How often do you vacation at Disney... AND...

[triplefigs]

where do you vacation in between? We're going to Disney in December this year. Our plan is to go to WDW every other year with a cheaper trip in between. So, now we're looking at other options for June/July 2006. We live in the South and are considering a beach vacation. Anybody have suggestions on FANTASTIC family friendly resorts/hotels? Looking for something on the beach and with a great kids pool.

Thanks!

 

[java]

Our favorite off year trips have been to Kiawah Island in SC. My kids love it there. While it is not a spectacular pool all the other stuff going on makes up for that. The beach is beautiful. They offer kids activities all day long.. or if you are saps like us and want to be with your kids on vacation they have GREAT family activities everyday. Check it out. Every nite there is an Arts and Crafts activity(like tie dye Kiawah shirts) There is a great nature center. This resort is only 30 minutes from Charleston when you want to hit an aquarium on a rainy day or have some great food. All places we went were family friendly..even the stuffy golf club at the Inn.
We have also stayed up north on the Cape in MA. At the Chatham Bars Inn great beach front hotel.
We have hit quite a few resorts up and down the coast but Kiawah is our family favorite. Next off trip we are going to try Hilton Head again.
We usually go Disney 2 years off 1 year back to disney ...but now that we have 4 children it may be more off years than I would like.

 

[triplefigs]

Our favorite off year trips have been to Kiawah Island in SC. My kids love it there. While it is not a spectacular pool all the other stuff going on makes up for that. The beach is beautiful. They offer kids activities all day long.. or if you are saps like us and want to be with your kids on vacation they have GREAT family activities everyday. Check it out. Every nite there is an Arts and Crafts activity(like tie dye Kiawah shirts) There is a great nature center. This resort is only 30 minutes from Charleston when you want to hit an aquarium on a rainy day or have some great food. All places we went were family friendly..even the stuffy golf club at the Inn.
We have also stayed up north on the Cape in MA. At the Chatham Bars Inn great beach front hotel.
We have hit quite a few resorts up and down the coast but Kiawah is our family favorite. Next off trip we are going to try Hilton Head again.
We usually go Disney 2 years off 1 year back to disney ...but now that we have 4 children it may be more off years than I would like.

We did HHI last summer, and we loved it. We are like you and enjoy spending the time with the kids and doing family stuff. (I don't think we'd put them in a children's program or such by themselves). We are considering just going back there, but I'd rather try something new! thanks for the tip about Kiawah. Where did you stay?

 

[HopperFan]

My sis and family with 7/7/8 year olds love Kiawah and are heading back this year. They previously owned a condo in HH and also love the Seagrove FL area which is beautiful.

 

[tbelfonti]

We usually get to Disney every 18 months or so. This past time it was 2 years but we had some health issues to deal with regarding our youngest.

we usually make a road trip to Sesame Place in PA every summer for a long weekend. Otherwise, we don't take a vacation.

 

[jacksmom]

We do a beach trip every summer with Disney trips at Easter and fall break. We love both HHI and the Outer Banks! But, Myrtle Beach is close and fun every now and then!

 

[Cyndirella]

That's exactly what we're trying to do...one year, a Disney trip and a couple of long weekends nearby and then the next year vacation elsewhere. For the past couple of 'elsewhere' vacations we did a week at the Myrtle Beach. Sorry I can't help with a resort, we have rented a house there and also camped in our travel trailer so it has been quite a while since we were in a hotel there. But if you don't mind the camping atmosphere, most of the campgrounds have rentals available and have a great family atmosphere and kids' programs.

Kiawah and Charleston are also very nice, we've done a couple of long weekends there.

 

[pinkdiamonds1007]

We went when we were first married..and this is now our first family trip..so i am thinking we are gonig to go now..in Dec, and then will go again in 2007. So, every 2 years. We like cruises. I think you get your moneys worth. We usually go Royal Carribean we like the Southern Carribean. We do alot of trips to Boston, and NYC. We also have a trip planned for Yellowstone this coming fall. My daughter enjoyed going to Seaseme Place, in PA. We are hoping next year for our "inbtwn trip" we will hed off to Arizona, see the Grand Canyon. We take lots of smaller trips in the summer time to please the little one,(camping in the adorandaks, smaller amusement parks, we enjoy the Toronto Zoo, we live in Niagara Falls, so the Canadian side is always a nice treat, she really enjoys seeing the waterfall.) and our big family trip, although every other year may be quite boring to her...* aside from the beaches* gives DH and I a chance to see some of the places we have always wanted to see.

