Trip planning mistake

[patperry2766]

I fear that I've made a mistake in the summer vacation plans, and I don't know if it's too late to correct the problem.

We are planning on meeting up with my sister & her family for the 2nd leg of the trip near Red River NM (July 8-15th) so that leaves the week before that free for us to do what we want.

I have reservations for a week at Davis Mountains SP, but I'm starting to wonder if there is enough there to sustain the minds of a 16 & 7 Y.O. for that length of time, or do I need to cancel those reservations and make that just a long weekend trip.

I'd like to do something in Utah, but there are so many places to see, I'm overwhelmed and don't know which direction to go.

I've also looked at Colorado, and several of the SP are already booked up for our travel time. I think I'm gonna be facing that problem at any of the more popular destinations.

I need help to salvage the 1st leg of my trip!!!!

[downtheroad]

If there are other similar age kids in the park (which there will be) they will find one another and find stuff to do...

[Lwiddis]

"...is there enough to keep us sustained during the day at the campground if we choose not to venture out."

Sorry, still sad. My brother and I were reminded to be back at noon for lunch and then at 5 for dinner. We were expected run, bike, explore, find new friends etc....sustain our selves. We were both swimmers but we couldn't without an adult, however. My M&D camped where they wanted and my bro and I made our own fun.

[patperry2766]

To be fair, my potential concerns don't all center around the kids. We have the capabilities to have fun where ever we go. I figure that there is enough to do in the area to take several day excursions, but possibly my concern is there enough to keep us sustained during the day at the campground if we choose not to venture out.

I'm thinking now that Balmorrhea SP possibly might have been a better choice because at least there is a pretty awesome swimming pool there within the campground.

I think I'm just having possible second thoughts about being there in July when it's desert hot, to going during a cooler part of the year. I grew up in West Texas so I remember how bad the summers can get.

[Lwiddis]

At Davis MSP you can..."Here you can hike, backpack, mountain bike or ride your own horse, take a scenic drive through the mountains, go camping, stargaze, geocache and study nature."

What a sad commentary on our kids.

[farsidefan1]

Go to Cortez CO and explore Mesa Verde. With a week You could also hit Arches and Canyonlands in southern Utah. Or if you wanted to see some GREAT caverns you could go south and hit Carlsbad (6+ hours drive)caverns. There are 3-4 different hikes in the cavern and there are some other cavers in the same system that are fascinating as well. In the summer it is fun at Carlsbad to watch the bats go in and out of the cavern at dawn and dusk. MILLIONS of bats.

Either schedule would keep them entertained for 3 or 4 days with time left over for the travel.

[TenOC]

Do the star part at the local McDowing (?) telescope.

[darsben1]

Unless your children are exceptional then there is nothing in the world (except the opposite gender)that will "sustain the minds of a 16 & 7 Y.O. for that length of time"

[NMDriver]

Go to Chama, NM. It will have cool temps in July and is a good central location to southern CO and northern NM. You can:
Ride the train, swim/fish/ relax at the lakes (there are two in the area), drive up to Pagosa Springs or over to Taos. Take a river float trip. Drive through Georgia O'Keefe country. State parks at the lake have first come first serve and reservation sites. RV park in town but I have not stayed there. None of that may appeal to a 16 yr old but the local kids hang at the lake beaches on most weekends.

It is only a couple of hours from Chama to Red River.