Affordable toddler travel destinations

[akcire]

Here's the scoop. My husband generated a SW Companion Pass this year. We'd like to get 5-6 family trips out of it in the next year. I fly free and he has about 155,000 points to fly himself and my daughter. So airfare is covered.

We also have about 169,000 Marriott points. A bunch if Hilton & Sheraton also.

We just returned from WDW. We are planning to go again in Oct.

Thoughts on 2-3 year old friendly destinations? Tell me the places you love that you can fly to on SW in a direct flight from Chicago.

He's not traveling at all for work this year so our calendar is ours to make. He also has a somewhat flexible job.

Tell me your best ideas.

 

[4littleones]

Lucky you!!!!

I live in Pittsburgh. SW is here but not sure that this is a desination for a toddler. We have a nice Science Center and Childrens museum. There is Kennywood Amusement Park and Sandcastle Water Park in the summer months. I am sure that there is more but since we live here I don't think of it as a vacation spot.

 

[jennsmail]

Cincinnati has Kings island. Under 3 is free admission, I believe. Also a great Children's Museum, sports, malls, etc.

 

[akcire]

Cincinnati has Kings island. Under 3 is free admission, I believe. Also a great Children's Museum, sports, malls, etc.

Thanks for the thought I should add. I won't fly anywhere that is less than a 6 hour drive from Chicago.

There is a reason. From my house to Airport is easily 1 hour. Spending extra time getting everything airport ready, easily an hour. Waiting at the airport/clearing security 1-2 hours. Time in plane 1 hour.

I'd much rather just drive 5 or six hours than hang out an airport with a toddler for a super short flight.

I will look up Kings Island though as a weekend driving trip. We don't need malls, were not big shoppers.

 

[4littleones]

Cincinnati used to have The Beach Water park near kings Island. Not sure if that is still there. It was one of my Fav's when I lived there.

 

[DisneyDiana]

If you fly into Philadelphia, and of you are ok with renting a car, you can go to Sesame Place (toddler heaven) and then Hershey. Hershey has lots of awesome things for families.

 

[hsmamato2]

I would think anywhere you want to go...toddlers are pretty portable..... I think lots of Disney trips sounds great,or even other Florida destinations,beaches,etc. I love the companion pass...

 

[msmama]

DisneyLAND?

A beach (would have been a disaster with my toddler though).

 

[LadyBeBop]

1) SW doesn't fly into Cincinnati. It flies into cities around here (Indianapolis, Louisville, Dayton, Columbus). But not Cincinnati.

2) The Beach closed for a summer, but opened back up last summer under new management.

3) However, if you do Kings Island, I wouldn't do the Beach. KI has its own waterpark.

4) It's a nice drive from Chicago to Cincinnati. You could also combine it with a trip to Indianapolis. Although we have a nice natural history museum (inside a converted art deco railway station), Indianapolis has one of the best children's museums in the country.

Good luck. Honestly, the first place I thought of when you talked about family friendly places to take a toddler was Chicago.

 

[CuteAndFluffy]

Cincinnati, Columbus, St Louis, Madison, and Chicago were my first thoughts, too

Philadelphia/Camden/Eastern PA was great when my son was 3. The Please Touch Museum and the aquarium in Camden were super fun. Sesame Place was fun for us (its no Disney World, but before Memorial Day it was lovely, clean, and uncrowded. Dont think I'd go in the height of summer, though.)

 

[Arkum]

We took out 2 little ones to San Diego when they were 2 1/2 and 9 months. One of our favorite trips! San Diego Zoo, legoland, sea World, and of course the beach!

 

[Lisa71]

San Diego all the way!!

 

[ashleyasiegel]

We went to Sesame Place end of July/August and my 2 year old had a blast. During the week the crowds weren't too bad. We also went to Six Flags Great Adventure in NJ. They had tons of kids rides that again my 2 year old had a blast. We also made the drive to the Crayola Experience but that was just ok. It was super crowded the day we went because it was raining.

I would consider Disneyland/Southern California, Cruise, New York if I was lucky enough to be in your situation

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Sandusky Ohio has Cedar Point, Kalahari water park, a African safari park on your drive to/from you could go to the Toledo zoo.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

St Louis is a great toddler destination, but obviously drivable from Chicago.

We're fans of South Padre Island. Southwest flies into Harlingen, and it's about a 45 minute drive from there. You'll almost certainly have to make a connection though.

 

[akcire]

We're thinking:


Disneyland

Sesame Pl/ Hershey

DC

Possibly Maine? Thoughts.

Maybe Tx

 

[travelgirl06]

We did Los Angeles when DD was almost two - Santa Monica, beaches, pool time, walking around various fun areas, a day at Disneyland, etc.

We've also done cruises, WDW, and Key West/Fort Lauderdale (when she was tiny), New Orleans, and lots of family visits. Really most places can be fun with a 2-3 year old, as long as you find things for them do do during the day (I.e. If it's a day with a visit to the museum we try to visit a playground before and/or after or just find other places where she can burn off some steam).

We are in Texas and there is lots to do. San Antonio has the Riverwalk, sea world, etc., there are the beaches, splashpads, loads of festivals, etc.

 

[tina.tina]

We went to DC when DD was 4. She walked with us everywhere and we had a great time. She loved the Smithsonian. She is almost 13 and told me last night that she remembered certain exhibits and would like to go back and see them again this summer.

There is no way DS would walk anywhere for that long when he was 4 and it's kind of iffy if he would now that he's 8!

(The first trip I think of with a toddler is a zoo.)

 

[vetrik]

We've done the New Hampshire White Mountains in the summer with our DD from ages 2-4 so far, and we have a condo booked for this summer when she'll be 5. They have two really great kid friendly amusement parks (Santa's Village and Story Land) in addition to all the other activities in the area. We've done simpler hikes with DD, Diana's Baths, climbed Mount Washington, Conway Scenic Railroad, etc.

 

[mommajo143]

We loved going to Houston when DS was 3-4-5 yrs old. We would pre purchase the city pass & spend a day each at: children's museum, zoo, downtown aquarium, natural science/history museum, nasa, and other places like Lego factory at the outlet mall. We would finish our trip out with a night or two at the beach - Galveston island / schliterbahn or Kemal boardwalk. Very affordable, relaxed FUN & kid friendly.

If you go in the early spring be sure to go to the rodeo - it's awesome.

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