[tragusa3]

Many of you have followed along on our last two 6 week summer trips (if not, links in my sig). In 2014 we looped the SW, in 2016 we looped the NW.

Our plan was to do the NE summer of 2017. We were going to the big cities, the patriotic sites, lobster fishing, and Acadia NP. However, as the time draws near, we are not all that excited about doing the NE. On one hand, we are pulled by the adventure of seeing things we haven't seen. On the other, in 2014 we fell in love with the SW and want to do it again! We know that we skipped many, many things in the SW and feel we could make a similar loop and see all new things.

We have family in Michigan and they want us to make a summer out of Michigan. We want to, but being with family doesn't have the sense of adventure we're looking for.

We've tossed around California, but that would turn the summer into more driving than we'd like. The sites would be amazing, but after 6k miles each of the last 3 summers, the idea of an 8k mile summer makes my stomach turn. Sure would enjoy being there though. Besides, we're late to get reservations (Yosemite in particular).

We've thought about flying to the west coast and renting either a Class C or large van to car camp. However, this could be a whole different budget than we have in mind. And, car camping would be rough on us and require most meals in restaurants.

In the far back of my mind, I have an old college friend that owns a large coffee farm in Guatemala. She's asked for 30 years that I bring the family down there. I know NOTHING about international travel and all that comes to mind is the safety of my family. It's SCARY, but does sound like an adventure.

Also thought about backpacking Europe, but wanted the kids to be older. They are 12 now and thought maybe around 16 we would start considering that.

As you can see, we're all over the map. Maybe we're not giving the NE credit enough? It would be less driving, but likely similar money overall, as the cities are expensive. Oh, did I mention we live rural and that my skin starts crawling every time we go into town for supplies?

Any thoughts? In the end, everyone is different and only we know what to do. But it would be fun to hear you guys kick around thoughts and ideas. (We have 6 weeks)

[padredw]

Southerngirl wrote:
There are some gorgeous places to see and spend time. We have Inks Lake and Devil's Waterhole where kids like the jump off the cliffs, you can also rent kayaks. Guadalupe River is cold and great for a tube trip. Plenty of places to rent from. There are bat flights in the area but I forget exactly where. Colorado Bend area north of Inks Lake has a short hike to Gorman Falls you may like. Farther West on the way to Big Bend is the frio river area near Concan. Another nice state park is South Llano River. Tons of BBQ places all thru the hill country.

I certainly agree with this about the Hill Country (though, of course, Springtime is the far better time--but that won't fit)

Taking your trip as you have outlined it: if I were in White Sands, I'd scoot on up to Albuquerque and Santa Fe. If you have to choose between these two, it's Santa Fe all the way. Just up the road is Taos. From there you could go on up into Colorado, but this time into the Arkansas River Valley: Salida, Buena Vista, and Leadville.

Depending on the time you would have left you could go on up to the Black Hills of South Dakota (I'm leaving out Rocky Mountain National Park because you have spent good time there) and Custer State Park, Mt Rushmore, etc.

From there you'd need to head back east, so maybe through the UP of Michigan and Mackinac Island.

May be too much, but at least it is a brainstorm and for sure I stick to the New Mexico and Colorado parts.

[southerngirl76]

tragusa3 wrote:
I knew if I procrastinated long enough, my plans would be made for me. We have family reasons to get down to New Orleans (where I'm from) so that starts the summer off west and south. The Northeast will have to wait, Hahahaha.

I've built the beginnings of a trip, but need help in fleshing it out. Before you offer suggestions, here are the places we went to in 2014 and probably want all new places.

Previous Trip
-Petrified Forest
-Walnut Canyon
-Sunset Crater and Wupatki
-South Rim GC
-Page, AZ
-Zion
-Bryce
-Capitol Reef
-Goblin Valley
-Arches
-Canyonlands (only Island in the Sky section)
-Mesa Verde
-Durango (train)
-Silverton
-Ouray
-Black Canyon
-RMNP

This years trip so far...

-New Orleans
-Avery Island tour (suggestions on campground?)
-Stop in Lake Charles to overnight with friends
-Austin (ideas?): Hamilton Pool
-San Antonio: The Alamo, boat ride through the city
-Big Bend NP (raft the Rio Grand)
-Guadalupe Mountains NP
-Carlsebad Caverns
-White Sands NM

Probably used about 18 out of 42 days and have 24 more days to figure out.

