::6 Things we do to have BIG Epic Family Vacations:: Part Uno.

(This is a two-part series, with fun things to do while on vacation with kids.) 

In years before we have done fun vacation in Texas but in 2016 we ventured really far away from home. And, it was amazing. 

So, last summer our family took our first BIG Epic family vacation! And, that it was. Since the kids have been born we haven't done big vacations and we have only flown with the 3 of them (one of them being my nephew, which him and his mom travel with us, my only Sister) once for an emergency trip to Detroit to see my Aunt. 

But, ever since we figured out that our Dos (2) could last a couple of hours on the road, we started doing small Texas road trips, gradually building them up to last year's 12-hour road trip to Destin, Florida! Where we rented an apartment for a week and had SO much fun! Here is a list of our TOP 6 things we do to have GREAT family vacations! 

Our vacation consisted of my parents, my sister, my nephew, my brother, my sister in law, my sister's friend, and us four! 

1) We stop at the rest stops and make it a fun learning experience and picture opportunity: 

From Texas to Florida we stopped at every state line and not only took it as a potty-kid break we also learned about the new state and took pictures, Santiago was learning about the state capitals last year so we had to stop and reiterate what each state capital was! (Texas -Austin, Louisiana-Ba-ton Rou-ge, Mississippi- Jackson, Alabama- Montgomery and finally Florida-Tallahassee) 

2) We have become major beach bums, my kids LOVE the sun, sand, and ocean: 

This past year the boys (my son and my nephew) were big enough to learn to body surf on their boogie boards. They loved it, Cam learned too! Everyone laid out on the beach before and after the crazy rain storms, haha.  You would seriously think my kids were born on the beach, there is just something about it that gives them so much life. So we tried to live on the beach as much as we could. 

3) We enjoyed the pool just as much as the beach: 

Once it got too hot on the beach we would cool off in the pool or if it was too dark and we would get kicked off the beach. The kids loved the pool and the hot tub in our condo complex. My Cam was a little fish in water. We had fun and the kids practiced their swimming skills and learned to play pool games!

4) We looked into kid friendly site seeing and went out to eat and found fun places for the kids to explore! 

This is usually my Husbands favorite part, our major resource is Yelp and Google, both are highly accurate at locating kid-friendly restaurants and other local kid-friendly resources. As the kids have grown we have learned to find age-appropriate sites and activities.  We found the Harbor Walk Village with tons to do in Fort Walton beach. 

5) We ride along with Pirates on big ships in an open sea!!! 

One of our favorite parts of a past beach trip to South Padre Island here in Texas was finding a Pirate Ship with a fun adventure for kids and families. So, when we visited Destin, Florida we discovered they had one as well! Only this time we shared the experience with our whole family and it was so much fun! The kids get to become honorary pirates and dance and do a treasure hunt. It's probably one of the more expensive parts of our trip but worth it. 

6) We enjoy every minute no matter how chaotic! 

When you get 8 adults and 3 kids on a 12-hour trip and then try to coordinate activities and food times and likes, it can be crazy. But, no matter how crazy times get we make the most of it and enjoy every moment we get together. More than anything we make sure the kids have fun! And, that's all that matters t us all... 

"Enjoy the little things in life, for one day you will look back and realize they were the BIG things!"-Anonymous 

::Visiting the Valley~Summer Road-trips:: Part Three

One of our last days in McAllen we visited the McAllen Nature Center. Filled with terrain and local plants. Some of my personal favorites are cactus and succulents. And, a reminder. Walk do not run. Life is filled with so much busy work, hastily decisions, and constant motion. What a perfect place to slow down, take in nature and family and remember to slow down. Life isn't always about the go, go, go, at times you should learn to listen to your heart, mind, and body and just relax. We have tried to do just that this summer. Relax and take it all in. Our road trips calm us and make us happy. 

