Besides Disneyworld where does your family vacation?

[DisneyFirstTimer10]

After our upcoming disney trip this October we are trying to plan for a spring break vacation. Disney has been the only place our kids have gone (besides little day trips) and we wanted to expand a bit. So where else do you recommend going with young kids, coming from the Midwest? We'd like to stay stateside and spend around $4000 or less, seven days max. We are considering hilton head- but wanted other options as well!

 

[set1208]

The Outer Banks in NC, specifically Nags Head around milepost 17 is where we take a week or two every summer. The beaches are not crowded, the sand is great, the waves are perfect for boggie boarding....it's heaven if you're a beach lover. There's plenty of stores, shops, restaurants, water sports rentals, history too. There is a fun pirate adventure for parents and kids that my boys love. You can also see dolphins swimming off shore. We love it!

 

[MinnieDaisy]

We travel quite a bit. We were unable to have kids for several years, so we distracted ourselves by throwing our disposable income (what was that, LOL?) on vacations. Then, after 15 years of trying, we had a little boy. Since we were almost 40 and used to our vagabond ways, we just packed him a bag and took him along. So far he's been to Cancun, the Grand Canyon, central Oregon (snowboarding), northern Washington and the Canadian border (family reunion, hiking), several trips and several resorts in the Phoenix area (family nearby), Austin, Dallas and San Antonio (we live in bordering Oklahoma), we did Disney last May, we're doing Disney and Universal this Christmas, Washington DC next spring, and Macchu Picchu next summer. None of these trips have been more than $4k (Macchu Picchu comes the closest) but there's only 3 of us and we look for deals. Great places for a family with kids, especially if you're coming from the Midwest:

Austin -- fantastic funky fun city, that whole thing with the bats flying at sunset has to be seen to be believed (only in the spring, I believe?)

The Grand Canyon -- it's iconic, the Brady Bunch did it for a reason. Majestic and amazing photo op. Tons of things to do in the area.

San Antonio -- The Riverwalk, Sea World, La Fiesta (if you go in the spring) with tons of food and music...it makes its own fun.

Central Oregon -- Mt Hood (skiing, snowboarding, all kinds of snow stuff), The Sisters, Newberry National Volcanic Monument

New York City -- Central Park Zoo, Tea at the Plaza, FAO Schwartz, children's theatre, Museum of Natural History...we've haven't taken our son here yet, we're waiting until he's 9 or so. Upstate New York for scenery.

We're not beach people (we went to Cancun because my husband is a Modern Languages prof and he wanted to see Chichen Itza) so I can't help with anything beachy, and I don't do water so I have no cruise info. Hope that helps...I feel like it's a lot of Texas, haha.

 

[set1208]

Depending on how young, Washington DC is great. All the museums, monuments and the zoo are free. Spring is great there because of the gorgeous cherry blossoms.

 

[NHTikiBeckie]

New England!!

 

[purplepixiedust]

The Outer Banks in NC, specifically Nags Head around milepost 17 is where we take a week or two every summer. The beaches are not crowded, the sand is great, the waves are perfect for boggie boarding....it's heaven if you're a beach lover. There's plenty of stores, shops, restaurants, water sports rentals, history too. There is a fun pirate adventure for parents and kids that my boys love. You can also see dolphins swimming off shore. We love it!

We also go to the Outer Banks every year with our kids and love it. Same general area. We have bee going Memorial Day weekend and staying for the week for the past three years. Great weather and no crowds.. Down side is colder ocean most day as opposed to summer months. Our children LOVE this trip. But we are truly beach lovers and I don't think you would enjoy it if you were not a beach lover.

Our close friends vacation in Virginia Beach and go to King's Dominion or Busch Gardens during their trips.

 

[DisneyFirstTimer10]

Thank you all so much!

My concern about the Carolinas at spring time is the temperature. Is there lots to do if its not warm enough to swim?

Washington- waiting till they are a bit older. Daughter will be 5 and son will be 8.

Austin- absolutely considering!

Thoughts on New Orleans?

 

[shell8558]

We travel to San Antonio and Destin frequently . Destin has the most beautiful beach and water!! San Antonio has so many kid friendly things to do - Schlitterbahn , Seaworld, Fiesta Texas , Riverwalk, drive through zoo and caverns , glass bottom boat tours , ripleys , I could go on and on...

 

[homedad]

have u considered skiing for break, we have had kids on skis since 4 years old. Colorado is nice and so is Utah.

 

[smitch425]

St. Louis is one of our favorite places to vacation. There are so many things to do/see there. I could spend a week just roaming the Missouri Botanical Gardens. It is so beautiful there. There are so many fun places to go in St. Louis that no matter how long we stay, we always seem to run out of time.