At this point, have to decide if we want to keep mileage down or go for it. Maybe head north right into Colorado or keep west to Tucson and then north? We are traveling June and July, so I think the heat will chase us north earlier than later?

My idea was up to the four corners area and catch El Malpais, Goosenecks, Monument Valley, Valley of the Gods, then maybe stay in Silverton and ride jeep trails (again).

Actually, our trips have been all about seeing the more popular sites, but I would love some suggestions on boon docking (that I can get to). The idea of being in relative isolation for awhile sounds nice. In particular, high desert boon docking that is comfortable in the summer?

So, please give suggestions for those last 3 weeks! I promise you aren't wasting your time. All information is helpful.

I live an hour east of Austin. Austin is the beginning of our "Hill Country". There are some gorgeous places to see and spend time. We have Inks Lake and Devil's Waterhole where kids like the jump off the cliffs, you can also rent kayaks. Guadalupe River is cold and great for a tube trip. Plenty of places to rent from. There are bat flights in the area but I forget exactly where. Colorado Bend area north of Inks Lake has a short hike to Gorman Falls you may like. Farther West on the way to Big Bend is the frio river area near Concan. Another nice state park is South Llano River. Tons of BBQ places all thru the hill country.

If you plan to visit the Davis and Guadalupe Mountains, stop by Balmorhea State Park.....huge natural pool to swim in about 30 minutes away. Also the old Fort gives tours and there is a lot of easy hikes. Maybe even try and see the famous Marfa Lights. Near Odessa is the Monahan Sandhills where you can rent disks to slide down the hills. It will be hot and you'd need to start out early but you could hike to the top of Guadalupe Peak, the highest point in Texas. There is basically a parking lot there for a campground.

Up north in the Panhandle you will find Palo Duro Canyon which is the 2nd largest canyon in the US. Great hikes and every night in Summer they perform the musical TEXAS.

I hope you have a great trip and enjoy our state! I've really enjoyed reading your trip reports.

[michigansandzil]

How about Saguaro NP? I've always wanted to go there.......

[welove2drive]

If you make it out to AZ check out Oak Creek Canyon near Sedona. Slide Rock SP. There are NPS campgrounds/only drinking water, vault toilets $22. We tent camped at Pine Flat about 20 years ago. I remember it being beautiful by Oak Creek and the canyon walls. We were driving a van. There are switchbacks on that road. It is very scenic.

[TenOC]

With the boys spend a few days at White Sands. There may be too much wind to visit some days.

At Rockport TX take a boat tour to see the Whooping Cranes. At one time (30 years ago ?) there were only about 20 whooping cranes alive.

Get your passport and walk into Mexico from one of the border towns for a few hours so the boys can see a different country and why people want to come to the USA.

Catch a "Star Party" at Ft Davis McDonald Observatory.

Meteor Crater and Petrified Forest AZ

The Sandia Mountains near Albuquerque. I do not know if the Atomic Bomb museum also at Albuquerque is open to the public or not but I think it is.

[tragusa3]

I knew if I procrastinated long enough, my plans would be made for me. We have family reasons to get down to New Orleans (where I'm from) so that starts the summer off west and south. The Northeast will have to wait, Hahahaha.

I've built the beginnings of a trip, but need help in fleshing it out. Before you offer suggestions, here are the places we went to in 2014 and probably want all new places.

Previous Trip
-Petrified Forest
-Walnut Canyon
-Sunset Crater and Wupatki
-South Rim GC
-Page, AZ
-Zion
-Bryce
-Capitol Reef
-Goblin Valley
-Arches
-Canyonlands (only Island in the Sky section)
-Mesa Verde
-Durango (train)
-Silverton
-Ouray
-Black Canyon
-RMNP

This years trip so far...

-New Orleans
-Avery Island tour (suggestions on campground?)
-Stop in Lake Charles to overnight with friends
-Austin (ideas?): Hamilton Pool
-San Antonio: The Alamo, boat ride through the city
-Big Bend NP (raft the Rio Grand)
-Guadalupe Mountains NP
-Carlsebad Caverns
-White Sands NM

Probably used about 18 out of 42 days and have 24 more days to figure out.

At this point, have to decide if we want to keep mileage down or go for it. Maybe head north right into Colorado or keep west to Tucson and then north? We are traveling June and July, so I think the heat will chase us north earlier than later?

My idea was up to the four corners area and catch El Malpais, Goosenecks, Monument Valley, Valley of the Gods, then maybe stay in Silverton and ride jeep trails (again).

