Discovering the Southwest & sense of adventure

By Chris Hill

Nearly every summer growing up, we would take a family vacation — a 12-hour road trip from New Mexico to the beaches of California to visit family. After spending time with relatives, my father would look at a map and take a road he had never been on just to see what was there. My father loved to drive and explore, which led us to state parks, national parks, and Native American ruins throughout New Mexico, Arizona and California. As I got older, I truly grew to enjoy this portion of the trip even more than our time at the beach.

On one family vacation, we focused on Native American dwellings and museums throughout Arizona. I vividly remember the Montezuma Castle National Monument, north of Phoenix. Driving to the site, we talked about the Native Americans in the area, how they settled and how they lived. Once we arrived, we were able to get out and see this magnificent site built on the side of a cliff. The experience created such excitement that we wanted to see more.

So we started our trip through the state, stopping at every site we found on the map — some right off the highway and some way back off the main road. After a while, Mom stopped doing the hikes with us and stayed back with some of the kids. But myself, my dad and my brother would make the hike every time to see the ruins and read about the history of the area.

During the long drives between sites, I was entertained by my father’s homemade “mobile entertainment unit” — a generator attached to the back of the camp trailer and an extension cord run through the back window of the van connected to our TV/VCR combo. Although it cannot rival today’s technology of iPods, portable DVD players, and satellite radio, it served as great entertainment as we searched for the next adventure.

I am now grown with kids of my own, yet I still look back fondly on these summer family vacations. Although my kids are too young — and would not truly appreciate this sort of trip — I still look forward to taking them someday. Like my father, I believe it is important to have a sense of adventure and be prepared to find something new. I also believe that with patience, you can find some truly unique views of this country, taking in its beauty and rich history.

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Chris Hill currently resides in Texas because it is too cold up North. His family is self-proclaimed “Theme Park Junkies,” including his wife, 6-year-old son and 4-year-old daughter, who are always looking for the next adventure.

Tagged: Family time