We also enjoy NYC. We stay in Secaucus, NJ at Harmon Meadows and bus into the city. The kids love it there.

DC is always a good place to go. DH (federal employee) would love to work there, but the cost of living increase is not enough for us to live comfortably like we do here in Ohio. Our kids were pretty small when we went. Maybe 3 and 5?? We plan to go back soon.

Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge is good, too. We try to go every few years. We'll probably go again next summer. The kids like it there.

None of these places would be anywhere close to $4000, but still nice places to visit.

 

[mm1971]

We have plans for a long weekend in NYC, a week in Washington DC and then off to Punta Cana in the Dominican with friends over February vacation. The vacation account will be begging for mercy this year.. There is also Hershey Park in PA (and Gettysburgh). And I agree with a previous poster that the Outer Banks in the Carolina is Awesome!

I am in MA and we have tons of great places from Cape Cod to Bar Harbor, Maine.

Good luck deciding.

 

[DSNY4ever]

San Diego, Washington DC, Seattle, Grand Canyon (I haven't been to Bryce National Park yet, but I hear it's beautiful too), Yosemite, Hawaii, Europe and Mexico (although those are not all stateside). We live near San Francisco, but that would be on my list if I didn't live nearby.

We are dying to go to Alaska, New York City and I would love to explore New England, and one of the tops of my to do list is Yellowstone, but we have to wait till DS is a little older so he can hike without us carrying him the whole time.

We obviously LOVE Disney, but there are so many wonderful vacation spots that we have to change it up sometimes to see all these beautiful spots.

 

[Belleandtinker]

We did DL for spring break this year and lived it way more than we thought we would. A lot more!

We are from Kansa city and just visit STL - another great surprise it exceeded our expectations. The City Museum was amazing.

Chicago is always a good city trip for our family - museums, parks, pizza and shopping.

 

[shell8558]

Thank you all so much!

My concern about the Carolinas at spring time is the temperature. Is there lots to do if its not warm enough to swim?

Washington- waiting till they are a bit older. Daughter will be 5 and son will be 8.

Austin- absolutely considering!

Thoughts on New Orleans?

I'm a Louisiana girl- so I love New Orleans!! But I don't think there will be enough to keep you busy for a week. We go several times a year for a long weekend and that is more than enough time to hit the zoo, aquarium, French quarter, outlets in neighboring Gonzales and usually a Saints game too.

 

[kayrosek]

We are from the Kansas City area and love St. Louis and Branson.

 

[BeerMe]

We've been to almost all the places listed in the past few years. One place I didn't notice was Williamsburg - great place to visit - as is ADKs - Lake Placid & Burlington, VT

ETA: The places we enjoyed most in the last year were: Yosemite, Grand Canyon, Monterey, San Francisco and San Antonio. River Walk is awesome.

 

[Movingtothemouse]

Other than Disney we have taken trips to Savannah, GA, St. Augustine, FL, Cocoa Beach, FL, Daytona Beach FL, and a few nights in the Smokey Mountains.

Savannah and St. Augustine were may favorites so far. Love both cities. Plan to visit Gettysburg, DC, and Williamsburg in the next year or so.

 

[Legendteri]

We are from STL and our family vacation spot other than Disney is Branson. I know it will sound hokey, but Silver Dollar City truly is a wonderful themed park. Now, I don't know if it will be open when you are on break, but it doesn't hurt to check it out. We also loved the Noah show in Branson, but that isn't there anymore.

Other places we have been are Chicago. It won't be warm, but it is a really fun city.

We haven't been to Kansas City yet, but maybe next year. I have heard many great things about KC.

 

[purplepixiedust]

Thank you all so much!

My concern about the Carolinas at spring time is the temperature. Is there lots to do if its not warm enough to swim?

Washington- waiting till they are a bit older. Daughter will be 5 and son will be 8.

Austin- absolutely considering!

Thoughts on New Orleans?

I wouldn't go to the Outer Banks before Memorial Day weekend. I know the weather is beautiful then (80's +) but probably not warm enough for spring break vacation. There is a lot to do and see, but I woukdn't want to take a beach vacation if it wasn't warm enough to enjoy the beach

 

[Fantasmiss]

Does Disneyland Paris count?

We've been to Spain, Greece, Denmark, Norway, France, Sweden and Wales since we first went to WDW. And honestly, although we enjoy travelling and we've had a nice time, going anywhere but WDW, well... It kind of bores us a bit now. We miss WDW too much! We get there and, well, think "Now what"? No rides, no Fantasmic or Wishes, no Disney anything most places and none of our favourite restaurants. Haha! Ridiculous how addicted someone can get to WDW.

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