Sacreligious Post...Vacation Planning

[DisneyLovingMama]

Okay, I'm looking into vacations for next year and I realized...(gasp!)...I'm Disney'd out. Every vacation that we've taken since DD's been born has been disney-related (parks, parks, cruise, parks/cruise). I kind of want to take a break...What is wrong with me??

Seriously, though, does anyone have any recommendation on where to take a 6-year old and 20-month old in the Summer? I was thinking of renting a house in OBX, but cooking and cleaning for myself and the family doesn't seem like much of a vacation. I've always wanted to go to Vegas, but it'd be really hot and it doesn't seem very child friendly.

TIA for any ideas!

 

[FletcherMem0rial]

OBX is great for families, we stay in the Nags Head/Kill Devil Hills area

You can also do Orlando without doing all Disney

USF/IOA, Busch Gardens, Sea World/Discovery Cove, Gatorland...

[size=-2]ok, I'm done [/size]

 

[momoftwins]

What a timely post. I was just looking at cruises (Disney, RCCL, or Princess) and I am in pocketbook shock

We just got back from WDW last week. We did the free dining plan. We had a good time, but ...

Anyway, my kids are 9. I asked them and they said Washington, DC would be fun. I tried to do a search on all of the posts here on Washington, but I could not get it to work properly.

We were also thinking Long Beach Island in New Jersey, Niagara Falls, Pennsylvania - you know all the usual places. Personally, I am not really a driving type. I would if I had to. I love the shore, but for me when we rent a cottage there is laundry and cooking to do. That's not relaxing to me. Two years ago we did the San Diego - Disneyland loop. That was fun.

I was wondering if anyone has been to any fun family all or almost all-inclusive resorts. I feel planning burnout. However, I know if you do not get a decent jump on plans a lot of the discounts are gone.

Yoohoo - can anyone save us moms from planning overload? Where are you going?

 

[DisneyLovingMama]

DH and I did Washington DC a few months before I became pregnant with DD. It was a lot of fun - a lot of walking. This was before 9/11, so I'm not sure how much has changed. I love the Smithsonian museums, though.

I practically spent all my Summers on LBI. It is a great place for kids, especially ones your age. But, i'm with you - I want an all-inclusive type of place. Especially one with some babysitting. That's why we keep going back to DCL - it's got everything...

How about Wiliamsburg?

 

[isla bonita]

I did DC this past year with my oldest son (14). Everything is free to get in. Wait till you have to make a drink purchase. It more then makes up for it. I found it so expensive with everthing we did was free.
I am not sure he enjoyed it as much as I did. It was my first time. It was over the top. We saw so much history and government first hand it was humbling. I was in awe every place we went. I can not wait until my younger son gets a little older. Also I better put some cash together for the next trip.

 

[Albertan mom]

My hubby just told me tonight that he doesn't want to go back to Disney already too!
So I was just thinking the same thing--where else is there to go???
Our kids are older though, 7 and 10.
Would be nice to get out of the cold winter here and head somewhere south about November though!

 

[sm4987]

I'm hoping someone else will reply. We are also looking for ideas. We love Disney but would love to see and do something different. An al exclusive resort would be wonderful.

Does this mean everyone only does Disney??

 

[scrump]

I am not a gambler, but Vegas was a lot of fun. Lots of buffets, lots of over the top theming. If you go during the off-season, the rates are lower and the weather's cooler. I don't have kids, so perhaps I have a different sensitivity level than those who do, but I wouldn't have a problem with taking children to Vegas. DH and I pretty much ate at all the buffets, walked around the strip, did Hoover Dam, and did some window shopping. They have a monorail up and down the strip that should make it easier to navigate around. Cirque de Soleil has a ton of shows out there... anyway, it's a thought.

I also understand about being Disney-ed out. Hey, it happens. You need to have a break to appreciate it anyway.

DC's great. One of my favorite cities to visit. Chicago has some beautiful architechture, ok beach.

 

[jenks0718]

We did Busch Gardens and Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia and has a great time. We also want to do a trip to Salem, MA around Halloween and to see how beautiful New England is in the fall

 

[KarenB]

Jane-I was going to suggest Williamsburg also. There you can find Busch Gardens, Colonial Williamsburg, and Water Country USA.

We took our kids to Vegas this summer as well as Zion, Bryce Canyon, Grand Canyon, and Sedona. They are 16 and 15 and I don't think I would take kids there much younger. We could really push them a bit to go on many of the harder trails.

Karen

 

[lovemygoofy]

I think that Sandals or Beaches has some family all inclusive resorts and has Seaseme Street characters there.

Williamsburg, Virginia is fun

CA is always fun whether going to Disneyland or not. I love to just rent a convertible and drive up and down the coast. They have Knott's Berry Farm and Magic Mountain and Leggo Land.

Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge is a cute place to vacation. You can rent a gorgeous cabin and go to Dollywood/Splash Mountain. There are some little museums around and ton of mini golf and of course the Smoky Mountains with it's hiking trails and swimming holes.

What about a national park like Yoseimite (sp) and seeing the gyesers?

