Ideas for a Non-Disney vacation with a 6 yr. old

[GSDRescuer]

For next year, we thought we might try something different than WDW with our to be 6 year old DGD.

I was thinking maybe:
Silver Dollar City (Branson, MO)
Dollywood (TN)
Holiday World?? Indiana
Kings Island
Cedar Point

Any more ideas or critiques of these places????

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

Depending on how tall and how much of a daredevil your granchild is, I might second guess Kings Island and Cedar Point.

I've taken my daughter to both these places prior to being 48 inches and there wasn't much she could go on. At both places, she spent most of the day watching her big brother ride.

We did research and knew this ahead of time, but we did a quick trip to both parks (on different occasions) since we were very close and were looking for things to do.

There were rides for her but both parks, especially CEDAR Point are geared toward their thrill rides.

Never been to the other places you listed, so can't comment.

 

[Magic Mom]

Holiday World is a lot of fun plus you get free drinks and sunscreen all day. But I can't see spending more than two days there and there is nothing much nearby to do except maybe Squire Boone Caverns (a great place but small and will only take about 5 hours to see at the most.)

 

[maslex]

Hershey Park

Dutch Wonderland (PA) This is an amusement park geared towards 10yrs old and under. We brought our boys there back in 2003? maybe, so they would have been 6 & 7. They had an absolute BLAST!!! We went during the summer and hardly had any wait in line. Longest wait was under 5 minutes. They literally got off the ride and jumped right back on several times in a row on many of the rides.

Sesame Place--water park geared for the younger crowd also.

 

[Familyof4lovesDW]

It would depend on how tall the 6 year old is. If they are under 48 inches they will be limited at KI (Kings Island) and if they want to ride the older rides could be dissapointed. I do have a season pass and have two children under 48 inches and find things to do, but if I did not live close I would wait until they were taller. The bonus is it is an amusement park and water park in one. Also remember if you are over 48 inches you are a KI adult.

KI and Cedar Point are owned by the same company, so if you are thinking about doing both, there is a pass you can get that gets you into several of their parks. If just going to the Cincinnati area you can also go to the Newport Aquarium and Cincinnati Zoo.

I would reccommend looking at the rider guide for all of the places and decide out of avalibility of what the 6yr old can do.

I went to Hershey park when I was in elementary school and it was fun. I know I was over 48 inches because I did all of my growing before I was 12. I thought it was cool the "characters" were candy bars! HTH

 

[golfgal]

I would take him to St. Louis and go to the City Museum, the Arch, the Zoo, Grant's Farm and the Magic House

 

[RF536]

The only one of these I have been to is Cedar Point, I can tell you there is a lot that a 6 year old can do there even if they are not over 48 inches yet. They have 3 kiddy areas plus several rides throughout the park that kids can ride on when accompanied by adults. They have both kiddy bumper cars and adult bumper cars kids can ride in both but must be with an adult if under 48 inches on the adult cars. There are also several carnival style rides that the kids can ride. If your 6 year old is 46 inches then she can ride iron dragon, which is a suspended coaster where the car hangs from the track, and disaster transport, think lame space mountain. We have been taking our sons there every year since they were little and have always found plenty to do to fill a day.

 

[FoundMyPrince]

I would take him to St. Louis and go to the City Museum, the Arch, the Zoo, Grant's Farm and the Magic House

I agree! There is so much to do in St. Louis and - and much of it's free!

 

[Buckalew11]

Dollywood is quite fun for a 6yo. When DD was 6 we went there a lot. Plus there is a lot to do in the area in general--Dixie Stampede and other attractions like Ripley's Aquarium are very nice.

Plus you have the Smokey Mtns., Cades Cove--picnics and horseback riding and counting the deer. Townsend has Tuckaleechee Caverns too.

Have picking a place and planning. Hope you all have a wonderful trip and make lots of memories!!

 

[griffinstorme]

There are still silver dollar cities. Thats what used to be there before dollywood.

 

[GSDRescuer]

Thanks for the imput. Any more ideas??

 

[hoosll]

Consider Williamsburg VA and Busch Gradens (voted most beautiful theme park in America.

We started taking our kids there when they were around 6. It is a wonderful park and Colonial Williamsburg is also good for young ones ...

 

[minniebeth]

The only theme park that we have not been to with our family that is on your list is Silver Dollar City. We've been to all the others. As much as I love Cedar Point and there are rides there for younger kids it would probably be at the bottom of the list, as the park is really geared toward thrill rides.

