Vacation Ideas...NO Disney

[ringaswan]

Alaska ... try a combo land and cruise deal ... definitely different.

and for something really different, why not try a volunteer vacation?

 

[of the seas]

I say a Royal Caribbean cruise on Freedom of the Seas!

 

[vicb]

Your kids are 14, 11 and 6 so it is a bit of an age span.

Two non-disney/ non Florida trips we have done that went very well were:

San Diego (zoo for Pandas, Lego land, Seaworld, beaches, La Jolla...)

Phoenix and Sedona (really great, something very different for us midwesterners... did the Botanical Gardens, jeep tour of sedona, tons of pool time, great restaurants, many other diversions)

Florida but non/disney trips that went well with kids were:

Marco Island (beaches, dolphins and eco jet ski tour)

Clearwater Beach (beaches, segway tour for older kids, pirate cruise for young kids, aquarium, Tampa science museum, Busch Gardens)

Space Coast (loved the day at the Kennedy Space Center).

 

[tae1218]

Have you considered cruising? We are also in Pa and have cruised 3 times on Royal Caribbean from Cape Liberty NJ. It's a great way to see different islands and the ships have great activities for kids and adults.

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

Beaches Turks and Caicos

 

[disneylovin24]

I need some help...my family wants to go on a non-Disney vacation this year. We live in PA but I was thinking out west or the carribean. We are a family of 5 and my kids are DS14, DS 11 and DS 6. I would love some suggestions. I was thinking an all-inclusive if we go to the carribean. My budget is $8000 - $10000 for everything.

Thanks!

So many options!!!

Have you considered a cruise? That way you get to see more then one island.

I like the Alaska idea too, you should really consider a cruise there too!


Here's a few more:

Hawaii
San Diego
Los Angeles
Cozumel
Coast Rica (I have heard so many things about Coast Rica!!!)
Miami

 

[disneylovin24]

Your kids are 14, 11 and 6 so it is a bit of an age span.

Two non-disney/ non Florida trips we have done that went very well were:

San Diego (zoo for Pandas, Lego land, Seaworld, beaches, La Jolla...)

Phoenix and Sedona (really great, something very different for us midwesterners... did the Botanical Gardens, jeep tour of sedona, tons of pool time, great restaurants, many other diversions)

Florida but non/disney trips that went well with kids were:

Marco Island (beaches, dolphins and eco jet ski tour)

Clearwater Beach (beaches, segway tour for older kids, pirate cruise for young kids, aquarium, Tampa science museum, Busch Gardens)

Space Coast (loved the day at the Kennedy Space Center).

I would advise against planning a WHOLE trip to the space coast. The space center is nice, but the area is getting older and is past it's prime.

 

[3boymthr]

The non-Disney places I've been (really hard NOT to go to Disney)
1. Smokey Mountains/Gatlinburg, TN Stayed in a beautiful log cabin.
2. Universal Studios Hollywood
3. Universal Studios Orlando

Non-Disney places I'd like to go
1. Myrtle Beach, SC
2. Daytona Beach
3. Busch Gardens, VA and FL
4. Cedar Point, OH
5. Grand Canyon
6. San Diego
7. San Antonio
8. Atlantis Resort, Jamaica
9. Disney Cruise (ok so it's Disney but it's not the parks)
10. Cape Cod, MA Never been and I live in MA

Maybe this will help you?!

Okay where in MA do you live. I don't live on the cape but we're there all the time for day trips.

I second or third or fourth a national parks trip.

There are some amazing parks out there.

To get you inspired here are some photos from some of the ones we've been to:
A different aspect of the Grand canyon:

Badlands National Park

Mount Rushmore

Covered wagons at cookout, Yellowstone National Park

More Yellowstone:

Crystal Lake National Park, Oregon - There was still a foot of snow on the ground in spots here in July - it was wild - the white stuff that's the snow:

Redwoods National Park:

Petrified Forest National Park:

 

[Deb & Bill]

We just got back from Christmas at Yellowstone and it's even better in the wintertime.

 

[Silent1CB]

Yosemite National Park, CA.
Can include Gold Rush territority, Lake Tahoe(CA/NV) & San Francisco.

Or can include Las Vegas, NV.

 

[Vixen]

Look into Costa Rica. There is something for the entire family and the area is magnificent!
Paradisus Playa Conchal
http://www.paradisus-playa-conchal.com/

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Re...hal-Playa_Conchal_Province_of_Guanacaste.html

I second costa rica! i live 2 hours away from the border of costa rica and 8 hrs form San Jose.. you'll love it! i go to CR everytime i can!

 

[dcentity2000]

La Manga club in the south of Spain. Stunning. Just... stunning.

