Non-WDW Vacations?

[matdamom]

This is a weird question, but if you could not make it to WDW for your family vacation - where else would you go?

 

[lclark0621]

We like renting a beach house on the Outer Banks in NC.

Also we try & get to Europe once every 2 years.'

A Cruise is also fun for the whole family.

See we do go other places to!

 

[kay_key3]

I love Gatlinburg. I am just crazy for the Smokie Moutains. Its not that expensive and the amount of different activites are great. I love to go all the time. GO CHEER CATS

 

[Bellefan66]

If I were not planning a Disney trip, we have always talked about going to
ATLANTIS!! Very nice resort. We have done Blue Ridge Mountains,VA, CA, SC, all the local stuff in those states.WE also live just 15 min. from the ocean here in NC, so that is very nice every summer.However, NOTHIN' compares to DW...imho

 

[Pixiedusttravel]

Rent a beach house on St. George Island, Florida. Or even a condo on Panama City Beach(that's where I grew up!! )

 

[annabelle]

We LOVE LOVE LOVE the Mayan Riviera in Mexico - particularly Playa Del Carmen. The water there is crystal clear. You can see to the bottom of the ocean from the airplane!

It's a tropical paradise and really not that expensive. They sometimes run specials that are about $600-$800 per person - which includes airfare, resort, transfers, and all you can eat food and drink 24 hours a day.

Th is so much to do there too like snorkeling, diving, and there are beauitful underwater caves that you can snorkel in. The town of Playa Del Carmen is really neat too.

 

[newholidayx2]

a friend just asked me to come up to her Maine home Feb 11-13
DS & I are going to the Cape Codder in March
I just booked a campground in Maine for 5days over July 4th
We have a ressie for the Hampton Beach area July 21-28

We have a Disney vacation booked Aug13-27

 

[matdamom]

If I were not planning a Disney trip, we have always talked about going to
ATLANTIS!! Very nice resort. We have done Blue Ridge Mountains,VA, CA, SC, all the local stuff in those states.WE also live just 15 min. from the ocean here in NC, so that is very nice every summer.However, NOTHIN' compares to DW...imho

Bellefan66 - I *live* in the Blue Ridge Mountains of VA. And we normally would go to Myrtle Beach or the Eastern Shore of VA. I love, love, love going to Disney and my DH was sick of MB. My kids love the beach, though. What's a mom to do....???

 

[TN Traveler]

Bellefan..........I am a travel agent and specialize in family vacations. Where you go and what you do depends on how much you want to spend and when you are going. I noticed you are from Bristol, VA -- I'm from a small town north of Nashville so we have alot in common on areas to visit. If you like the mtns I suggest Gatlinburg but I'm sure you've already been there and done that 100 times like us.

Someone mentioned a cruise which I agree w/100%. The ages of your children would make a difference on the length of cruise, which line and where you go. All around good choice is Carnival. They have 3, 4, 5 and 7 day cruises that depart from Norfolk, VA, Jacksonville, FL, New Orleans, Port Canaveral, Ft Lauderdale, Tampa and Miami. Remember with cruises food is included in your rate but drinks are not and that includes sodas. However you can buy a Soda Card (prices vary length of stay) and that will help ALOT.

Another poster mentioned the Mayan Riveria area of Cancun, Mexico. Again I agree w/this poster 100%. This is a beautiful area to go to. There are alot of great resorts to go to including one called the Xpu Palace. It's very "tropical" and oriented to kids and those that are into ecology. One price covers your air, accommodations, meals, drinks etc. I like that part of it ALOT. You can snorkle, scuba, play water sports, go to the Mayan Ruins such as Tulum and Chichen Itza, and lots of other things to do. Depending if this is "doable" for you or not, there is a charter company that flies out of Nashville that you could take and that would help the price ALOT. Charter flights are always cheaper than published air. I sell these packages all the time. I have 3 girls and would take mine there in a heart beat. It's a safe area to go to and the people are very nice.

Another suggestion is the beach. Myrtle Beach area is probably closest to you but if you haven't been to Panama City Beach or Destin, FL you might like that for a change. We have a timeshare condo in PCB and LOVE it. Are looking forward to going this year.

If you'd like more information, feel free to contact me. I love talking travel...guess that's a good thing since I'm a travel agent, huh?!?!
You can send me a PM if you'd like and then I can send you my email address. Check out our website for ideas and specials we're offering...
www.thetravelplanneronline.com

GOOD LUCK!!
Karen

 

[sweet maxine]

What about Branson/Eureka Springs, or Chattanooga area for spring break? Is it too cold during March for a visit to those places? We're looking for something a little different from the beach.

