Mother/Daughter Midwest trip ideas

[Chelley00]

DH is taking DS to camp for a week in July. It's only fair that DD and I get to go somewhere for a few days that week too, right?

We are having the hardest time deciding where to go!! It has to be a shortish drive from Indy and I really don't want to spend a fortune. We can take 3-4 days. DD is 12, hates to go shopping, loves animals and we would have to stay somewhere with a pool.

She would love to go to an amusement park but I don't want to leave her dad and brothers out of a trip like that.

Any ideas?

 

[kellyjeanie]

I hear Brown County, Indiana is a great place to visit, some friends of mine just camped there.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

DH is taking DS to camp for a week in July. It's only fair that DD and I get to go somewhere for a few days that week too, right?

We are having the hardest time deciding where to go!! It has to be a shortish drive from Indy and I really don't want to spend a fortune. We can take 3-4 days. DD is 12, hates to go shopping, loves animals and we would have to stay somewhere with a pool.

She would love to go to an amusement park but I don't want to leave her dad and brothers out of a trip like that.

Any ideas?

Indy is not far from St. Louis & we have a fabulous (and FREE) Zoo. You could also spend some time in Lone Elk park looking for elk & bison, and take in the wild raptor sanctuary. Edit: Lots of animals at Grant's Farm too Further West is Six Flags, or a hair East Raging Rivers Water Park. Finding a place with a pool should be a snap, not just in STL though obviously.

Nashville also has a nice Zoo & lots of fun attractions.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

DH is taking DS to camp for a week in July. It's only fair that DD and I get to go somewhere for a few days that week too, right?

We are having the hardest time deciding where to go!! It has to be a shortish drive from Indy and I really don't want to spend a fortune. We can take 3-4 days. DD is 12, hates to go shopping, loves animals and we would have to stay somewhere with a pool.

She would love to go to an amusement park but I don't want to leave her dad and brothers out of a trip like that.

Any ideas?

If your dd would love to go to an amusement park, GO! Make your mother/dd trip special.

I would take her to Cedar Point for sure.

 

[WDWBarb]

It's a 3 hour drive, but Lexington is great... especially for horse lovers.

You've got the three cities in this area - Louisville, Lexington and Cincinnati. Lots to see and do.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

If your dd would love to go to an amusement park, GO! Make your mother/dd trip special.

I would take her to Cedar Point for sure.

I agree. If it ends up being someplace you really like, you can bring the guys next time

 

[minniebeth]

I know our friends from Indiana love Holiday World~

I second St. Louis~ we visited over our spring break for college visits and wish we had more time to spend!

So I'm pitching my own hometown~ Columbus Ohio is great, a relatively easy drive from Indiana.

My DD is 12 also and there are some really great things to do here, the highlight is the Columbus Zoo if your DD loves animals. It is rated one of the top (if not the best) zoos in the country. You can spend a ton of time there and they also just opened a new African section. It is amazing with camel rides, giraffe feedings.
Zoombezi Bay is the waterpark attached to the zoo that the kids love.

COSI is fun (Columbus Museum of Science and Industry) is a science center with a lot of fun exhibits (The Adventure section is very cool) and an IMAX like movie screen. My DD's class just went there for a field trip and it's always a hit.

There are a lot of great Metro Parks in the area, one of my favorites is called Inniswood Gardens, it has beautiful trails and gardens and a BEAUTIFUL and touching children's garden that is just so sweet.

The Columbus Clippers (AAA baseball team) have a brand new stadium and while my girls aren't huge baseball fans, they love going to games.

There's tons of great restaurants in our area too.
You said your DD wasn't into shopping, but Easton is a really nice outdoor shopping/entertainment/eating "mall" with lots to do even if you don't want to shop.
Columbus is known for Jeni's ice cream, homemade and incredible, a must try if in the area.

There's lots more to do, but that just gives you an idea of things to do not too far from home.

Let us know what you end up deciding!!

 

[Gumbo4x4]

I know our friends from Indiana love Holiday World~

On our bucket list - 2 states away, but only a 4-hour drive

 

[minniebeth]

On our bucket list - 2 states away, but only a 4-hour drive

I would definitely drive 4 hrs for it! We would like to visit sometime too.
Our friends say it is one of the cleanest, best run amusement parks (and water park) they've ever been to. It's not Cedar Point ride crazy, but some great rides nonetheless. Nice family entertainment!

 

[dyna]

Holiday World Is fantastic! Very clean park with a top rated roller coasters an 1 of the waterslides was top rated too this year I believe. Lots of shade as well.

Free parking free unlimited drinks an free sunscreen. Food prices are very reasonable there are several places to stay that are under 100 a night. Not much close to the park as far as food. The park is out in the rolling hills of southern IN an it is in the country. Very pretty area tho.

 

[indimom]

I second Holiday World and Columbus, Ohio.
We've had a good time at both locations. I'm not sure if there is much to do beyond HW in that area, but you could spend two days there easily if you like water parks also.
Columbus has a lot more options.

Since your daughter likes amusement parks, Kings Island in Cincinnati, Ohio is another good option. Just keep in mind that it's NOT WDW, but can get very busy in the summer. So, lots of lines, less theming, not as clean, but some really, really GREAT roller coasters. They also have a water park. And The Beach water park is close by also. There is a Great Wolf Lodge right next to KI. I'm pretty sure they have a walking path between the two.

 

[MomRN]

I'm from Terre Haute. Soon we are taking a 3 day trip to go to Holiday World (we have been several times and it really is a great place) and then we are going to visit Blue Springs cavern.

 

[K and K's Mommy]

Cincinnati has a great zoo, the Newport aquarium, and if she likes history, I've heard the Freedom Center is great.

 

[taymaesmom]

We are in the opposite boat, we are headed to Indy for a concert and trying to figure out what else to do while there!

We are in Southern Illinois and I have to agree with the previous posters. Holiday World is amazing and outside of Disney is our favorite amuesment park. But we truly love St Louis. The zoo is great and free, so is the Science Center and just about all the attractions in Forest Park. But for a one of a kind experience go to City Museum! Not a museum in the normal sense, its a giant indoor/outdoor playground that even adults love as much as kids. Amazing!

 

[K and K's Mommy]

We are in the opposite boat, we are headed to Indy for a concert and trying to figure out what else to do while there!

We are in Southern Illinois and I have to agree with the previous posters. Holiday World is amazing and outside of Disney is our favorite amuesment park. But we truly love St Louis. The zoo is great and free, so is the Science Center and just about all the attractions in Forest Park. But for a one of a kind experience go to City Museum! Not a museum in the normal sense, its a giant indoor/outdoor playground that even adults love as much as kids. Amazing!

Our zoo is nice and has a new orangutan exhibit. It is supposed to be really good. The zoo itself is smallish but what we have is very well done.

The Children's Museum is the best in the nation. There are real Terra Cotta Warriors there right now. It is an extra cost with a timed entry.

I guess I should ask if you even are bringing kids!? And, are you staying downtown?

 

[stsomewhere]

My kids enjoy the water park at Michigan adventures. It has some small coasters. It is one price for water/amusement park

https://www.miadventure.com/

ETA: It is about 5 hour drive. There are some beautiful beaches and sand dunes along Lake Michigan.