Other Family Vacations

[phantom728]

Take a CRUISE!!!

Last year we took a cruise and I am HOOKED!!! I'm trying to convince DH we need to vacation at WDW every other year and during the "off" years we should cruise!!!

We went to the Western Caribbean last year out of Tampa, and now I'm looking at an 8 day Eastern Caribbean out of NY (port close to home).

My kids LOVED the cruise and wanted to cruise this year instead of WDW, but that wasn't happening. I do need my Disney fix every other year...if we can afford it.

I will agree with this as well. We've now been on 2 cruises...loved them (although Disney is still Number 1 ). Our first one left out of Miami (E. Carib), the 2nd out of Tampa (W. Carib), so airfare was always a consideration. We are now in the process of booking one for next year leaving out of NJ, which is within driving distance for us as well.
Can't wait!!!!!

 

[Tickla]

CHARLESTON, SC!!!!! Our absolute FAVORITE place...besides Disney of course. There is just something about it..the history, the gorgeous plantations and rainbow row,Fort Sumter, the ghost tours in the dungeon and old city jail. We took a private boat ride to an old lighthouse--we found so many HUGE seashells and sanddollars--our kids loved it!! We kept it a secret this past Easter--they had no clue till we got on the boat--we even had dolphins swimming around our boat!! We go to Charleston AT LEAST once a year--or we can't take it! Our oldest son loves it so much, he wants to go to the College of Charleston in 3 years! It is so beautiful around Easter! You can smell all the flowers in the air, and go to Waterfront Park and watch boats, barges and even cruiseships--it's so much fun!

 

[tmarquez]

We live in FL and go to Disney quite often so we have been experimenting with other ways to vacation too. Our DD is only 4 so alot of the historical places I want to save until she's old enough to get it. We did a short cruise as a test and she (actually all of us) had a blast (we also took my stepsons 8 and 12). She asks almost as much to go on "the big boat" as she does to Disney. You can also make it as inexpensive...or expensive as you want depending on the cruise line you choose and the dates.

 

[calliemom]

carwesty, we have been going to the Dominican Republic every year since our daughter was 2. We have gone to various resort, but our all time favourite is the Casa Del Mar in Bayahibe Dominican Republic. You can check out www.debbiesdominicantravel.com for some excellent reviews of family all inclusive, (meals, drinks, entertainment) and remember to use those reviews to get a general idea of how the hotel is. You will always find people who find something to complain about. I've used this strategy with all our d.r. trips and there's not been a bad one in the bunch.

 

[AnnaS]

Besides all the great places mentioned here - we have done many of them, how about an all inclusive ranch. We went to Rocking Horse Ranch (upstate NY) and we all had a blast. We parked the car for the week and we were set. Horseback riding, water skiing, banana boat, hayrides, swimming pool inside and outside with slide. Too many activities/games/entertainment to mention. perhaps something similar near your home.

 

[dixiedizfan]

Our kids enjoyed all the following:

Charleston, SC - Historic homes, museums, acquarium, carriage rides, plantations, Charlestowne Landing State Park

Myrtle Beach, SC - Beaches, mini-golf, Broadway at the Beach, shopping, dining

Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge, TN - Great Smokies, Dollywood, amusements

Williamsburg, VA - Historic homes, buildings, reenactments, Busch Gardens

 

[DBC]

Next year (well, actually April 2008) we are going to try Atlantis on Paradise Isalnd. We have 3 days left at Disney and the remainder of a yearly pass at Universal that we are going to burn in Feb/March 2007.

 

[jmskinner]

I just have to throw in my 2 cents also.

Being a Texan, I have to cast my vote for San Antonio also. There is lots to do there.

Dallas/Ft. Worth is great also.

We spent a week in Houston and had a great time, but Astroworld is now gone if you are looking for amusement parks, but you are only a couple hours away from the beach.

I also have to vote for the DC area, we lived there three years and didn't do everything we wanted to. You can ride the metro and see all of the museum's, which most are free! Six Flags America is also there. One thing we liked to do with our son is go to Lancaster County, PA. There is a little amusement park called Dutch Wonderland. There is one old wooden coaster there, but the rest of the rides are for little kids. You can tour an Amish farm. Huge outlet shopping centers if you want to shop. Strasburg, PA is about 10 minutes from Lancaster and it has trains you can ride. The toy train museum. You can also take a couple of hours and go to Hershey. Gettysburg isn't too far. We just loved it.

I haven't been to Dollywood in TN, but have wanted to. It sounds like a great family vacation also.

But, after just taking my first trip to Disneyworld this past Summer, I want all of my family vacations to be to WDW.

 

[rt2dz]

Check out the book Frommer's 500 Places to Take Your Kids Before They Grow Up by Holly Hughes. You can check it out at your library or get it at Amazon for as low as $10.65.

It is full of wonderful ideas that will certainly appeal to your family's interests.