Summer is coming and I’m trying to plan short road trips for the family (kids 8-10).
Any recommendations for trips south of Houston?
Obligatory press-for-more-information questions:
What are your interests? Are you trying to see more of the outdoors, or more cultural experience type things? Want to see ruins, museums, go hiking, all of the above? Want to go to the beach? etc. etc.
Are you taking your own vehicle? (I wouldn’t recommend this, and I actually have taken a vehicle into Mexico. Had a huge incident)
How long is a short trip?
I was thinking of driving and looking at 5-6 days and possibly 2 trips. We have gone north, west and east of Houston and it occured to me we haven’t headed south yet.
And, I know it’s not very helpful, but, yes, I was interested in all-of-the-above. The kids are excellent road-trippers!
Monterrey, which is only a couple hours south of the border, is a modern, industrial, uninteresting city, but there are two things nearby the kids might love: one is “Plaza Sesamo”, a Sesame Street-themed amusement park (okay but not great), and the other is a kind of big “safari” zoo maybe 40 minutes outside the city (may just be called “Safari Park”, can’t remember exactly). The mountains around the city are lovely. At least you’d have a Mexican experience (that in itself will be valuable for the kids). Try a “cabrita” – roasted goat tacos.
I wouldn’t suggest taking a road trip in anything other than a bus in Mexico, it can be dangerous. Northeastern Mexico is pretty boring anyways, all the interesting parts of the country are not within 5-6 days of Houston.
San Luis Potosi is a nice colonial city about 8-9 hour drive south from Matamoros. The newer toll roads are very safe and I don’t see why you would have any problem.