Non-WDW Vacations?

[spiceycat]

I have been to all the battle field in the civil war (don't ask) - plus Williamburg,Va; - Hilton Head, SC; Savannah, Ga; St Augustine, FL; Vero Beach, FL; Altanta, Ga (my brother lives here - visiting him and seeing some of the sites); I also own a timeshare in PCB - beautiful place - although I did prefer Fort Walton; New Orleans, La; several weekends trip in Al.

I just prefer WDW above everything else!

I would like to do to the Grand Canyon.

 

[maggie mfg]

I just started a thread on the budget board because I'm trying to decide on the Altantis as a change from Disney and to celebrate my husband's 50th! We were thinking about going when school lets out, but with all the snow days we've had it's tough to pin down a date. I'd love to use some of my miles! Any thoughts on the Atlantis in Nassau out there? Maggie

 

[Mainebound]

I am very interested in these replies!

In the summer we travel in Canada a lot with the kids -- Prince Edward Island, Quebec City - the US dollar goes a bit farther there, we can drive, it is beautiful, and we really feel like we are in another country -- because we are!

Living in Maine also has its advantages in the summer, so we don't like to spend too much time away.The mountains, the lakes, the coast are all within 45 minutes of us.

This will be our 3rd winter to WDW. Next winter we HAVE to go somehwere besides WDW. My DH has put his feet down. I would love to try the Mexican Riviera, now that the kids are just a bit older (they will be 4 and 6 then).

We went to Bermuda when they were .5 and 2 and we loved Bermuda but it ws not a rain proof vacation and it rained 5 out of 6 days. We left a day early!

 

[Princess Glenda]

DH and I were talking about non-Disney vacations just the other night. We are thinking about taking the kids to Niagara Falls next year. We went before kids and loved it! We also enjoy the Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge area, Myrtle Beach, and PA and Amish country. We enjoy the Strasburg Railroad.

 

[blanq]

So many great suggestions here! Our family loves to travel, and we have experienced many wonderul trips. On our must do list for future trips is: Belize (splitting time between the Cayo District in a jungle lodge, and then to Ambergris Caye to enjoy the beach) and an African Safari. I am hoping to do Belize next summer. The Safari...well that may be a pipe dream, but I am going to work on that one and just maybe I can make it a reality! Also, we really want to see Williamsburg. And, a river raft adventure, maybe on the Colorado River, would be cool. Sigh...so much to see and not enough time (or money!)

I agree with others regarding cruising. It is a great way to get a taste of a region, because you get to stop at a number of ports. Also, the majority of ships cater to families, so there are always great options to entertain the little ones and the adults. Also, it is a safe and convenient way to travel.

One trip/experience I will highly recommend for families, is a week at a Dude Ranch. They have great ones in Colorado, Montana and Wyoming. Talk about fun! Two summers ago, our family spent a week at the Paradise Guest Ranch in Buffalo, Wyoming. We drove through South Dakota, and stopped at the Badlands (great hiking!) and the Black Hills along the way. Our DS, who was 9 at the time, made great friends with other kids at the ranch. Our whole family enjoyed riding horses, fly fishing and hiking. The ranch we picked had (about) 60 guests, so we really got to know other families. We met wonderful people from England, Canada, Texas, etc. At the end of the week, the kids put on a rodeo for the parents: barrel racing, key hole, etc. We will never forget that trip!

Happy travels!

 

[Lesley]

My favorite place has always been Rehoboth Beach DE....just a small seaside town, very nice for families with younger kids.

Now that we're in SC we also like Hilton Head (the Disney resort, of course).

There are a lot of other places I'd like to go too...but we always seem to be going to WDW!

 

[minkydog]

We are lucky enough to have family in Florida and in the Outer Banks, so some of our vacations have been there. We also like to head for the mountains with the camper. With school age kids we like to go to historical spots--Williamsburg, Monticello, Jamestown,Chattanooga, Atlanta. We are still trying for D.C. If funds are really tight, we just take day trips to go tubing down the river or go apple or strawberry-picking.

 

[matdamom]

My favorite place has always been Rehoboth Beach DE....just a small seaside town, very nice for families with younger kids.

Now that we're in SC we also like Hilton Head (the Disney resort, of course).

There are a lot of other places I'd like to go too...but we always seem to be going to WDW!

My mother used to live on the Eastern Shore of VA, so for many years we spent our yearly vacation there. We always made a trip to Rehoboth Beach, though. Ate ice cream, fries, etc. on the boardwalk, shopped at the outlets. I did like RB and wouldn't mind going back, but can't convince DH. The only trip he hasn't vetoed so far is a trip back to Disney via Amtrak and staying in a pool home.

 

[DisneyMomx7]

We've gone to the Atlantis in Paradise Island (great) and sometimes we've just gone to the Jersey shore. If I weren't going to Disney, I would opt for TUrks and Caicos (my sister and bil loved it there - and they have the Sesame St. Characters for the kids) or DIsneyland.