MN has the Mall of America and there is it's own amuesement park in it.

The Wisconsin Dells has more water parks per capita then anywhere else in the country.

There are lots of places that can be made fun. If you go to the travel channel website they have loads of lists for family vacations. Good luck in planning.

 

[Beth76]

Hey, I got Disney'd out just by planning my trip. Actually cancelled it because it stressed me out so much.

If you're looking for a theme park type vacation, Cedar Point is excellent! It's in Ohio on Lake Erie. They have several of the best-rated roller coasters in the world. Also a big hotel on-site that is walkable to the park. Many other hotels in the area too (I think a few others might be walkable).

Chicago's a wonderful city too! We went in May for just 2 nights and my son is dying to go back. I think Vegas is really gearing itself for families, but I haven't been in a long time and I didn't take my kids, so I can't really comment on that.

OBX--is that the Outer Banks? Just because you have a house doesn't mean you have to cook and clean the whole time. You could still go out for lunch and dinner and just do breakfast at home.

I don't know if you're considering anything out of the country, but Mexico is fairly inexpensive. Riviera Maya (check out my countdown ) is supposed to be great for kids. There are so many all-inclusives that cater to families. It's south of Cancun so not quite the party atmosphere as Cancun (so I've heard).

 

[shelly3girls]

The OBX area is an AWESOME vacation. It is by far the most relaxing vacation we take all year. I do not cook at home and will not cook on vacation. DH usually cooks on the grill and there are plenty of restaurants around. We normally go with atleast one other family and split the house. This year we went with a couple families. We had a huge house (7 BR, 5 baths) on the beach with a private pool/hot tub. All told even with gas (from NJ) the whole vacation cost us $1100 and the house was gorgeous. We stayed in the 4WD section where the wild horses roam all around the houses. The kids got a really big kick out of it.

 

[emmoms]

WE enjoyed going to New Hampshire's ski resorts in the summer. Loon Mountain (www.loonmtn.com) in Lincoln, NH was great - lots to do in the area too. Franconia Notch is awesome. Unfortunately, the Old Man in the Mountain has fallen so that's no longer there to view. Conway has a nice railroad (www.conwayscenic.com/) and Mt. Washington is there too. Everything was extremely reasonable during the summer months.

 

[KarenB]

Oh----How about Disney's Hilton Head resort??? It is great there! Even if you are not a DVC member, you can pay cash. Not cutesy, character Disney but the same high quality Disney. Lots to do own your own or join in the scheduled activities.
Karen

 

[Just2554]

If you live in the northeast and wanna take a cruise, I say hop on the Norwegian Dawn. I mean, it's not Disney, but it is an absolutely beautiful ship. It sails out of New York and goes down into the Bahamas (the itinerary depends on when you're going). The service is fantastic, there's lots to do for both kids and adults (including a casino, something Disney doesn't have if you're into that) and they have some exclusive art. If you're an art buff, the ship is worth it just for that. They have four original paintings - Van Gogh, Monet, Mattise, and Renoir - and it is completely spectacular to see them up close, to eat dinner right next to them. Norwegian also does a nice dinner concept called "Freestyle Dining" which basically means you can eat dinner in the time frame of 5:30 to 11 whenever it's conveinent for you.

I've been on the Disney boats five times, so I'm definitely spoiled, but I would recommend the Dawn to anyone. It's the next best thing in my opinion.

 

[2BigKIdz]

We usually spend a week in the Nags Head area every summer with family. This year we went to Myrtle Beach for the first time and I have to say that the water was so much nicer in MB. It was a lot warmer (we went in July to MB and went to Nags Head just 2 weeks ago for the weekend and the water is still cold) and not nearly as rough. As far as atmoshphere, nothing beats OBX for me, it's my home away from home but I really enjoyed MB as well. There is a lot to do there.

Several posters have mentioned Williamsburg, VA Beach is only an hour away so you could combine that. They have vacation homes for rent in the Sandbridge area of VA Beach comparable to OBX.

 

[aprincessmom]

I kind of want to take a break...What is wrong with me??

There's nothing wrong with you...heck, DD came to that conclusion when she was 5

She and I have been traveling since she was an infant and we've been lots of places. I love renting a house or condo wherever we go because I love to cook and eating out with small children, no matter how good they are, is always a risky proposition, especially on vacation when schedules are all upside down. Plus, it's nice to have the space to spread out and be able to stay up while the little ones are asleep in their own room.

As for places, I've been to the following places with DD from the time she was about 9 months until now (she's 9 years old now) The ones below are our favorites -- both fun and family friendly. They are:

New Hampshire (White Mountain Regions)
Maine (Portland, the beach areas, and Mt. Desert)
Vermont (Burlington)
Massachusetts (Boston, Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, Greater Springfield, Stockbridge)
New York (NYC, Niagara Falls, Cooperstown, Hudson River Valley, Finger Lakes)
Washington DC
South Carolina (Charleston, Kiawah Island)
Florida (Sarasota)
Arizona (Phoenix, Scottsdale)
California (San Francisco, San Diego, Orange County)
Hawaii (Maui)
Montreal