Mini family spring break getaway?

[minnie1012]

My daughter has off 2 weeks for spring break (elementary school). Its the first year this has ever happened but I feel like we should take advantage and do something just for a few days. I would love to do a big trip, cruise, island etc but we just don't have the money. Anyone have a nice short, inexpensive getaway idea? Kids will be 6 1/2 and 19 months at the time. We live in NJ.

 

[mbfqueen]

Ummm .. Disney? lol .. if you can't do a long time .. how bout a couple days?

I used to take mini trips with the kids all the time .. not to Disney, but to the next major city and do what they liked .. it was fun ..

We don't have a Chuck E. Cheese where we live, closest is 2 hrs away, we did a weekend trip to that town, stayed in a hotel .. it was big for the kids .. and it was a 'get away' enuff for me ..

 

[golfgal]

Have you checked cruise prices lately? Chances are you can get a cruise for less then a "mini-vacation" somewhere, especially with the ages of your kids. There are cruise lines that sail out of New York so you wouldn't even have to drive but even if you drove down to Florida to catch a cruise you have 2 weeks so you could easily do that. There are a lot of cruises that are free for kids-you could probably get a cruise for $600 or so.

 

[quentina]

My daughter has off 2 weeks for spring break (elementary school). Its the first year this has ever happened but I feel like we should take advantage and do something just for a few days. I would love to do a big trip, cruise, island etc but we just don't have the money. Anyone have a nice short, inexpensive getaway idea? Kids will be 6 1/2 and 19 months at the time. We live in NJ.

We go to Williamsburg quite a bit. It is a little over 5 hours from Allentown.

 

[deva]

I took my two oldest kids to Baltimore this summer and we had a blast. Got a great deal on a room at the Waterfront Marriott at Priceline. Did the Port Discovery Children's Museum, Science Center, Pearl Harbor Ship Tour, Ride the Ducks and Aquarium. We had reciprocity at Science Center. You can also get discounted tickets by buying ahead online.

We can't wait to go back!

 

[luvmyfam444]

we love to take mini vacations - even when we got to WDW its only for a few days. We usually just go to another city around 3 hours away. We go to their museums, zoo, aquarium whatever they offer that's affordable to do. We rarely go more than about 3 hours 'cause we dont' wanna spend all day in the car. You could go camping in a state park - they are extrememlt cheap campsites & you can swim in the lake or pool whatever they have & usally have bike rentals or paddleboats - though this may not be vacation for you 'cause its a lot of work to camp but your kiddos will love it.

 

[Halloweenqueen]

DC! So much to do and see! Most of it is free. Just stay outside the city and take the Metro to all the sites.

 

[minnie1012]

Would love to Disney or cruise but I was thinking smaller no flying, short drive, only a few days. If only the weather was nicer that time of year by us I think we would have more options. Probably shouldn't be planning when I don't have a job but I'm hoping to have one by then! Just my luck though I probably won't be able to get off! I will look into some of those, thanks!

 

[lovesmurfs]

Day trips. There's some great stuff in/around NJ (grew up there, now in IL)

Northlandz - Model Train Museum (http://www.northlandz.com/)
Adventure Aquarium (http://www.adventureaquarium.com/)
Franklin Institute (http://www2.fi.edu/)


You could even take the train into NY and walk down 5th Avenue -- FAO Schwartz would be fun for them.

I'll think of some others -- Do some Googling for some other day trips.

Is there a hotel with an indoor water park within driving distance? When DH was deployed, I drove the kids 2 hours to Great Wolf Lodge for a March getaway.

 

[minnie1012]

Day trips. There's some great stuff in/around NJ (grew up there, now in IL)

Northlandz - Model Train Museum (http://www.northlandz.com/)
Adventure Aquarium (http://www.adventureaquarium.com/)
Franklin Institute (http://www2.fi.edu/)


You could even take the train into NY and walk down 5th Avenue -- FAO Schwartz would be fun for them.

I'll think of some others -- Do some Googling for some other day trips.

Is there a hotel with an indoor water park within driving distance? When DH was deployed, I drove the kids 2 hours to Great Wolf Lodge for a March getaway.

Thanks. I thought about maybe Great Wolf Lodge but if we can't say over somewhere those day trips would be great.


Anyone ever been to Rocking Horse Ranch in NY? Someone told me about it but I have never heard of it and it said something about all rooms being carpeted which made me a bit sceptical?

