Looking for some family friendly destinations in either. Starting to plan our next vacation, and we are going someplace warm, that we can pass off as a cowboy vacation.

Still just tossing ideas around, originally, I was thinking about Philly, but we need to do something soon, and it will be cold there still.

Help?

Never been to either so I'm a big help...

We've had Santa Fe on our "short list" of vacation ideas for a few years. I've heard from a bunch of people that the best time to visit is the fall - spring weather isn't great.

Another option is Austin, Texas and the Hill Country just west of there. In April the wildflowers will be blooming and it's you'll find a ton of info about it on the web. "Cowgirl" is from the Hill Country, she can probably give you more advice about it, but I was there a couple of years ago around Easter. I'd definately go back! Lots of cowboy stuff out there too.

I have been to both, and they both offer some great places to see. Lots of national parks and Native American sites to see. One place that sticks out in my mind from my trip to NM is Taus Pueblo. I only wish I was into photography when I was there.

http://www.taospueblo.com/

Woohoo! Hook'em Horns!!!

Sorry, I had to.

I've heard great things about Lake Powell in Az. Not sure if you're looking for an outdoorsy kind of thing, but that would be a nice place to do some camping. You can rent a houseboat and spend a few days floating. :)

I've never spent much time in Santa Fe, NM, but I've passed through a few times, and it looks very nice. I've heard the art scene is great. I did some backpacking in the Gilla Wilderness in NM, but I don't know how much car access there is. It was very nice though.

I'm biased, but I agree with AV about Austin. It's pretty cool here. We have outdoorsy and indoorsy stuff. Not being a family man myself, I have trouble guessing what the kids would want, but San Antonio, 1.5 hrs down the road, has a pretty nice Six Flags amusement park, the Riverwalk, and the Alamo. There are lots of nice, little hill country towns, wineries, and state parks nearby. Austin also has a great art scene, with lots of nice galleries, including a kids museum. There's great music, of all kinds, everywhere. If you want to drive west for 8 hrs, Big Bend NP is a photographer's dream. I think the kids would enjoy it too. I'd be happy to provide more details on Austin if you are interested.

Spring is the time to come here, or any of the "warm" south west destinations. If you come in the summer, you'll never want to come back...unless you spend the whole time submerged in one of our nice lakes or rivers. :)

Hope this helps.

Paul

Looking for some family friendly destinations in either. Starting to plan our next vacation, and we are going someplace warm, that we can pass off as a cowboy vacation.

Still just tossing ideas around, originally, I was thinking about Philly, but we need to do something soon, and it will be cold there still.

Help?

Never been to NM, but I've been to AZ about six or eight times times. The landscape is like nothing else. We stayed at the Phonenician in Scottsdale once, which has a super golf course, amazing views, a world-class spa. We did some horesback riding that was arranged through the hotel. Scottsdale is pretty upscale and has lots of top-flight restaurants and shopping if that's your thing. Sedona is drivable. There is a campy circa 1960 place in Phoenix called "Rawhide" that the kids might like -- its the kind of thing that Clark Griswold in the Vacation movies would go to see. When planning, keep in mind that Phoenix is huge -- much bigger than Milwaukee, both in terms of population and geography. Tuscon is a little more laid back. I've stayed in resort-type places there and done some hiking.

Palm Springs is a bit similar. It might be someplace for you to look at too, and you can always drive over the mountain to San Diego if you wish.

Hi Adina,

I've never really been out to NM, but I have been to Arizona and Texas. If you're interested in seeing some history and going to a family friendly place, check out San Antonio. There is a lot of family friendly stuff in Texas

If your family likes baseball, spring training starts at the beginning of March. That is very family friendly, and there is a lot of good scenery in Arizona. Just stay away from Lake Havasu between February and May. That place isn't so family friendly during those months. :rolleyes:

:rolleyes: I don't know how I know that...but you're just gonna have to trust me. ;)

Sean

Check out this link if you want an Arizona cowboy vacation: http://www.azdra.com/

Here's one for NM: http://www.ranchweb.com/NM.htm

Palm Springs is a bit similar. It might be someplace for you to look at too, and you can always drive over the mountain to San Diego if you wish.

Since you started throwing out suggestions in california...

I'm not too sure how much of a cowboy experiance you are looking for, if you just want to see some horses and then go soak in a hot tub you've got plenty of suggestions.

If you want to really experiance the wild west I'd suggest a ghost town or two. I know of Calico ghost town just out side of Barstow CA is a good one for families, they are owned and operated by the same outfit that runs Knotts Berry Farm and you'll see some similarities between the two, they have a campground at the ghost town either for tents or trailers which makes a nice base camp. I wouldn't spend more than 1 day at the ghost town, you'll see pretty much all there is to see in one day, but it's worth taking a second day to go hike around the hills and search for old mines. Take a few flashlights and go inside a few, I think most of the dangerous mines have been boarded up. My family takes a trip out to every other year or so for Calico days, I can't remember the exact date but it's in the early summer. Throughout the year they have different events ranging from civil war reinactments to mountain man rendevous. I'm sure you can find some schedule of events and try to hit the ghost town when there's something special going on.

