Great family vacations for summer?

[Disney Mommy 3]

I hope I am not repeating a thread here-sorry if I am, but here goes! We go to Disney in the off months-just took a Jan/Feb. trip that was AWESOME!! Great time to go. We do not go after May and then again until Oct. or later.So, here's my question, what are some other trips that you have taken as families that you would recommend? We are from southeast Texas and it's hot and humid-just like Florida!! So preferrably lead me some where cooler!! Also, we had thought about some where really rich in history like Philly or Washington D.C., but have gotten negatives about weather and lots of crowds. Older son wants to go to NYC, but I don't know if the younger kids would enjoy that at all. I focus so much on our WDW trips I have pretty much blocked out the rest of the USA!! Okay moms(&dads) get that info. rolling- I need to start my planning!! TIA & God Bless Ya'll!!

 

[WDWorBUST]

We are planning on going to South Dakota and then on to Yellowstone next summer. I think it will be crowded...but I don't want to go "off" season there and really risk the nasty weather.

 

[vellamint]

Williamsburg Virginia was fantastic....a combination of history AND Busch Gardens/Water Country.....

 

[DisneyMomx7]

We love Hilton Head in SC. Also Washington D.C. is a really great trip.

 

[minkydog]

Well, last summer we went to Texas for a week San Antonio, to be specific. We camped at the KOA and took the bus downtown. My kids were 12 & 14 and they thought riding the city bus was the cat's pajamas. Once you're downtown you can catch the IMAX movie about the Alamo, then visit the National Historic Site. Walk back to the mall and take the boat trip (gotta act like a tourist )

We also took a day to visit Six Flags Fiesta Texas, which IMO was one of the best amusement parks I've ever been to. It was clean, everyone was welcoming and it was easily accessed by my youngest son. Take your bathing suit so you can spend the hot part of the day in their water park.

My only regret about visiting Texas is that we didn't have more time. I knew it was a big state, but I had not idea it was SUCH a big state. The hill country is absolutely beautiful. If we had more time I would have liked to explore a little more, maybe go up to New Braunfels or down to Big Bend SP.

But I'd have to say, the thing we remember the most is that South Texans love jalapenos. We had lunch in Ft. Stockton at the KFC. You know you can always count on KFC to have the same basic menu nationwide, but in Texas they put jalapenos in the pinto beans, the collard greens and the mashed potatoes. And it was GOOD!

 

[Rylee]

Besides Disney, my family likes...

NYC
Boston
Toronto, Canada
Washington D.C.
Niagara Falls, both American and Canadian
San Diego

Hershey Park

Beach vacations... Camping on the coast of Maine, Cape Cod, Myrtle Beach, SC, Cape May, NJ... really, any beach vacation.

We love the mountains, too. (Vague, I know, but it covers too many areas.)

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

Thanks and keep 'em coming!!

 

[myprincessgirlisa]

mall of america just added a "nickelodeon" themed, theme park inside the mall

kings island ohio

or my hometown...chicago we have tons...we even have a six flags theme park

 

[SharpMomOfTwo]

We always take a day trip into the city (NYC). Last year and this Baltimore is our new destination. Great place to visit!

 

[goofygal531]

Besides WDW, we try to go on one cruise a year, out of NYC to save on airfare which we usually do in the fall.

This summer we're going to Punta Cana for a week at an all-inclusive resort called "Dreams". Kids stay free, just pay their airfare. We got an amazing rate and we're so excited to try out a completely all inclusive do nothing but relax vacation.

 

[Suzanna1973]

Mason, OH..near Cincinnati

Nickelodeon Characters...awesome place. You can spend an entire day in the kiddy land and the adults can ride most things too in kiddy land. pki.com

very reasonable rates

 

[cjstarr]

The Blue Ridge Parkway and all the beauty along it Hwy.
There are just so many things to stop and see as you travel along.
You never know what is around the next curve.

 

[EltonJohn]

I'll admit that I am biased, but I do suggest visiting Yellowstone or any other national park that Xanterra Parks and Resorts has a presence in

 

[GrammyJudy]

NYC is hot and smelly in the summer. Pennsylvania Dutch country is a great family vacation. You can visit the Amish and see how they live. There are great restaurants and Hershey and the amusement park are near by. Our favorite of course is the coast of Maine! We got every summer and do WDW ever other Jan to get away from the snow and ice.

