Summer vacations - other than WDW :)

[KerriMc]

Hello ... I am trying to plan a wee getaway in the summer for our family for about four days. I was hoping someone would have some great ideas for us!!

I have looked into Pennsylvania (near Hershey / go to Philadelphia), thought about North Conway, NH (Storyland / Santa's Village / mountains / railroad), looked at Boston, MA ....

Can't seem to find something that really catches my interest. I though of the NH one, but am worried maybe my girls would be too old for Storyland and Santa's Village now - they are 10 and 7 years of age.

Anyone have some good ideas? Here in Ontario or in the States ... I'm not a camper, so there won't be any of that happening

Thanks so much!!!

Kerrilee

 

[Sue M]

PEI? Niagra Falls? Hershy & Lancaster PA? NYC?

 

[Tower]

PEI? Niagra Falls? Hershy & Lancaster PA? NYC?

We're looking at PEI this summer, but it's not worth the drive if you're only taking 4 days off.
We love Delawana Resort in Honey Harbour. (1/2 drive north of Barrie). This will be our 3rd year there. Great camps for the kiids and DW prefers it over a Disney Cruise!

 

[cam&chris]

Bar Harbor, Maine is very nice. Outlet shopping just south of it in Freeport Maine too.

 

[North7]

My vote would be for the White Mountains in New Hampshire (Conway area). We visited here 4 times in 5 years and thought it was great. We never went to Storyland or Santa's Village either as our kids were older, but we all enjoyed many of the other attactrions, along with the scenic drives through the mountains and the viewing/hiking spots.

Here is a list of attractions... Attitash, Cannon Mountain Aerial Tramway, Clark's Trading Post,Conway Scenic Railroad, Flume Gorge, Hobo Railroad, Loon Mountain, Lost River Gorge & Boulder Caves, Mount Washington Auto Road, Mount Washington Cog Railway, Polar Caves Park, Santa's Village, Six Gun City & Fort Splash, Story Land, Whale's tale Water Park, and Wildcat Mountain Gondola.

There is no way you could do all these in a week... some take the better part of a day themselves!! If your family enjoys the outdoors at all, you will be amazed with this area.

The White Mountains Web Site has a lot of information if you haven't already looked at it.

 

[dsneygirl]

We did Hershey PA a couple summers ago and had a great time. We only went to Hershey Park late in the afternoon though because it was so HOT.

Last summer we went to Williamsburg VA and we all loved it. It is a gorgeous area and there is history (colonial Williamsburg) plus Busch Gardens which is a gorgeous park. We got a combo ticket with the waterpark "Watercountry USA" and it was great.

Virginia Beach is also a great area. Gorgeous beach.

I'm not sure where you are located in ON but Williamsburg was about 12 hours from the GTA.

 

[jtdl]

I love Toronto for short trips. We stay downtown and buy the family transit pass. Hang out in downtown for a couple of days - Royal Ontario Museum, a theatre production if one interests us, China town, CN Tower, Casa Loma, Ontario Science Centre - it's nice to hop on a bus, street car or subway whenever you see one and jump off when you want, even if only just the next block. Then we move off and get a motel in the Scarborough or Markham area and take a day and go to the Toronto Zoo and another day to go to Canada's Wonderland.

 

[lizabu]

I would do Toronto or Niagara Falls. Lots to do in both places. Costco sells a city pass for Toronto which gets you in to many places. Niagara Falls has an adventure Pass that get you in to many things.

 

[weewuvvdisney]

I think Airmiles also offers City Passes for Toronto and other cities.

 

[mtmbyck]

Not sure how old your kids are but Great Wolf Lodge is a wonderful 2 night mini vacation. I especially love it in the summer so we can enjoy the outdoor pool. I also could recommend Blue Mountain resort for a few nights. It's lovely and the beach is close by. Accommodations at both of these locations is perfect - very nice (I don't camp either).

My dream 4 days would be to get on the Dream for a 4 day cruise!

 

[Cdn Gal]

If you don't mind driving... we did Williamsburg Virginia last year and it was AMAZING!!! We only stayed 3 days and didn't do half of it. There is historic Williamsburg, Jamestown, Yorktown, a waterpark, amusement park, plus Virginia beach. I highly recommend it!

 

[minnie mum]

Add my vote for Williamsburg VA. We've been several times and hope to visit again this fall on our drive home from WDW. If you have any extra time available you could tack on a couple of days in DC. We've done this a couple of times to spend time in the various Smithsonian Museums.

 

[Declan2]

My kids really enjoyed North Conway NH, They also like lake George Six Flags. We are heading to PEI and NS for most of the summer and of course Disney.

 

[DeniseinNS]

I highly recommend Boston, there is so much to do especially if you have kids. We are taking our second trip this summer.

-Boston Children's museum, AMAZING!!! We were there for 5 hours.
-Boston Public Gardens. The scenery is so nice, they also have swanboat rides there. The Freedom Trail also starts there.
-Fenway Park
-New England Aquarium
-Six Flags New England 1.5 hours away in Springfield
-Boston Tea Party Ship and Museum

 

[R&J]

Downtown Toronto is a great place to spend a couple of nights. We live in the GTA but like to spend a night or two downtown during the summer. Niagara Falls is always fun, too. Last year we spent a week in Montreal, which we enjoyed. A few years ago we went to Chicago and had a blast. At that time the kids were DD8 & DS5, and when trying to decide where to visit this summer they suggested going to Chicago again. But we're going to New York instead. We've also gone to Blue Mountain a few times, just for one or two nights.

 

[melbrujack]

I was just talking to DH about this the other night. Last summer we did North Conway and Bangor. DS, 3 last summer loved Story land. they have a promotion if you go after 3, the next day is free. It worked well for us. We had a great time there.

We are thinking about Boston this summer. DH would like to see the Red SOX. I will look into the previous posters Boston suggestions.

BTW, I am from PEI, some of you had mentioned coming here. It is a great place to vacation. Wonderful beaches for kids and adult. When I used to waitress, I would recommend 'Basin Head Beach' a the east end of the Island. People would always thank me for my suggestion. It is called the 'singing sands' it squeaks when you walk on it. It is one of my favorite beaches in the world.

Melissa