family vacations

[mistyron]

We need some ideas for a family vacation this next summer. We are out of Disney points until 2006 b/c of an upcoming trip over xmas. We have 3 kids (9,6,4). You guys usually have good ideas and information.
Thanks,

 

[Deb & Bill]

Where do you live? Would you want to fly or drive?

 

[mistyron]

We live in Texas. We would fly or drive.

 

[Deb & Bill]

How about New Orleans? You could do the Aquarium. French Quarter by day. Voodoo tours.

Six Flags (Arlington or Houston). Astros or Rangers for baseball. Lots of museums in both Houston and DFW.

Corpus Christi or South Padre for a beach vacation.

We're heading to Disneyland next summer for the 50th anniversary. Plus make stops along the way - Painted Desert, Grand Canyon, Petrified Forest, California coast, etc.

Hot Springs AR has an amusement park, hiking, swimming, etc.

 

[jomik1]

You could fly on over to Chicago. You could spend time on Lake Michigan. Navy Pier has lots of stuff to do. There is great dining for adults and kids. Michigan Avenue is awesome for shopping. You could check out Lincoln Park Zoo. The suburbs have a lot also. There is Brookfield Zoo in Brookfield(Western Suburb), Six Flags Great America in Gurnee (Northern Suburbs). You could take in a Cubs game at Wrigley Field or a White Sox game at U.S. Cellular Field. You could explore the Museum Campus which has the Field Museum of Natural History (Where you can see Sue), The Shedd Aquarium, The Adler Planetarium. A little farther south and you have the Museum of Science and Industry. If your here in August you can drive about an 1 1/2 hours south and catch the Bears in training camp in Bourbonnais. You might be able to catch a NASCAR or IRL race at the Chicagoland Motor Speedway in Joliet. You could drive up over the border into Wisconsin and spend a day at Lake Geneva. You could drive South for a day or two and go to Springfield then hop over to St. Louis, MO to see the Arch. The Wisconsin Dells are only about a 4 hour drive.

Hope that gives you some ideas!!

 

[Mom B]

Why not try Duluth, Minnesota and the beautiful north shore of Lake Superior? On the largest freshwater lake in the world, known as the "air conditioned city," it's a popular destination for summer vacations. All you have to do to find it is to follow I-35 from Texas as far north as you can go and you're there (we did the drive from Duluth to San Antonio last May comfortably in about 3 days). If you have time, you could drive the entire shore of Lake Superior, searching for Lake Superior agates on the rocky beaches, or you could visit Thunder Bay, Ontario in Canada, check out the Boundary Waters Wilderness Canoe Area, follow the routes of the voyageurs, investigate the iron mines on Minnesota's Iron Range, even see the Hockey Hall of Fame...or the birthplace of Judy Garland...well, the possibilities are endless. Get away from that Texas heat for a while and kick back in God's great north woods...how could you beat it? We don't have WDW or even a Six Flags, but you can visit the Valleyfair theme park, etc., etc. in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, too.

(Now, I don't sound a bit biased, do I?)

 

[BostonDisneyKid]

I would recommend Cedar Point, located in Sandusky, Ohio. If you are into amusement parks, thrill rides and roller coasters this is THE amusement park to visit. They have the most incredible roller coasters on the planet! They have 3 of the top 10 rated coasters in the world and have a total of 16 coasters at the one location. My personal favorite coaster is the Millennium Force... 310 foot drop at 93 mph. They have 68 rides total, which is the most of any amusement park in the world. They also just opened "Soak City" (spring 2004) which is suppose to be among the best water parks in the country as well (I haven't been since this opened). They have 4 on-site resorts as well as a campground with price ranges to suit all guests. If this sounds of interests to you, I would recommend visiting their web page at www.cedarpoint.com for more details...

