OT: Other family vacation ideas - DO I DARE??

[JMSMommy]

Other vacation trips! *gasp*

Okay, Washington DC is great. My brother enjoyed it when he was 5. I remember going when I was 7. We are planning on taking the kids in the next few years, doing the museums, major monuments, Arlington, White House, and then driving to Baltimore for the Aquarium and other sites. Might even head up to Annapolis to see the Naval Academy. Dh, of course, wants to down into Virginia some for other "touristy" spots such as shipyards in Newport News, he'd love to see the Pentagon, CIA...and so on. We've not even investigated what all is open for us to see.

I'd like to do a "history" trip sometime - Williamsburg, Roanoke, Jamestown, Antietam, etc. I'd also like to go to Gettysburg, PA.

We want to go to NYC sometime too.

Snowskiing in Colorado/Utah/Wyoming

I want to take the kids out to Montana/Wyoming and visit my 2nd cousin who owns a ranch. Or visit a "tourist" ranch.

I want to take the kids and follow the Lewis and Clark trail.

I want to take the kids to Arizona (we lived there until DS6 was 4 months old). I want to show them all the wonderful things in the desert southwest.

Take the kids to California, Oregon, and Washington (not all in the same trip).

However, after this Disney trip (Sept 2005) we are planning on our next "BIG" trip to be to China. Don't know if we are taking the boys or not, but we'll be spending 12 days picking up our precious

Other than that we'll be making beach trips here and there, and trips to the Smokey Mountains/Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge.

OH, and we want to go to Hawaii sometime.

I'm beginning to feel we don't have enough "resources" and time to do all I would like to do.

 

[rt2dz]

This just popped into my head and thought I'd come back to this thread and post it. A great source of travel ideas, and how to do it affordably, is in Budget Travel magazine. You think there are ways to cut costs at WDW, this magazine will let you know how to cut costs at national parks as well as Europe, Hawaii, and anywhere else you can think of.

 

[RichNKatHolly]

This just popped into my head and thought I'd come back to this thread and post it. A great source of travel ideas, and how to do it affordably, is in Budget Travel magazine. You think there are ways to cut costs at WDW, this magazine will let you know how to cut costs at national parks as well as Europe, Hawaii, and anywhere else you can think of.

Yes, LOVE this magazine. Have beensubscribing for about 3 years now. Their specials section has some really great deals!

Thanks everyone for all the great ideas! Gosh, I just wish I could spend my life travelling. I envy Samantha Brown - I'd love a job where I host a info show from all the great hotels, Hawaii, etc....

 

[cruiserkaren]

We're planning a trip to DL in January 2006 (see sig line), but now we're talking about maybe going on a cruise. My kids are aged (in Jan 2006): 18, 7, and 5. We told dd18 she could bring a friend along if we go on a cruise. I've never been on a cruise before, does anyone have a great kid/teen friendly cruise they could recommend (not Disney)? Also, how is it cruising in January? We would have to go the first week of January because dd18 is a senior in high school and that is her break.

A great family vacation we took when our oldest was around 9 (before the other children were born), was to Mammouth Caves in Kentucky. That was a very fun trip.

Mary

I've been on 9 cruises on 3 different lines. For your ages definitely go with Royal Caribbean on a "Voyager class" ship. These are: Voyager of the Seas, Explorer of the Seas, Adventure of the Seas, Mariner of the Seas and Navigator of the Seas. They have TONS of stuff to do, rock climbing wall, ice skating rink, rollerblading rink, basketball, ping-pong, pools, you cannot go wrong on one of these ships.

As for cruising in January the weather in the Caribbean should be great. However, if you are flying in from a cold/snow weather state I would absolutely fly in to the city the cruise departs from a day before the ship actually leaves. Most cruises from Florida depart around 4 pm. So if your flight gets delayed or cancelled due to weather there is pretty much no chance of making it to the ship on time. HTH. I absolutely love cruising. So much in fact I got a Travel and Tourism degree, specializing in cruising. If you have any more questions I'd love to help if I can!

 

[Jen_in_NH]

I also like Williamsburg VA - it's an incredible place. My family went twice when we were kids, and I've been back once with my husband.

Another suggestion - Nova Scotia. I loved it as a kid, and went back for our honeymoon, and it was just as good as an adult.