 

[laceemouse]

We generally take about 3 trips a year, one Disney, one to visit family, and one other. We like all US beaches, Williamsburg, and the Smokey Mountains. This summer we are going to Branson for the second time, meeting family there. We enjoy exploring caves. We went to Mexico prior to kids and hope to take the kids there some time. We also want to do San Antonio, and the Grand Canyon is on our list too. Much as I love WDW, I don't think it is right to only go there. If your kids are babies and toddlers maybe, but as they get older there is just so much to see and do right here in our own beautiful country

 

[Tinkerbellmom33]

When we vacation, it's usually to see our friends in Klagenfurt, Austria and from there we go to other cities in Austria and Italy. This year we plan on going to Ireland, a place we've always wanted to see!!

 

[MEM]

I spent my summers on Delmarva so I hate swimming in the cold waters off New England, where I live now. If we can afford WDW, then that is our first choice -- one of my children is autistic and WDW has been the best destination for him. We have been to Hershey Park and both Busch Gardens and its just not the same. This year we will be spending a week in Rehoboth Beach, hauling our pop-up camper. The RV resort we have stayed at in RB, Three Seasons, has been sold and will be turned into a community of high-end homes after the 2005 season. Therefore, we plan to spend a week camping there at the end of June and a week at WDW in mid-August. DH will turn 60 in 2007 so I am planning to save for a trip to Hawaii that year. Our children will be 12 and 10 by then so it seems appropriate. I am a travel nut, or would be if I could afford it! Would love some day to cruise to Alaska, take a tour of Tuscany and spend several weeks in Australia. Within the U.S., would like to visit Disneyland, San Antonio, NYC, Savannah, Charleston, and on and on.

 

[matdamom]

I LOVE NYC and have been twice pre-kids. I've promised to take DD5, but I want to wait until she is just a bit older. I also want to go to Disneyland, New Orleans, and Washington DC. When my kids are older, I'd love to be able to take them to England, France, Italy....well, basically all over Europe. DH would like to go to Russia.

 

[nucpharm29]

I have to put in my vote for Hilton Head Island , SC. We go almost every summer, and if you look at my countdowns, we're going again in July. It's one of the most family friendly vacation spots we go to (exception of WDW). You can bike the whole island, go to the beach, play golf, dine at exceptional restaurants, and just relax. We love the island b/c we can actually go on vacation for a week and come back feeling refreshed and not exhausted. We've stayed all over the island, but DH loves the Shipyard plantation the best ( that's where he grew up vacationing). This year we're staying right on the beach! Can't wait!!

 

[Tiggerlover91]

Not a weird question at all.

DH and I can't afford to go to Disney as so many do even if we were to buy the FL resident seasonal pass. I just love going places different with DH and that's what we do. This year, it's ZooAtlanta and Stone Mountain for our anniversary celebration in May! We've also been to New Orleans and to Biloxi Mississippi. Next year Disney gets our money and I'm not sure where we're going in 2007 yet, but I'm workin' on it!

 

[jody]

We've been to Rocky Mountain National Park twice and Yellowstone, Jackson Hole, Mt. Rushmore on another trip. We love it out west.

It's interesting to me that several people have mentioned Gatlinburg and the Smokey Mountains. I am looking into that for early summer. I'm wondering how our DDs 15 and 17 would like it.

Maybe we'll just stay in Wisconsin and take time off to use our boat. We all like to do that and it wouldn't cost much. I kinda feel like I want to go somewhere though, the girls are growing up so fast and maybe we don't have many family vacations left.

Has anyone done a Caribbean cruise in the summer? We thought of doing one on spring break, but their break is Easter week and everything is either booked or too expensive that week.

 

[tink2]

I live in AL and we like to go to Destin, FL in the summer. I've traveled out west before- Jackson Hole, Ouray, Yellowstone, Canada- and plan to do that in the future with my children- but when they are older, they are 5 and 3 now. As the kids get older, we'll go lots of places in the US, but I think Destin and WDW will always be our favorites!

 

[matdamom]

We've been to Rocky Mountain National Park twice and Yellowstone, Jackson Hole, Mt. Rushmore on another trip. We love it out west.

It's interesting to me that several people have mentioned Gatlinburg and the Smokey Mountains. I am looking into that for early summer. I'm wondering how our DDs 15 and 17 would like it.

Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge is about 2 hours from me and we've been there a lot. Your teens would probably enjoy it immensely. There are lots of amusements for that crowd, plus plenty of shopping. Also, Dollywood (an amusement park owned by Dolly Parton - used to be Silver Dollar City) and a Ripley's Aquarium. You can rent mountain chalets (looks like a cabin, but more like an Orlando Pool Home w/o the pool and in the mountains). There are also timeshare resorts you can rent. If you haven't been there before, I'm sure there's enough to keep you busy for a week. It's more laid back than WDW.

 

[MariettaC]

My first choice would be a Disney cruise - they're absolutely the best. The second would be to rent a beach house or a house in the mountains.