I am attempting to make vacation plans for our family for the last week of July. My husband would like to stay in Texas this year because there are just so many areas we have not been to before even though we have both lived here all our lives.
So I was hoping you all could help.
I'd like to tell you my ideas and then get feedback or other suggestions. We have roughly 10 days for this trip. It will be myself, husband and two daughters who will be 6 and 13 by then. We all love outdoor activities such as swimming, hiking and horseback riding and we will be traveling from Houston. Just wanted to give some background on us so you guys can help with suggestions and ideas.
Idea #1 - travel to the panhandle for about 3 nights and camp out at either PaloDuro Canyon or Caprock Canyon. (Not real sure what to do here so any suggestions are welcome - is there swimming or horseback riding here?) I have only passed through the panhandle on my way to Colorado and hubby and kids have never been anywhere near here. Then travel down to the Davis Mountains for the rest of the trip and camp either at Davis Mountains SP or Crow's Nest Ranch. Never been to either. Only passed through west Texas on I10 going to Grand Canyon and again hubby and kids have never been in this part of Texas. I thought we could see Fort Davis and the Mc Donald Observatory, explore the state park, take a day trip to Balmorhea SP to swim and I have heard something about a ghost town. Other than that I have no clue.
Idea #2 - Travel from Houston to Carlsbad NM for the first few nights. I thought we might get a kabin at the KOA because it doesn't look like there is anywhere near that is shady to pitch a tent and run a fan. Is there? We would visit the caverns and Sitting Bull Falls maybe? Then on to the Davis Mountains for the rest of the trip. Again none of us have ever been to Carlsbad or Davis Mountains.
Idea #3 - Head from Houston right to the Davis Mountains, spend several nights there and do the above mentioned activities. Then head back to the hill country and camp somewhere by a lake or river. Not sure where. I have never camped anywhere there except the guadalupe river at Rio Raft Resort and I didn't like that. It was like the middle of a parking lot. We like trees and would prefer not to be right in the middle of the party crowd since we will have our girls with us. Potters Creek on Canyone lake I have heard is nice. Also Garner SP but have never been to either and have no idea where to stay.
We had originally planned to go to Lake Catherine SP in Arkansas. We love it there. But the sites we liked have been turned into full service
RV only and there are not any other waterfront sites available the week we want to go. Bummer!
Thanks in advance for any help you all can give me. Just tell me what you think. Which trip? What is wrong with each? What can I do better? What should I avoid?