Where do you 'get away' to from Houston? (San Antonio, Katy: live, vacation)

[ap2002]

you can drive 8hrs east to florida panhandle for some execellent beaches there, white sand and clear water..... great place for beaches compared to galveston... imo...

we have taken carnival cruises and have enjoyed them all.... personally if taking a cruise with kids need to make sure its on their big ships like the "magic"... it is a huge boat with plenty for kids and adults to do and its safe... the smaller ships like the "freedom" or "triumph" are NOT their top of the line ships, usually they are the shorter day runs.... the big ships like the magic is the 7day cruise... planning a cruise with family can get pricey quick, depending on what tours you have set up aswell.

[jrbaytown]

You may not be able to escape the climate, but "foreign" culture is not too far away.

New Orleans is my place to go. The history, architecture, people, food...such an incredibly rich culture, total opposite from Texas. So many people think of New Orleans as just The French Quarter, but there is so much more to see and experience.

[jrbaytown]

Originally Posted by ap2002

you can drive 8hrs east to florida panhandle for some execellent beaches there, white sand and clear water..... great place for beaches compared to galveston... imo...

we have taken carnival cruises and have enjoyed them all.... personally if taking a cruise with kids need to make sure its on their big ships like the "magic"... it is a huge boat with plenty for kids and adults to do and its safe... the smaller ships like the "freedom" or "triumph" are NOT their top of the line ships, usually they are the shorter day runs.... the big ships like the magic is the 7day cruise... planning a cruise with family can get pricey quick, depending on what tours you have set up aswell.

I agree, Northwest Florida has some of the most beautiful beaches in America. The sugary-white sand and emerald waters are amazing...and worth the eight hour drive.

[DRob4JC]

I saw this thread and was looking for ideas, but I think we have done most of them.

B & B in Brenham
B & B in Palacios
B & B in Fredericksburg
Cruise out of Galveston
Cruise out of Miami
Galveston
Austin
San Antonio
Corpus Christi
South Padre
Lake Charles
New Orleans

Anywhere outside of a 5 hour drive, and Mrs. DRob ain't having it.

Anyone been out to Big Bend park?

[DanielWayne]

Big bend is amazing. It's been a while for me though. Also I only did simple hiking and nothing strenuous. I was lucky and went with a friend who had previously spent a summer there with one of the park employees. So we got to stay for free in the park at a residence behind a little store. Plus the guy knew some folks from across the river, so we got to go deep into the Mexico dessert with some of the locals leading the way.

[HookTheBrotherUp]

Originally Posted by DRob4JC

I saw this thread and was looking for ideas, but I think we have done most of them.

B & B in Brenham
B & B in Palacios
B & B in Fredericksburg
Cruise out of Galveston
Cruise out of Miami
Galveston
Austin
San Antonio
Corpus Christi
South Padre
Lake Charles
New Orleans

Anywhere outside of a 5 hour drive, and Mrs. DRob ain't having it.

Anyone been out to Big Bend park?

I've done Big Bend in the past, not with children, however. That was near where my father grew up, which was Marfa, TX. But I've made the trip from Houston, it is a doable 8+ hour road trip, and if you go to the peak at the top, Emory, the weather is nice. I remember being there in the summer where the temperature was above 100F in the basin, however, at the peak, it was about 75! Nice. But nothing to do up there unless you are on a honeymoon.

I guess the nice thing now is that with mobile devices, one can mask the long trip it would be to get to the mountains... if I drive 5 hours, then watch movies on my IPad, my wife could drive the other 5, and we'd end up in New Mexico amongst the Ponderosa Pine! Lots of good suggestions here, however. Thanks all.

[PedroMartinez]

Originally Posted by jrbaytown

You may not be able to escape the climate, but "foreign" culture is not too far away.

New Orleans is my place to go. The history, architecture, people, food...such an incredibly rich culture, total opposite from Texas. So many people think of New Orleans as just The French Quarter, but there is so much more to see and experience.

Stayed here twice in NO. Love the location.

Deluxe Room 1

[curbur]

Lake Travis area or east of San Antonio; really anywhere in the hill country.

[Gunion Powder]

Originally Posted by jrbaytown

You may not be able to escape the climate, but "foreign" culture is not too far away.

New Orleans is my place to go. The history, architecture, people, food...such an incredibly rich culture, total opposite from Texas. So many people think of New Orleans as just The French Quarter, but there is so much more to see and experience.

Vermont is the "opposite" of Texas.

Louisiana and Texas are kindred states, and Houston is New Orleans' largest suburb.

[Gunion Powder]

Originally Posted by HookTheBrotherUp

I've done Big Bend in the past, not with children, however. That was near where my father grew up, which was Marfa, TX. But I've made the trip from Houston, it is a doable 8+ hour road trip, and if you go to the peak at the top, Emory, the weather is nice. I remember being there in the summer where the temperature was above 100F in the basin, however, at the peak, it was about 75! Nice. But nothing to do up there unless you are on a honeymoon.

I guess the nice thing now is that with mobile devices, one can mask the long trip it would be to get to the mountains... if I drive 5 hours, then watch movies on my IPad, my wife could drive the other 5, and we'd end up in New Mexico amongst the Ponderosa Pine! Lots of good suggestions here, however. Thanks all.

I'm not sure if Arkansas was suggested already, but, in my opinion, the Ouachitas are the most attractive geography within ~6 hours from Houston. More rugged than the Hill Country with far more trees. A worthwhile trip to make in the fall.