Our first stop on the road to Asia is Albuquerque, to give kids time with grandma (Nana) before we are separated by an ocean. (Skype is an amazing tool though – kids crawl under their bed and take an i-pad (and grandma) with them – so things don’t have to feel so far disconnected.

Our first stop was Fort Stockton, Texas. Not much to stay about that. We made for Carlsbad Caverns the following day and enjoyed following the natural entrance to the cave and the cool 56 degree weather (in the desert, in August!). One word of warning for others – La Quinta hotel in Artesia gave our kids a chemical bath in their indoor pool. Saying there was too much chlorine would be an understatement.

Roswell, New Mexico was a must. Not only because there is nothing else around for hundreds of miles, but also because it offers a unique experience.