hot springs

Our third hike on Day two at Big Bend National Park is the Hot Springs Trail. Like Boquillas, this is rated as a not-to-be-missed hike. Along the Hot Springs Trail, there are ruins of the old bathhouse, post office, and motel; a hot spring (duh!); the Rio Grande; pictographs, and petroglyphs. To get a fantastic history of this trail read “Big Bend: A Homesteader’s Story,” by J.O. Langford (referenced in the Packing & Prepping article).  Oh, and did I mention the thrill of almost dropping to your death? Shear fun. This is in reference to the road in. It is terrifyingly narrow. It is only aRead More →

After hiking down to the beautiful Boquillas Canyon and screaming our echoes for one singing Mexican to hear we drove to the Rio Grande Village. Here there are bathrooms, a visitor’s center, and a store. The visitor’s center was closed on the day we were there. Rather, we bought sandwiches at the store and topped off our Camelbacks with water. Our late start meant we would be out in the mid-day heat longer than we had originally planned. The store has picnic tables out front and we ate in the shade before trekking to our second trail. Our next scheduled trail is the Rio GrandeRead More →

Little boy hiking Boquillas Canyon

Boquillas Canyon Our first hike is at Boquillas Canyon. It is another popular hike as it is pretty easy for everyone with gradual inclines and it gently heads down to one of the three canyons in Big Bend National Park. Not to mention, if you bring your passport and time it correctly, you can pass into Mexico and visit the town of Boquillas. Boquillas, Mexico While you are there you can pick up your Boquillas stick – a light-weight hiking stick that is usually adorned with a painting of an animal or vegetation. These make great souvenirs for the kids. If you are unable toRead More →

Santa Elena Canyon Trail

We have reached day five of our Big Bend road trip and it is another amazing day exploring Big Bend National Park! Today our plan is to head down to the Rio Grande Village. This part of the park is southeast of Panther Junction. Once you get down there it has three great family-friendly trails in close proximity. BBRT Day Five: Big Bend National Park | Rio Grande Village Unfortunately, we got another later-than-planned start. My husband had a rough night. He had a raging headache and was dealing with bouts of nausea. Perhaps he was dealing with a little dehydration or altitude sickness butRead More →

Perot Museum

What to Expect What You Can Find Perot Museum of Nature and Science Hours How to Get to the Perot Museum of Nature and Science Where to Stay Near the Perot Museum of Nature and Science WHAT TO EXPECT The Perot Museum of Nature and Science experience begins well before you step through the door. Every detail is maximized for wonder, participation, and joy. Upon arrival at the Perot Museum, there are three not-to-be-missed areas: the outdoor music instruments, the hopping frogs, and the river. Don’t worry about missing them – if you are with kids they will find all of them! We were ableRead More →

Golden Nugget Lake Charles

The Golden Nugget Lake Charles is an easy two and a half to three-hour drive from Houston. Its proximity makes it a popular destination for Houstonians and Texans alike. But, what about as a family destination? We recently were able to tag along and scoped out all the pros and cons of heading to our neighboring casino with family in tow. Should I plan a trip to The Golden Nugget with my Kids? The short answer to “Should I plan a trip to The Golden Nugget with my Kids?” is no. However, that is in the scenario of having a weekend to find a familyRead More →

Lower Burro Mesa Pour Off

Mule Ears Overlook There is only so much time in a day or a trip to Big Bend park. One of the places we skirted was the Mule Ears, so named for the way the two peaks shoot up into the sky like pert mule ears. The full trail is about 7 miles round trip. However, as you traverse the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive north from Santa Elena Canyon there is a spot to stop and take them in…and, try to line your kid’s head up and a get a “mule ear” picture. Lower Burro Mesa Pour-Off As you continue north through Big Bend park,Read More →

Santa Elena Canyon Trail

Santa Elena Canyon with Kids If you recall, I mentioned Big Bend is a large park – to travel from the Chisos to Santa Elena Canyon is to travel about 40 miles. Which, if you mind the posted speed limits in the park (and, you should) means this is a drive that will take over an hour. I fretted a bit at our late start when I realized how far we had to go and how popular this hike was. I was more than a little concerned it would be unpleasantly crowded, but que sera sera what are you going to do but hit theRead More →

Santa Elena Canyon Trail

Rise and Shine! We woke and got ready for our first day of hiking with kids in BBNP. We ate breakfast in our room (packing those groceries was a great idea). The sun was up and lighting Casa Grande before we managed to peek our heads out. Fortunately, for late April, the weather was still supposed to be pleasant. Meaning, not skin-searing heat – just warm enough you would not want to stay in the direct sun for too long. We took the winding mountain road out of the Chisos Basin and went east to the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive. We began at our farthestRead More →