Non-Disney Vacations--Where do you go?

[BlakeNJ]

We are looking to go someplace warm in November this year. We are skipping Disney this year since we were there in November and again this March.

DH and I have been talking about our options and we are worried that our kids, DS7, DD4 and DD2 (at the time of travel) would get bored with a week long beach vacation in say, the Carribean. I wonder too how much time in the sun, on a beach, they could all handle. What would we do at night? Would they hate the food? Food was awful on my last trip to Cancun. All reasons why we keep going back to Disney!!!

We have considered a cruise but with DD being 2, would this be a good age or just trouble??

Any suggestions? Families must vacation other places than Disney, right?

 

[Carlyzmom]

We did a 7 day carribean cruise last March. Our kids were 4 and 7. They had a BLAST. I am not sure about the 2 year old. Depends on the child I guess. We took DD on a cruise when she was 13 mos. old and she did awesome. Now, DS - when he was 13 mos. it would have never worked! I am a cruise freak, so I would probably do it.

 

[scrapquitler]

Other places we've gone with the kids:

Niagra Falls (also the six flags up there, Nascar race at Watkins Glen, Swimming in Lake Ontario, Toronto).

StoryLand and Lake Winnepesaukee New Hampshire (and visit the relatives in Maine).

Vermont: Ben and Jerrys, VT teddy bear, sit by a lake and swim, hiking, etc.

North Carolina (Nascar race, see a theme? LOL), Dolly Wood, etc.

Washington DC

 

[trennr]

Myrtle Beach, SC
Just play on the beach...eat well...the wife shops...probably too cold for November.

Pigeon Forge / Gatlinburg, TN
Dollywood, Dolly's Splash Country, Ripley's Aquarium, eat well again, wife shops. Really like Splash Country...cool Water Park...though it is closed in November. Dollywood is still open however.

 

[PollyannaMom]

DS still talks about his trip to Texas, and he was only 3 at the time. There's another thread where someone asked about things to do in Dallas, and there is lots of info there.

Also, DH and I went to Williamsburg, VA, one year. If it's as warm as you're looking for in November, I would also suggest that. Besides the colonial history stuff, they have a beautiful Busch Gardens.

 

[Sgt Mickey]

In Nov we went to Ft Myers beach before we went to disney and my kids had soo much fun. We stayed right on the beach so we walked from hotel to the beach to the pool and I would love love to go back again.http://www.diamondheadfl.com/

 

[SLK1]

Not sure if you're up to it with a two-year-old, but we love New York City. So much to do and very people-friendly; however can be pricey!

 

[goingquackers]

Pigeon forge/ Gatlinburg is highly recommended in my book. Dollywood is a wonderful theme park. The Smoky mountains are absolutely spectacular. The National park is great for kids. There are plenty of great walking trails that would be perfect for small kids, and even strollers. Cabin rentals are cheap, and so is the food.

Also, Branson Mo, is nice also. Its very similar to Pigeon forge. Silver dollar city is a nice park aslo.

 

[goingquackers]

i just noticed you said November. Missouri and Tennessee are cold that time of year.

So, you are limited to Florida beaches or Caribbean vacations. Its Disney for my family that time of year, summer is good for other places.

 

[3boymthr]

If you want really warm, balmy weather you are kind of limited, but you could also try Southern California. We took DSs when they were 4, 7, 10. We hit the Labrea Tar Pits, Hollywood, etc. There is also San Diego with the Zoo.

Or you could hit Las Vegas for a day or so and then during the same trip see Hoover Dam, Grand Canyon, Sedona, Four Corners, the Petrified Forest and there's some sort of Dinosaur Fossil (if you check a map you can see the real name) place. All in the same area (3 or 4 hour drive of each other). The Grand Canyon might be a little cool, but with a 2 year old you're not likely to be hiking anyway in which case this is really only a day trip. If your kids like trains you can take a train ride from Williams to the Grand Canyon. My parents did this and LOVED it. They then hit all these other places in November. They only needed sweatshirts to be very comfortable.

Finally, if you want Florida but don't want to do WDW there are some great places like Sanibel Island.

 

[minnie4me]

Beaches Resorts in Jamaica and Turks & Caicos are very family oriented, plenty to do for the kids, a Sesame Street theme. Expensive though. We looked for this coming June, but November might be better (except over Thanksgiving.)
We are trying Universal Studios this year. DS is 6 and likes Spiderman/Hulk and Cat in the hat stuff, should be fun !!
did you think San Diego? The zoo, Legoland and even a day trip to Disney are within reach. They say it is beautiful, just not sure how warm the beach area would be in Nov.
Enjoy whatever you do !!

 

[nessz79]

We live in Naples, Fl and there is a lot to do in the general area. The beaches are very nice and the water shouldn't be too cold in November. Lots of restaurants, a smallish waterpark (Sun N Fun Lagoon is part of a regional park), and lots of shopping. Up the road, you have Ft. Myers and Sanibel, both within about an hour's drive or less.

 

[alyssa810]

What's a Non-Disney vacation?

 

[alyssa810]

Just kidding (sort of)! My DH is a big college hoops fan, so we tend to take small road trips to see games. We're also season ticket holders for Harvard Mens basketball, so we'll sometimes go to some away games. This year we went to Washington DC, which is a great vacation spot since so much there is free.

 

[james'mommy]

What you want is a cruise. There will be kid activites for the children. Great food. Lots of sun. Only have to unpack once and get to see multiple places. We've cruised extensively and have seen most of the carribean. If you can try October. It's the very end of hurricane season and you may be able to find a great deal. Check out cruisecritic.com.

 

[disneynuts777]

On our off Disney vacations we take a cruise. This way the children are still amused and we can relax.
Carnival is our favorite

 

[Darcy03231]

My kids love to cruise! Its their favorite vacation. I believe the kids club on Carnival will take children starting at 2.

 

[taitai]

Goodness, the whole world. We have done and enjoyed, lots of places in the Caribbean, Mexico, Hawaii. Asia, Europe, South America, Central America. We take the kids everywhere. Might not be the same as a Disney vacation but still tons of fun.

Our kids love our beach vacations....they can spend hours and hours playing on the beach and in the water. Then, when we need a break, we go explore the local city or play tennis or golf. There is so much to do. We also don't have picky eaters so food is never a problem. They just eat the local cuisine and it becomes part of the trip.

This year, for Spring Break, we are doing a Southwest Trip....spring training baseball in Scottsdale, hiking in Sedona, Dude Ranch. Can't wait.

Taitai

 

[swilcher]

I second the cruise, there is plenty to keep the kids busy.
Very stress free.