Combining Orlando with which US city??

[DisdreamerUK]

Hi,

In 2007, I will be reaching the extremely young and trendy age of 40 (I cannot believe it!!! ) and as I am chief holiday planner there is no point me waiting for my DH to plan an extravaganza.

Anyway, we are hoping to get back to Orlando (last visit 2004), and I thought combining it with another city would be fun, has anyone got any ideas or thoughts??

I was thinking New York, Chicago or maybe Toronto/Niagra (we went to Boston/Vermont in February and loved it - flew with AA so happy to fly with them again)

Any help would be gratefully received........................

Jen

 

[disneyholic family]

Hi,

In 2007, I will be reaching the extremely young and trendy age of 40 (I cannot believe it!!! ) and as I am chief holiday planner there is no point me waiting for my DH to plan an extravaganza.

Anyway, we are hoping to get back to Orlando (last visit 2004), and I thought combining it with another city would be fun, has anyone got any ideas or thoughts??

I was thinking New York, Chicago or maybe Toronto/Niagra (we went to Boston/Vermont in February and loved it - flew with AA so happy to fly with them again)

Any help would be gratefully received........................

Jen

tough choice....i love New York and I love Chicago...really tough choice...
either one will probably be a great trip...
what time of year are you planning to go?

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Would love to go to New York, that would be my choice - or Boston perhaps.

Are you just considering cities outside Florida?

 

[disneyholic family]

if you're going in the summer, then either one is ok...
if you're going in the winter....well...they're both pretty difficult, but chicago's downright impossible in the winter (they don't call it the windy city for nothing)..

they are both beautiful...chicago's a bit less overwhelming than NY....
but they're both wonderful cities..
i used to hate chicago (i went to graduate school there - in hyde park) but Mayor Daley (the son, not the father) has done a magnificent job of cleaning the city up....it sparkles....just a wonderful place....
and new york...what can you say.....an amazing place....i also lived there for 3 years....right on central park....magical...

both cities have museums, theatre (in chicago the theatre is VERY expensive), beautiful and interesting architecture, water, parks...

i can give you a lot of information about either of them if you're interested...

 

[disneyholic family]

by the way, i'm also familiar with Toronto and Niagra Falls...
the reason i didn't mention them is I'm not a big fan of Toronto...
i used to be when i was little, but it's changed a lot and as a result i'm much less enamored of it now....
but toronto is a nice place too....but it wouldn't be my first choice...

as for niagra falls....it's nice...extremely touristy....
i'm a bit jaded i think....when i was growing up we went there whenever anyone visited us as it's only a few hours drive away......so it's less exciting to me i guess..
but most normal people are amazed by it....and there's lots to do there....you can go on a boat (the maid of the mist) that takes you near the falls...you can go in these caves that take you under the falls....
i can't remember what else, but it's a nice day trip....

 

[Young Pooh]

What about Las Vegas??

I took DH for a surprise trip here for his 40th and he loved it. Stayed at the Luxor which was fantastic - although I would say that most of the other hotels are also fantastic.

Las Vegas is not just gambling - there is so much to see and do here that even a two week trip would not be enough. There are also plenty of thrill rides and coasters to keep the adrenaline junkies happy.

Then of course there is the Grand Canyon - this is a once in lifetime experience.

Sue

 

[gilld]

I would have suggested New Orleans but obviously that's not possible now. My son did Las Vegas and Orlando this summer and said they made a great combination. The domestic flight cost around £50 with Air Tran.

 

[mikki.young]

We did New York and Orlando a few years ago and that worked ok. This year we did Orlando and then flew to San Fransisco and drove down the coast road to Anaheim and Disneyland which was amazing. There are so many fascinating places to visit in US that combining trips is a great idea, especially for special occasions like the big 40

 

[flowrida]

Great minds think alike! we are combining this visit with 4 days in Chicago - looks fantastic and a good contrast to the weather in Orlando if last December is anything to go by!

We have also done Boston (three times) which is wonderful; Atlanta which was interesting and New York which we found far too busy but will go back one day.

 

[disneyholic family]

Great minds think alike! we are combining this visit with 4 days in Chicago - looks fantastic and a good contrast to the weather in Orlando if last December is anything to go by!

We have also done Boston (three times) which is wonderful; Atlanta which was interesting and New York which we found far too busy but will go back one day.

oh my....you're going to chicago in december?.....take very very very warm clothes....and especially a hat that covers your ears, gloves and boots...
that wind can take your ears off.....
there's a nice double decker bus company, but i think you would freeze to death up there in the winter...but they also have these cute trolley type buses, which would be ok in the cold...
the guides are excellent.....

for eating - two recommendations -
Rosebud on Rush street.....it's italian and well known and really good....this place is usually packed....

and the other one....i forgot the name of it....it's in Water Tower Place...on the mezannine level of the building...maybe it's called the Market?....i'm not sure....it's kind of a food court, but with really nice food....a good place for lunch...the pasta primevera there was really tasty...

