Ok, so in-laws gave us a week of timeshare usage for Christmas in 2022. We can use the week any time of the year.

We're trying to figure out what a good place to go would be that's within a 12-hour drive window from greater Houston area.

Thinking Lake of the Ozarks, Hot Springs-AR, Pensacola, etc...


Obviously will have to have a timeshare place near the general location, but we typically busy ourselves most days of vacation and don't sit by the pool/beach all day.

Navarre Beach. Spent a week last fall and loved it. Much more laid back than most tourist beach locations though. We did a bunch of fishing, stand up paddle board, snorkeling, etc. Ft Walton area is about 30 minutes east, Pensacola about 30 minutes west for additional entertainment.

If you're an active family I would focus on Pigeon Forge. It's a little outside your range but there are 100 things to do around there. Hands down the best family vacation we've ever had.

My wife, a city girl, loved it so much that she said she could live there!

Wife and I did TN first year of COVID shutdown for our aniversary (trying to go to UT-A&M game - but it got canceled).

We drove through PF and Gatlinburg, and while interesting... PF is like east Texas version of Vegas for families. Not really the "busy" we want to be. Would rather be closer to smoky mountains NP, than all the tourist crap.

We had more fun at the Hermitage and Brushy Creek State Pen.

OnlyForNow said:

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Ok, so in-laws gave us a week of timeshare usage for Christmas.

We're trying to figure out what a good place to go would be that's within a 12-hour drive window from greater Houston area.

Thinking Lake of the Ozarks, Hot Springs-AR, Pensacola, etc...


Obviously will have to have a timeshare place near the general location, but we typically busy ourselves most days of vacation and don't sit by the pool/beach all day.

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We went to Hot Springs a few year ago on a whim during COVID. Rented an AirBNB, not a timeshare. You've got all the stuff to do nearby town (the trails near town, Lake Catherine, etc.), but a lot of other parks are within relatively close driving distance (Mt. Nebo, Petit Jean, Mt. Pinnacle, etc.) to make day trips to.

It's now one of my kid's (ages 6 - 11) favorite vacation spots and we've gone three years in a row.

Ironic because I grew up just south of Texarkana and, until three years ago, I had never been to Hot Springs.

Angelfire, NM is about 13 hours from Houston and it would be high on my list as an escape during the summer.

Ditto Angel Fire, Red River, Taos. Great way to beat the heat. Mountains,, trails, fishing etc.

Did Gunnison area last year, driving and came back through NM. Dunno if that'll pass the smell test with wifey.

Get a place on the Frio in Leaky. Watch the bats. Dance at Garner. Hike in Lost Maples. Of course, tube/snorkel the river.

We stayed at an incredible lace last year that had some deep water. The snorkeling was fantastic.

We really love Red River. Lots of hiking and other outdoors stuff during the summer.

Taos is a fun day trip.

Fishing in the river.

NM

I am all in on pigeon forge. white water rafting, zip lines, dollywood, cave exploring. Yeah, it is touristy, but there is lots to do . We watched the last solar eclipse there in the mountains, while watching bear and deer. I think it is must see for a family.

Went to Pigeon Forge last year. There is a lot to do but it is very touristy and a bit crowded. Glad we went but I doubt I'd go back. Definitely wouldn't drive again. Great place for kids.

We also went to the Broken Bow area for the first time and really enjoyed that trip. Not anywhere near as much to do for kids but it's more outdoors-type stuff. Cool place

Anyone have opinions on the New Mexico ski areas for bringing people who don't ski? Which are the best towns for things other than skiing?

2040huck said:

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I am all in on pigeon forge. white water rafting, zip lines, dollywood, cave exploring. Yeah, it is touristy, but there is lots to do . We watched the last solar eclipse there in the mountains, while watching bear and deer. I think it is must see for a family.

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Pretty damn cold during Christmas for much of those activities

malenurse said:

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2040huck said:

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I am all in on pigeon forge. white water rafting, zip lines, dollywood, cave exploring. Yeah, it is touristy, but there is lots to do . We watched the last solar eclipse there in the mountains, while watching bear and deer. I think it is must see for a family.

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Pretty damn cold during Christmas for much of those activities

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I think it was a Christmas gift, not has to be used for Christmas.

OP. Went to Dustin, FL from Houston twice and kids loved it both times. Plenty of stuff to do and really we just paid for the condo and gas (and you're condo is free). We'd have had to feed them anyway so we bought grocery's on the way into town.

Our condo was perfect b/c it was 1-block from a public beach access with beach/sand showers and clean bathrooms.

Red River is our favorite New Mexico "ski town" in summer!

I went to Destin just about every summer as a kid.

LOVED IT. That's my choice, but dunno how close we can get with the timeshare.

And yes, we're doing summer, this was just the "Christmas gift"

agracer said:

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malenurse said:

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2040huck said:

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I am all in on pigeon forge. white water rafting, zip lines, dollywood, cave exploring. Yeah, it is touristy, but there is lots to do . We watched the last solar eclipse there in the mountains, while watching bear and deer. I think it is must see for a family.

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Pretty damn cold during Christmas for much of those activities

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I think it was a Christmas gift, not has to be used for Christmas.

OP. Went to Dustin, FL from Houston twice and kids loved it both times. Plenty of stuff to do and really we just paid for the condo and gas (and you're condo is free). We'd have had to feed them anyway so we bought grocery's on the way into town.

Our condo was perfect b/c it was 1-block from a public beach access with beach/sand showers and clean bathrooms.

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Yeah. That was my understanding. If he has to use it during winter, please disregard,

Give your business to Red River and Eagles Nest. Do yourself a favor and stay away from Taos.

CS78, shhhhhh.

Don't tell everybody

tmaggies said:

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Give your business to Red River and Eagles Nest. Do yourself a favor and stay away from Taos.

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why do you feel like that…we have always had a good time at Taos

Anywhere on 30A in FL Panhandle

Same. There's lots of great little shops.

Do NOT go to pigeon forge. What an awful tourist trap.

Gulf shores or something in that area isn't bad, but beach at Christmas isn't always the best. Can you make it to any mountains in 12 hours? That would be my route.

Whole family loved Pigeon Forge, hiked all the waterfall trails close by PF. Hit Dollywood (small scale Disney without the woke). Went "white water rafting" (with a 5 year old so more like floating on a raft). Mountain coasters, hillbilly golf, yeah we're tourists!

Cannew said:

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Whole family loved Pigeon Forge, hiked all the waterfall trails close by PF. Hit Dollywood (small scale Disney without the woke). Went "white water rafting" (with a 5 year old so more like floating on a raft). Mountain coasters, hillbilly golf, yeah we're tourists!

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This all sounds like what kids under 10 would love, and a compromise for the parents that don't like Disney.

Just you and wife or are kids involved?
If kids are they school age?
If so what age to determine activity level?
If kids but not school age that really opens up what time of year you can travel... Or be like some of us and let the kids skip school especially in elementary and junior high

Kids are 8 and 5. Skipping school ain't in the cards.

I mean we're not summoning 14ers, but last year when they were 7 and 4 we all hiked in on the CDT 3miles up to fish for an hour or so have lunch then hiked back.
No complaints for the kids.

PF might not be too bad if we got away from town most of the days.