I have a brother in the Air Force. In 2008, he was stationed in Oklahoma. We planned this trip to see him and his family in Oklahoma City. I am originally from Texas, so we included Texas as part of the trip, as well as lots of stops along the way. This was our first major road trip as a family. We had driven to destinations but had never planned a trip with multiple stops before. It was on this trip that we decided we wanted to try to see the entire US. We made a plan to see the lower 48 states before my son graduated from college. I did lots of research and realized how much I loved to trip plan. We started out from North Carolina and our first stop was for a picnic at the Obed Wild and Scenic River in Tennessee.
For dinner, we visited the Casey Jones Village in Jackson, Tennessee. It is a great stop between Memphis and Nashville with a famous buffet and lots of other things to see, especially for my train-loving boy.
After an overnight stay in Memphis, we went to Hot Springs, Arkansas. For lunch, we ate at Stubby’s BBQ, one of the best barbecue places we have ever eaten. We got a combo platter so we could try different meats.
That afternoon we went on the Duck Tour of Hot Springs. We don’t typically do too much of the commercialized type activities, but with our kids at that age it was lots of fun.
We are huge National Park fans, so later that day we toured some of the bathhouses that are part of the Hot Springs National Park. Bathhouse Row is a place to stroll and enjoy the beautiful architecture of the bathhouse buildings.
Dinner was pizza at Rod’s Cellar. This was a really good pizza with housemade dough and sauce. Perfect place for the kids.
In the morning, we toured more of Hot Springs or the “American Spa”. This is a unique national park because of the historic bathhouses, ancient thermal springs, mountain views, incredible geology, forested hikes, and abundant creeks.
Water from the hot springs was first protected in 1832 and is intended to be used. Drinking the hot springs water is perfectly normal, even encouraged.
Many people are afraid to travel with young kids, but with a little planning, it can be wonderful. One of my tips is to let them know what to expect. Keep them informed on what will happen each day. I always give them their own itinerary of the trip.
After leaving Hot Springs, we stopped at the Fort Smith National Historic Site which includes the remains of two frontier forts and a courthouse. We learned about several battles, the Trail of Tears and a judge who was named the “hangin’ judge”. We always felt like it is important for our kids to learn the history of our country. Even the things are more difficult to explain. We encouraged questions and tried to help them find the lesson, the heroes or how we can help.
We made it to Oklahoma! Time to hang out with family.
My brother was stationed at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma City. So we took the kids to see some of the airplanes on display. We grew up in military families and teach our kids about the armed services. We tell them is not just what you see in movies and tv, it is volunteers who choose to serve their country in so many different ways. At this young age, we liked to point out the good people who are helping around the world.
Since military families don’t get much choice in where they are stationed, we never know where my brother and his family will end up. We were glad we took this opportunity for the kids to get together.
One of the fun Oklahoma City activities was the Tiger Safari Zoo. It was a fun place to have interactive contact with the animals, including feeding a tiger and holding a variety of animals.
I have a fear of snakes, so this was not my favorite part, but the kids thought it was fun for their dads to hold the snake.
Feeding the tiger was definitely the most memorable experience for the kids.
The best part of the day for Florida Gator fans! Go Gators!
The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City showed the art and culture of the west. It was a very interactive museum for the kids and helps to promote interest in the enduring legacy of the American West.
Since BBQ is a staple in this part of the country we had to try The County Line BBQ (this restaurant has since closed). It was a fun restaurant with good food.
Because my husband played baseball in college, we have always been baseball fans. Minor league baseball games are a fun way to experience the towns we visit. We enjoyed the stadium, food and fun of the Oklahoma Redhawks (who are now the Dodgers).
Horses are a large part of the Oklahoma economy. We were lucky that my brother’s friends had horses that the kids got to learn about, brush and ride. We love for them to fully experience the regions we visit.
