Need Non-Disney Vacation Ideas

[CinRell]

My vote is for niagara falls. The restraunts are fun... there is so much excitement on the street... there is a cool aviary and marine land is really nice... shopping is great and the wax museums are amusing. If you really take advantage and find the fun little things that area offers there's tons to do! And it's SO cheap!

 

[DonnaL]

Hi,
When our kids were small we did Williamsburg/Busch Gardens/Norfolk/VA Beach one year. We stayed half the week at Williamsburg and then hit the beach area at VA Beach and did the Marine Musem in Norfolk on an overcast day. I think we stayed at a Courtyard in Williamsburg. I believe the name was Courtyard at Busch Corporate Center. Busch Gardens is very nice. Of course this was about 15 years ago. We had dinner in Norfolk at a really neat restaurant. It was an old restored church on the waterfront. I think the name was The Old Abbey....not sure, though. We were told it was used extensively to hide slaves heading North during the Civil War. Hershey Park is also nice and very near Amish Country (Strasburg RR, etc.) It's also only about an hour or so from Philadelphia. The Philadelphia Zoo is nice for kids and I think there's a Please Touch museum in Philadelphia also. For kids a little older the Franklin Institute is nice. And if you're flying and SW flies from your local airport you may be able to get some great prices into Philadelphia.

 

[spatenfloot]

If you are looking for something a little different, try Shenandoah valley in Virginia or Oregon coast. I though both areas were great. Plenty of wildlife and waterfalls in the first one, dramatic scenery and beaches at the other.

Virginia mountains are very scenic to drive through and we saw tons of deer, groundhogs and other animals roaming around. There is also a very nice safari zoo in the area where many kinds of animals will come right up to your car as you drive through the park.

Pacific coast beaches are very different from Atlantic beaches. They usually have many tidepools, rocky areas, and cliffs. You might also see seals or sea lions (just don't approach them).

 

[michboro]

Yes we stayed at that great wolf lodge and BG was very close by as was colonial williamsburg- it was fun but pricey!( I think we paid almost $400 for the room a night)
Please I beg of you do not I repeat DO NOT go to Sesame Place! I live close by as well and this place is a nightmare- always crowded it is just too small for the crowds they get.
My vote is Kiawah Island, SC. Right now we are debating between Kiawah and Disney for this year we love it that much. And the kids are 50/50 on which one as well. It has a beautiful beach= great beach chair set ups and is within 30 minutes of Charleston for dinner. It has a great nature program and fun family activites scheduled every day during the summer. we love it.

When we stayed at Great Wolf Lodge in August, it was only $165 a night.