Any recommendation for a four day vacation around Christmas?

[dallas_cowboy]

Originally Posted by ChristieP

You're going to have to be pretty far south in the USA to do anything outdoorsy and adventurous in December.

hmm...... how about Big Bend National Park?

[ChristieP]

Originally Posted by dallas_cowboy

hmm...... how about Big Bend National Park?

That's their busiest time of the year. If you want to primitive camp, you can probably get a permit. If you want to stay indoors and haven't already made lodging reservations, you are probably out of luck.

[dallas_cowboy]

Originally Posted by ChristieP

That's their busiest time of the year. If you want to primitive camp, you can probably get a permit. If you want to stay indoors and haven't already made lodging reservations, you are probably out of luck.

We definitely want to stay indoors due to winter and seeing one place close to the park (but outside park) still shows availability from 24th to 27th.

My two concerns for Big Bend:
1. Is the natural beauty of the park is still visible during winter time or should skip this as our vacation option?
2. Since we have 4 days total, we may need to spend 2 days to drive. Can we cover most of their main attraction spots in just 2 days?

[ChristieP]

My husband and I are planning a spring trip to Big Bend, so I have been doing a LOT of research lately.

If you only have 4 days, Big Bend isn't a good destination simply because of the travel time. Yes, it is an 8 hour drive each way from Dallas to Big Bend, so you would only have two days to enjoy the area. You really need at least 4 days to even scratch the surface of everything there is to do in the area, and since you will not have enough time, I would save it for another trip when you have at least a week.

What about the Texas Hill Country? If you stay in Fredericksburg, you can do Enchanted Rock, and if you stay in Bandera, you will be fairly close to Lost Maples. Both of these places are a 4.5 hour drive from Dallas, so you'd still have plenty of time.

[pepper131]

We spent 2 nights at Chisos Mtn Lodge in the spring and felt that we saw quite a bit considering we had 2 kids with us. If BBNP is something that appeals more to you, then go for it, especially if you can stay at Chisos Mtn Lodge.