Jen

 

[traci]

we are also looking into beaches turks and caicos for january. roliepolie i pm'ed you with questions!!

 

[RichNKatHolly]

I'm so excited about all these great ideas.

I think I'm leaning towards a Mediterranean cruise on Royal Caribbean (but, of course, final decision will be based on price). There is a special one for the Greek Isles which sounds wonderful.

Does anyone have any experience with this? We will travel in the summer - DD will be 3 and DS 6.

Thanks!

 

[bubbasmom99]

Last year we got tired of getting grief from family and friends "you're going to Disney again?" so we went to Williamsburg VA and Washington DC due to a fare sale on Southwest. DH is a history and politics buff... and he's really the only one that had a good time!

Our kids were 5 and 2 and were bored silly. We then decided to forget what everyone else thought and continue on our multiple trips to Disney.

Eventually I'd like to head to Hawaii but any destination that has alot of sightseeing/walking tours/etc is going to have to wait till the kids are a bit older. Trying to schlep a stroller around DC with 2 tired kids was not exciting.

 

[RichNKatHolly]

Last year we got tired of getting grief from family and friends "you're going to Disney again?" so we went to Williamsburg VA and Washington DC due to a fare sale on Southwest. DH is a history and politics buff... and he's really the only one that had a good time!

Our kids were 5 and 2 and were bored silly. We then decided to forget what everyone else thought and continue on our multiple trips to Disney.

Eventually I'd like to head to Hawaii but any destination that has alot of sightseeing/walking tours/etc is going to have to wait till the kids are a bit older. Trying to schlep a stroller around DC with 2 tired kids was not exciting.

LOL - even I was bored in DC! We went because of DH also.

Hawaii sounds great, but I wanted to let you know that Philadelphia was GREAT for kids that age. We bought the citypass which gave us admission to all the great museums (children's and science museum). Also, you are allowed in the fountains! DS thought that was too much. Have great photos from it. We spent 5 days and could have done even more.

Enjoy Disney in the meantime!!!

 

[bonnielynn]

I haven't been to Ireland myself (but hope to before I die), but an atty in my office just went over and took her children.. 1 and 4 yrs... they had a blast and she highly recommended it for children of all ages..
She rented a cottage in the country and did day trips.

 

[disneymom225]

Outer Banks in NC is a great time. DH love, love, loves it there. We also like going to Vermont--all seasons have something fun to do. Plus, you could add a day trip to Montreal. I've always wanted to drive up the CA coast (ROute 1??) from San Diego to San Fran. Just some thoughts.

 

[RichNKatHolly]

I haven't been to Ireland myself (but hope to before I die), but an atty in my office just went over and took her children.. 1 and 4 yrs... they had a blast and she highly recommended it for children of all ages..
She rented a cottage in the country and did day trips.

That sounds so wonderful!!!

 

[RichNKatHolly]

I've always wanted to drive up the CA coast (ROute 1??) from San Diego to San Fran. Just some thoughts.

We did the coast from SanFran down to Dana Point on our honeymoon and loved it. Wish we rented a convertible though! Next time.

 

[Windy City Heather]

We do two trips a year. Disney and Beaches Nigril in Jamaica. We love Beaches. They currently have the Sesame Street gang there. It is an all-inclusive with child care for all ages.

 

[pyrxtc]

We do bigger vacations every two years and day trips every year. We go to the ocean a lot and we live in the mountains and ski all winter. No camping or anything like that is a vacation for us. we also spend days in Boston (a few hours drive).

We have visited Niagara Falls on the Canadian side and we had so much fun. Marineland was a blast and took us a whole day. Next summer we have a trip to Hershey Park with just DH,DS's and myself. Our vacation after WDW (2007) is for a trip to Arizona. We will save some money by staying with my sister mostly and spending a night each at the Grand Canyon and in Mexico. After that it's a DH and I only trip in 2009 to Atlantis in the Bahamas. Then is 2010 we have a family trip to Hawaii. Then we still have Germany, Vietnam, and Italy. Someday we hope to get to Egypt.

 

[jrjac]

We do two trips a year. Disney and Beaches Nigril in Jamaica. We love Beaches. They currently have the Sesame Street gang there. It is an all-inclusive with child care for all ages.

