Need Vacation Ideas

[Mjasp]

Hi All...Need ideas for a nice family vacation in the summer of 2005. We did a Disney cruise this summer and have 2006 booked for a Disney cruise, so cruises are out as is the Carribean and Disney World and Disneyland. We want to stay in this country. Our girls will be 13 and 9.

Anyone been to a nice resort lately that they could recommend? Or been on a great vacation that they totally loved?

TIA

 

[kasar]

I'll be so curious to see what kind of responses you get! I'm trying to come up with something great as well. Hope you don't mind if I "piggyback" with you on this thread and maybe ask some questions?

We were planning on Hawaii but it doesn't look like DH will be able to get at least 10 days off (was hoping for 2 weeks). So, I'm back to square one. I was thinking of Southern California maybe or Yellowstone. I'd like to check out dude ranches in Montana or someplace as well.

 

[Mjasp]

Kasar...Feel free to join in.

I also was looking into Hawaii, but it came out to more money than a cruise for 7 nights.

I was thinking Vermont, Lake George, the The outer banks. I am actually hoping a few people give some great input so we can look into vacation resorts and destinations we may have never thought of, or to look into places we were thinking of.

Enjoy

 

[monarchsfan16]

Not sure how big on cultural stuff you are, but we love the Berkshires. It's getting to the point where I don't really want to go back because I've seen everything, but I did enjoy the first 3 trips. We have stayed at Jiminy Peak resort (although we stayed through a timeshare thing so we weren't in the actual inn) and we really liked it. Lots for kids to do.
Lots to do all over New England actually, especially in the summer time. I've heard Smugglers Notch is great, and plenty to do in NH or Maine as well. You can easily make a week long vacation out of something.

 

[JetMom]

We had a wonderful vacation in Williamsburg, VA this past summer. We did Busch Gardens, Water Country USA, King's Dominion, Colonial Williamsburg, Jamestown Settlement, and Yorktown Victory Center.

My boys are 12, 10, and 6 and they all enjoyed themselves tremendously!

 

[Jenn Lynn]

Door County, Wisconsin.

 

[maci]

Hi

I have not stayed at this resort but, was researching it for a some day trip.
We are actually looking into doing yellowstone this summer, but thought this tree house resort in Oregon looked really cool!!

We were thinking of staying here a few days then maybe driving down to see northern California would make a nice trip.

Here is the link http://www.treehouses.com/treehouse/treesort/prclst.html

There are several different tree houses, all different sizes. Explore the site, it shows several pictures. The also have a neat ropes course!!!

 

[LisaZoe]

Thanks for the link, Maci. I live in Oregon and had never heard of that place or even the town it's in (which is probably not much more than an intersection with a business or two). I'll definitely be looking over the information they have.

As for the OP's question, I've always thought a trip to the Grand Canyon would be interesting. I've never been there but it looks so awe inspiring. I'll wait until DD is a bit older, though, as I don't think I'd want her even close to such a drop.

 

[maci]

Your welcome! We cant wait to check out that resort!
Please give me a review if you guys check it out!!

We actually did the grand canyon this last summer and it is beautiful!
The kids loved it! We also saw meteor crater, and it was so funny how "into" meteor crater my 3 year old duaghter was!!

 

[Breezy_Carol]

We go to the Outer Banks ever summer and love it there. Please feel free to PM me any questions.

 

[DawnCt1]

One of our best family vacations was flying into San Francisco, spending two nights, visiting Alcatraz and the city. On to Sausaulito for breakfast. We then spent the morning in Muir Woods, onto Napa Valley and the Mondavi Winery for the early afternoon tour. By nightfall we were in Lake Tahoe where we spent three fun filled days. We left Lake Tahoe, drove south past Mono Lake, visited Bodie, the ghost town, and into the east gate of Yosemite. We spent two nights in the Yosemite area, toured the highlights of Yosemite, Left through the Mariposa Grove of tall trees and took the tour. Then down through Fresno. Spent the night in Cambria across from Moonstone Beach. What a beautiful town. The next day we went to San Simeon, toured the Hearst Castle, onto Monterey. Visited the Monterey Acquarium and Cannery Row. On the way back to San Francisco we stopped in Santa Cruz and rode the roller coaster. It was the amusement park that was in the vampire movie, The Lost Boys, and we caught our plane at 10 pm back to Ct. It was a full 9 days. The youngest was about 9 at the time. They still talk about that trip.