On this day we truly enjoyed nature, it's creatures and of course one another's company. Family is so important during trying times, it's always great to have the memory of all the people who truly love us and whom we love. 

When I am in the Valley time tends to stop or slow down for me and I feel like I am at home. Because well I am. I wasn't born in South Texas but I spent my entire childhood and young adulthood there and it's my home. 

We also visited the Hidalgo Pump House, but I didn't know we needed a permit to take pictures, so I only got to take a couple. This was one. It's a great little area to learn about the water industry and it's history in the Valley. 

::Wordless Wednesday, Kinda:: McAllen Wall Art

On our last few visits to McAllen my Hubby had been wanting to take Santiago to a comic book store. My cousin, Alfredo, who lives there is a huge fan as well. So, just like a scene out of the Big Bang Theory, kinda, HAHA, we walked into Kaboom Comics in McAllen.  It was so much fun, plus they have an uber cool wall with Super Hero art, another one of my cousins {yes, I am Mexican, I have a ton of cousins.} drew one of the super heroes seen here. Pretty neat huh? 

On one of our drives back to our hotel we found this awesome sight, a beautifully lit building which we then found out was an art gallery and part of the McAllen Artwalk. 

In picture: Nuevo Santander Gallery

I want to go inside on our next visit. 

::Visiting the Valley~Summer Road-trips:: #WeekendSnapshots

::This is a link-up post with Ari and Jessica on this week's #WeekendSnapshots::

Some of the best memories from when I was a kid, were when my parents would load us into the car to make a 7-hour drive to Reynosa, Tamaulipas & South Texas. With homemade tortas, bags of chips, and canned sodas. These days we want to recreate these moments and memories of family time to visit family with our kids. We may not cross into Mexico anymore but we have visited South Texas, the last 4 years, it's become a bit of a yearly trip now. {You can see our trip from last year ::HERE::}

We have gone not only to visit family but to celebrate life, with the birth of one of my nieces. It's been the best "excuse" to make the 6-7 hour long trip to McAllen every year which then turns into a mini-vacation destination for us. Last year we visited the best little museum in Edinburg and then we headed off to South Padre Island for a few days. This year we decided to make our trip a little shorter but still managed to visit some awesome local sites. 

First place was Quinta Mazatlan and then there was the McAllen Nature Park, which was right next to a local eatery called La Lomita which has some great gorditas! We also visited a local comic book shop, where my cousin drew one of the superheroes! Pretty neat, I know.

Quinta Mazatlan is just that a beautiful Quinta set right in the heart of McAllen near the border with Mexico. It is known that the original owner of the Quinta was a writer and adventurer. The Quinta is perfectly set for both, a serene and quaint place to explore and get away from it all. The Quinta has so many wonderful areas to explore and learn about nature and the local habitat. If you have never been it's worth the time and heat to get to know the area.

According to the Quinta History:

"Composer, writer, and adventurer, Jason Chilton Matthews (1887-1964) traveled the globe collecting artifacts and stories while serving in 11 countries during World War I and even fought alongside Lawrence of Arabia. When he finally settled in 1935 with his affluent Pennsylvania wife, Marcia Jamieson (1891-1963), they built Quinta Mazatlan at what Matthews called the “Crossroads of the Western Hemisphere.”"

We had a wonderful time and the kids enjoyed exploring. The day we went it was hot, humid and rainy but it didn't stop us from wanting to learn more about this great Valley treasure! In all my years living in the Mission, I never knew about it. Goes to show how fast life can speed by you without you realizing the beauty that you grew up with. I sure am glad that now as an adult I am taking the time to seek out these places for my kids to enjoy. Also, that my Husband is uber talented at googling local attractions. Ha.

One of my favorite rooms in the house was a pink room filled with Calaveras, Mexican paper dolls and a ceiling covered with amuletos. I want to live in that room. Ha. The kids loved all the trails and finding live creatures as well as very life-like steel recreations of local animals.