Windy City Heather,
We are just starting to look into Beaches Family Resorts. I have a question for you, if you don't mind.
Are there alot of FAMILY activities? We just went on a cruise a few months back and we were disappointed with the lack of family activities. Lots for kids and lots for adults, yet lacking in the FAMILY activities. (we are not interested in the child care aspect)
ummm...one more question, please...how was the food?!



11 days and we're off to Disney!

 

[Windy City Heather]

Windy City Heather,
We are just starting to look into Beaches Family Resorts. I have a question for you, if you don't mind.
Are there alot of FAMILY activities? We just went on a cruise a few months back and we were disappointed with the lack of family activities. Lots for kids and lots for adults, yet lacking in the FAMILY activities. (we are not interested in the child care aspect)
ummm...one more question, please...how was the food?!



11 days and we're off to Disney!

I am so sorry but I can't really answer the activity question. My dd just turned 3 so hard to say cause that was not something we were looking for. They have a water park that we all played in and would be great for families. They also have water sking, banana boats, glass bottom boat and snokeling that a family could do. I know that we also saw families playing ping pong and basketball. I think they had a water relay's for all ages. There is a mini golf course. Sand volley ball. They also offer excursions (for a cost).

The food is o.k. not the best I have had put o.k. The buffet changes all the time. I always found stuff I liked. They also have a kids buffet with kid type foods (nuggets, hot dogs, mac & cheese, fries etc.) I loved breakfast at the buffet. Made to order eggs every morning and momosas plus side dishes and pancakes and french toast. Fresh fruit at every meal on the buffet. The seville is the best but it is adults only, this is way above o.k. The tex mex was the next best (all depending on what is at the buffet that night). I had a great steak. Japanese was my least favorate but fun to do. The beach buffet was really good too.

1-5 scale (5 best)
Seville 4.5
tex mex 3.5
buffet 3
japanese 2

I think the biggest thing about Jamaica that is make or break your vacation is service. We are very very big please and thank you people. We saw a big difference in the way we were treated opposed to the people who were kind of rude the the staff.

Feel free to PM me if you want more detail or have other questions. The main reason we picked this resort is the nursery. The first time we went was when my dd was 1 and most resort make you pay extra to watch toddlers. I had been to Sandals and loved it so I knew I would be o.k.

 

[MandM-Mom]

I would suggest a Norwegian Cruise Lines vacation, the Free Style Dining is perfect for children. NO set dinner time or dining room go where you want at what time you want. We did this with our DD when she was 18mths and she did great. Another place we did with her was Vegas, we brought along Grandma for night time but during the day we did the pool, water park, white tigers, mgm lion exhibit, shark reef at Mandalay Bay, circus circus, so much to do too much to list. We also absolutely love the Sandals resorts so Im sure Breezes and Beaches would be wonderful.

 

[HayGan]

We the Outer Banks of North Carolina. We will probably always go there one week a year. Our big vacations this year and next year are Disney but we will be going to Atlantis in the Bahamas in 2007. I loved Atlantis when I was there in 1999 and DH/kids have never been there. There is so much to do especially for families. DH and I really enjoyed the couples only Sandals resort in Montego Bay, Jamiaca. I've heard good and bad things about the Beaches (family) resorts but mostly good.

 

[mookie]

I love hearing all of these ideas! I love finding a great vacation deal, and going to new places. I swear if I spent as much time cleaning my house as I did researching the cheapest way to get a hotel room, you could eat off my floors!!

If you are interested in going to Hawaii, there is a little known tip about getting a good hotel deal. If you purchase the entertainment book, you get 50% off the room rates at any Aston Hotel on any of the islands. We just got back from Maui and Kauai in March, and we used this. We stayed at the Aston Kaanapali Shores in a condo/resort. It was great! It is not an actual coupon,though, and wasn't even listed in our book. You just have to show the entertainment card when you check in to get the rate.

ps - If anyone is planning a trip to Hawaii, and staying at an Aston hotel (or looking to stay at one.) before the end of the year, PM me. I still have our book and our card, and I'd be happy to hand it over to anyone who might be interested. It's valid until Dec 31st, 2005.

I'm a big Hawaii junkie, it's my other obsession other that WDW!

Good luck in whatever you decide, a vacation is always fun!