This past weekend, my mother and I returned to my childhood home of Texas to celebrate my cousin's high school graduation. Being the adventurers that we are, we decided to make the 24 hour drive with my younger brothers, ages 10 and 2. We were crazy. I do not recommend confining yourself to small spaces with small children for more than a few minutes.
Be that as it may, I HIGHLY recommend making the drive. For most of this post, I'll be describing stops from the return trip, mostly because we didn't have as much time to goof around driving out there.
Our first stop is The Big Texan Steak Ranch.
Known for it's "FREE 72 OZ STEAK" advertisement, The Big Texan has been open since 1960, and the challenge has been offered for about as long. The meal consists of shrimp cocktail, baked potato, a salad, a roll with butter, and of course, the steak. All of this must be eaten in one hour, lest ye have to pay the $72 charge. Unfortunately, we stopped around 9 AM, so 4 and a half pounds of steak was not on the menu for me.
Our next stop was about 20 minutes outside of Albuquerque, New Mexico. As we were driving, we noticed a billboard for a zoo. My inner 6 year old immediately asked if we could stop. After Googling and seeing how truly inexpensive it is, we decided, "Why the hell not?"
They offer a military discount of FREE to all active duty and veteran members of the Armed Forces, which means my got to enjoy mom her walk courtesy of the US Air Force. They also allow all children ages 5 and under in for free, so the toddler got in free as well. Since the 10 year old and myself are both students, our tickets were $5. It was possible for a family of four to visit the zoo for $10. That is an amazing deal, but once you hear about the program they run, you'll want to donate more.
The Wildlife West Nature Park has 122 acres dedicated to caring for and rehabilitating local wildlife. Many of their animals came to them severely injured, or having imprinted on humans, unable to return to the wild. They have left the natural desert as uninterrupted as possible, utilizing the natural terrain for the habitats. The entire park was built by volunteers and members of the New Mexico Youth Conservation Corps.
All around, a wonderful place, and a great way to stretch your legs on a long drive.
We then visited the Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona. Consisting of the Painted Desert, and the Petrified Forest itself, this national park was truly astonishing.
Standing in the middle of miles upon miles of clear skies and red clay, I had the overwhelming feeling of insignificance. It was truly a breathtaking moment, and one I recommend everyone experience at least once in their lifetime.
Our final stop before home was the one that I've been dying to see since I was a child.
After hearing an American Folk Tale as a child about Paul Bunyan and Pecos Bill duking it out, and inadvertently creating the Grand Canyon, I HAD TO GO! Another beautiful stop with amazing views, this is not for one with a fear of heights. Unfortunately, we found that the Skywalk is actually run by the Hualapai tribe, and is located away from the park, so that's still on my bucket list. We did however get to climb the historical Watchtower and see examples of Native American petroglyphs.
All in all, my 6 day weekend was well spent with family, history, and Mother Nature herself. If you're looking for a laid back and fun ride to the South this summer, I highly recommend following along the historical Route 66. It adds time to your trip, but it takes you backwards in time as well.
