TexasCHLforum.com

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.

I thought Billy The Kid was buried in Hico?

Not far off your route is White Sands National Monument.

Lots of sand to play in and take pictures but not much else to do. Also really hot!!!

http://www.nps.gov/whsa/index.htm

Divided Attention wrote:I thought Billy The Kid was buried in Hico?

http://cemeteries.wordpress.com/2007/10 ... ids-grave/

Syntyr wrote:Not far off your route is White Sands National Monument.

Lots of sand to play in and take pictures but not much else to do. Also really hot!!!

http://www.nps.gov/whsa/index.htm

Was on our initial list but didn't make the cut.

How about Monument Valley on the way to Durango?

It's no Ball of Twine, but depending on your route from Tucson to Flagstaff, you could stop at Gunsite.

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;

MasterOfNone wrote:How about Monument Valley on the way to Durango?

This is awesome. Think we will add this and cut out the train to Silverton.

SRO1911 wrote:If you're in merkel then abilene is you next town with 'amenities' Might check out Frontier Texas while your there then swing a lil south and hit brownwood. You will find an ugly little place with some of the best BBQ in the state - UNDERWOODS - well worth the side trip.

Thanks. Great info.

Try Area 51?

apostate wrote:It's no Ball of Twine, but depending on your route from Tucson to Flagstaff, you could stop at Gunsite.

Might need to save that one for when the boys are a little older but that is going on the bucket list.

apostate wrote:It's no Ball of Twine, but depending on your route from Tucson to Flagstaff, you could stop at Gunsite.

Also, while in Flagstaff, check out the historic Weatherford Hotel, which was built by the same guy that founded Weatherford Texas. It's not a huge deal or anything, but it just goes to show that it was a small world even back in the 19th century.

jmra wrote:

SRO1911 wrote:If you're in merkel then abilene is you next town with 'amenities' Might check out Frontier Texas while your there then swing a lil south and hit brownwood. You will find an ugly little place with some of the best BBQ in the state - UNDERWOODS - well worth the side trip.

Thanks. Great info.

Underwoods rocks
I have/hasd a relative named Merkel after that town, Merkel MCcoy ...and every time we drove through it my dad told me about the time he and his brother rode on the hood of a car from Merkel to Lubbock ... each holding a lantern so the driver could see. I think they had hitchhiked to a church meeting, and that's how they got back to Lubbock... being headlight holders.