Kings Island, yes, there are rides, shows and attractions geared for 6yos. and a water park too. There is a Great Wolf Lodge nearby as well as many fun family activities in Cincinnati closeby. It is your typical amusement park.

I've never been to Holiday World, but I have friends that frequent it often and LOVE it! Great for families, very family oriented, clean and enough for different ages. Not your typical hangout for groups of teenagers, etc.
Can't say much more about it or the area.

My vote is with Buckalew 11 for Dollywood and the surrounding area. (Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg) We just visited this past spring break and LOVED it! Dollywood is a great theme park, not your typical amusement park. In addition to the rides are great shows, and attractions that showcase the area's culture. There is a water park as well. There is so much like Buckalew 11 said in the area to do that is family oriented as well.

That's just my opinion, you will get lots! Have fun with whatever you decide, they are all pretty good no matter what you go with!

ETA: Instead of Disney, have you considered Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure? The hotels and parks are AWESOME and we had just a great time there as Disney. Lots to do between the two parks and CityWalk and the hotels for a 6yo and for yourselves!

 

[tiggerlover]

Virginia Beach

The beach and boardwalk area has lots to do, especially from Memorial Day through Labor Day, lots of shows, street musicians, magic, jugglers etc. There is some great mini golf and lots of stores.

Nearby is Ocean Breeze water park and the aquarium. Within an hour drive is a great children's museum in Portsmouth, the Air and Space Museum in Hampton and of course Busch Gardens and Water Country USA in Williamsburg. (Not to mention Wiliamsburg and Jamestown settlement.

 

[Louiepipbgeeco]

Kalahari in Sandusky Ohio is great if you like water parks
Niagara Falls is farther but it is sooo beautiful and a 6yr. old would be in awe. There is Marineland nearby or a few different water park hotels.

 

[MomRN]

I love Holiday World, but I agree with the poster that said it's a 2 day park. Well, 2-3 day park. They have a campground by there I have heard good things about but I've never stayed there.

 

[GSDRescuer]

ETA: Instead of Disney, have you considered Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure? The hotels and parks are AWESOME and we had just a great time there as Disney. Lots to do between the two parks and CityWalk and the hotels for a 6yo and for yourselves!

Yes! However, we are waiting for her to be able to enjoy Harry Potter before we get there, so it will be in a few more years. I love US/IOA!!

Dollywood sounds like fun!!!

 

[MarkBarbieri]

I would consider some non-amusement park trips as well. Here are a few fun trips we've taken with our kids during similar ages:

Monterey/Pacific Grove/Carmel California - Beaches to play on, tide pools to explore, the Monterey Aquarium, a helicopter ride along the coast, light houses, missions, hikes in Big Sur, a train ride through the redwoods. We go over spring break. Our 2010 trip. Our 2008 trip. Our 2006 trip.

Colorado & Wyoming - Yellowstone (geysers, wildlife, waterfalls, hikes), Grand Tetons (stunning views, fun hikes), Rocky Mountain National Park (hikes, wildlife, mountain drives), Durango (gliding, steam train to Silverton, gold mines), Great Sand Dunes (fun in the sand). Our 2009 trip. Our 2008 trip.

An All-Inclusive Beach Resort - We went to a place on the Mayan Riviera. Playing in the sand. Playing in the water, Ancient ruins. Swimming with dolphins. Our 2007 trip.

Western Canada - Gorgeous mountains, beautiful gardens, rocky shorelines, wildlife. Our 2007 trip.

A canoe or raft trip - We spent a few nights on the Buffalo river in Arkansas. The kids played in the rapids, cooked on the campfire, and explored nature. Our 2007 trip. We also spent a couple of days canoeing around a local swamp (Caddo Lake) and camping on an island. Our 2006 trip.

Kids are adaptable and can find fun in almost anyplace where they have some freedom to explore. Having variety in their vacations helps them experience the world in different ways. We love amusement parks, but there are a lot of other great options for vacations as well.

 

[PatsGirl]

We just booked Minneapolis/St. Paul for the first week of September ~ Minnesota State Fair, Mall of America with a Universal-themed amusement park and aquarium, and the Minneapolis Zoo. Maybe this is something he would like? I haven't completed all the research but so far that's what we've found that sounds like fun. DD has been begging to go to the MOA and decided to forego WDW/free dining in August for this trip

 

[GSDRescuer]

Great tips, please keep them coming!!