This was one of our first extended trips as a young family and our first “experiential learning” road trip. We had begun our independent academic journey with our 6-year-old and 4-year-old sons, and I wanted them to experience first-hand all of the beautiful wonders of nature we had been seeing in books.
So, just one year later, off we went!! My 7-year-old, 5-year-old, and 10-month-old sons and I embarked on a 10-day trip through western Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. My parents, who love road trips, joined us – what a tremendous help with the baby!
Lodging & Food
Since we were traveling with my parents, we stayed in hotels. If we had been by ourselves, we might have tried to camp as well since we love camping. As with most of our traveling, we ate breakfasts in the hotel before starting our days’ adventures. One meal, usually lunch, we spent picnicking in a scenic spot. For the “big” meal of the day, we would find a place that served local cuisine. This meal pattern became a standard for all our future travels – a cultural experience and economical as well!
Entertainment in the car
We traveled in our minivan and tried to make stops every two to three hours to stretch our legs, use the bathroom, and let the kids run around a little. My mom was in the back with the baby entertaining and feeding him. The older two had activity books to do, toys with which to play, and videos to watch. Leap-pads were popular then, so each had one of those with interactive games to play. Now, there are so many apps for iPhones and iPads to stimulate their minds and occupy their time while in the car.
Highlights of Nature’s Wonders Road Trip
Some of the highlights of our trip included:
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- Carlsbad Caverns
- White Sands
- Chiricahua “Wonderland of Rocks”
- Saguaro National Park
- Montezuma Castle Cliff Dwellers Monument
- Grand Canyon !!
- Meteor Crater Natural Landmark
- Montezuma Castle Cliff Dwellers Monument
- Painted Desert
- Saguaro National Park
- Petrified Forest
- Chiricahua “Wonderland of Rocks”
- Palo Duro Canyon
- White Sands
- Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum in Canyon, Texas (it contains a life-size pioneer town!)
- Carlsbad Caverns
Since these were natural wonders, it was a very “physical” trip which was perfect for young active boys who could run, climb, jump, and slide as well as take in the awe-inspiring beauty of nature. Nature hikes full of interesting creatures fascinated the boys and made for a memorable trip.
The brochures at the national parks and historic sites are so well done; I kept them all as well as postcards as souvenirs. If you time your trip right, you might even be able to catch the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta (largest balloon festival in the world!) in October.
Itinerary & Packing List
This trip was a wonderful introduction into road trips and traveling for our family. The kids also built some wonderful memories with their grandparents. Below is our itinerary and packing lists for this trip.