Vacation recommendations

[jmra]

Try Area 51?

Area 51 is about 400 miles NW of Flagstaff - a little too far west for this trip. I have a brother who is a brig gen in the AF. I suggested he provide a tour of Area 51 - I didn't even get a smirk.

[jmra]

I've always wanted to go to
Los Lunas, New Mexico,
To see the Ten Commandments written in stone there 2,000-3,000 years ago. I want to compare it to Nabetean writings, Phoenician, and other alphabets I have.. sadly, some tourist kids have been defacing it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_Lunas_Decalogue_Stone" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

File:10 Commandment Rock.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:10_Co ... t_Rock.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:10_Co ... t_Rock.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

lots more info and photos on it on the web

Doubt that would make a great family vacation, more of a fun research hike/trek.

I'd also like to see and pole around where the Bat Creek inscription was found
http://www.ramtops.co.uk/bat1.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bat_Creek_inscription" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Yep. I would be fascinated but I'm afraid the kids would be less than enthusiastic.

[Oldgringo]

Taking the family west this summer. First stop is Roswell, NM. The boys (12yrs and 10yrs) recently watched the entire "Roswell" series so this is non-negotiable.
Next is Carlbad Caverns. Then thru Guadalupe Mountains National Park. Next stop - Tombstone, AZ then Old Tucson, Flagstaff and the Grand Canyon.
Turning back east we plan on a more northern route going thru Durango. Plan on taking the train from Durango to Silverton and back.
Other stops include Santa Fe and Fort Sumner. Always wanted to visit Billy the Kid's grave. Although someone tried to convince me this morning that he is actually buried somewhere around Cleburne (first I've heard of that).
Finally, our last stop will be the town of Merkel, TX where, according to my Aunt, my Great Great Grandfather built every brick building in the town (including the first permanent structure) from 1910 to the early '30s. Evidently the town has a museum in which my GGGF is well represented. I'm also told that my Great Great Great Grandmother is buried there (the town, not the museum - that would just be creepy).

So anyway, any suggestions? I would hate to drive pass the world's largest ball of yarn and never know it.

Stay home, drink and eat lots, sleep late, go to the range and mow the yard??? IOW, just relax?

[talltex]

I thought Billy The Kid was buried in Hico?

Yep...that's "around Cleburne"....about 25 miles west. The story is that Billy wasn't killed by Pat Garrett, but escaped and moved to Hico and lived the rest of his life there as Brushy Bill Roberts. Like, Ft Sumner, Hico has a "Billy the Kid" museum giving their version of the story...check out both...not too far out of the way as you're heading back on I20.

[jmra]

Taking the family west this summer. First stop is Roswell, NM. The boys (12yrs and 10yrs) recently watched the entire "Roswell" series so this is non-negotiable.
Next is Carlbad Caverns. Then thru Guadalupe Mountains National Park. Next stop - Tombstone, AZ then Old Tucson, Flagstaff and the Grand Canyon.
Turning back east we plan on a more northern route going thru Durango. Plan on taking the train from Durango to Silverton and back.
Other stops include Santa Fe and Fort Sumner. Always wanted to visit Billy the Kid's grave. Although someone tried to convince me this morning that he is actually buried somewhere around Cleburne (first I've heard of that).
Finally, our last stop will be the town of Merkel, TX where, according to my Aunt, my Great Great Grandfather built every brick building in the town (including the first permanent structure) from 1910 to the early '30s. Evidently the town has a museum in which my GGGF is well represented. I'm also told that my Great Great Great Grandmother is buried there (the town, not the museum - that would just be creepy).

So anyway, any suggestions? I would hate to drive pass the world's largest ball of yarn and never know it.

Stay home, drink and eat lots, sleep late, go to the range and mow the yard???

LOL
Here's the problem, I'm off all summer (teacher) so I have another 8 weeks to do all of that. Except mowing the lawn, Rico only charges $45 and pulls the weeds while he's at it.

[Oldgringo]

Another underpaid and downtrodden teacher, eh?

Let's all chip in and help 'em out. We need more taxes!

[jmra]

Another underpaid and downtrodden teacher, eh?

Let's all chip in and help 'em out. We need more taxes!

I'm not complaining. Actually, I left the corporate world in 2005 because I didn't know what country I would be in from one week to the next. My boys were growing up and I was missing it. So when my oldest started school I emptied out my desk sold the 6000sqft house in La and we moved to TX. Now I live in a house half the size (still plenty of room) and spend everyday with my kids. Underpaid? I'd do this for free if that's what it took.

[SlickTX]

If you get to the 4 corners area around Durango, try to make it to Mesa Verde National Park. The cliff dwellings are spectacular.

[fannypacker]

Unless you have reservations for the Durango train you can forget about it as I had to have reservations a year in advance so we could ride.

[philip964]

Mesa Verde CO, Big Texan Steakhouse and Cadilac Ranch both in or near Amarillo TX, Las Vegas NM, (No country for old men filmed there plus million others) Route 66, four corners, Canyon de Chelly, AZ.

You can get off the Silverton train half way and hike the Chicago Basin, get picked up the next day, but please check the details a head of time.

Try and make reservations to stay at the Rim Inn at the Grand Canyon.

Have fun.

[jmra]

If you get to the 4 corners area around Durango, try to make it to Mesa Verde National Park. The cliff dwellings are spectacular.

We visited the park in 2006 - it is awesome.

[ddstuder]

After you visit Merkel, head north of Albany to Ft. Griffin. Lots of history there!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Griffin

"By 1870, a very rough town called "The Flat" sprang up just north of Fort Griffin, which eventually became a stop off point for cattle drives headed north to Dodge City, Kansas. During that time, several notable characters and gunfighters of the Old West drifted through, including Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday, Dave Rudabaugh, and the brothers Bat and Jim Masterson. John Selman, who eventually became known for killing outlaw John Wesley Hardin, worked there and in the surrounding county as a deputy sheriff."

[TLE2]

Great Sand Dunes is a good one, but don't forget about New Mexico's Chaco canyon, one of my favorite places in the US. Great camping, beautiful desert vistas.