Tag Archives: Family Road Trips

A Midwest SPRING BREAK Epic National Park Road Trip!

Midwest to….still the Midwest…and a little South. The Plan:  To note…many of these trips were so very quick! This trip was quite easy, delightful and informative. Shelby, Indiana to St. Louis, Missouri (4.5 hours) to Little Rock, Arkansas (5.5 hours) to Hot Springs, Arkansas (1 hour) to Memphis, Tennessee (3 hours) , then back toContinue reading “A Midwest SPRING BREAK Epic National Park Road Trip!”

Animals Abound at Congaree National Park

There were some learning firsts on our trip to Congaree National Park, and those were awesome. But the many learning seconds, thirds and beyonds – this is what strips these lessons from being novel and turns them into our own lived experience…our own history if you will.

The Mackeys’ Epic National Park Road Trip!

Midwest to the Southwest The Plan:  Shelby, Indiana to Tulsa, Oklahoma (10 hours) to Sweetwater, Texas (6 hours) to Lajitas, Texas (6 hours) to Carlsbad, New Mexico (6 hours) to El Paso, Texas  (3 hours) to Mesa, Arizona (7 hours) to Santa Fe, New Mexico (8 hours) to Dodge City, Kansas (7 hours) to KansasContinue reading “The Mackeys’ Epic National Park Road Trip!”

Herding Brain Kittens (and Kids!) at MEOW WOLF

If you haven’t already heard of this wonderous “choose your own adventure” art/story museum experience…I consider it an absolute honor to introduce you! The Dirt Back in the day when I readily attended work conferences, I was lucky enough to be presenting on a panel with expert Youth Programmers from other childrens’ museums, universities andContinue reading “Herding Brain Kittens (and Kids!) at MEOW WOLF”

Petrified Forest: Brings Out Our Layers

Mackeys Meander the Magnificent, our Junior Ranger Adventures. The Dirt The literal “end of the road” for our summer vacation/epic National Park Jr. Ranger adventures. Thankfully, Petrified Forest is navigable by both car and foot. Our crew needed options that included maximum creature comfort for this last visit to end without burnout. (6 National ParksContinue reading “Petrified Forest: Brings Out Our Layers”

Indiana Dunes: There’s No Place Like HOME

Mackeys Meander the Magnificent, a trip to our nearest and dearest National Park. The Dirt No doubt, I’ll end up circling back to the Indiana Dunes National Park. Like all National Parks there’s more than one day’s visit to be had here. Unlike most others…it’s the only one we are really close to. Which means,Continue reading “Indiana Dunes: There’s No Place Like HOME”

Silly in Saguaro

Mackeys Meander the Magnificent, our Junior Ranger Adventures. The Dirt Since the start of the trip, we had been getting the question “when are we going to see a real cactus.” In addition to,” this isn’t what I thought the desert would look like…?” Finally, “how long to the nearest bathroom?” A question they stoppedContinue reading “Silly in Saguaro”

White Sands: A Place to Move and Be Moved

Mackeys Meander the Magnificent, our Junior Ranger Adventures. The Dirt White Sands National Park is a show stopper for the kids. It’s, quite literally, sparkles! We were pretty loose-y goose-y about our hiking gear on this stop. We were very aware of the hot summer sun so we chose a shorter, casual visit in lieuContinue reading “White Sands: A Place to Move and Be Moved”

Carlsbad the Rad Caverns

Mackeys Meander the Magnificent, our Junior Ranger Adventures. The Dirt It’s kinda cool how visiting a place you’ve seen before becomes a new experience for you when you are watching others see it with fresh eyes. I mean, Carlsbad Caverns are unequivically a miraculous wonder of nature and magnificence. But, so are humans…especially the reallyContinue reading “Carlsbad the Rad Caverns”