Edited - at this time I think we are going to go to LA and do Universal/Disney.

The travel agent is coming to you for help. I'm not much of a planner of US-based vacations so I struggle here every year. Here are some things we've done and what I'm considering. It is just my daughter (14) and me who takes these trips.

• I try to not spend a fortune, so I limit myself to where I can get discounted Marriott's.
• We have done Branson the past 2 years and loved it. Daughter wouldn't even mind going again.
• Done Great Wolf Lodge & Kalahari.
• Do not prefer to go to South Texas
• Want it to be 12ish hours from BCS.

Here are some ideas.

• LA - I could fly here for relatively inexpensive. I figure Universal will be an absolute madhouse. So this isn't really the preferred - would be lots of Ubers.
• Colorado - I could do a few nights in the Denver area and maybe a few in Colorado Springs, but she did go to CS over the summer.
• Tennessee - I would love to do the Dollywood area, but the closest I can stay if adhering to the discount hotel is about 45-60 minutes away from there and Pigeon Forge.
• New Orleans - hubs isn't a fan of this
• Albuquerque - This popped up on my radar today. I know nothing about it. Looks like 40-50's for weather.

Am I missing anything? We are good with outdoors stuff, fun museums and even some theme parks (smaller rides). We absolutely love Silver Dollar City and had 3 day passes last year.

ABQ has lots to recommend. Good Mexican food. Biopark (zoo aquarium gardens) is good. A few years ago they had some great Christmas lights there. Natural history museum is good, and National Nuclear Museum is top notch. Probably more interesting to a 14 year old boy, unless she's really into planes and Manhattan Project history.

Of course there's the tram to Sandia Peak, and balloon rides. Santa Fe is an easy drive, and Los Alamos and Valles Caldera are a bit further, if the roads are open

ABQ is a good place to have your car broken into or stripped while you sleep. There are a few marriotts with armed guards so you may be good. Check out Santa Fe.

NYC is the answer. Lots to see. Rockettes Christmas Show is fantastic.

There is a newer Marriott Residence Inn in Pigeon Forge that's only about 15 minutes from Dollywood I think.

If you go to Albuquerque, please make reservations at St James Tea Room. Your daughter will love it. Check out their FB page.

Smokin Chisel said:

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There is a newer Marriott Residence Inn in Pigeon Forge that's only about 15 minutes from Dollywood I think.

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I'll check pricing tomorrow but it didn't show up on my discounted Marriott stuff (it's very limited). Maybe I'll play with dates. This most definitely would be my preferred place although longer from Texas than I would like.

Nashville would be fun

Marauder Blue 6 said:

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Nashville would be fun

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But what is there for a 14 year old? I've been once with my hubs.

What does she like to do? Does she like beach, mtns, or other?

Abq is only worth stopping in on the way to Durango.

Ever been to Creede, Co? One day you could white water raft at buena vista, one - 2 days in Creede exploring the mine, cave fire station, etc. one day in lake city….my friend has a killer airbnb there.

Other option would be smoky mtns, stay in mars hill, Asheville, chimney rock state park, lake lure, etc

Big bend, balmorhea, basecamp in terlingua…

I don't quite understand the 12 hr distance requirement if flying is an option, but Banff is absolutely magical at Christmas. It's about a 4 hour direct flight. You would have to rent a car in Calgary, but we've found rental cars to be very affordable there. The Fairmont Banff Springs looks like a castle, and Fairmont Lake Louise has the most amazing afternoon tea service. The outdoor activities range from snowshoeing, ice skating, tubing, and hiking the frozen waterfalls in Johnston Canyon.

My son and I did this trip in 2021, and I want to go back so bad I can't stand it.

Probably a little late to plan a trip for this year, but I'd put it on my bucket list for another year.

JMac03 said:

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Marauder Blue 6 said:

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Nashville would be fun

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But what is there for a 14 year old? I've been once with my hubs.

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Live music
Food
Shopping
Attractions

TXTransplant said:

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I don't quite understand the 12 hr distance requirement if flying is an option, but Banff is absolutely magical at Christmas. It's about a 4 hour direct flight. You would have to rent a car in Calgary, but we've found rental cars to be very affordable there. The Fairmont Banff Springs looks like a castle, and Fairmont Lake Louise has the most amazing afternoon tea service. The outdoor activities range from snowshoeing, ice skating, tubing, and hiking the frozen waterfalls in Johnston Canyon.

My son and I did this trip in 2021, and I want to go back so bad I can't stand it.

Probably a little late to plan a trip for this year, but I'd put it on my bucket list for another year.

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I don't really want to fly. Originally tickets were $318 to LA and I could get one free. Now they are more. And in LA I could possibly stay with my brother.

I try for this to be a pretty inexpensive trip. We travel a few times a year and this started as just taking her 1-2 nights to Great Wolf Lodge. Just really for us to spend some time together without dropping a lot of $$$. Experiences over gifts.

Would not bother with ABQ. Nothing interesting to do.

Maybe Tampa? Typically good weather. Busch Gardens. Beaches, etc...

BCS to Pigeon Forge is a long drive, way more than 12 hours.

It will be pretty cold

That being said, Gatlinburg is pretty cool at Christmas. You could also go to the Biltmore, they really do it up for xmas.


There really isn't much within 12 hours of BCS. You should look at whatever specials SWA and American have out of Houston. I am all about the outdoors, but NYC or Boston isn't a bad suggestion

We did Tennessee and Dollywood last month. We enjoyed it. Also, consider Washington DC if your daughter has never been.

Gotcha…makes sense. I was just thrown off by the LA comment.

I've been watching RT to Calgary for the past couple of months. I've seen tickets under $300, but it was for United basic economy (backpack only and can't pick your seat). That's not an option for us, and regular economy was $350-ish.

If you buy early enough, you can get cheap tickets on West Jet. Also, United code shares with Air Canada, and I noticed the United flights were actually a little cheaper on the Air Canada website (but you have to pay extra to pick any seat if you book with them).

Trick for getting a cheap flight on this route is checking early and watching it like a hawk.

At this point I think we have decided to LA. I can stay with my brother for 6 nights, we can do Disney 2 days and Universal 2 days.

I appreciate everyone's input and I'll def keep these in mind for next year.

How about New Orleans? ~7 hr drive from College Station.

Ghost tour of the French Quarter
Mardi Gras World
Street Car rides
Jackson Square
Swamp tour
Garden District
The above ground cemeteries are fascinating
Voodoo Museum

Aggie87 said:

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How about New Orleans? ~7 hr drive from College Station.

Ghost tour of the French Quarter
Mardi Gras World
Street Car rides
Jackson Square
Swamp tour
Garden District
The above ground cemeteries are fascinating
Voodoo Museum

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We decided on LA. While I could probably convince hubs, he feels it is not very safe. Maybe next year.

I'm wanting to do something like this for this year. Bringing this thread to the top. Thinking big bend and or hiking Guadalupe peak

Can't help with that but we always find Branson a solid choice. Not sure what we will do this year but it may be our backup again.

I wish Tennessee was a little closer.

Forgot I originally posted on this thread. What a difference a year makes…we are going back to Banff over Christmas. Because our travel dates are fixed and we are picky about flight times that $300 ticket was $566 when I bought it a few weeks ago! And that's on West Jet. United was significantly more $.

Didn't figure I'd be able to do much better than that, since we want to fly the two Fridays that bookend Christmas.