 

[dianeschlicht]

Originally posted by Mom B
Why not try Duluth, Minnesota and the beautiful north shore of Lake Superior? On the largest freshwater lake in the world, known as the "air conditioned city," it's a popular destination for summer vacations. All you have to do to find it is to follow I-35 from Texas as far north as you can go and you're there (we did the drive from Duluth to San Antonio last May comfortably in about 3 days). If you have time, you could drive the entire shore of Lake Superior, searching for Lake Superior agates on the rocky beaches, or you could visit Thunder Bay, Ontario in Canada, check out the Boundary Waters Wilderness Canoe Area, follow the routes of the voyageurs, investigate the iron mines on Minnesota's Iron Range, even see the Hockey Hall of Fame...or the birthplace of Judy Garland...well, the possibilities are endless. Get away from that Texas heat for a while and kick back in God's great north woods...how could you beat it? We don't have WDW or even a Six Flags, but you can visit the Valleyfair theme park, etc., etc. in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, too.

(Now, I don't sound a bit biased, do I?)

That's a GREAT idea on how to beat the summer heat! Don't forget a little mall we have in the twin cities too, called MOA (Mall of America) That is a destination in itself. BTW, Duluth and the North shore is our favorite close to home destination!

 

[jmminarik]

Philadelphia would be a really good place to visit. Clinton, Bush and Kerry all come here a lot and tie up traffic and make people's lives more difficult so it MUST be a good place to visit.

-Joe

 

[CarolMN]

Originally posted by jmminarik
Philadelphia would be a really good place to visit. Clinton, Bush and Kerry all come here a lot and tie up traffic and make people's lives more difficult so it MUST be a good place to visit.

-Joe

i know you are kidding, because I think Philadelphia is a great place to visit! Never liked American History until I happened to have a week's training in Downtown Philadelphia. Would love to go back (for vacation, not work, LOL) - Philadelphia is full of interesting and fun things for families to do.

FWIW, as far as I'm concerned, Bush, Kerry and everyone associated with them could just skip coming to Minnesota, too! I also hate the traffic jams. It sure ain't no fun living in a battleground state!

Best wishes -

 

[Merilyn]

How about Tennessee. You have the Smokey Mountains in east TN. You have lots of music in Nashville and Memphis has many things to do. It is a beautiful state. If you want to sightsee up north, I love Washington, DC. There is so much to see and do and most is free.

 

[jmminarik]

Originally posted by CarolMN
i know you are kidding, because I think Philadelphia is a great place to visit! Never liked American History until I happened to have a week's training in Downtown Philadelphia. Would love to go back (for vacation, not work, LOL) - Philadelphia is full of interesting and fun things for families to do.

Nah...too many good restaurants to eat in and too many fun things to do. Much better to move here so you have time to get it all done before you check into that DVC resort in the sky.

-Joe (No, I did not mean DVC Mars Station!)

 

[crisi]

Duluth and the North Shore is surprisingly pretty. If you fly into MSP, its about a two hour drive to Duluth. There are a number of lakeside "condos" that can be rented. Rock climbing. Fishing. Pretty waterfalls. Glensheen to tour. And pretty cheap! The Twin Cities is a really interesting place - you won't lack for things to do here - we have a great children's museum, two great art museums, a world class theatre, most major sports leagues....

My favorite US city to visit is San Franscisco. Its the only place in the US I've been where I feel its completely different from the rest of the US. With kids there is Muir Woods, Alcatraz, the Exploratorium. It isn't a great city for a four year old, but the older two will love it! (Get tickets to Alcatraz in advance). Downsides - SF isn't cheap.

Mammoth Cave is another fun one (if your four year old is a walker). Like Alcatraz, get your tickets in advance for cave tours. In that neighborhood is Nashville and Lexington/Louisville.

If your kids can handle museums, all American's (whoever they are going to vote or not bother to vote for) should get a chance to visit Washington, DC.

 

[BeckyV]

I have a week in Hilton Head, SC that I am not going to be able to use this summer. Family wants to go to the mountains instead. Can let you have it for a good rate. Email me for more info.

Becky