Family Reunion Spots other than Disney World--Not a Cruise

[Pink Partridge]

Thank you, everyone! I love these ideas. Hilton Head may be a good one, since we could do DVC and have activities for the kids.

 

[jimmymc]

Anna Maria Island or Clearwater have great beaches and hotel/smaller house options.

If the family likes theme parks, go karts, mini golf, and other similar tourist attractions, then either Gatlinburg or Branson would work. Silver Dollar City is a really good theme park.

Denver is a great city, and you might get decent room prices or rentals for the ski areas in the summer.

Is there anything specific your family wants to do?

 

[Pink Partridge]

Is there anything specific your family wants to do?

Touristy stuff like zoos, aquariums, amusement parks, etc. Good restaurants and child friendly micro brews with games....places to sit and talk and hang out.

 

[dizneegirl]

Cincinnati has all of the above nearby. Plus a German Village.

 

[GAN]

I was thinking Santa Barbara as well. We’ve done it without a rental car and find it relatively walkable. I even made my husband walk from our hotel to the zoo — about two miles, pre knee replacement, stopping about every hundred feet to rest.

But, I was actually responding to the surprise of seeingView attachment 889993
We drove there from SB when we did have a rental car.

Love that town! Although probably not much for the kids in that region -I would think. Great wine region ...best Pinot outside of Burgundy.

 

[Southernmiss]

St. Louis! We did a family trip there 3 years ago and found plenty to do.

 

[DisneyTexan]

San Antonio, Texas

• Sea World
• Six Flags Fiesta Texas
• Downtown River Walk https://www.thesanantonioriverwalk.com/
• Alamo tours
• All the usual big city museums, gardens, and a zoo

 

[Christine]

Touristy stuff like zoos, aquariums, amusement parks, etc. Good restaurants and child friendly micro brews with games....places to sit and talk and hang out.

Back to San Diego:

The San Diego Zoo
The San Diego Zoo Safari Park
Balboa Park (has 20-ish small museums with some being free) ** This was not a huge deal for me as I have some of the greatest museums in my backyard so kind of underwhelmed here but other people love it.
USS Midway Tour
Lots of various boat tours on the bay.
La Jolla Cove - See the seal and sea lions, take a kayaking tour in the cove. Have lunch or dinner at Duke's (one of my faves)
Whale Watching Tours
Coronado Island - beautiful beach, free roam through the Hotel Del Coronado
Oceanside and Oceanside Pier - one of the longest walkable piers on the West Coast
Cabrillo National Monument
Mount Soledad Veteran's Monument
Sea World is in San Diego
Take the Surfliner from San Diego up to Anaheim for a day or two in Disney if you want a Disney fix
Easy to take a beach day here and there. Most of the beaches have public access and public parking with bathrooms.

San Diego has tons of breweries and is quite the foodie spot for very casual dining. Love hitting the various mom and pop taco shops.

I've stayed at a few hotels there and I think, as a tourist, I liked being in the Downtown/Bayside/Seaport Village area. The Marriott Residence Inn Downtown Bayfront has one of the best free breakfasts I've had in the various hotels (aside from the Embassy Suites). Very clean, courteous staff. It shares the building with Springhill Suites. But all the Residence Inn rooms have in-room kitchens, which is a must for me.

 

[AustinTink]

San Antonio, Texas

• Sea World
• Six Flags Fiesta Texas
• Downtown River Walk https://www.thesanantonioriverwalk.com/
• Alamo tours
• All the usual big city museums, gardens, and a zoo

Add in New Braunfels and Schlitterbahn.

 

[Travel60]

Depends on time of year and interests:
Oglebay Resort near Wheeling WV - we had a reunion for 4 families there a few years ago - lots of fun.

Lancaster, PA - we've stayed at Willow Valley for many family trips.

Washington DC - many museums are free, lots of great places to eat, easy to do day trips.

National Parks - Acadia NP, Smokey Mountain NP, Rocky Mountain NP, Grand Canyon - some have NP lodges but always lots of hotels nearby.

Any of the Atlantic Coast beach towns if you are into beaches - most have been mentioned.

 

[LuvOrlando]

Off season you could probably rent out an entire boutique hotel with a pool in the northeast very cheaply and just have run of the entire place.

 

[Minnesota!]

north shore of MN has a ton to do and see and stay at

 

[aboveH20]

We stayed in Solvang for a few days and drove over to Santa Barbara for the day one year, it's only 30 miles away. The next year we did a cruise that stopped in Santa Barbara, and walked the main drag, had a nice lunch, did wine tasting right there. That trip was nice since I don't like to wine taste and then have to drive. We didn't eat there, but this was just before the last Sambos in the world closed. It was right on the main drag of Santa Barbara.

So you’re saying you don’t have these magnets on your refrigerator?

Love that town! Although probably not much for the kids in that region -I would think. Great wine region ...best Pinot outside of Burgundy.

I agree

 

[Travel60]

I received a brochure in the mail for New River Gorge National Park & Preserve in southern WV. It is our newest national park. Looks very interesting - lots to do for all ages and wide variety of lodging options from camping and RV sites to luxury cabins.

Just put it on my to do list.

 

[Magical2017]

DH's family has had family reunions at a lake, Outer Banks, and Bar Harbor.

 

[Earstou]

One year we had a reunion at Fort Robinson State Park in Nebraska. Our family rented the Commanding Officer's house and I think we had seven bedrooms, there were more available. The park has so many options for entertainment, I'll mention a few. Jeep rides to see the buffalo heard, stagecoach and wagon rides. There's hiking trails and a swimming pool. Our favorite was the playhouse, where a group from the nearby college performed melodramas, which were hilarious! Our stay was awhile ago, so not sure about current plays or events.
It was a very enjoyable and memorable vacation. Check it out!

 

[pezgirlroy]

Hawaii or Smugglers Notch, VT.

Good suggestion on Smuggs. We used to own a condo there and I think that is the perfect spot. Either in the summer or winter. It is very close to Stowe and close to Burlington