Help me pick vacation destinations

[Bensmom2]

I need some vacation ideas. We moved to the Houston area last fall and would like to plan a few trips with ds (just turned 17 last week) before he leaves home. We are looking for both things that could be done in Texas in short 3-5 day trips as well as longer vacations where we are still able to drive within two days (16-20 hours tops). We have family in northern  Oklahoma so trips that take us up that way to stop in before continuing on would be nice (Missouri, Arkansas, or at the furthest Colorado) We enjoy outdoor activities. We have a ton of camping equipment are open to camping and non-camping trip options. If we camp, I would still like to have tours or sightseeing activities planned otherwise ds will just want to sit at the camp and read which is nice but not the type of memory making togetherness I am trying to achieve.  We love museums, historical tours, nature centers, caves, hiking, amusement parks etc.  Really we are open to just about anything 😁

If you live in or have vacationed in Texas, please tell me what is not to be missed!  We won’t live here forever and would like to see the state while we can. If you are familiar with great vacation spots in Arkansas or Missouri let me know what your family enjoyed. Colorado is a little far but doable too. 

Thanks for the ideas!

[Sherry in OH]

We like the Space Center in Houston and Galveston Island. 😁

In Texas:

• South Padre Island - bird sanctuary  and beaches (other than during spring break)
• Corpus Christi 
• Alamo / River walk at San Antonio
• Dallas/Austin/Fort Worth is an easy drive from Houston, lots of museum options

Outside of Texas but within a day's drive of Houston:

• New Orleans
• Hot Springs, Arkansas
• Little Rock, Arkansas - Little Rock High School, Inland Maritime Museum, Clinton Museum ...
• National and State Parks/Forests in Arkansas and Missouri - Pea Ridge, Mark Twain National Forest, Buffalo River ...
• Bentonville, Arkansas - Crystal Bridges Museum 
• Branson, Missouri 
• Oklahoma City,  Oklahoma
• Tulsa, Oklahoma

Within 2 days drive:

• St. Louis, Missouri
• Memphis, Tennessee

[plansrme]

Do you ski?  I decided last year, last-minute, that my family needed to learn to ski, so we picked a small ski area in Wyoming and learned to ski.  Well, my husband and 15 (now 16) yo learned to ski, and my 22 yo daughter joined us this year.  I tried downhill but turned to cross-country this year, which was great.  Even though I am a failure at downhill, it was so, so much fun.  So I vote for skiing.  Lifetime sport!

[regentrude]

Arkansas: Buffalo River (National Park) is fabulous. Hiking, boating. Beautiful. Several campgrounds.

Missouri: the north part of the state North of the Missouri river is fairly flat, but the South has the Ozarks. Lots of State Parks and some wilderness areas.

Our faves are: Hahatonka (that's where we take the out of state visitors), Johnson Shutins&Elephant Rocks. Best hikes at Hawn State Park, Hercules Glades Wilderness,  Paddy Creek Wilderness. Great floating at Current River Natl Scenic Riverway.

Edited January 20, 2020 by regentrude

[Chris in VA]

Palo Duro Canyon is quite beautiful. 

Over the border in Oklahoma there are some lovely lakes with rental cabins. Lake Texoma is nice--our church camped there every year. 

There is supposedly a lot to do in Austin, but I have heard it isn't the quirky/artsy town it used to be. 

[Bensmom2]

Thanks for all the great ideas!  I am off to research and start planning 😁

[catz]

Oh we did a couple nights in these rustic stone cabins in Palo Duro.  Amazing!  Recommend for sure.  We were there off season and it was still great.

[Ottakee]

1 hour ago, FuzzyCatz said:

Oh we did a couple nights in these rustic stone cabins in Palo Duro.  Amazing!  Recommend for sure.  We were there off season and it was still great.

I was going to suggest Palo Duro too.  You can then go into Amarillo if there is anything there that appeals to you