Summer Family Vacation Recommendations

1,841 Views | 14 Replies | Last: 6 yr ago by awesome sauce
awesome sauce
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AG
The details:
-First week of June
-Multiple families
-Driving from Dallas
-Lots of kids age 7-14
-Preferably +/- 10hr drive or less
-Went to Destin last summer, so preferably not the beach again
-Cabin or condo preferred. Large families don't fit well a "normal" hotel room.
-Coooler weather >>> hot weather

Looked at Red River/Taos/Angel Fire but a lot of the summer activities don't open until June 9

Looked at Fun Valley Resort in South Fork CO but a little far + cabins were all booked and some parents were not receptive to camping

RMNP/Estes Park is awesome, but even farther than Fun Valley

We've already done Branson and San Antonio trips

Any ideas??

Wicked Good Ag
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Tennessee and the Smokey mountains would be an option.

Have things for the adults and the kids. The zoo in Memphis and the aquarium in Knoxville are pretty good not to mention Piegon Forge although a bit of tourist trap.
AggieDave02
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AG
Love Smokey Mountains
Agof88
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Big Cedar Lodge in the Ozarks offers a lot for families.
oldag941
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AG
Another option is the Beavers Bend area of Oklahoma. Or maybe up in the Hot Springs, Ark area.
oldag941
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AG
Galveston isn't bad. Do Schlitterbaun one day and beach another. The pier looks pretty cool.
bufrilla
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AG
Try Davis Mtn State Park/Ft Davis/MacDonald Observatory/Alpine/Big Bend.
We've stayed at Indian Lodge at the State Park multiple times.
Observatory for star parties is great, plus hands on for kids.
Old Fort has a lot to see, plus the town itself.
Only about 90 miles to Big Bend. Has a Lodge, cabins and s restaurant. All this in Chaos Basin.
Plus the Guest Ranches in area.

Stops to and from:
Old Forts-Ft McKavett, Ft Concho
State Parks- Sand Hills, Balmorhea

Marathon-Gage Hotel
Marfa
bufrilla
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AG
Also, in Arkansas, Mt Magazine State Park
Has beautiful Lodge and cabins. Close by is Pettit Jean State Park with Lodge and cabins.
Queen Wilhelmina State Park has a Lodge.
Lake DeGray State Park has a Lodge.
These all surround Hot Springs, which has an Amusement Park like 6Flags.
We've been to each and it's country.
CanyonAg77
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Lots of good suggestions to the east, but I do love northern New Mexico. Red River has been the go-to place for Panhandle folks for decades.

I'm a little surprised that you need organized activities. I suspect you can still fish, rent a jeep, hike, ride the chair lift, etc. etc. without it being organized. There's also a ton of stuff in the area, like old gold mines and high mountain lakes to explore.

If you want to waste a few hours on TexAgs looking at New Mexico, start with the thread below. Then follow the links I have in that thread to a ton of other New Mexico threads. Have fun!

https://texags.com/forums/54/topics/2779588/replies/47126917
Wicked Good Ag
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Currently in hot springs and it is a definite choice as well. I would include the NW part of Arkansas and extend the trip to include Hwy 7, Fayetteville, bentonville, Eureka Springs and the Buffalo River area for anything like rafting etc.
magic springs is a combo water and amusement park which has very little lines compared to most parks except on Saturdays with concerts

Lake Quatchia is beautiful area and some state parks in Arkansas are great. Not a big fan of Hot Springs National Park

And the suggestion for McDonalds Observatory area is also one to consider but the drive to and from could kill the fun as it is long and boring

We are planning New Mexico/southern Colorado either this summer or next so have researched a few things but no first person reports yet
The Chicken Ranch
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AG
That's where we are headed!
ToddyHill
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AG
Would definitely suggest Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge in the Smoky Mountains. From Dallas you're probably looking at a twelve hour drive.

I think the kids would be OK with Dollywood and the water park:

http://www.dollywood.com/

And I think the adults would be OK with a place like this....

http://olesmoky.com/about/distillery

The main drag of Pigeon Forge is a bit hit/miss...but The Island is only a couple of years old and has lots for young and old.

The main business district of Gatlinburg wasn't touched by the fires so no concern/issue there.

And of course, the Smoky Mountain National park offers a lot of neat hiking, fishing, wild turkeys, bears, deer, etc.

bufrilla
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AG
MacDonalds Observatory:
Special viewing, a great evening using the BIG telescopes. Check it out, we had a great evening.
Viewing Night on the 107"
The Viewing Night on the 107" is designed to give you insight into the tools and methods of astronomical research. You'll have contact with a professional researcher and will look through the 107" telescope at up to three objects. This program is not suitable for children under ten. New dates through the end of April 2017 have been released (see the link above).
82" Special Viewing Night
The 82" Special Viewing Night is back and it's better than ever! After extensive upgrades to the 82" Telescope such as automated pointing and a brand new focal reducing system, the original McDonald telescope ... the 2.1m Otto Struve ... is, arguably, one of the largest and finest telescopes in the world through which routine viewing is allowed. Come and experience this unique program yourself! This program is not suitable for children under ten. New dates through the end of April 2017 have been released (see the link above).
Viewing Night on the 36"
Viewing Night on the 36" is our most casual special viewing program. Not only will you get fabulous views through a large telescope, but you'll also have more opportunity to marvel at our dark skies since we won't be in a large dome that obscures most of the sky. Best of all, since this telescope isn't used as much for research as are the 107" and 82" telescopes, we have more access for a wide variety of special programs. This program is not suitable for children under ten. New dates through the end of April 2017 have been released (see the link above).
malenurse
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I am going to tag onto Canyon's recommendation. And add after Northern New Mexico, drive up to the Durango, Colorado area. Lots of activities available including the narrow guage train to Silverton. Short drive to Wolf Creek Pass and I guarantee you will see tons of snow for the kids to play in.
Wicked Good Ag
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The Chicken Ranch said:

That's where we are headed!


Which place ChickenRanch?

Hot springs or New Mexico /Colorado area?
awesome sauce
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AG
Recommendation for cabins or condos in Red River NM ?
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