Anyone care to toss in their two cents?

[mommaU4]

We have narrowed our summer vacation down to 4 places:

Gatlinburg, Tennessee
Branson, Missouri
Williamsburg, Virginia
Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

No sorry, Disney is not an option since we were there in Nov. 05 and DH would be happy if we did Disney once every 5 years!

We will most likely be traveling the second half of June. There will be six of us, two adults and four kids (5,5,9,11). We will be driving so we'll have a car. I'm not looking for a non-stop vacation just a place to relax with maybe one or two fun things for the kids.

Anyone have any opinions on any or all of these spots?

 

[Mandabella]

Well, I've only been to two of those places.

I greatly prefer Williamsburg, VA over Branson, MO. At one point DH and I would go down to Williamsburg twice a year for 3 day weekends. I miss it.

 

[RadioFanatic]

another vote for Williamsburg - you have history, culture and amusement parks! What more could you want?

 

[JVL1018]

I would choose Hilton Head...I've been to Williamsburg and it didn't thrill me..we left a day early as a matter of fact..and DH and I are huge history buffs, I ahd wanetd to go to Wiilliamsburg for YEARS..not what I imagined.

We go to HH every year and it's awesome!

 

[SwedishMeatball]

Hilton Head

 

[nwdisgal]

A third vote for Williamsburg. I've never been there, but my parents have, and really enjoyed it. I would like to go there some day. Are you sure you can't twist your DH's arm to "take a little road trip" down to WDW after you finish with Williamsburg?

 

[Ziva]

I'm a beach girl so I pick Hilton Head, SC.

 

[Rajah]

I've been to Branson and Williamsburg and of those two, if you haven't been to either, I'd go to Williamsburg hands down. Don't get me wrong, I loved Branson and would love to go again. But Branson really is a "nitch" thing. If you don't like the specific kind of entertainment there, it's not the place for you. Williamsburg has a lot more to offer, and some good historical sites.

 

[MUFFYCAT]

I'd vote for Williamsburg. I went as a kid , but many of my friends go there now and always have a wonderful time.
However, I would try to change your DH mind about WDW every 5 years, that's too long. How about every 2 or 3 years?

 

[CathrynRose]

I can tell you, I *dont* like Branson. Seemed kinda cheap and dirty, to me... (again ONLY my opinion)

 

[mickeyfan2]

I have only done Williamsburg, Virginia and really enjoyed it. Virginia beach is a little over an hour away. You have Busch Gardens and the water park. Hotels are a little run down IMHO. Walking aroun Williamsburg is more and adult thing.

 

[nwdisgal]

I'm a beach girl so I pick Hilton Head, SC.

Hey! I didn't see that choice! I'm changing my vote!

I have been to Hilton Head with its beautiful beaches and wonderful, long stretches of sand. We biked on the beach for what seemed like miles. Plus, best of all, it is within driving distance to Disney! On our trip to Hilton Head, we also did a trip to WDW.

 

[Trish5768]

I would choose Hilton Head, its awesome; but then I'm a beach freak.

 

[SDFgirl]

I have only been to one of your choices - Gatlinburg. I don't recommend Gatlinburg for anything more than a long weeked. It's too busy (especially in the summer) and would get quite annoying for anything longer than two days.

We go to the Smoky Mountains about twice a year to camp, hike, and relax. Half of the time we don't even go into Gatlinburg. If we do, it's only for a half-day or so. That's all I can take!!

 

[shortbun]

I would choose Hilton Head...I've been to Williamsburg and it didn't thrill me..we left a day early as a matter of fact..and DH and I are huge history buffs, I ahd wanetd to go to Wiilliamsburg for YEARS..not what I imagined.

We go to HH every year and it's awesome!

Yeah, as an American History fan, I too was disappointed in Williamsburg and it was mighty HAWT in June when we were there so get a room with a big pool if you choose Wmsbrg. I'd choose Hilton Head if relaxation is your goal, a condo on the beach....what more can I say? I liked HH a lot for families when I was planning vacations. Branson is too much for adults, Gatlinburg is good but just full of shops and Wmsburg is hot and HH is a perfect family vacation.

 

[kydisneyfans]

I would vote for Hilton Head Island with a stop halfway home, which would be around Gatlinburg. The Smokies are a great area to visit-but not for a week. We love the Cades Cove area, the shopping is nice, mini golf and go karts everywhere, but overall not a place to spend a week.

 

[Toby'sFriend]

I'm curious as to why you chose Branson MO - was it for the shows or did your family want to do Boating and Fishing? I love the Lake of The Ozarks, but Branson itself is just ...... geriatric is perhaps the word I'm looking for??? All I know is that my kids will kill me if I drug them there for a vacation.

There are much nicer family fishing resorts to visit not far from Branson, if you aren't interested in the Music Shows.

With the choices you gave, I personally would choose Hilton Head for a family with Williamsburg in 2nd.

 

[LBAK]

Williamsburg, definitely. The beach is only an hour away, Busch Gardens is great, Colonial Williamsburg I absolutely love and then if you have time there's Jamestown and Yorktown. If you go to Williamsburg do a childrens tour. My DD 10 loved the apprentice tour. We also did a ghost walking tour at night. Had a blast. On the strip there's all the restaurants, mini-golf, go carts and outlets.
Gatlinburg would be my second choice and then Branson. I live right near the ocean so Hilton Head would be my last. I am not really a beach person.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I've only been to Williamsburg, which I like. There's Busch Gardens, which is a nice park (lots of people like BG even though to me it was not on par with Disney and Universal), Water Country (we had a great time there!), Colonial Williamsburg (hot in summer), outlets, etc. There is a Great Wolf Lodge, which would be fun for part of the trip. We spent 3 days in Williamsburg last summer on our way to Myrtle Beach. We only did BG and WC and not the historic stuff at all.

I would like to go to Hilton Head sometime, but I would have a hard time being that close to Orlando and not going to WDW or Universal.

My DH is the same way about WDW and every 3-5 years is plenty often for him, so I go without him.

 

[mommaU4]

I'm curious as to why you chose Branson MO - was it for the shows or did your family want to do Boating and Fishing? I love the Lake of The Ozarks, but Branson itself is just ...... geriatric is perhaps the word I'm looking for??? All I know is that my kids will kill me if I drug them there for a vacation.

There are much nicer family fishing resorts to visit not far from Branson, if you aren't interested in the Music Shows.

With the choices you gave, I personally would choose Hilton Head for a family with Williamsburg in 2nd.

The reasons we came up with those choices are pretty simple. My Grandma has a timeshare and those are the places where she can get us a free week.

I have never been to any of them, and never really thought about them as vacation spots before but who am I to pass up a free stay. We'll still have to pay for our food, gas, sight-seeing, etc. but for a family of 6 hotels are usually a pain to find and so this is a real treat for us.

Anyways the info has been great so far! Thanks guys!