 

[Mady/Sophiemom]

We go to Hilton Head Island at least every other year. Sometimes more often. We have friends with a condo.

We also enjoy Las Vegas, if its just adults. Haven't taken the kids there yet.

We are hoping to get to Hawaii soon.

 

[HALEYSMOMMOM]

Another poster mentioned the Mayan Riveria area of Cancun, Mexico. Again I agree w/this poster 100%. This is a beautiful area to go to. There are alot of great resorts to go to including one called the Xpu Palace. It's very "tropical" and oriented to kids and those that are into ecology. One price covers your air, accommodations, meals, drinks etc. I like that part of it ALOT. You can snorkle, scuba, play water sports, go to the Mayan Ruins such as Tulum and Chichen Itza, and lots of other things to do. Depending if this is "doable" for you or not, there is a charter company that flies out of Nashville that you could take and that would help the price ALOT. Charter flights are always cheaper than published air. I sell these packages all the time. I have 3 girls and would take mine there in a heart beat. It's a safe area to go to and the people are very nice.

GOOD LUCK!!
Karen

This sounds great to me! However, we have a 1 yr old and 5 yr old-would you wait to take them until they are older?

 

[crisi]

We've done the Disney Cruise. We enjoyed it so much we are doing it again.

We are going camping this summer. Since my DH and I don't camp, we are taking a "tour" camp. They provide tents and canoes and food. We have to "pitch in" - but we have someone educated on how to actually "pitch" the tent to help us. (Sleeping in three inches of water when it rains isn't fun.

We haven't done the Mexican Riveria but have friends who have just come back. You do want to "watch" the resort - many cater to Europeans who sunbathe topless - that may not be what you want in a family vacation (I don't find topless sunbathing shocking, but even as liberal as I am in these matters, I don't need my six year old pointing out all the "naked ****ies!" on the beach, not my idea of a relaxing vacation.)

A lot of U.S. cities are fun as well as the National Park system. Mammoth Cave would be facininating to most boys (and many girls) in the seven to ten set - we are only waiting for my daughter to become a better "walker." I need to get my six year old to San Francisco in the next few years - if only for Muir Woods and Alcatraz, both of which he will love.

 

[CinderellasMama]

What about coming out West?? There are some great National parks and all kinds of stuff to see. Two years ago we went to the Grand Canyon and it was AMAZING!! Next year we are planning a trip to Yellowstone. I guess it's a little easier for us to get to these places because we can drive. We have an older pull behind camper that we are fixing up. I can't wait!

Brenda

 

[matdamom]

I'd love to take a long trip and go west. My kids are 5 (almost 6), 3 1/2, and 17 months right now. My husband wants to take a train trip across the US, but that may wait until all of us are older. The thought of a cross-country driving trip with the kids makes me think of Chevy Chase in that Vacation movie.

I have proposed different places to DH: our old standy- Myrtle Beach (he's not interested), Hilton Head (not interested - fear of the unknown), Gatlinburg (doesn't want to spend a whole week there - not sure why), back to WDW (will go if he doesn't have to drive), Eastern Shore of VA (will go there, but still hates the drive). And he has no suggestions of his own. He likes going places, but will not do any of the planning.

I love all the suggestions here. I'd love to do the Atlantis resort and have heard good things about taking kids there, but again I'm dealing with a DH who has the fear of the unknown.

 

[Sandyincanada]

We love going to All-inclusives in Mexico, Cuba or the DR, kids love them too.
I also think its a great learning experience for them. We go on a few tours to see the "real" countryside, how other people live, thier culture, thier food, the schools and Doctors, etc. It can be quite an eye-opener for them.

As for topless, yes there is some but I've never seen a kid point yet, LOL...I honestly don't think they notice or care.

 

[jeancbpugh]

This is a weird question, but if you could not make it to WDW for your family vacation - where else would you go?

We like to go to a ski resort in Colorado. The kids go to half day ski school, and we ski with them in the afternoons.

 

[annabelle]

We're going to be going to Anna Maria Island (near Sarasota, FL) after a week at Disney. Didn't even know this island existed... it's not your "typical" beach with highrises, concrete boxes, neon signs and t-shirt shops. It's very tropical with family owned hotels, restaurants and boutique shops. The natural surroundings are so much more preserved than say Panama City beach or Ft. Lauderdale. There's lots to do for young families... not to mention the airfare alone should be cheaper than going to Mexico (although I LOVE Mexico too!)

 

[Brina]

we enjoy skiing, and about every other year we go to the carribean.

 

[alecam]

We absolutely love the White Mountains in New Hampshire!! It's a four hour drive for us, they have a couple of toddler sized theme parks about an hour away from each other, and the view is so beautiful any time of the year!!