OT: Vacation ideas other than WDW?

[tigereye]

I'm not sure this is the right place for this, so feel free to let me know if it's inappropriate.

I've been planning a June vacation to WDW this year. After sitting on my hands and missing a 40% off pin, the 4/3 deal, and a couple of DVC rentals, I find myself in the undesirable position of paying rack rate for everything. As much as I love WDW and want this to be our summer vacation this year, I'm having difficulty geting through the mental block of doing that. Plus, it seems to me that if I wait just a couple of more months until our school break in October, I can use free dining to swing both a WDW vacation then and a smaller summer vacation now.

I'm embarrassed to say, though, that I can't come up with another idea for a vacation, as I'm a WDW guy. I grew up in a beach family, but over the years, my kids haven't really taken to it. Nor are they thrill seekers, so roller coaster-heavy amusement parks fall flat as well.

Additionally, after a long string of extended family vacations, this will be the first trip for just my kids' and I. I'd really like to make it something special.

Does anybody have any alternate vacation ideas that aren't Mouse-related that a group of pre-teens might enjoy?

Thanks,

Mike

 

[Aliceacc]

Where do you live? I'm assuming that you don't want to pay airfare?

Would you consider a city? Washington DC, NYC or Chicago are both wonderful choices with lots to do.

 

[ms_missy66]

What? Are you suggesting there are vacation options other than WDW? I am not aware of such a situation. ;-)

You may want to check out the Atlanta area, if you're still wanting to be in the south east. Or maybe the Asheville area in the mountains of NC? Ever consider a cruise?

 

[tigereye]

What? Are you suggesting there are vacation options other than WDW? I am not aware of such a situation. ;-)

That's what people tell me. I'm skeptical at this point.

To answer a couple of questions... We're in Cincinnati (sorry, that would have helped). We don't necessarily need to rule out flying since airfares from here have recently dropped.

DC is probably out, as my kids haven't shown a real inclination to get into the museums that we've been to in the past .

I'd thought about Chicago, but that feels like more of a weekend trip to me than an actual vacation, and I'm still not sure what we'd do there (see DC & museums).

A cruise is on my todo list, but at this point, I'd be worried that they'd go off with their age-specific groups and I'd be on the Lido deck twiddling my thumbs..

They've expressed some interest in seeing civil war battlefields, but I don't know that's something around which an entire week can be planned.


Mike

 

[EthansMom]

I definitely recommend looking at cruises. Our whole family LOVES to cruise. Plus, there are lots of kid-friendly activities/groups as well as things to do as a family. Set a few ground rules as far as going off to do things with their peers and you should be fine there.

My family has cruised the last few years on RCCL's Explorer of the Seas out of NJ because we can drive to the port. The ship has a rock climbing wall, mini-golf, basketball, rollerblading, ice skating, shows, parades, great kids' programs, children's waterslide, etc.... The kids' programs are drop-in and hours are usually for a few hours in the morning, few hours in the afternoon, and few hours in the evening. Basically, kids eat most all meals with their parents and are with their parents for going in to the port.

Usually, our kids go to the kids' programs for a few hours a day, which gives DH and I a good break. Otherwise, we're doing stuff as a family.... swimming, climbing wall, ice skating, heading out to the beach on port days....

Also, 4 people can fit fine in one cabin (there are pullman beds that lower out of the ceiling... my kids LOVE them).

With a wide range of cruises leaving off both coasts, you could leave out of just about any port.

Your kids are at great ages to introduce them to cruising! So, definitely think about it.

 

[Darcy03231]

Here's another vote for a cruise! My children love cruising. While its true that they go off and do some age appropriate things, we also have a lot of family time together on a cruise. With preteens I would recommend either Carnival or Royal Carribean.

 

[shoney]

Last year we took the boys (7 and almost 9) to an all inclusive in Mexico. Now, I know there are advisories at this point for that location, but the all inclusive worked out well. My husband and I did it 3 other times, but without kids. I love the ocean, but my kids don't. They had a ball! They loved the all inclusiveness of it....ordering virgin drinks at the bar, ordering whatever they wanted off a menu...it was very freeing. They went to the kids club. They swam in the pools, played giant chess, basketball, pingpong and made numerous friends. So far, that has been their favorite vacation!!!

 

[chrisw127]

One of the best vacations I've ever taken was a trip to the Canadian Rockies. We flew into Calgary and drove a few hours north to Jaspar. It was unbelievable. We hiked and went swimming everyday. We stayed at the Chateau in Lake Louise as well. It was really one of the most beautiful hotels/settings I've ever seen. Later, we stayed a few days in Banff. There were lots of activities for kids, as well as for grown-ups, not to mention lots of excellent food.

DC is nice too; a little hot in the summer, though.

 

[shoney]

Oh, just thought of something else. About a year and half ago we had to fly to Buffalo for a funeral so it wasn't a vacation so to speak. We just took our older son with us at the time. We stayed in a hotel on the NY side of Niagara falls. Besides the funeral, we had a great time for our 24 hours or so there. We walked the falls, went on the maid of the mist, walked the bridge to Canada, went to the funhouses and haunted housed on the Canadian side. We were only there for a short time, but have put it on our list of things to go back to. I would stay on the canada side, though...much nicer!