 

[DisdreamerUK]

Cheers everyone.......

Don't know what time of year we would go, the DDs will be in Year 8 and Year 6 (SATs year) then so would have to be during school hols.

Would like to go around Easter but Orlando would be heaving, so then we're left with the Summer hols probably end of August.

Thought we'd leave Vegas and that side of the US until the kids are older and I don't fancy the longer flight (10 hrs is long enough!!)

If anyone has got any not-to-be-missed cities that don't automatically spring to mind, let me know. any ideas welcomed..........

Jen

 

[UKDEB]

We've done New York and Orlando and NY is a great city, but this year we did Washington and drove down to Orlando stopping off at various places along the way. The entire trip was amazing, but Washington was the surprise highlight - we really had no expectations at all and we absolutely loved it. Trouble is, I've raved on about it so much to friends and family that, should they ever go, their expectations are going to be off the chart and it'll probably be a let down.

 

[disneyholic family]

We've done New York and Orlando and NY is a great city, but this year we did Washington and drove down to Orlando stopping off at various places along the way. The entire trip was amazing, but Washington was the surprise highlight - we really had no expectations at all and we absolutely loved it. Trouble is, I've raved on about it so much to friends and family that, should they ever go, their expectations are going to be off the chart and it'll probably be a let down.

i agree that DC is a great place to visit....beautiful buildings, interesting museums, lovely parks....that's also an excellent choice....
New York, Chicago and DC are all good and work well with kids....

and San Fransisco, then driving down the coast is also a wonderful idea...

personally I hate Las Vegas, so i could never recommend it (unless your ideal vacation spot is sodom and gomorrah).......certainly not in the summer when it's unbearably hot (108 in the shade) so you can't even get out to see the natural beauty in the area (like the red canyon, etc).....

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

Dallas.

Superb architecture, South Fork Ranch, Fort Worth very close with the "cowboy" feel and of course the unmissable and quit emotional Book depository where Lee harvey oswald fired one of the shots which killed Kennedy (you can look out the window, no way did he do it on his own!) and you can stand on the grassy noll
Fantastic night life and fantastic people.
A short drive to San Antonio for a couple of days and visit the Alamo, a four hour drive to Huston to see the site of the Battle of san Jacinto where San Huston defeated santa anna, and Washuington on the Brazos where the Texas declaration of Independance from mexico was signed.

That would be my choice

 

[SimonV]

NY can be very uncomfortable heat-wise in summer, even more so than Florida, for some reason. It is also a harder city to negotiate with younger children (although older teens seem to love it). I'd be inclined to head over to the West Coast, if possible, as San Francisco is one of my favourite cities, while San Diego is also a great place to visit. You could also take in a side-trip to the Grand Canyon, which is one of America's must-see destinations, IMHO. Chicago would also be a good summer destination, and the Great Lakes in general are superb to be around at this time of year. There is SO much choice with the low-cost carriers from Orlando these days it is ultimately hard to go wrong. But beware! The more of this country you see, the more you will want to see!

 

[disneyholic family]

NY can be very uncomfortable heat-wise in summer, even more so than Florida, for some reason. It is also a harder city to negotiate with younger children (although older teens seem to love it). I'd be inclined to head over to the West Coast, if possible, as San Francisco is one of my favourite cities, while San Diego is also a great place to visit. You could also take in a side-trip to the Grand Canyon, which is one of America's must-see destinations, IMHO. Chicago would also be a good summer destination, and the Great Lakes in general are superb to be around at this time of year. There is SO much choice with the low-cost carriers from Orlando these days it is ultimately hard to go wrong. But beware! The more of this country you see, the more you will want to see!

the extra heat in NYC in the summer is due to the heat radiating off the buildings and the asphalt, with little air movement in the narrow streets with very tall buildings...
but we've visited several years in a row during July and it was very enjoyable despite the heat...you just have to pace yourself....and yes it's good for teenagers not small children (who can't really appreciate what it is)..

and yes, pretty much any place you pick will be interesting in its own way....

being originally from Michigan i suppose i should suggest northern Michigan.....Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park in the northern lower peninsula along Lake Michigan, Charlevoix, Petosky, the Straits of Mackinac (pronounced "mackinaw") and then up into the upper peninsula, Tehquamenon Falls, Lake Superior (by the shores of Gitchigumee, by the shining big sea waters - for Longfellow/Hiawatha fans), and on and on..........truly god's country.....and Mackinac Island is a lovely place (no motorized vehicles allowed)...

i've always wanted to take a few months off and drive coast to coast...zig zagging along the way to try to see everything.....it's all beautiful (except perhaps Iowa/Nebraska/Kansas and the rest of the bread basket)....

