Moderately priced vacation in August - ideas?

[EllNat11]

We are looking to take a trip (me, DH and our 2 year old) in mid August for a week. I'm looking for ideas on something that won't cost a fortune (ideally $2000 or less), won't cause us to melt in a puddle in the middle of the summer, and is fun for both toddlers and adults. We are located in Western NY.

Anyone have any ideas? We're actually headed to Charleston for a week and a half next week - that area seems like it would be uncomfortably warm mid-August.

Thanks!

 

[Gumbo4x4]

FL beaches will be much cheaper in August than July, but definitely surface of the sun hot. Colorado is beautiful that time of year, but transportation would likely kill the budget. Hmmmm, let me think on that.

 

[ang13]

Have you thought about the White Mountains in NH? There's Story Land and Santa's Village, which are perfect for young kids along with many waterfalls, rivers, and national parks to explorer often for free or cheap. Many of the motels and cabins are reasonably priced, we have a cabin reserved at a place called Country Bumpkins next month and are only paying $70 a night.

 

[abmitch01]

How about the Adirondacks? They are beautiful. So many trails and lakes. We've rented a house owned by The Friends Lake Inn called the Murphy House. It's spacious and modern, you have access to the Inn's amenities. And it's in a good spot of the Adirondack Park. They have beach access with kayaks and canoes for your use.

 

[waffles77]

Have you thought about the White Mountains in NH? There's Story Land and Santa's Village, which are perfect for young kids along with many waterfalls, rivers, and national parks to explorer often for free or cheap. Many of the motels and cabins are reasonably priced, we have a cabin reserved at a place called Country Bumpkins next month and are only paying $70 a night.

+1

This is exactly what i was thinking of as well.

 

[js]

We are looking to take a trip (me, DH and our 2 year old) in mid August for a week. I'm looking for ideas on something that won't cost a fortune (ideally $2000 or less), won't cause us to melt in a puddle in the middle of the summer, and is fun for both toddlers and adults. We are located in Western NY.

Anyone have any ideas? We're actually headed to Charleston for a week and a half next week - that area seems like it would be uncomfortably warm mid-August.

Thanks!

Cruise?
Not Disney though, too expensive and you would have to fly.
If you went even a week or two later, even less expensive.

 

[monorailmom]

I always say that if I can't be in WDW, I want to be in N.Conway NH!! My kids are older now, but we love Storyland and Santa's Village. You also can't beat strolling around in Conway Village and checking out the Conway Scenic Railroad.

 

[Darcy03231]

We liked the Rockinghorse Ranch when our kids were young:

www.rockinghorseranch.com

 

[CuteAndFluffy]

I love these ideas and am totally appropriating them for our summer vacation!

We had a really lovely trip when my son was that age to a driving vacation around the Langhorne, PA area. Longwood Gardens, the Green Dragon, Camden Aquarium, Sesame Place. Lots of great things we missed. Ate mostly out of a cooler, hotwired hotels based on where we were each day. Driving vacations aren't for everyone, but they work great for us.

 

[JoyG]

We live in WNY too and we drove to Cape Cod one summer. We rented a place from vrbo.com and it was a budget vacation. The kids were very young and we found things to keep them entertained for an entire week.

 

[dsneprincess]

For a vacation with a 2 year old, Sesame Place. We love the area, lots to do in and around Philly. Last year we did split with Wildwood, NJ and Sesame Place with DS3. He can't wait to go back, was taking my ear off yesterday abut it again.

 

[EllNat11]

Thanks for the ideas everyone! It gives me a few more options to consider!!!

 

[Gracie09]

Hershey park/Dutch wonderland. There is also a lot to do in the Lancaster pa area

 

[Aliceacc]

How about Lake George?

TONS Of stuff to do, all very family oriented. Six Flags, the outlets, all the lake stuff, ride on a paddleboat, see Fort William Henry, mini golf every 30 feet, House of Frankenstein, Thursday night fireworks, you name it.


http://www.lakegeorge.com/news/itinerary-kids.cfm

Take a look at Surfside on the Lake-- we love it there! We can walk into the restaurants and almost all of the attractions I've named. http://surfsideonthelake.com/

 

[3boymthr]

We live in WNY too and we drove to Cape Cod one summer. We rented a place from vrbo.com and it was a budget vacation. The kids were very young and we found things to keep them entertained for an entire week.

For the Cape if you can push it out to the last week of August/first week of September the prices plummet (actually this is true of most areas). We've been going every other year for years - started when oldest DS was two and we love the Outer Cape especially Eastham right outside the National Seashore.

One thing I've found is that the local chambers of commerce on the Cape are a great way to locate rentals. Many of the local real estate agents have rental sections and the prices are comparable to what you'll find on VRBO. (For picturesque beauty that's vintage shabby chic at it's best try smithheightscottages.com - family owned for over 100 years the decor is old but it's so old it's charming - these are waterfront cottages with no water access and only rarely have an opening as the renters come back year after year after year but if you can get in...)