 

[CyndiLooWho]

Our family vacations have always been to Myrtle, the Outer Banks, Hilton Head. It's an easy drive from the Bluegrass, so it wouldn't be much longer for you. If you go to North Myrtle, it's not as crowded, but there are still places for your kids to go and have fun. You can lounge around the pool or lazy river, play lots of themed mini-golf, go to a few themed dinner theaters, and just slow down.

The last time we went to Myrtle, we got a great 2 bedroom condo 3 rows from the beach (we don't really do the beach either) for around $1000, with 30% off b/c we booked late and they were trying to get it rented. We had b-fast and lunch at the condo most days and dinners out. It was relaxing and not too expensive.

The other place we plan to take the boys (next summer?) is DC. Our kids LOVE museums if they are not art themed. They've been to lots of European museums, so it's time to do more American museums, and what could be better than the Smithsonian? I know you said your kids weren't too interested in the museums, though.

As another suggestion, how about Charleston SC? You can tour the carrier Yorktown and visit many other military sites there (www.PatriotsPoint.org), there is a civil war battlefield, ghost tours, plantations, a beach. It's only about 8 hrs from the Bluegrass. We're going with the Cub Scouts at the end of July, and we're actually going to spend the night on the carrier (I think this may be a group only thing) and work on our aviation badge. I know Wyndham has timeshares in the area, and you coudl probably find an owner to get you a good rate on one (we prefer a condo if at all possible, so we can cook and do laundry).

good luck finding a different place to visit.

ETA: have you asked your kids for some ideas? They might really enjoy doing something that you haven't even thought of yet.

 

[rodeo65]

As a Canadian I'll give another vote to Niagara (Ontario side ) and toss one in for Muskoka area since you're looking for summer. Muskoka is a three or so hour drive north of Toronto and absolutely beautiful. You can choose any type of vacation from camping to full service resorts. Your dollar will (sadly for us) go further here too.

 

[Aliceacc]

How about Club Med? There are several that include "kid clubs."

Or, if there's any way you can swing it, Alaska??

I don't know whether there are any deals out there, but I could happily spend forever as a tourist in London.

 

[tricia]

I want to second, or third, or whatever the cruise suggestion. My kids love it. We do several excursions as a family, but then in the evenings, when I want to go to a show and they don't, or some afternoons ( I want to sunbathe, they dont) I do what I want and the kids go to the club. We really like Royal Caribbean.

 

[tami82]

Try Pigeon Forge Tennessee in the Smokey Mountains. It is a real family type place with lots for the kids to do. Gatlinburg TN is a few miles away. In Pigeon Forge there is Dollywood & Splash Country and lots of other activities. There is also the Smokey Mountain National Park. I have been going since i was little and now took my family and they all love it. They have also recently built a few waterpark type hotels which i am dying to try.

http://www.mypigeonforge.com/

 

[pweyl36]

We love camping. some camp grounds have cabins or trailers to rent. Your kids would love it.

 

[Tam1067]

California has lots of great things to do. You could fly into LA or San Diego, tour Southern California, see the coast, and leave from San Francisco, with stops along the way.

There are numerous beautiful places with fun things for the kids to do, and if you wanted, you could add in Disneyland, too! That way you get a Disney fix without spending the entire trip there. San Francisco has lots of fun things not tied to museums as well.

 

[Brer Shay]

There's lots in the DC and surrounding areas. As someone mentioned, there are all of the Smithsonian museums, the new Spy museum, lots of monuments and memorials. The national zoo is very good also. Not far from there you can head north to Baltimore for the Inner Harbor and Aquarium, then on to Gettysburg to tour battlefields. You could also head south and go to Monticello, Martha's Vineyard then on to Annapolis or down to Virginia Beach.

You could also head west, tour the Grand Canyon, up to Bryce Canyon in Utah and through Zion national parks.

Maybe a little more idea of whether you're looking for indoor or outdoor activities, likes & dislikes.

 

[riley2008]

What about a family camp? We have one on the beach about 2 hours away that I LOVE (and I hate the beach). This one is through our church diocese, but it's not "churchy". KWIM (And NO cooking for mom - love it!)

We often thought about the YMCA camp in Colorado. Lots to do there.

Sorry, I'm from south Texas. I think anything around here in the middle of the summer will only make wish you were at WDW (heat and humidity-wise that is). Otherwise, San Antonio has lots to do and there's always Houston.

 

[Sandi]

We went to the Grand Tetons last summer and it was wonderful. We stayed at the Jackson Lake Lodge and really had fun. We enjoyed hiking, rafting, horseback riding, wildlife watching -- the moose and elk were amazing -- and going into Jackson Hole. The Mural Room, a nice restaurant in the Lodge, reminded me of Artist Point at WL -- DH reminded me that the Mural Room was there long before WDW. DH and DD drove out and back; I flew in for the Grand Teton part of their vacation. Jackson Hole is a nice little airport.

This summer we are planning to go to Stratford and Toronto, Ontario for a mini-vacation. Stratford has some great theater to enjoy if your kids like that.

 

[CyndiLooWho]

Another easy drive from where you are is Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia Beach, and Busch Gardens. They are right there, together, and offer a variety of things to do.