Summer vacation ideas?

St Louis would be a little over 8 hours straight up 55. Go to the Arch, City Museum, Zoo, Botanical Gardens, Cardinals game. It's an easier drive than the time would have you think.

I make the trip regularly to BR or Lafayette area and it's never a bad drive.

for the price, a weekend in STL when then cards are in town is a blast.

The Zoo is ranked #2 in the country, and its...free

The arch is always a good time. ($5) for kids

Forest Park has a days worth of stuff, you can walk around and into museums. All free

Grants farm can be something special. Its a zoo but you interact with the animals. Plus its owned by AB so adults get 2 free beers

If you like Italian food, we had the closest thing to NYC's "little italy", its called the Hill.

Yeah I would have to agree that they Smokeys would be a great trip.

If you are just looking for a short trip for 2 or 3 nights, look at the Marriott Grand Hotel in Point Clear. It has an awesome pool with a slide, a small decent beach on the bay, sailing, canoes, bikes with trails nearby to ride into Fairhope, fishing, etc.

I hate that there are so few fun family trip locations within 5 or so hours of south La.

We rotate pretty much every summer between beach towns from Orange Beach over to Destin just to mix it up. My kids love beaches and pools so they never get bored of those trips. Of course they like the bigger trips better, but I love the beach trips.

Callaway gardens

San Antonio. A long but easy drive. Schlitterbahn, riverwalk, outdoor markets. Something for everyone.

We're going to Wimberley, Texas to stay at a place called Lejos, check it out. Its a private house on a 125 acre ranch with a nice creek / river on the property.
We have plans to visit hamilton pool and jacobs well. Its about a 9 hour drive tops from B.R.
No major plans except to hang around, cook, and play on the river and tube most of the trip.
Google Lejos, Hamilton Pool, and Jacobs Well.