We had a very moving visit to the Oklahoma City National Memorial. The Outdoor Symbolic Memorial stands on the now-sacred ground where the events of the April 19, 1995 bombing occurred. Instead of the building, now stands Field of Empty Chairs, Reflecting Pool, and Rescuers’ Orchard.
The monumental twin gates frame the moment of destruction. The 9:01 Gate represents the innocence before the attack. The 9:03 Gate symbolizes the moment healing began. The shallow reflecting pool provides a peaceful setting for quiet thoughts. The survivor tree withstood the full force of the attack. Years later, it continues to stand as a living symbol of resilience. It is always difficult to visit these places with children, but learning about the senselessness of violence provides an open conversation on how to fight for what you believe in peacefully.
We explored more of the downtown area in Oklahoma City including the riverwalk and canal area.
Route 66 runs about 400 miles in Oklahoma, including the nation’s longest driveable stretch. We love to visit the places on Route 66 and check out the roadside diners and quirky attractions. In Arcadia, we visited the Round Barn. The Round Barn has stood on Oklahoma land since 1898 and has become an iconic landmark along Route 66.
Driving down Route 66, you can’t miss the 66-ft. tall soda bottle. Pops 66 has over 650 soda flavors. You can fill your car up with gas, shop in the store or eat at the diner.
We said goodbye to my brother and his family in Oklahoma City and headed back out on the road. We traveled south to Texas. We stopped first at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth for an interesting tour. We were able to see the Speedway Club, Lone Star Tower, the infield, pit road, and victory lane. It was a fun experience and very interactive for the kids.
If you want to see historic Texas, the Fort Worth Stockyards are well worth a visit. We enjoyed shopping through Mule Alley to buy my girl a cowboy hat and ate a good burger at the Love Shack.
The Fort Worth Stockyards National Historic District is a great way to learn the true history of the livestock industry. Visit during the longhorn cattle drive twice a day.
Back in the car to drive to San Antonio. Since I grew up there and have so many memories, I had several places I wanted to eat. The first night we met family friends at the Alamo Cafe. I have memories of the delicious Texas chicken fried steaks and the homemade tortillas. The kids enjoyed watching the tortillas being made in the restaurant.
The next day we visited the Historic Market Square where we enjoyed the sights of old Mexico. One of my favorite places, it has over 100 locally owned businesses that provide a unique experience. For lunch, we ate at another childhood favorite, Mi Tierra for delicious Tex-Mex food and fun mariachi entertainment.
One thing I wanted to do with the kids was the riverboat narrated tour. I grew up here and have memories of the tour. The boat tour connects you to the culture, history, and architecture of San Antonio.
Another must-see was the Alamo, originally known as the Misión San Antonio de Valero. It is a historic Spanish mission founded in the 18th century. It was the site of the Battle of the Alamo in 1836, where American folk heroes James Bowie and Davy Crockett died. We took the kids on a tour and taught them some of the history of the compound.
After a drive through my childhood neighborhood, we ate at Bill Miller’s Bar-B-Q, another favorite. I have great memories of the beef brisket and sweet tea.
The next day was spent at a place I loved as a child, Schlitterbahn in New Braunfels, a waterpark that I consider the best. It has 51 attractions on over 70 acres. My kids had a blast in the cold water.
The next day we left San Antonio for Houston. Our first stop was the Houston Astros stadium for a day game. We love baseball and try to go to as many major league baseball games as we can.
That night we went to the Children’s Museum of Houston. This goes along with one of my biggest tips. Always search for free things to do. When we checked the local museums for their free entrance nights, Thursday was our lucky night for the children’s museum. This museum was rated the No. 1 children’s museum in the U.S. by Parents Magazine.
The next day was a long day of driving. We drove through the southern states to spend July 4th with family in Florida. My husband’s brother and family are in Florida and July 4th is special because it is also my niece’s birthday.
This was a fun trip with family, sites, and lots of miles. What a wonderful time we had on our first major road trip. And most importantly we made memories.
