Houston to California ..via I10 //HELP

[lukeshell]

Just about to embark on a trip to California ..we will be going along the I10 ..The question is I have a familiy of 6 age range 2 - 18 plus the two adults where to stop on the way and what to see ? As ushall I left it all a bit late to plan well.so some great help is needed !!! LOL we are an english familiy so quite unfamiliar with anything past San antonio .

Thanks

Luke Jackson

[Midwest Michael]

Welcome to the RTA Forum!

Without knowing your timeframe or your families interests its hard to provide too many specifics, however, this thread has lots of ideas about things to do along I-10.

[lukeshell]

Welcome to the RTA Forum!

Without knowing your timeframe or your families interests its hard to provide too many specifics, however, this thread has lots of ideas about things to do along I-10.

Thks Micheal..We are off next week leaving Houston on Wednesday Hopwe to get to San Diego by Saturday to pick up a RV of maybe Sunday..We were just looking to see if there was much to do on Route say for a few hours to break the day up. Not so much in Texas as in New Mexico or Arizona..but I will check out the thread..If you have any other great ideas please post.. Thanks


Luke

[PNW Judy]

I'd be surprised if you can't find some things that will suit your family.

And, remember, kids need to stretch and play a few times a day in order for the roadtrip to be enjoyable for all of you. Sometimes it's a simple matter of finding a playground at a park or school closed for the summer. Watch for state and county parks as well where the kids might get a quick dip in a lake or river. When my kids were little, we found some real gems making these types of stops.

You're allowing 4 days to travel about 1600 miles, averaging 400 miles per day. This should leave you plenty of time to make stops along the way to make this an enjoyable trip for all.

Do you need some help planning the portion of your trip with the RV?

[lukeshell]

Thanks Judy..anything would be helpful..this was a last minute decesion for us as we had not booked anything else.. Iv not even booked the RV yet ..so have to do this this weekend any advice there would be good I hope to pick it up in San diego and then head North .. I know some of the familiy (18yr old daughter ) want to go the hollywood etc etc and LA.. Its all a bit rushed and Im a littl e nervous about the whole thing but what the hell Im sure it will be an adventure.... LOL

[AZBuck]

That's quite a spread in ages you have to keep interested and amused on your trip, but it really shouldn't be that hard. Besides the 'big ticket' stops along or near I-10 such as the Alamo, White Sands National Monument, Saguaro National Park, and Joshua Tree National Park, there are less well known places to take a time out every 2-3 hours. You should be able to make the drive comfortably in 3 days, even with a couple of stops each day. If you wanted to take a longer break and spend a day in on area, I'd suggest southeast Arizona with Chiricahua, National Monument, the old west town of Tombstone, Kartchner Caverns and the Sonora Desert Museum. All are kid friendly and while you couldn't see them all in a day, they give you a good set of choices.

And if the kids don't appreciate your efforts, perhaps a stop in Yuma on your way to San Diego in I-8 would be in order.

AZBuck

[PNW Judy]

Between the spur-of-the-moment aspect, the varying ages of the kids, and no real plan, you can make this whatever you want it to be.

Hope you can get an RV at this late date.

Personally, if you're going to do LA with Hollywood and the other usual tourist attractions, I would not get an RV. Hotels and a car would be much better-suited for that.

An RV is really better for non-city travel. I would really only suggest traveling that way if you're going to be concentrating on national parks and other more remote settings. An RV is just to unwieldy for driving much in the city.

So, really, what does your family want to do? I think you really need to figure that out first before you even determine that an RV is the right travel vehicle for you. If you're going to be doing the coast, an RV would work OK but I'd rather drive the windy CA-1/101 in a car myself. And you're not really going to see a cost-savings by the time you pay for RV rental and campgrounds. So, really, car/motel might really work out better for you.

Not to discourage you from getting an RV, I guess I'm just confused about what you're planning on doing with it.

Help us help you by giving us a bit more information, if you can.

[Midwest Michael]

I too am a little puzzled by your plans for an RV. If you want to do an RV trip, why don't you get one from the very start in Texas and use that for your trip to California too? I also agree with Judy in that if your California trip is going to largely be inside of cities, then you might very well be better of staying in a car for your whole trip.

[lukeshell]

Between the spur-of-the-moment aspect, the varying ages of the kids, and no real plan, you can make this whatever you want it to be.

Hope you can get an RV at this late date.

Personally, if you're going to do LA with Hollywood and the other usual tourist attractions, I would not get an RV. Hotels and a car would be much better-suited for that.

An RV is really better for non-city travel. I would really only suggest traveling that way if you're going to be concentrating on national parks and other more remote settings. An RV is just to unwieldy for driving much in the city.

So, really, what does your family want to do? I think you really need to figure that out first before you even determine that an RV is the right travel vehicle for you. If you're going to be doing the coast, an RV would work OK but I'd rather drive the windy CA-1/101 in a car myself. And you're not really going to see a cost-savings by the time you pay for RV rental and campgrounds. So, really, car/motel might really work out better for you.

Not to discourage you from getting an RV, I guess I'm just confused about what you're planning on doing with it.

Help us help you by giving us a bit more information, if you can.

Judy Thnaks for your advice .. As you probably guesse its all a bit last minute.. We do have quite a diverse familiy with soem enjoying the nature and scenery anf othet the glitz and shopping and beaches so its hard to please all.. But we all thought a RV would be the best way to get around on a road trip and gives us some flexibility.. again we not sure I will be looking into RV rental today some if you have some tips on who are the best and most reporatable company in the south Cali area it woild be helpful. I f we ebnd up not getting a RV do you have any routes that we should tyake from Sandiego heading North including LA and the coast I know I want to see some Red woods !! anway the threads have been more that helpful sofar..this is a great site and resource.