Family friendly vacations near VA, TN, NC border help

[worm761]

I am seriously considering canceling Disney and going somewhere else. It has been a few years since we went up to see the IL. I feel that meeting halfway is a good compromise. We live in northwest FL and they live in the finger lakes region of NY.

My first thought was Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge area but it is closer to us than them by 2 hours. And yes, this may actually be a problem. So I was looking for something closer in distance for each of us. I have come up with the northeast TN border with southwest KY. Some places in North Carolina look to be 10 hours for each of us. Ashville and Asheboro being the two I found.

So any suggestions of places to go? I am looking for relatively cheap.

We are a family of 4. Me, DH, DS17 (will be 18 and may not want to go) and DD4.
SIL would be SIL, BIL, DNiece (9 or 10), DNephew (6), and DNiece 3.
If MIL and StepFIL decide to come they may have the other niece that is 6.

 

[MEK]

Williamsburg VA is a great family vacation. Busch Gardens and its water park are there, but so is Historic Williamsburg, which is very educational. Jamestown and Yorktown are very interesting. There is also a lot to do in Norfolk VA and Hampton VA. Furthermore, Williamsburg is not far from Virginia Beach.

I realize that this may a little bit further for you to drive than your NY family, but I honestly think this is probably the best all around vacation destination on the East Coast. You could be busy everyday of a week vacation. You certainly won't run out of things to do and if you and your family like history - then this is an AWESOME place.

Also, there are plenty of timeshare rentals. Check out VRBO for rentals.

Gaitlinburg is insanely crowded. Why torture yourself with that. Asheville is probably nice but not nearly as much to do.

If your NY family wants to drive further than I suggest Hilton Head, Charleston, Savannah. You could even check out the Disney resort at HHI. It's wonderful.

Happy planning.

 

[Kerrio929]

I am seriously considering canceling Disney and going somewhere else. It has been a few years since we went up to see the IL. I feel that meeting halfway is a good compromise. We live in northwest FL and they live in the finger lakes region of NY. My first thought was Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge area but it is closer to us than them by 2 hours. And yes, this may actually be a problem. So I was looking for something closer in distance for each of us. I have come up with the northeast TN border with southwest KY. Some places in North Carolina look to be 10 hours for each of us. Ashville and Asheboro being the two I found. So any suggestions of places to go? I am looking for relatively cheap. We are a family of 4. Me, DH, DS17 (will be 18 and may not want to go) and DD4. SIL would be SIL, BIL, DNiece (9 or 10), DNephew (6), and DNiece 3. If MIL and StepFIL decide to come they may have the other niece that is 6.

Where in the FL are they? That's where I grew up...

Williamsburg, VA? Virginia Beach? The Outer Banks? No idea how far, but what about the Gatlinburg, TN area?

Good luck...

 

[chattadisser]

I have to agree with MEK, consider going to Williamsburg! We actually cancelled our WDW trip this past October to go to Williamsburg and it was one if the best vacations we've had.

It would totally win out over Gatlinburg and I live in TN.

 

[worm761]

Where in the FL are they? That's where I grew up...

Williamsburg, VA? Virginia Beach? The Outer Banks? No idea how far, but what about the Gatlinburg, TN area?

Good luck...

We are in Pensacola, FL. They are in Savona, NY.

I have to agree with MEK, consider going to Williamsburg! We actually cancelled our WDW trip this past October to go to Williamsburg and it was one if the best vacations we've had.

It would totally win out over Gatlinburg and I live in TN.

Would Williamsburg be good for the little ones? I have a 3, 4, 5, and 6 year old. I know my parents took me when I was younger but I think around 8 or 9. Not sure. I don't really remember much from the trip to be honest.

 

[VAfamily1998]

Do you all like to camp/hike/cave?

We took a trip to Mammoth Cave national Park in KY a few years ago when our kids were 3, 5, 7, and 9

We camped and it was a lot of fun. You can spend a few days camping/caving and then maybe see a few other local things; Lincoln's birthplace, Louisville, etc.

 

[Kerrio929]

We are in Pensacola, FL. They are in Savona, NY. Would Williamsburg be good for the little ones? I have a 3, 4, 5, and 6 year old. I know my parents took me when I was younger but I think around 8 or 9. Not sure. I don't really remember much from the trip to be honest.

I grew up maybe 30-45 min from Savona and my aunt taught at Cambell-Savona for many years...

My neighbors did a Williamsburg and Virginia Beach trip this summer. They have 4 kids, 5, 6, 12, and 14 and they all loved it. They also went with relatives who have an 8 and a 10 year old. All the kids really liked it.

 

[MEK]

Would Williamsburg be good for the little ones? I have a 3, 4, 5, and 6 year old. I know my parents took me when I was younger but I think around 8 or 9. Not sure. I don't really remember much from the trip to be honest.

Personally, I think its hard to vacation with a 3 and 4 year old no matter where you go. I think we pretty much stuck with beach vacations when my kids were that little.

Here's some Williamsburg links.

http://www.vacationsmadeeasy.com/WilliamsburgVA/activity/BestWilliamsburgKidsActivities.cfm

http://forums.welltrainedmind.com/topic/171751-williamsburg-va-with-young-children/

 

[kydisneyfans]

The NE corner of TN and SW corner of KY don't meet. You may be thinking SW VA.
SE KY and NE TN meet near Cumberland Gap national park, but honestly that is no more than a day or two.. It is just over an hour from Gatlinburg anyway.

 

[MEK]

Here's a link to a current Williamsburg TR

 

[chattadisser]

We are in Pensacola, FL. They are in Savona, NY.

Would Williamsburg be good for the little ones? I have a 3, 4, 5, and 6 year old. I know my parents took me when I was younger but I think around 8 or 9. Not sure. I don't really remember much from the trip to be honest.

We have a 4 and 8 DD's and they loved it and are asking when we are going back. Now, the 8 DD loves history so it was pretty easy with her, the 4 DD is pretty much a go with the flow type of girl. We also went back and went swimming each night and they had some time to play with their dolls.

We stayed in a 1 bedroom at the Marriott at Fords Colony and loved it! They had a movie theatre, game room and kids activities each day. We spent one day just doing activities around the resort. Having a full size kitchen, no matter where you stay, allows you to fix breakfast and dinner if you wish. I'm not big on cooking during vacation but it was nice to heat up a pizza or fix an easy dinner and keep some sort of normal schedule.

 

[worm761]

The NE corner of TN and SW corner of KY don't meet. You may be thinking SW VA.
SE KY and NE TN meet near Cumberland Gap national park, but honestly that is no more than a day or two.. It is just over an hour from Gatlinburg anyway.

Yeah. I am seriously directionally challenged. I used to get lost all the time when I drove.

 

[MarciaBrady]

How about Williamsburg, VA? I've been there a zillion times for as long as I can remember (it's a little over an hour away from where I live). There's also Busch Gardens Williamsburg & Water Country USA near there, too. (Eat at Pierce's BBQ afterwards if you go anywhere near Williamsburg-it's really yummy!)

Other things in Virginia: Kings Dominion (*ahem* Dad I want to go there next year!), Monticello, Mount Vernon, Natural Bridge, Poplar Forest, Luray Caverns, Virginia Aquarium, Virginia Zoo

Ok, now you guys have probably guessed what state I live in...