 

[indigoxtreme]

We love to go to Myrtle Beach as well. The Dayton House is a great place. The have several pools and the main one is a no entry pool, like the beach, they have a lazy river, hot tubs, tables chairs etc. Here is the link
http://www.daytonhouse.com/

Also there is Family Kingdom Amusement park
http://www.family-kingdom.com/

Lots of good Sea Food.

Brook Green Gardens is great for adults and kids. We enjoy the mother natures cafe tour with our 3 year old grand daughter. There were children there from her age up to 14 and the adults had a great time too. Here is the main web site http://brookgreen.org/index2.html The tickets are good for a full 7 days. A bargain at 12.00 for adults, children 12 and under are free.
Daily Programs and Tours

Mother Nature's Cafe - 11a.m. Observe the animals in the Native Animal Habitats with an interpreter as the animals are fed a snack,and witness the mystery of their natural behaviors in this informative 50 minute tour. Meet at the Plantation Barn along the Lowcountry Trail.

New Bird Feeder Walk 11 a.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday only. Bird feeders are used to entice various species within viewing distance. The program on identification, adaptations, abundance, migrations, and involves a moderate mile walk.

New Back to our Roots - 12 p.m. Tour the Lowcountry Center with an interpreter who provides an in depth description of the exhibit, cultural garden, trunk model, Ben the Trunkminder, and the rice field overlook.

New Wings & Whitetails – 1 p.m. Join a trained interpreter and learn about the unique habits of eagles, owls, hawks, wild turkeys, and white-tailed deer. Meet at the Plantation Barn

Meet the Animals - 3 pm. Explore the world of animals native to the southeast as an interpreter introduces you to live animals in an interactive setting in this 45-minute program at the Lowcountry Center Program Shed.

 

[Debs1963]

where do you vacation in between? We're going to Disney in December this year. Our plan is to go to WDW every other year with a cheaper trip in between. So, now we're looking at other options for June/July 2006. We live in the South and are considering a beach vacation. Anybody have suggestions on FANTASTIC family friendly resorts/hotels? Looking for something on the beach and with a great kids pool.

Thanks!

The Dayton House in Myrtle Beach, SC. Oceanfront family resort-very clean. Sometimes have good internet specials. We stayed there last summer.

 

[triplefigs]

We love to go to Myrtle Beach as well. The Dayton House is a great place. The have several pools and the main one is a no entry pool, like the beach, they have a lazy river, hot tubs, tables chairs etc. Here is the link
http://www.daytonhouse.com/

Also there is Family Kingdom Amusement park
http://www.family-kingdom.com/

Lots of good Sea Food.

Brook Green Gardens is great for adults and kids. We enjoy the mother natures cafe tour with our 3 year old grand daughter. There were children there from her age up to 14 and the adults had a great time too. Here is the main web site http://brookgreen.org/index2.html The tickets are good for a full 7 days. A bargain at 12.00 for adults, children 12 and under are free.
Daily Programs and Tours

Mother Nature's Cafe - 11a.m. Observe the animals in the Native Animal Habitats with an interpreter as the animals are fed a snack,and witness the mystery of their natural behaviors in this informative 50 minute tour. Meet at the Plantation Barn along the Lowcountry Trail.

New Bird Feeder Walk 11 a.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday only. Bird feeders are used to entice various species within viewing distance. The program on identification, adaptations, abundance, migrations, and involves a moderate mile walk.

New Back to our Roots - 12 p.m. Tour the Lowcountry Center with an interpreter who provides an in depth description of the exhibit, cultural garden, trunk model, Ben the Trunkminder, and the rice field overlook.

New Wings & Whitetails – 1 p.m. Join a trained interpreter and learn about the unique habits of eagles, owls, hawks, wild turkeys, and white-tailed deer. Meet at the Plantation Barn

Meet the Animals - 3 pm. Explore the world of animals native to the southeast as an interpreter introduces you to live animals in an interactive setting in this 45-minute program at the Lowcountry Center Program Shed.

Thank you! That is exactly the kind of resort I was hoping to find! Great beach, close to us, great pools, lots of family activities!!! I bet my kids would love to go to Charleston for a day to see the old antebellum homes. They love to look at houses. Thanks for all the info!!!