 

[collcass]

NYC/Mystic/Boston & Cape

Wisconsin Dells

North/South Dakota

Lancaster/Hershey PA

San Francisco

 

[mom3girls2007]

Estes Park, CO and Rocky Mountain National Park! This is still one of my kids all-time favorite summer vacations. Check out the YMCA of the Rockies to stay -- just like summer camp for families with the rockies surrounding you. Lots of hiking, wildlife and not hot in the summer!

 

[HerdOHuds]

I was just about to post YMCA of the Rockies! I spent a summer working there in the activities department and we traveled there with the kiddos last summer for our first family vacation. It is so family friendly with tons of stuff for all ages to do! There is a playground, swimming pool, mini-golf, basketball and tennis courts, trails for hiking, cute shops in town with a 'river walk' running through the middle. The Stanley Hotel in Estes Park is picturesque and if you are a Ghost Hunters fan, then you know that it is haunted too!

The lodges are reasonably priced, though not luxurious by any means. But very roomy. The food was perfect for us, because we could go to the main dining hall, there were tables that could accomodate our party of 10 and the food was healthy and tasty and included in the price of the room.

It was a long 2-day drive for us to get there, but for our first cross-country trip with 2 year old quadruplets, it went amazingly well. And swimming pools wear the dickens out of kids!

 

[SharpMomOfTwo]

NYC is hot and smelly in the summer. Pennsylvania Dutch country is a great family vacation. You can visit the Amish and see how they live. There are great restaurants and Hershey and the amusement park are near by. Our favorite of course is the coast of Maine! We got every summer and do WDW ever other Jan to get away from the snow and ice.

I thought Hershey was closed now?

 

[tlmy234]

We always do a week at the beach in the summer. This year is Ocean City, MD.

 

[_queenie_]

We're in the opposite situation, we're in NH and want to go where it's warm! We usually don't make it too far in the summer months because my DH gets tied up with work, so Boston (Fenway) and midcoast ME are as far as we usually make it, though this year we'll try attempt to get to Florida and Las Vegas (or Dallas) in early June if at all possible (I think they'll both be too hot though, neither sound too promising at the moment).



By the way, we live in a pretty big "Summer destination region" ourselves, seacoast NH. If anyone's interested, here's some detailed infromation from the point of view of a life-long local. It is a beautiful area, but you have to hit the right places. Portsmouth, the "main attraction" is a great seaside city to visit for the day, Newberryport MA (about 30 minutes away) is very similar and quite clean, both have nice dining.

The best beaches are in ME, avoid Hampton Beach (DIRTY beach town) and Seabrook NH (Nuclear Power Plant) at all costs, the Kennebunk area, which is only about 25 minutes away from Portsmouth, has some gorgeous beaches if you're looking to go somewhere secluded. For a nostalgic little beach town I'd reccomend going to York Beach ME (much cleaner than Hampton NH), it's very close to Portsmouth. The best beach in NH is in Newcastle, just south of Portsmouth. The area off the beach houses the Seacoast Science Museum, it's somewhat new and they have lots for kids to do. The beach itself is also the best place for tide pools, there's lots of horseshoe carbs and sandollars to be found. You can also take ferries from Portsmouth, to the Isles of Shoals, a small group of islands off the coast.

As far as where to stay goes, I'd suggest the Hilton Garden Inn in Portsmouth, which is brand new in the city center, or the Marriott Wentworth by the Sea, in Newcastle, which is a harbor-front big renovated victorian hotel (like the Breakers on a smaller scale). There's lots of small places in Southern ME, the White Barn in is the most luxurious.

I'd avoid all of the theme parks, Canobie Lake isn't safe (and I'll admit it, has a pervert problem ) and York's Wild Kingdom is the most disgusting and unkeeped zoo I've ever been to. If you're looking for thrills, go to Six Flags in MA. There are quite a few historical museums that are great if you're interested. The shopping is okay, MUCH better in Boston, but there are two malls on the smaller side, one more near ME and one more near MA, and Tanger outlets in Kittery ME, right near Portsmouth.

I hope I haven't scared any of you away, it really is a nice area worth visiting. There's a lot of history here, many houses (some you can tour) are from the 1600's. It's a great place to fish, overall there's lots of sea life. If you're in the Boston area, I would definately urge you to come for a few days or even just an afternoon.