Hello, we are family of four including two kids-10 and 7 years old (both girls)-am would like some advice planning a long road trip across the US next year (Summer, 2009).
We want to include: The Grand Canyon, The Alamo, New Orleans, 5 days at WDW, Charleston, SC (to see old plantation estates), Branson, MO, Santa Fe, N.M., Dallas, TX and back to CA.
Please suggest "must see's", definitely don't bothers, warnings, etc.
thanks, bruce

First a couple questions. You mention "back to CA". Where in California are you beginning and ending your trip? How much time will you have?

We start, and return to, central CA. We have three or four weeks.

This is just my opinion, but you might think about skipping the Alamo. I'm a native Texan, and while the Alamo does offer historical importance, it is a pretty boring experience. I went when I was around 9 and didn't enjoy it. However, the Riverwalk in San Antonio is pretty interesting.

So you're saying you're driving from California to Florida and back again?
I've done that many times, but usually over a period of at least a couple months. I can't imagine driving that distance with two kids in the car. We're talking 10 days of driving 500 miles per day just going and coming and not allowing any stops or getting off the highway. That's half of your three weeks right there!

You definately want to take a full four weeks for this trip...otherwise you'll spend all your time driving.

Go to www.lightninrv.com and click on "Rentals" in the menu on the left. Just because we're in Atlanta, you'll still find that our information is perfect for someone looking for roadtrip info & planning...anywhere in the U.S.!

First check out the "Special Events Calendar" for hundreds of great things happening all over the country. But, don't just look at it for the time period you're planning to go out, as the locations listed there are pretty much great destinations 12 months a year.

Then go to "Travel Links" for a number of great fun sites like the "Wackiest Tourist Attractions in the U.S." or "The Largest Roadside Attractions in the U.S." and a bunch more of fun and helpful roadtrip ideas.

Idea, unless you are totally Disneyland-ed out, skip WDW and hit it (and Knott's Berry Farm) then take I-10 east through Tucson, take in Old Tucason (listed on the Special Events Calendar)for a lot of great western film history. There's some good sights & places in Las Cruces (just before El Paso) as well. I would still stop & see the Alamo, if nothing else, just to respect what those men did almost 200 years ago.

You'll find some great plantations to visit in the New Orleans area (there are several great tours to take) and that can save you the trip/time to Charleston. Also, take in the night ghost tour that starts at the vodoo shop as well.

If you have to hit Orlando and WDW then fine, but work your way through Atlanta to the Smokies for some great sights as well...then to Nashville on the way to Branson.

From Branson, I would skip Dallas and take in Oklahoma City to Albuquerque on I-40 (take the tram ride). From there, find a way to hit the Four Corners area...more to see/do than I have the time & room to write. Also, some of the most beautiful sights in the Rockies! You can then work your way down to the Grand Canyon and then back home.

You'll find a lot of these places on our "Special Events Calendar".

My only thought is that summer would not be the ideal time to visit many of those places. I'm sure you're planning it for them because of the long break from school, but I'd head somewhere cooler and less humid and save the South for spring.

In San Antonio, the Hyatt Hill Country Resort if a great place for families to stay. It has a lazy river the runs around the property that you can innertube on, also a nice spa if that interests your wife. The Riverwalk is wonderful - be sure to take the boat tour that goes all over the river; a guide will tell you the history. Boudro's is a great spot for lunch. They make guacamole tableside, and the food is good. I enjoyed seeing the Alamo, but it's much smaller than you would imagine. There's a number of other missions in the area too. I would think Sea World would be fun for kids that age.

I would agree that you ought to skip the WDW portion. Its going to be unbearably hot and humid and nobody will enjoy it. Was at Disney one year. Walked down Main St to the castle, turned around and back to the hotel. If I were you, Id take more time out west with the National Parks and skip the South East.

Or even go so far as New Orleans mainly following I-10, then head north through the Ozarks to Branson and then head back to CA via I-44 and then I-40. That's still a lot of driving, but going no further east than New Orleans and Branson makes a whole lot of sense in my book and gives you a lot more time to actually enjoy and explore some of the areas you're going to!

Thanks all for your input. Very sorry for the very late response. We decided to go no further than Texas and swing back through Yellowstone; will do this trip in space of three weeks.
Bruce.

In case you are interested, this was a trip in reverse of the one you are planning . . we took about three weeks

http://simpller.com/RoadTrip/Index.htm

I checked it out; looked like a great trip. BTW: what was the average daily mileage you drove on that trip?

Not sure of the average mileage . . we share driveing and dawdle a lot . . we take our time when road-triing. The longest segment was Houston to Carlsbad . . but we also dawdled on that one, taking I-90 most of the way instead of I-10

There is more for kids to do in Albuquerque - big children's museum, zoo, aquarium, etc. - than Santa Fe, if you're still planning on coming through New Mexico.

lee Ann

My wife and I have always wanted to see New Mexico. Definitely on the itinerary.
thanks...

Indeed, in NM see the Indian towns like Taos. You don't mention Mesa Verde, but that would be a "must see" for me. I think you could go as far as New Orleans. That is a very unique city. Branson wouldn't interest me, but maybe it does you, of course.
Since you live in CA, do DisneyWorld there. I know the two are very different, but not that much for kids.
I agree about the Alamo--it is so interesting how truly "tiny" it is for such a great reputation. San Antonio is an interesting city, but I'm not sure I'd do it on this kind of trip.
If you do go on to NOLA, as you head north do the Natchez Trace and see some plantation homes there. NOLA is truly a unique place in this country.

DW is in FL; DL is in CA. We've been to both several times. I'm taking another poster's rec. to not extend this road trip too far east; probably turn around in TX.

BTW, I'm not saying skip Santa Fe; it's a lovely city, but I think your kids might enjoy Albuquerque more.

If you do keep Santa Fe in your itinerary, you might enjoy a visit to Bandelier National Monument near Los Alamos.

Lee Ann