Vacation Ideas

[Figment1983]

Wasn't sure where to post this....

Looking for non Disney vacation Ideas for 4/2-4/9 2016

The Family
Me 33
Wife 33
Daughter 6
Son 2

Live in Atlanta GA

Looking for vacation ideas in the 3-4k range (or cheaper)

Would like to keep drive under 9 hours or so if we are going to drive.

Ideas so far:
Williamsburg, VA
Destin, FL

 

[ajwolfe]

Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg TN
Hilton Head SC
St Louis MO would have a lot of free fun stuff for the kiddos in your age range.
Savannah GA/Charleston
Dauphin Island AL

 

[havaneselover]

Williamsburg is fun and a great value but I'd be bored there for a week in the spring. In the summer it would be terrific. How about Tampa? You could do the beach and go to Busch gardens and the water park there. They also have a great zoo and aquarium.

 

[cjnix29]

Cruise?

 

[garnetandblack]

I suggest Hilton Head - it's one of our favorite beaches and the best in SC. It's very laid back and the complete opposite of Myrtle Beach. We try to go for a long weekend at least once every summer. There are some great resorts (including DVC), houses and condos available.

When we go to the beach we like to do nothing. We sleep in, have breakfast and spend the day lounging on the beach. Then we go out for dinner. etc. HHI also has live music and fireworks nightly during the summer. DS is 5 and still enjoys this. Some people enjoy a more go-go-go vacation.

Nevermind - HHI won't be great in early April.

Clearwater Beach, FL would be nice. You could probably fly to a nice AI for a family of 4.

 

[Figment1983]

Thanks for suggestions....def considering an all inclusive...having a hard time getting excited about a lot of the trips. Going on a Disney cruise in the fall and just got back from 7 night cruise so trying to avoid another cruise.

Lived in Tampa for a few years.

Like the Charleston/Savannah idea too.

May see where my skymiles will get me.

 

[HeatherC]

Hawks Cay Resort in the Florida Keys?

Atlantis?

Rent a villa in the US Virgin Islands...St. John....fly into St Thomas

AI in the Dominican Republic

 

[Moomduck1]

What about Disneyland?

 

[TwoMisfits]

Washington DC (that's about the edge of the 9 hour drive) - pretty awesome and practically everything free if you've paid for food/lodging/shelter
Tennessee (lots of great places - you could do Dollywood, the forests, Nashville, etc)
VA Beach/Williamsburg/Norfolk - rather than only seeing one site, take the time to see Busch Gardens, the beach, the historical areas AND the cool science museums (there is a combo ticket usually around then which pays for 7 days all access to Busch Gardens and Williamsburg)
Charleston SC - it's close - it may be too adult for the kids, but you could also do a beach part of this trip and the weather should be warn enough, even in April (although you might not be able to swim, the kids could collect shells, play in sand, dip toes in, etc)

 

[Figment1983]

Wound up renting a house in Destin....going to save some money so the wife and I can take a trip to the Caribbean at some point this year.

 

[Tornike Evans]

Nothing than Disneyland

 

[tzolkin]

Williamsburg is fun and a great value but I'd be bored there for a week in the spring. In the summer it would be terrific. How about Tampa? You could do the beach and go to Busch gardens and the water park there. They also have a great zoo and aquarium.

Just curious for some more info about your opinion on this.

We were actually just discussing last night between Williamsburg and Tampa/Clearwater/St.Pete area and we were leaning toward Williamsburg. What's the drawback of there in the spring?

 

[havaneselover]

I live in central va. Weather can be rainy and cool in early April (not too common but two years ago we had lousy weather for the kids' entire break), Water Country isn't open, and it's too early for a beach day. I love Busch Gardens Williamsburg and have had season passes for six years, but I would be bored for a week in April.

I lived in Tampa and there's a ton to do there between bg, their water park, the zoo, the beach, the aquarium.

 

[Lucky'sMom]

Another vote for Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge, TN. So much to do there for all ages, and you can stay in a really nice log cabin. My kids have really enjoyed our trips there!

 

[tzolkin]

I live in central va. Weather can be rainy and cool in early April (not too common but two years ago we had lousy weather for the kids' entire break), Water Country isn't open, and it's too early for a beach day. I love Busch Gardens Williamsburg and have had season passes for six years, but I would be bored for a week in April.

I lived in Tampa and there's a ton to do there between bg, their water park, the zoo, the beach, the aquarium.

Yes, our negative for Williamsburg was that it might not be great weather.

The push for that over FL is that it's only 4 hours vs over 10. If we did Williamsburg we would also just go for 4-5 days. Hmm... I'll have to think about it some more to decide.

DH and I both grew up in FL, but east coast not gulf.

 

[TwoMisfits]

Yes, our negative for Williamsburg was that it might not be great weather.

The push for that over FL is that it's only 4 hours vs over 10. If we did Williamsburg we would also just go for 4-5 days. Hmm... I'll have to think about it some more to decide.

DH and I both grew up in FL, but east coast not gulf.

If it were me, I'd do VA - cheaper and easier drive, and normally beautiful April weather (while it may be cool in Williamsburg, it may be equally sweltering in Tampa, so you could have weather issues either way).

I also enjoy all that the entire area has to offer (not just Williamsburg proper) when we vacation - and I've never had a complaint from the fam when we go (which we do every 3-4 years to keep it fresh)...

 

[100AcreWood]

Another vote for Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge, TN. So much to do there for all ages, and you can stay in a really nice log cabin. My kids have really enjoyed our trips there!

Any tips on renting a cabin in that area? This is on our to do list for this year.

 

[Lucky'sMom]

Any tips on renting a cabin in that area? This is on our to do list for this year.

We've used cabinfevervacations.com but I wouldn't hesitate to use vrbo.com and just choose a cabin with lots of great reviews. I prefer to be close to the action, so we like Alpine Mountain Village. It's very close to main road in Pigeon Forge, but if you want a good mountain view, you would need to stay a little further out.