So beautiful I'm considering moving there permanently.



Rich::

 

[geffric]

we are debating between Cedar point, RNR hall of fame and Hershey PA
or Yellowstone, grand tetons, and points in between..

driving so all is possible.. but the teen has major input...

 

[chloelovesdisney]

Interlaken, Switzerland

 

[Sunshine1987]

We did the Grand Circle in 2009 (Grand Canyon, Zion, Monument Valley, Arches, etc), we also went to Mesa Verde NP in Co, Pikes Peak, Vegas and California (I am from Calif. originally- we stayed with family there).

We also were going to take a day train excursion from Chama, NM (Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad) through the Rockies but decided against that d/t my youngest only 3 and we didn't think he would be entertained on an all day train ride. This was a wonderful vacation! My kids still talk about this trip all the time!

We were going to do Yellowstone / Grand Tetons / Mt. Rushmore / Yosemite this year but can't get enough time off. Going to fly out to California in Aug instead.

Have fun, whatever you decide!

 

[dalt01]

we are debating between Cedar point, RNR hall of fame and Hershey PA
or Yellowstone, grand tetons, and points in between..

driving so all is possible.. but the teen has major input...

i live two hours from Hershey............it is a day trip. you would be hard pressed to make a vaca out of it.

 

[shelbys mommy]

We went to Graceland 2 years ago. Mainly thanks to Hurricane Gustav & the closest we could get reservations was Memphis. And I said that if I am that close I am going to Graceland. DH and DS's were none too thrilled on the idea. Now, DH & DS9 love it & definitely want to go back. DS9 has become a huge Elvis fan & totally loved the tour. We plan on alternating Disney & Memphis. The cost was cheaper than Disney also.

 

[lukenick1]

We did the Grand Circle in 2009 (Grand Canyon, Zion, Monument Valley, Arches, etc), we also went to Mesa Verde NP in Co, Pikes Peak, Vegas and California (I am from Calif. originally- we stayed with family there).

We also were going to take a day train excursion from Chama, NM (Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad) through the Rockies but decided against that d/t my youngest only 3 and we didn't think he would be entertained on an all day train ride. This was a wonderful vacation! My kids still talk about this trip all the time!

We were going to do Yellowstone / Grand Tetons / Mt. Rushmore / Yosemite this year but can't get enough time off. Going to fly out to California in Aug instead.

Have fun, whatever you decide!

I am inquiring about this type of vacation.. we hav e 2 boys ages 7 & 9. My 7 yr old hates to walk a lot. For either of these types of vacations how do you plan if you are flying? Where would be your landing and departing destination? How would we stay...in hotels? How much driving will be involved? Did you ever worry about snakes and wild animals on hikes? What other activities would there be for kids this age?

 

[Deb & Bill]

I am inquiring about this type of vacation.. we hav e 2 boys ages 7 & 9. My 7 yr old hates to walk a lot. For either of these types of vacations how do you plan if you are flying? Where would be your landing and departing destination? How would we stay...in hotels? How much driving will be involved? Did you ever worry about snakes and wild animals on hikes? What other activities would there be for kids this age?

It would be hard to fly directly to these destinations. You'd need to go someplace central and rent a vehicle from there.

You may want to check the National Parks websites of the specific parks you may want to visit. If you plan to stay in the parks, you need to be making reservations now, if it isn't already too late. Xanterra is the company that operates the lodging and restaurants at the national parks.

Visiting these locations is not at all like visiting WDW. And, yes, you need to worry about wild animals and snakes. These are not zoos.

 

[kacaju]

I am inquiring about this type of vacation.. we hav e 2 boys ages 7 & 9. My 7 yr old hates to walk a lot. For either of these types of vacations how do you plan if you are flying? Where would be your landing and departing destination? How would we stay...in hotels? How much driving will be involved? Did you ever worry about snakes and wild animals on hikes? What other activities would there be for kids this age?

When we went to the Grand Canyon we flew in and out of Las Vegas. We drove out to the Grand Canyon, then to Antelope Canyon, Bryce National Park and then Zion. From Zion we went back to Vegas and went home.
We were gone for a week and just touched each park. I easily could have stayed longer.

We rented a car in Vegas and we put about 1,000 miles on the rental. It was a lot of driving, but a very interesting drive since the landscape changes so much.

As the pp said, these are not Zoo's you will see signs saying to be careful of snakes and other wildlife.

There are many Ranger tours in the parks. Your boys may have fun with them. When we were at the Grand Canyon we were there during a full moon. They have special moonlight tours during a full moon. That was great to see the Canyon in the dark (and not something I would have done on our own!!)
There is no cost for these tours.