 

[mrsgus06]

They also have a few water parks here in Charleston. One is in North Charleston, Wannamaker Park, one is in Mt. Pleasant County Park and the other is in James Island County Park. I know the last one has cabins you can rent by the night. James Island also has a campground in case you camp. The cabins are about $732.00 for a week. I have never been in one (we have our camper) but the outsides are nice. Google a search for James Island County Park for more info. I live about 10 minutes from that one and the kids love to camp there. The aquarium is nice, but you can also go to the Folley Beach Pier and fish from that. I love living in Charleston and I guess you could call my house "antebellum", I have the four large columns on a huge front porch. Isn't it funny that you don't think of things until other people point them out? Most people just call it Tara, from Gone with the Wind. I hope you do decide to come to Charleston, I love my town!

 

[triplefigs]

Thanks to everyone for the great suggestions. SC must be the new place to go to the beach! We love HHI, but I do think we'll try Myrtle Beach this next time. Any other suggestions on condos to rent at Myrtle Beach? The one mentioned only lists 1 bathroom in the 2BD villas. I'm looking for a 2 BD/2 BA with lots of amenities, full kitchen, washer/dryer. Is North Myrtle Beach the best area for families?

Thanks!

 

[cwnhokie]

Myrtle Beach is our new family friendly destination of choice. We grew up going to Ocean City MD. We went to Myrtle Beach last year for the first time since we had kids and loved it. My family is calling me the crazy travel planner because of all the stuff I planned for us to do. We are staying at the same place again this year. Crescent Shores in North Myrtle Beach, it is 2 years old. It doesn't have kids activites, but very clean. It has a pool and lazy river. We stay there because it is one of the few condos that will sleep 12. This year I am going to go check out Sea Mist while we are there. It looks like lots of stuff for the kids to do, but it has mixed reviews. I think they are in the process of remodeling.

Heres a list of all the activities we did last year, we had kids 2, 3, 7, 8, 12, and 12
Ripleys Aquarium, Miniature golf, Alligator Adventure, Parasailing, water park, Dixie Stampede, Alabama Theater, Family Photograph on the beach, golf, and playing on the beach of course. Good luck!

 

[pinkdiamonds1007]

All great ideas, i love hearing what other people do on vacation..gives me ideas! DH will love that..lol

 

[monorailsilver]

Now that we have kids it is turning into an every 3 year trip to Disney. Prior to that it was when I had the urge to go.

The previous 2 summers we went to Sesame Place because one year I was preggo & the other year my ds was too little for me to want to deal with a real trip.

Next year & the year after we will probably do beach vacations somewhere & next year Sesame will be included in that week or two.

 

[sandibeck]

Do not rent a condo from Condolux in MB - we had disasterous results last year through them!!
Check out this website:
www.coastaledgeproperties.com
They have condos in Myrtle Beach (north side) and in Crescent Beach (N Myrtle area). If you e-mail Kim, tell her that Sandi told you about it (No, I get no kickbacks. These are friends of ours that just moved down to Myrtle and are getting their real estate business up & going.). They handle rentals, sales & investment properties.
There is a TON to do in Myrtle. If you want to really relax on vacation, I'd suggest the Outer Banks - that's where we go to 'chill'.
Have fun no matter where you go!

 

[girlsma]

We have been to Disney 3 times in the last 4 years... So, my husband has put us on a 5 year moratorium!! He will, however, lift it for a Disney cruise. But after I showed him the prices - he got scared! ha ha

But, as for other vacations.. Last summer we went with another family to the Outer Banks. We LOVED it.. It was so nice to relax and sit on the beach and let the kids frolic in the sand and water. We stayed on the sound side and found the kdis enjoyed the calmer waters more than the rough waters of the oceanside. (note: I am sure the hurricane that came through while we were there did not help the ocean waters.. but the sound side was calm yet a little murkey (SP?)) Other than going to the beach you can play put-put golf, go for ice cream, fly a kite at Jockey Ridge State Park and also play on the sand dunes, go on a dolphin watch tour, etc... We can't wait to go back!

This year we are borrowing my in-laws motorhome and camping close to home. We need to bring back the basics for a couple years... But I am always planning and wishing in my head!

 

[CindyBella]

When we are not going to Disney World we are at............Disneyland Why go anywhere else??

Really, we have gone a few more places but we never for a long time. We have gone on tips to Miami and Chicago. Even the Grand Canyon. We visit family in San Antonio and Houston but, we have found that there is really no place we would rather be (as a family) than Disney.

We are celebrating our 10th disney trip in 6 years next week!

 

[Cyndirella]

If you are looking for a condo rental at Myrtle Beach, try www.elliottrealty.com . We prefer North Myrtle Beach, the Cherry Grove section is particularly nice. It's quiet and family oriented.

Another suggestion - Wrightsville Beach in North Carolina, just off the coast of Wilmington, is very nice, just not a lot to do there.