Need family vacation ideas- NOT disney

[maxiesmom]

Another vote for the Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge area of Tennessee. If you like being outdoors, there is tons to do here. Horseback riding, white water rafting, hiking, and tons of mini golf places. There are also a few different shopping areas with cute little stores. And you can always visit Dollywood to get your theme park fix.

Or how about Mackinaw City, Michigan? We go almost every year. That area is full of history. They have a fort still on the main land, and one on the island too. The island itself is great! You have to take a ferry boat over. No cars allowed, you get around by walking, biking, or by horse-drawn carriage. There are hotels on the island so you can stay there too, but they tend to be a little pricey. And the fudge is the best anywhere! The whole island smells like fudge!

Drive North over the Mackinac Bridge and you can visit the Soo Locks. Watch the big freighters switch waterways. And from there it is just an half an hour to Canada.

 

[thenewgirl]

Oh, yeah...if you go to the Tennessee or North Carolina mountains in October, you'll see fall leaf colors that look like they are straight out of paintings! Amazing! And get to eat real mountain apples...like nothing you can get in a store! mmm

 

[jenn-n-okla]

There is a great National Park in Oklahoma. The Chickasaw National Recreation Area.

 

[crysplefty]

Branson, Mo

 

[Scully12]

When I was younger we went to the Outer Banks every year.

I loved Colonial Williamsburg (I had the Felicity American Girl Doll and they had activities that included her and her story). My brothers also enjoyed going there because the War stuff. Busch Gardens and Water Country USA are in Williamsburg as well to get a break from Historical stuff. )My mom and I skipped part of my brother's graduation from William and Mary to go to Busch Gardens )

 

[kathie859]

I bet the kids would LOVE having a cabin in the Smoky Mountains in October!
Talk about GORGEOUS scenery. Plus there are some really easy hiking trails that take you up close and personal with shallow streams (how much fun it is to play in water!!?) and waterfalls.

In Gatlinburg there's candy shops making fudge and more stores than you can imagine which sell some pretty tacky/cheap/amazing things. There's a nice aquarium in town and a few oddball amusements, like a Ripley's Believe It or Not museum.

Another idea is Sanibel/Captiva Islands (off the coast of Ft. Myers, FL). Can you say wall to wall seashells???? My kids always enjoyed finding the smallest, the biggest, the pinkest, the orangest, etc. seashell. It kept them entertained literally for days. There's a wonderful nature preserve (Ding Darling Nature Preserve), a seashell museum and places to canoe, rent a boat or just take a ride on the ocean.

Happy Planning!

 

[momofrrr]

A couple of summers ago we stayed at an Iberostar all inclusive in Playa del Carmen and had a fabulous time. There is tons for the kids to do on the property and there is Chichen Itza just a few hours by bus. My kids still say that going there was their favorite vacation adventure. It was very hot (end of June) but an amazing day. I also highly reccommend Cayman. There is tons to do there as well.

 

[Indiana Rose Lee]

I bet the kids would LOVE having a cabin in the Smoky Mountains in October!
Talk about GORGEOUS scenery. Plus there are some really easy hiking trails that take you up close and personal with shallow streams (how much fun it is to play in water!!?) and waterfalls.

In Gatlinburg there's candy shops making fudge and more stores than you can imagine which sell some pretty tacky/cheap/amazing things. There's a nice aquarium in town and a few oddball amusements, like a Ripley's Believe It or Not museum.

Another idea is Sanibel/Captiva Islands (off the coast of Ft. Myers, FL). Can you say wall to wall seashells???? My kids always enjoyed finding the smallest, the biggest, the pinkest, the orangest, etc. seashell. It kept them entertained literally for days. There's a wonderful nature preserve (Ding Darling Nature Preserve), a seashell museum and places to canoe, rent a boat or just take a ride on the ocean.

Happy Planning!

seashells on sanibel are the best.

 

[mommylovesdisney]

Long Beach Island, NJ is beautiful, especially Barnegat Light. I am partial, I spent every summer all my life,but I think it is the best beach on the east coast. Climb old Barney for a dollar, at the free state park, and your kids get a cute certificate, visit the docks and see the commercial fishing boats and shops at viking village. Catch minnows and hermit crabs at the bay beach. Great memories! Wehave renters come from texas, washington state, all over.
Sorry...I love BL!

We did Williamsburg last summer, I have 3 kids also, 2, 4 and 9 and they enjoyed it. Jamestown settlement was great.
The summer before we visited pigeon forge and dollywood. Saw a baby bear at the national park. It was a great trip.