First of many (I hope)...

[joelwho]

Hi all!

My sons (ages 7 & 10) and I just returned from our first BIG cross-country adventure... A 3400 mile one, to be exact. We drove through half of Florida (with a stop at Florida Caverns State Park), the southern parts of Alabama and Mississippi, all of Louisiana, and the majority of Texas to reach our final destination of Big Bend National Park. It was an amazing experience. The boys had a blast. They've never seen a desert/mountainous landscape and I've never experienced such vastness. We were all awestruck. My youngest loved it so much that he asked if we could go to the Grand Canyon next year. So I guess I need to start planning! If Big Bend is on your list, don't hesitate. If it isn't, add it. You won't regret it

Old Ore Road - Roys Peak Vista

Old Ore Road

Old Maverick Road

Mule Ears Peak overlook

Santa Elena Canyon - The boys skipping rocks across the Rio Grande into Mexico

On our way to Hot Springs

THE best navigator. EVER! He never let us down

Desert hands

Video of Old Maverick Road to Santa Elena Canyon
http://youtu.be/ygGTa8PMD3c

 

[hrt4me]

awesome!

 

[heehawhardy]

Sounds like one awesome adventure! Good to see "kids" enjoying the outdoors

 

[joelwho]

Thanks guys. It was truly an amazing experience

 

[roverrocks]

Very nice. I've wanted to get to Big Bend for years.

 

[jonny.jpg]

Awesome. Whenever I have kids it'll be less technology and more if this. Awesome photos. Glad to see another X!


-Jonny

 

[DetroitDarin]

GOOD for YOU! Great trip!

 

[Boog2001]

Great trip

 

[SpongeX]

Nice pictures. Looking forward to stretching my Xterra's legs again soon

Sent from my VS950 4G using Tapatalk

 

[v_man]

Very cool trip , I don't even have kids yet and I'm already looking forward to taking them on road trips !

How did they do in the car ? Do you have the usual assortment of gizmos and ipads to keep them occupied.

I remember when we were growing up , it was books , cards , or stare out the window to stay busy... times have changed.

 

[joelwho]

I'm itching for another adventure already!

 

[joelwho]

V_man, the boys did great. Relatively speaking. There were a few fights, but that's to be expected. And only ONE bloody nose! Ha!

They played on their iPod 5, my Nexus 7 and read books. Also they kept a travel log. And did some spring break homework.

Over all I'm extremely pleased with the maturity they showed for being cooped up in a truck for back to back 14 hour days there and then back

 

[FlatlinesUp]

Awesome trip! You are creating great memories for those two as well as yourself. Congrats

 

[joelwho]

Awesome trip! You are creating great memories for those two as well as yourself. Congrats

thank you!

 

[joelwho]

26 miles of stunning off-road desert landscape edited down to 4:30 minutes. Old Ore Road
http://youtu.be/INR6yff8OaE