Vacation Ideas Help

[belle22]

We are trying to plan a non-Disney vacation. Last year we went did an East coast vacation (we live in OH) and loved it. We tried to do one thing in each state. What we also liked was that we saw a city (NYC), History (Boston) and a National Park (Acadia). What was nice was our longest drive (besides the way home) was only 5 hours.. after that less then 3 at each stop with the states being so small. We have been to DC, St Louis, Niagara Falls, Virginia. Are kids are DD9 and DD11. We thought about Mt Rushmore and Yellowstone and I have found a few things listed to do around Rapid City. Not sure my kids will want to drive all that way.. without places to stop at. Also missing a "city" part of the trip. We thought about Driving to San Antonio - still a long haul and what places to see on the way there? Any other ideas or ideas from OH to TX or OH to Yellowstone?

 

[sksjasams]

Have you thought about a vacation in Kentucky and Tennessee?

I think that would be a very reasonable drive for you and both states are absolutely lovely.

Kentucky has the Mammoth Cave National Park, and the Louisville slugger factory.

Tennesse has Nashville (music city), Memphis (Graceland), and a ton of stuff to see and do in the Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg area (including Dollywood). The Smoky Mountains are beautiful and there are lots of car or hiking tours to try.

 

[MichaelaF]

I was going to recommend KY and TN as well. It's so lovely down there, with lots to do. We visit Nashville once a year, and enjoy Louisville and Chattanooga as well. We're doing a camping trip/Bourbon Trail trip there for Memorial Day weekend.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

You could easily kill 2 weeks on a SD/Yellowstone drive. There's definitely lots of history along the way, but also loads of open space. You could potentially go through STL, KC, and/or Omaha.

San Antonio will also have a lot of open space, less scenery, but more cities along the travel route.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

What about Ohio to Chicago to Wisconsin Dells?

Chicago gives you the "city" aspect that you are seeking. And the Dells are a great place for family fun....we had a blast there for a week in summer 2010.

 

[belle22]

Yes we have been to Chicago. TN.KY. Any other ideas?

 

[msmama]

What about doing something like 90 to the west (maybe as far as Mt. Rushmore? - you'd go through Chicago that way). And then 80 back to Ohio (I think you could go through St. Louis that way). You'd hit a lot of states that one wouldn't ordinarily travel to that way.

I've done cross country treks on both of those roads, and there are good parts and bad parts to each.

 

[sk8jdgca]

What about Quebec City . It is like travelling to Europe

 

[Gumbo4x4]

What about doing something like 90 to the west (maybe as far as Mt. Rushmore? - you'd go through Chicago that way). And then 80 back to Ohio (I think you could go through St. Louis that way). You'd hit a lot of states that one wouldn't ordinarily travel to that way.

I've done cross country treks on both of those roads, and there are good parts and bad parts to each.

St Louis is on 70. 'Course if they are in Southern OH, that would be a natural route home.

 

[ProudMommyof2]

How about Philadelphia and or Baltimore with maybe a few days at the Jersey Shore?

We did a great trip where we drove from RI to NYC to go to The Museum of National History and Central Park before heading to Phily. On the way home, we went back through NY and did the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Both Phily and NYC have great deals with Citypass.

 

[katie111]

How about Dc, Charleston, and Savannah and/ or Hilton Head. We did this trip last year from Boston with 3 kids 6, 10 & 11 and they loved it.

 

[Jaya]

I'd recommend the Yellowstone and Black Hills trip. In the Black Hills, you have Mt. Rushmore (majestic), Deadwood (historic and fun), Needles Highway (scenic), Custer State Park (buffalo, buffalo, buffalo) plus bear gardens, caves, hiking, rock collecting, vintage railroad trips and much more. For Yellowstone, I'd recommend the town of Cody, Wyoming. There's the Buffalo Bill Museum, the Cody Night Rodeo, the Buffalo Bill Dam, street theatre in front of the Irma Hotel, the Homesteader Museum, Old Trail Town & the Museum of the West, and the Heart Mountain WWI Interpretive Center (where the Japanese-American citizens were interned during WWII) and lots of side trips. You can go to Thermopolis to soak in the hot springs, visit the ghost town of Kirwin, or just drive to see the sights. The East Entrance to Yellowstone is about an hour from Cody, then another hour to Old Faithful, but the sights along the way are primo. Alternately, you can take the Northeast Entrance and go over to Mammoth to see the spectacular hot springs formations. As I said, it does involve some driving, but it's so worth it.

 

[BellaBaby]

What about Ohio to Chicago to Wisconsin Dells?

Chicago gives you the "city" aspect that you are seeking. And the Dells are a great place for family fun....we had a blast there for a week in summer 2010.

Gina-
OMG! I was just on Trip advisor checking out the Dells as we haven't been in a few years and yours was the first review that popped up on Tommy Bartlett's watershow (even tho it was from 2010). I was thinking is that the same Gina from the Disboards? (I was pretty sure it was!) And here I come on here and see you suggesting that area!! Too funny!
I've read some of your TR and we even tried the Shrek breakfast last summer based on your TR!

Anyway, sorry to hijack just had to say what a small world!! (Disney reference )

 

[pigletto]

I'd recommend the Yellowstone and Black Hills trip. In the Black Hills, you have Mt. Rushmore (majestic), Deadwood (historic and fun), Needles Highway (scenic), Custer State Park (buffalo, buffalo, buffalo) plus bear gardens, caves, hiking, rock collecting, vintage railroad trips and much more. For Yellowstone, I'd recommend the town of Cody, Wyoming. There's the Buffalo Bill Museum, the Cody Night Rodeo, the Buffalo Bill Dam, street theatre in front of the Irma Hotel, the Homesteader Museum, Old Trail Town & the Museum of the West, and the Heart Mountain WWI Interpretive Center (where the Japanese-American citizens were interned during WWII) and lots of side trips. You can go to Thermopolis to soak in the hot springs, visit the ghost town of Kirwin, or just drive to see the sights. The East Entrance to Yellowstone is about an hour from Cody, then another hour to Old Faithful, but the sights along the way are primo. Alternately, you can take the Northeast Entrance and go over to Mammoth to see the spectacular hot springs formations. As I said, it does involve some driving, but it's so worth it.

Well I don't know about the OP, but I'm sold!!

I have always wanted to do a trip like this. Maybe next summer. I wonder what I'd even have to budget for a trip like this? Hmmm.. I see some more planning in my future.

 

[3boymthr]

What about pigeon forhe and gatlinbirg and nashville and maybe ashville?

 

[worm761]

What about North Carolina? The zoo in Asheville or Ashboro (can never keep them straight) was good years ago. Gem Mountain you can hike, sluce buckets for gems, dig in caves or search the streams for gems. Then maybe move on to Top Sail Island for some beach time. Shell collecting and searching for shark's teeth.