The mojave desert has a few interesting sights if you're into exploring the desert, do a google search for "desert megaphone" and you'll find a few points of interest including the famous "desert megaphone." From there you can take a trip to death valley and see plenty of interesting things ranging from date farms to borax mines to an interesting little salt water stream with a species of fish unique to death valley, they have a spa there too if you're needing a break.

If you're not tired of driving through the desert looking at dirt by then you can head onward to Virginia City, NV. It resembles Calico in many aspects but it's a different experiance, they've got an interesting mine tour where they take you down something like 7 stories in an elevator then walk along an old mine a few hundred feet below ground, if you get the right tour guide he'll turn off the lights and you'll understand what pitch black really means. On your way there or back you could stop in Las Vegas and see some of the family oriented events on the Las Vegas strip or send the kids to Circus Circus to play carnival games.

I'm sure Arizona and New Mexico are great too, but I don't know too much about what they've got to offer, I figured I'd throw out a few more suggestions for something a little different.

Hi Adina...I grew up in Arizona and am a bit prejudice!!!! I would think from my experiences in both states, that Arizona would offer everything NM would and then some. Of course you have the wonderful Canyons, White Mountains and Mogollon Rim areas, large Metropolitan areas (Phoenix and Tucson) with many "kids" attractions, Flagstaff and the San Francisco Peaks (12000 ft of splendor), of course Tombstone for some great western action as well as a few places between there and Phoenix where lots of western movies were shot. On the west, of course, you have the Colorado river. Yuma has the territorial prison et al, Quartzite...great for rock hounds and also tv buffs want to see where Col. Hogan of hogans heroes was killed (morbid), Parker and Lake Havasu for some great boating and water adventures. And then for the Adults....Bullhead City, which is right across the river from Laughlin, Nevada, which also has some nice kids activities. A short jaunt from there and you've got Kingman. Great for high plains and great mountains and of course the Hoover Dam. Continue along I-40 for the Grand Canyon, Sedona, Flagstaff, and the Navajo and Hopi Reservations. Brings you back to the NM border. If you head south you have of course the Apache Reservation, and if you head north, as which was mentioned above, You have Page and Lake Powell. Everyone has mentioned some great places for AZ.
That all said, NM is a great state to travel around, I've just not found a lot for the younger kids there, but I'm sure there are. Santa Fe is fantastic and of course you've got Roswell and the aliens and don't forget about White Sands. But again...most of this would be for adults and there is a lot of driving in between as towns are pretty sparse, but there are many beautiful areas around NM for a photographer!!!! I obviously don't know it as well as AZ, but I think you would have fun wherever you went!!!
Hope I haven't confused you...
Ken :-)

New Mexico is pretty cool :) i spent 3 years of my childhood there. It's alot more interesting when you compare it to Arizonia... (ive been to both... and both are great).

Woohoo! Hook'em Horns!!! Sorry, I had to...

What a fantastic RB game last night. And I didn't think they'd be able to top the Orange Bowl (yeah, my Seminoles lost but I was real proud of the way they played...).

What's funny is that I've been a bit of a USC fan most of my life, but RIGHT before kickoff I just got this gut feeling to root for Texas. I think I was just sick of the Trojans being everyone's darlings for so long and being handed the game before they even played.

I also knew that USC's defense had NEVER seen anything like Vince Young! Man, that guy was amazing! I've never seen any player cover so much ground so effortlessly...

Now, if only the Dolphins can find some way to draft him... ;)

Oh my! I get to formally pump my favorite new state! Arizona, baby! Though all the places listed are great.

I'll give the competion a running shot first;

Austin
We just spent a few days there with friends last week. Lovely weather, lovely community, lovely hill country. Go to the waterfalls west of town (I can get you the name if you want) for a family sight. Also, allegedly the "Live Music Capital of the World!" Also do the walk around Town Lake and have lunch at the Oasis overlooking Lake Travis.

California
Of course, SoCal has beautiful San Diego with beaches, sun, and Balboa Park (including the zoo) for the fam. An hour north gets you to LA, and, well, LA. San Francisco is a 5 hour drive north from LA. Yosemite is a 3 hour drive east of San Fran. One hour south of San Diego gets you into 'ol Mexico.

New Mexico:
A beautiful place to visit, if you're into Native American civilization and, desert. Go to Santa Fe (also known as Fantase, more on that later) just to say you've been there. I hate it, but you have to go sometime in your life. It is not what you expect, imo. It's a bunch of shops run by white people with names like Moonbeam or Sunspot who sell very expensive South West and Native American art or run restaurants. If I had the money, I would go there and decorate my home with their art. But I don't. The highlight of the state is the White Sands. Absolutely fabulous, beautiful, one of my favorite places in America. Get there for sunset and bring a small sled so the kids can sled down the sand dunes. Other than that, the Gila Ruins are ruins that you can walk through in beautiful country. It's a drive to get there though. There's also a solar observatory, space museum, and the VLA if you guys are astro-geeks.

