Best vacation--not disney?

[hmacmahony]

We just did the cody, wyoming, yellowstone trip this summer.
(well, we actually drove from NJ, all the way to Portland oregon...with 4 kids, up through washington, and on the way home went through yellowstone, cody, south dakota, and the last stop...wisconsin dells, then home)

I think our two favorite things was CODY!! And our trip to mt st helens.
Cody is the so much fun! DO NOT MISS the rodeo, I promise you that it will be the highlight of the trip.
Also, in yellowstone, make sure you take advantage of all the junior ranger programs, our kids were 2, 5, 7 and 8. They LOVED the junior ranger programs, they were so much fun. My kids were so proud to get the badge too! Also, we stayed at fishing bridge, which can be hard to get into, we actually go into that campground the day before we arrived (I had been calling for months), and were able to stay 6 days, because there were cancelations, and we checked every morning.

Next year we want to do the southern route, through arizona, new mexico, the pan handle of texas, las vegas, and of course Disneyland!! Then we will probably head up to portland again, my brother is having a baby in may! My first niece or nephew, and if we are in califonia, we might as well make the trip to portland again to see the new baby.

As for our favorite trips, we like to travel, and while we LOVE LOVE disney! Have been there 4 times with our kids, there is a whole united states out there. My kids love the national parks, and just exploring. We counted after last trip, I think my kids have been to almost 35 states, and by the end of next summer, I think we will only have about 6 left to see, which would be alaska, hawaii, vermont, new hampshire, and mass, and maine.

We took my inlaws on a trip to WDW in January so we thought we would take my parents on our next trip. My dad said he would rather not do WDW. So we are now going to Yellowstone National Park and then spending a few days in Cody, Wyoming. Our kids are just as excited for this trip as Disney. They can't wait to see the animals and old west stuff .

It's not Disney but I like showing the kids some National parks and the country.

But our trip after this will be back to DISNEY!

 

[happy.family.of.6]

CRUISE hands down. How fuN!!!

 

[disney*mom*82]

Just to throw out another idea, again, IDK where you are from, but our other vacation spot that the kids really enjoy is Wisconsin Dells. We always stay at the Kalahari Resort and it is a very nice resort, it has both an indoor and outdoor water park, childrens activities, movie theatre attached, a new indoor amusement park type area, even live animals there on certain days of the week. Last time we went the baby tigers were there. I know there is a lot of things to do in that area too, they have horseback riding, the Duck boats, etc. We find ourselves having too much fun to leave the resort. We have always booked trips that include the water park, food, arcade, etc. We hope to go back up that way sometime soon.

 

[seashell724]

When I was younger we did Wisconsin Dells and had so much fun! Lots to do there.

 

[tami82]

pigeon forge and Gatlinburg TN, plenty of things for the kids to go and the Smokey Mountain national Park is great! Many things to do in the surrounding towns also. This is the home of Dollywood Amusement park & splash country.

 

[chicagoshannon]

One of my favorite trips as a kid was to Macinaw Island and Greenfield Village in Michigan.

I also loved DC and San Fransisco. San Diego is also very nice.

You could always got to Wisconsin Dells. They have the water parks and also the Ducks and historical downtown.

 

[annacali]

I will get out there and second the Hilton Head idea. That is the place besides Disney that we have started going every year. It is so relaxing...you can park the car and not tough it all week if you stay in the right place...yummy restaurants, shopping, nighttime entertainment and the beach can all be within a few steps of your condo. If you want to explore a bit there are MORE restaurants (the food there is just divine) more shopping, and dolphin cruises, a children's singer at night, fireworks, playgrounds, a children's museum and the Coastal Discovery Museum. We love it all. We can spend a week there and never get enough. I want to retire there!

We also LOVE San Diego. Sea World, Legoland, the zoo, riding the Seal (which is like the Ducks elsewhere) the beach, perfect weather. San Diego is a great trip too.

 

[annacali]

sorry...double post.