 

[disneyholic family]

if you're a country music fan, you could visit tennessee....

if you're into roller coasters - a visit to Cedar Point Ohio....the king of coaster parks...

as for New Orleans before Katrina, not a place i would take kids (unless you want to introduce them to beads and their meaning)...

 

[Frances999]

I would definitely recommend New York. Especially for combining with Orlando - it is extremely easy to link the two together. Flights from London to New York are much cheaper than Orlando flights, and you can get excellent flights from New York to Orlando for about $50 per person with airlines such as SONG and JetBlue.

We have three young children and they loved New York. There is such an array of things to do that you could go one hundrend times and still only scratch the surface. I doubt you would be disappointed - it's a wonderful city! We went just this last August and the heat was not as unbearable as it was in Orlando.

 

[JohnnySharp2]

We have always fancied New York but visiting Florida in the summer do not really fancy the heat of NY also - even though the flight prices are cheap.

 

[disneyholic family]

I would definitely recommend New York. Especially for combining with Orlando - it is extremely easy to link the two together. Flights from London to New York are much cheaper than Orlando flights, and you can get excellent flights from New York to Orlando for about $50 per person with airlines such as SONG and JetBlue.

We have three young children and they loved New York. There is such an array of things to do that you could go one hundrend times and still only scratch the surface. I doubt you would be disappointed - it's a wonderful city! We went just this last August and the heat was not as unbearable as it was in Orlando.

Song won't exist by next summer (Delta's phasing it out -- too bad, it was a favorite of ours)...
but i totally agree about the combination of NY and Orlando....when we started flying to the States via New York about 5 years ago (before that, we went via Toronto for many years), we added on a few days in New York at the end of every trip....
it's true that it's hot and humid....but not nearly as humid as Orlando (it's the humidity that kills me, not the heat)...

the following are some things to do with teens in the summer:
--the double decker bus tour (both north and south loops)-- these are hop on/ hop off so you can actually use them to get around Manhattan..

-- a trip to the top of the empire state building

--ferry ride either around manhattan or to the statue of liberty..

--the central park zoo -- it's a small zoo, but if you can get there for the sea lion feeding it's very pleasant....that plus seeing the crazy polar bear is fun.......my kids also just like walking around in central park....

-- the American Museum of Natural History (the 'dinosaur' musem) and the Adler Planetarium.....my kids (who are now 21 and 18) can spend a day here and have loved it since they first set foot inside...

--a horse drawn carriage ride

--walk around the rockefeller center area....there's usually some sort of filming going on that you can see (one of the 3 main broadcasting companies, NBC is located in Rockefeller Center).

---shopping....great shopping in new york....everything possible....the great stores (saks, bergdorf Goodman, bloomingdales, etc.), discount stores, boutiques.....

--Broadway -- we always take in 2 to 3 musicals -- this year we managed 5 as we were there a bit longer: Avenue Q, Chicago, Spamalot, Wicked and the one we see every year, Phantom....

-- the first time i took my kids to NYC they were totally overwhelmed by the size and crowds.....so i decided to do a movie tour....that is, i took them to places made famous in movies they'd seen...
i think there's even a formal tour now that you can take, but i just made it up myself as i went along (e.g., grand central station - armageddon; new york public library - ghostbusters; central park west - ghostbusters; etc etc)....they totally warmed up to the city after that...

--metropolitan museum of art (where the egyptian exhibits are)....my kids were happy to see it, but it wasn't their favorite (not at all)...

--museum of modern art (MOMA) - my kids loved this one...but they're very much into art so it depends on your kids...

south street seaport - we never go here, but it's supposed to be fun...

ground zero - the site of the World Trade Center -- i think most people go here and it's very interesting.....we like to just walk around the whole lower manhatten/ wall street area.....we lived in manhattan many years ago (before we had kids)...DH worked in the WTC (i worked in Rockefeller Center)....we used to come down to his office on Sunday mornings and then walk (!!) from there all the way up to 72nd and central park west (where we lived)......a nice sunday walk....
we don't do that walk with the kids, but we do walk around lower manhattan....lots of places didn't exist when we lived there (battery park city for example...which is all landfill)....it's all beautiful...and if you like to walk (my family does) it's very nice...there are also some historical museums down here, but i'm not familiar with them...