State: Lousiana
Where we stayed: Bayou Segnette State Park Since it was so easy to get into New Orleans from our campground, we were able to make multiple trips into the city. While Kaylie and Emmett and I enjoyed the campground parade, Jack and Matt tackled New Orleans together, visiting the World War II museum and making a first trip to Cafe DuMonde. Being a WW2 history buff, Jack LOVED the museum! He could have spent a couple days there reliving all the details of each battle. On our next visit into the city, we waited in a not too long line at Mother's Restaurant for some Po'Boys (Famous Ferdi Special featuring the orginal debris).
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State: Louisana
Where we stayed: Bayou Segnette State Park The best thing about our trip to New Orleans was all the great families we met at our campground - Bayou Segnette State Park. If you are looking for a homebase near New Orleans and have a tent, trailer or motorhome, you might want to consider this place. It's got great level sites, free laundry (though you might have to fight others for it), park activities and it's ideally located about 20 minutes by car outside of New Orleans. And like I said, the best part were the other full-time families we met. Now that we have some other traveling friends, we're able to message each other when we need ideas for what to see or where to stay. Our Family Edventure - Family of 4 from SF Bay Area traveling in a sprinter van. Life with Dyna - Younger couple traveling with a 4 year old nephew, a friend and a cat. It's a Dodds Life - Family of 4 from Australia that hit 49 states in their year-long adventure of the USA. We happened to be staying in the park a few days before the actual day of Mardi Gras (booked reservations a few weeks in advance online), so the park had some fun, low key activites for the kids in the campground. Campground kids making Mardi Gras masks... State: Louisianna
Where we stayed: Pioneer Acadian Village RV Park and Campground Acadian Cultural Center - NPS The Acadian Cultural Center is nice little museum run by the NPS where we learned about the Acadian culture and origins. They even have a junior ranger program (kids now scream, "NOOOOOOO!" whenever they see me coming with the junior ranger booklets). But they did love playing some of the instruments that are in the hands-on area. In the next parking lot over is entrance to Vermilionville - a living history musuem where we watched some couples dance to live cajun music, talked to a native american about the jewelry and dolls she had made out of the area's spanish moss, and washed clothes on a washboard. Hitting Vermilionville along with the Acadian Cultural Center would make for a good day...especially if finished off with some crawfish or boudin balls! State: Texas
Big Bend National Park Where we stayed: Rio Grande Village Campground Hike: Boquillas Canyon Trail (1.4 miles roundtrip) This was a pretty easy hike for the whole family could do. Though not the official river crossing area, there were Mexican guys on the other side who would come across and offer to give you a ride in the boat and on a burro into the Mexican village. Along the hiking trails in the park, you may come across decorated walking sticks and other handmade wares illegally "for sale." Take a stick (or wire scupture) and leave $5 in coffee can. The guy below in the boat was coming across the river to check on his sales. State: Texas
Where we stayed: Rio Grande Village Campground Big Bend National Park Hike: Hot Springs Canyon Trail (total: 6 miles, very little shade) This was one of those hike where the kids actually earned their candy/ice cream at the end. It was three miles across mountains and desert to get to a hot spring on the Rio Grande. And then we had to turn around and hike the 3 miles back. They were suprised to see a baby stroller at the hot springs, and even more surprised when the mom pushing the stroller said that she drove in and just walked a 1/4 mile to get to the springs. Booo haaaa haaa haaa! State: Texas
Big Bend National Park Where we stayed: Rio Grande Village (National Park campground) not to be confused with the Rio Grande Village RV Campground We ditched our little dirt patch campground in Terlingua to explore the eastern side of the park. On our way over stopped at the Panther Junction Visitor Center (because we just can't drive by a visitor center without stopping to check out their gift shop and displays). We discovered my car that was being towed had a flat tire. Thank goodness for vistor center stops! Super driver/mechaninc/dad threw on the spare (with some help from a certain 3 year old) and I drove the car back to Terlingua where there was one mechanic shop who said he could look at my tire (luckily it was only 30 miles away and not 60 or 90 like the next closest towns). Thank goodness for Terlingua Auto (aka Outpost Auto Service). While I chatted with the owner Archie about everything from water conservation, to Vietnam (you can check him out here on the National Geographic show Badlands, TX), the guys in the shop worked to patch up my tire. In the end, the tire couldn't be saved, but they were able to scrounge up a gently used Goodyear for me in the back. $35 and I was back on the road. State: Texas
Where we stayed; BJ's RV Park in Terlingua Chisos Mountains Window View Trail (super short .3 miles) I forgot my big camera, so had to bust out the iphone cam. State: Texas
Big Bend National Park Where we stayed: BJ's Rver Park in Terligua We did some morning homeschooling and then hopped in the car to check out Big Bend National Park. It's the park way down in Texas that you have to make a deliberate effort to get to...there's no way you'd accidentally end up here. We made a quick stop at the Castalon Vistor Center to find out the hiking. While I was talking with the ranger, Jack picked up a book in the gift shop and started reading. He'd pick up that same book at all the Big Bend visitor centers and almost finished it by the time we were done with Big Bend. State: New Mexico
Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument Where we stayed: City of Rocks State Park We debated if we should make the two hour drive out to the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument or just skip it. After reading over tripadvisor's things to do in Silver City (the closest interestingish town), we decided to add another pin to the kids' growing junior ranger badge collection. All the guide books (and online posts) said to take the longer scenic route north from Silver City on Hwy 15. It's a windy road and thankfully no one barfed. I drove. So it was a prettyish drive, but not too different from any other mountain road we've driven in California. So I would say do it if you have lots of time to kill and want to see a few trees, otherwise, the longer but less windy road (Hwy 35) will do the trick too. We stopped at the visitor center to pick up junior ranger books and watched a video on the area. Then hopped back into our car and drove 5 minutes to the trail head for the walk to see the Gila Cliff Dwellings. There were volunteers and rangers at the trail head and up at the dwellings to help answer any questions. |
aboutI'll be sharing our travel plans, some reviews, cooking ideas (because I know you are all jealous of my easy-bake oven), and ... oh who am I kidding?! I'll be lucky to get our photos posted! categories
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