Actually, our trips have been all about seeing the more popular sites, but I would love some suggestions on boon docking (that I can get to). The idea of being in relative isolation for awhile sounds nice. In particular, high desert boon docking that is comfortable in the summer?

So, please give suggestions for those last 3 weeks! I promise you aren't wasting your time. All information is helpful.

[Bob806]

We've camped 33 states with our 3 boys, now they are all in their 20s.

New England has plenty to offer, don't give up on it too soon. I'd suggest looking into the Franconia area of New Hampshire. The Kacamagus Hwy (I think it's SR 12) is awesome, I remember my boys body surfing on the rocks in the river. There's hiking & bike trails there too.

Maine, well we could all write about the scenic coast and Acadia NP. But don't forget Baxter SP, wow that place is really amazing, you'd love it.

The Bay of Fundy is a place I have yet to visit, but we will get there.

Lastly, if you do decide on Michigan you won't be disappointed at all. Others have mentioned the UP, you have got to see it someday. Check out Union Bay CG in the Porkies.If you don't want to go that far, check out Brimley SP, close to Taquahmennon Falls. Then drive up through the Soo Locks to Lake Superior Provincial Park, totally scenic and worth it...great hikes, and yes, you CAN swim in Lake Superior no problem. Somebody mentioned Pancake Bay, and that was nice, we preferred LSPP to it. Or Wilderness SP at the northwest tip of the lower peninsula. Lots to love about Michigan and Ontario.

I love it out west too, just chiming in about my love for NE and Michigan (Go Buckeyes though lol).

[Busskipper]

Tvov wrote:
This is beginning to remind of a classic Yogi Berraism: "No one goes there anymore because it's too crowded". lol!

That's just so TRUE.

[Tvov]

This is beginning to remind of a classic Yogi Berraism: "No one goes there anymore because it's too crowded". lol!

[TriumphGuy]

Busskipper wrote:


Yes but every mile will be Bumper to Bumper, along the Coast, been there done that, (Son played College sports and drove to all the games) Upstate NY is Beautiful and Maybe New Hampshire and Vermont, but the rest is just asphalt.

I've been looking at that too - someday a NE trip but I don't have any desire to back through DC and everything else. Used to live up there and I remember the traffic being bad 30 years ago. Can't imagine now.

I try to plot a route from SC using I-81 and avoiding most of the coast but I eventually have to get over to I-95 in Boston. Doesn't look like you can "drive across" VT (or most of NY for that matter).

[michigansandzil]

Busskipper wrote:
No wrong Choices. Just get those kids out to see the world.

There's a lot of truth to that.

I will say that when we've tried to duplicate a fabulous vacation, the second time falls flat.
I'm not saying your shouldn't head west again, just that it might not be as wonderful the second time around, even if you go to different locations.

We had a week reserved at Custer this past summer and I just couldn't make peace with that trip. We changed plans one week before departure and had a fabulous time.
If you can't make peace with either a repeat southwest trip or a northeastern trip, maybe go for plan C. There's more than two places to explore. Maybe go for states you haven't visited, or try a theme vacation; see how many different caves you can explore or how many different rivers you can canoe, etc.

I like the idea of asking the kids what they want to do, but that can also be frustrating. I've asked my kids and my response is always, "I don't care. You always plan a great trip no matter where we go." Great words of praise indeed, but not helpful when it comes to planning. My kids are happy to try it all and usually have a good time, I think yours are the same.

Happy planning!

[Busskipper]

tragusa3 wrote:
Started mapping out the SW, and I really like the idea that a NE trip will be about 3k miles less in driving! 🙂

Yes but every mile will be Bumper to Bumper, along the Coast, been there done that, (Son played College sports and drove to all the games) Upstate NY is Beautiful and Maybe New Hampshire and Vermont, but the rest is just asphalt.

WilliamsBurg - Washington DC - Upstate - and the Beaches are what I'd focus on as the rest is just asphalt.

Flying out to Colorado today - so...... you see where I'm going.

No wrong Choices. Just get those kids out to see the world.

BOL,

[tragusa3]

Started mapping out the SW, and I really like the idea that a NE trip will be about 3k miles less in driving! 🙂

[tragusa3]

Oh boy....you could flip me again without all of the logic (that makes clear sense).

I just completed a Google map for the NE, and fleshed it out in my calendar. I have to say...it didn't feel all that exciting.

Kids will be 12, almost 13. They are great at school and more bookworms than athletes...but still, your point is spot on.

I had not missed that link. Spent a few hours there one day, need to get into it again.