 

[ducklite]

I have LOTS of ideas for you!

1. The Water's Edge Resort in CT. Beautiful resort right on the sound. Lots of activities, and near the NE Aquarium and Mystic.

2. Lake Placid! There are several hotels in the area. The Mirror Lake Inn is incredible and claims to be kid friendly, but it's really geared more for couples IMHO. The Hilton is on the lake and is very nice and very family friendly. Lots of things to do in the area, gondola up Whiteface, hikes, canoeing, paddle boats, the Olympic museum and facilities, great food! I've been vacationing in that area regularly since I was a child attending summer camp up there, so if you want more info, just ask

3. Boston/Salem MA. What a great area! Several walking tours, the aquarium, shopping, dining, the withces museum, etc.

4. The Greenbrier in West Virginia...near where Martha Stewart is currently domiciled. Great resort tons of things to do.

5. The Sagamore in Bolton landing (Lake George) NY, nice resort with kids programs, lots of activities, a wonderful spa, and Six Flags Great Escape about 20 minutes down the road.

If none of these are of interest, let me know, I have about 20 other ideas!

Anne

 

[jajuan]

If you do the grand canyon, I would go to Sedona, AZ for a couple of nights. We did it one year and it was wonderful. They had jeep tours and a park (Slide Rock State Park) that had natural water slides. It was awesome. And...there are more "resorts" available there than the Grand Canyon.

 

[Mjasp]

Some great ideas!

Anne, please feel free to add more choices, I'm sure I am not the only one interested.

Williamsburg Virginia, Arizona/Grand Canyon, The Sagamore in Lake George.

Dawnct...One of my co workers did your almost exact trip in July for her honeymoon and loved it also.

Thanks all and keep your best trips and tips coming.

 

[MOMTOMOOTOO]

We have been to Daufuski Island SC and absolutely loved it. It is really great for kids, no cars on the island and very safe. The views from our beach cottage were breathtaking and the food was wonderful. My DH played golf 2 days and I spent an entire day at the spa. The kids loved the pool and the beach. If you start to get antsy just a quick ferry ride and you are in the madnes of Hilton Head. It was just a really nice family vacation.

We also have been to Smugglers Notch, while it gets rave reviews, not really my cup of tea.

Another idea that we are throwing around with some friends for the summer of 2006 is renting a houseboat on Lake Powell. The boat we looked at sleeps 20! And has a slide off the back for the kids.

Good luck planning,. so many choices.

The link for Daufuskie is here

 

[gr8tpanther]

Could always go to Hershey, PA... go to the park, take a tour of the CHOCOLATE factory, see the village of hershey.

 

[disykat]

Originally posted by maci
Hi

I have not stayed at this resort but, was researching it for a some day trip.
We are actually looking into doing yellowstone this summer, but thought this tree house resort in Oregon looked really cool!!

We were thinking of staying here a few days then maybe driving down to see northern California would make a nice trip.

Here is the link http://www.treehouses.com/treehouse/treesort/prclst.html

There are several different tree houses, all different sizes. Explore the site, it shows several pictures. The also have a neat ropes course!!!

Sorry to laugh at your vacation suggestion, but it made my evening. I've been giggling like an idiot at the thought of someone coming from far away to vacation in Takilma! I grew up not that far from there and it was on our way to the coast. I spent much of my childhood (in the late 60's and early 70's) hoping to see nude hippies as we drove past the communes. Don't get me wrong, Southern Oregon is great and the tree houses sound interesting - but the Takilma I remember is about as far from Disney as you can get!

 

[Mjasp]

Originally posted by gr8tpanther
Could always go to Hershey, PA... go to the park, take a tour of the CHOCOLATE factory, see the village of hershey.

I had to smile when I read your suggestion, we do Hershey every year, but as a weekend thing, although in the past we have stayed almost a week and done Lancaster. Willow Valley is our favorite resort in Lancaster.

 

[Kitty 34]

We always enjoy going to the Mackinac Bridge and all the beauty that surrounds that area of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The Soo Locks north of the bridge is exciting especially if you take the boat tour that goes right thru them.

 

[mbw12]

We went to Rocking Horse Ranch for the first time this summer. It is in the Catskill mountains and is an all-inclusive resort with a dude ranch theme. Our kids loved it.....and so did we!