 

[happygirl]

I see you are in NJ, Could you go to NY for a few days and go see a couple of Broadway shows

 

[BuzznBelle'smom]

We go to Rockinghorse Ranch every summer--13 years, now. My kids absolutely love it, we meet up with their cousins and they all have a blast.

I've never been in spring, so I can't help you there, but it's very nice and clean and there are plenty of activities. You can do as much or as little as you like. They just upgraded their indoor pool--it was being constructed when we were there last, but it's got water slides and stuff now. They also have a "fun Barn" with a bounce house, climbing structure, indoor climbing area, etc. Then outside, there's shuffleboard, tennis, and so on.

Keep in mind, they include three meals a day. It's pretty informal, but we like it, and the kids are super comfortable. Mine go to the camps all day (not required, but a nice break), and they have a pleasant nursery for little kids (under 4). The nursery costs extra, but you're only charged for the time they're there. And it has a cool tiny "roller coaster".

If you have specific questions, feel free to ask. I have taken infants through teens, various years.

 

[njprincess601]

If you're willing to drive 6 hours or so, I would say go to Busch Gardens Williamsburg. It has great roller coasters but enough rides for everyone else in the family as well. We would always take a 4 day trip there over my spring break. There are pretty cheap, and nice expensive hotels around too. Same with Cedar Point in Ohio although that's a little further away.

Another place would be Hershey Park. We have gone for Easter a few years and they do a really nice job. It's only about 2 and half hours from NJ. The water park won't be open, but there is more than enough to do. There's the whole main theme park, Chocolate World which is a little ride to show you how chocolate's made, and you get a free candy bar!, botanical gardens, i think there's a horserace track, a stadium so there may be a concert going on, and various sporting events near the theme park. There hotel's work kind of like Disney where there are 3 that are owned by Hershey, but there are others near by that are not. We have always stayed at the Hershey Lodge, and I highly recommend it!

Have fun!

 

[lovesmurfs]

For kids in your age group, Sesame Place (http://www.sesameplace.com/sesame2/) would be loads of fun for them!

 

[minniebeth]

If you want more of a resort type vacation, Nemacolin is located in PA and wouldn't be that far of a ride.

I agree with Hershey,Washington DC, Williamsburg and any Great Wolf Lodge get aways. So much to do and have fun with!

 

[mjkacmom]

DC! So much to do and see! Most of it is free. Just stay outside the city and take the Metro to all the sites.

This is what I was going to say - almost everything is free! I always mean to do staycations (we're 20 minutes outside NYC, 1 1/2 from Philly), but never seem to do it.

 

[mjkacmom]

For kids in your age group, Sesame Place (http://www.sesameplace.com/sesame2/) would be loads of fun for them!

Isn't that mostly a waterpark? I don't think that would work in the spring. Rocking Horse Ranch is fun, but dated, and certainly not inexpensive. Hersey Park is great, and there are tons of affordable lodging outside the park.

 

[njprincess601]

This is what I was going to say - almost everything is free! I always mean to do staycations (we're 20 minutes outside NYC, 1 1/2 from Philly), but never seem to do it.

you must live near me! im 20 min from nyc too!!

 

[minnie1012]

If you're willing to drive 6 hours or so, I would say go to Busch Gardens Williamsburg. It has great roller coasters but enough rides for everyone else in the family as well. We would always take a 4 day trip there over my spring break. There are pretty cheap, and nice expensive hotels around too. Same with Cedar Point in Ohio although that's a little further away.

Another place would be Hershey Park. We have gone for Easter a few years and they do a really nice job. It's only about 2 and half hours from NJ. The water park won't be open, but there is more than enough to do. There's the whole main theme park, Chocolate World which is a little ride to show you how chocolate's made, and you get a free candy bar!, botanical gardens, i think there's a horserace track, a stadium so there may be a concert going on, and various sporting events near the theme park. There hotel's work kind of like Disney where there are 3 that are owned by Hershey, but there are others near by that are not. We have always stayed at the Hershey Lodge, and I highly recommend it!

Have fun!

I always think of those places for summer, I never thought for spring. I wasn't even sure they were open yet. I'll have to check, thanks

 

[njprincess601]

I always think of those places for summer, I never thought for spring. I wasn't even sure they were open yet. I'll have to check, thanks

They're really nice in the spring. Not as hot, and a lot less crowded as well. They are definitely open as I've been to both in the spring. PM me if you have any questions! I'd be happy to help!