The Midwest is big and if you’re crossing it, road trip stops are a must. Since the 80s, visiting Dodge City in Kansas sat on my bucket list, especially after watching National Lampoon’s Vacation, with Chevy Chase and Beverly D’Angelo. Here’s…
Located in the Black Hills of South Dakota, Custer State Park feels like a national park with its top wildlife viewing, recreation opportunities and facilities. On my first visit, I completely underestimated the appeal of Custer. Then drove away wanting…
Head to OKC for family fun with several musts for your trip. Learn about the Oklahoma City bombing back in 1995. Then see if the cowboy life is for you. Take a walking tour of the revitalized downtown. Got them…
Just a few hours north of Dallas/Ft. Worth, southern Oklahoma offers mountains, a former national park, a wildlife refuge and even a chocolate factory. On a recent trip north of the Red River, I explored the area between Lawton and…
Need a real scare this season? I’ve got 13 haunted cave tours across the U.S. to get your brood in the mood this October.What about clumsily climbing through a cave so dark you close your eyes to get away…
A few hours north of the Dallas – Ft. Worth, I found the Chickasaw National Recreation Area filled with natural pools and scenic mountain vistas. With a recreational lake open for boating, historic cabins built by the Civilian Conservation Corps…
Located steps away from the Chickasaw National Recreation Area, formerly the Platt National Park, I found the Chickasaw Retreat and Conference Center set on top of a bluff in the Arbuckle Mountains. It offers families a secluded area to discover…
Camping in Key Hole State Park Once you leave the Black Hills area of South Dakota and head west, the lodging and restaurants get a bit sparse. Since I’m traveling with three kids, I’m always looking for cabins instead of…
The carful of kids spent several days exploring theBlack Hills area of South Dakotaand the national parks of South Dakota, like Mount Rushmore, the Badlands National Park and the Minuteman Missile National Historic Site. Devils Tower National Monument, about 110…
Why tour a Missile Site Under the swaying grass of the South Dakota plains, 1,000 missiles stood on constant alert for 30 years. Used as a deterrent in the Cold War against Russia, a pair of missileers living 30 feet…
Few road trip attractions can beat a drug store in South Dakota. Seriously, Wall Drug tops my list for ultimate road trip stops for everyone, not just the kids. From my house in Central Texas, I drove 1,154 miles to…
On a quest to see the lower 48, the carful of kids drove to Jasper National Park in Canada from Central Texas. Our most recent stop included an Old West shoot-out in Dodge City, Kansas. And before that, we explored…