And finally, <i>Arizona!</i> Particularly, Phoenix.

One hour north of Phoenix is Sedona and some of the most beautiful red rock formations you'll see anywhere. Two hours north of Phoenix is Flagstaff and skiing. Three to four hours north of Phoenix is Grand Canyon. In a straight line, you can hit all three. We just did. An hour or so north of GC is Lake Powell. Gorgeous in pictures, I have yet to make it there.

Five hours northwest of Phoenix is Las Vegas.

Five hours West is San Diego and the Pacific Ocean.

Three hours south is Mexico.

Five hours east is White Sands, NM.

Phoenix (and Scottsdale) weather is currently in the mid 70's with clear blue skies, lovely days. You can't get much better than this. We have miles of hiking in the Phoenix preserve, you can spend time in the Desert Botanical Gardens, or walk through Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin West. Scottsdale has miles of shopping and pretty people. Phoenix zoo is open. And Fountain Hills has the second highest water fountain in the world which is turned on every hour on the hour.

And cacti. Boy, do we have cacti.

And now, for the manipulative photographic portion of the essay:

1.) Desert sunset from the Phoenix Preserve behind our house.
2.) The Big Ditch
3.) Sedona
4.) Cactus

Good luck making your choice!

we usually go to Tucson every other year for Easter to visit the inlaws. Last year we did the most traveling - drove up to see the Grand Canyon. If you haven't seen it you MUST! It was a little chilly in March (it even snowed at the Canyon), but well worth it!

There is so much to do and see on the drive up and it is a fairly easy car trip with kids (we have 2 age 7 and 4 and they did just fine) My daughter still talks about see Red Rocks

In Tucson we went trail riding, hiking, etc. I live in VA so the landscape in Arizona is amazing. Here are some pictures from the last trip: http://www.photosbyjw.com/Arizona%20Album/index.html

I don't think you can do wrong in AZ!

Thanks all. I think I'm leaning towards Arizona. Ran it by dh last night, and he thought it sounded like a good idea. Going to look into the houseboat thing a bit more, as well as horseback riding.

This is what happens when you live with cowboys....


Thanks!

Ooh, I love Arizona!!! There tons of galleries in Scottsdale, Rick in Phoenix, great family-friendly desert trails in and around Tucson, and if you drive south from Tucson, Tombstone (great for kids) and Bisbee (great for all.)

Megan

Thanks all. I think I'm leaning towards Arizona. Ran it by dh last night, and he thought it sounded like a good idea. Going to look into the houseboat thing a bit more, as well as horseback riding.

This is what happens when you live with cowboys....


Thanks!
If you do get to Sedona and the Red Rocks, make sure that you go all the way through Oak Creek Canyon. As canyons go, it is not extremely large or awesome, like the Grand Canyon or Bryce Canyon, but it's beauty is 2nd to none. Especially the view from the top look out. So if you are heading North from Phoenix and get off I-17 at Sedona, make sure to continue up to Flagstaff via Oak Creek Canyon. Take your swim suits and play at "Slide Rock"!!!! One of the best water slides in the world as it is natural!!!! Oh and give yourself several hours to go the 30 some miles as you'll want to take advantage of all the pullouts to take some of the most beautiful pictures of nature you'll ever get a chance to shoot. (Oh I hope it goes unsaid that if going south...don't go I-17, take the road to Sedona) :-)
Oh, a neat thing at the top lookout is the Indian vendors. They are allowed to set up tables and sell indian art to the tourists. You can get some neat things from this people. One final suggestion from me...Ghost Towns!!!!!!!!!!!! hehe...don't miss them!!!!
Ken

It will be cold in New Mexico right now, too. But there are chiles to keep you warm :)

I vote NM!

Of course, Walterick is in Phoenix. And I've always wanted to visit Tucson.

We'd be going in the end of March. Here we may still be in the 30's, so even if it's in the 50's it'd be summer time.

Still in the planning stage, but now that I know Rick is in Phoenix......

So I guess I won't bother pushing Miami and the Keys. West would be nice some year. I've heard some wonderful things about Arizona.

I've raced my bike in New Mexico several times in Silver City, and loved it. I also like Albuqurque and Santa Fe. If you like the high dessert then New Mexico will be incredible. Head for Santa Fe!!

For national parks and incredible scenery you have the Grand Canyon, where you can't go wrong.

If you are not afraid to get a little cold, but it's still warmer than Philly I would vote for NM.

Loren

Thanks all. I had my dates wrong, turns out its the end of April. All depends on what we decide to do with the house this year. Which we will probably discuss sometime this month when we are in North Carolina (it won't be to warm there either) :(

Hey Adina,

Feel free to pm me if you'd like some help planning an Arizona trip.