Vacations NOT Disney related

[peainapod]

We have a trip to WDW all booked/planned, but we are honestly thinking about going somewhere else. We are not sure yet

We will be going for a 1st birthday for my little one.

Any ideas for a relaxing,yet fun vacation for us all on the East Coast?

Oh and we will be making this trip end of Feb./1st week of March.

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

I would say it depends on what you like to do. If you like to go to the beach, a lot of people like the Outer Banks. A lot of people like Charleston for historic sightseeing. Atlanta has a lot of attractions (aquarium, World of Coke, zoo, museums). Savannah is also a popular destination. Chattanooga has a wonderful aquarium, children's museum and other attractions. Your 1-yr-old probably won't care a whole lot, so pick what you enjoy.

FWIW, we took our kids for their first Disney trips at 15 months and 18 months, respectively. There was lots for them to see and do and they loved the characters. We live near the beach, so that is not something we go on vacation for. We've done most of the other things I mentioned as they've gotten older.

 

[blessedby3]

We have a trip to WDW all booked/planned, but we are honestly thinking about going somewhere else. We are not sure yet

We will be going for a 1st birthday for my little one.

Any ideas for a relaxing,yet fun vacation for us all on the East Coast?

Oh and we will be making this trip end of Feb./1st week of March.

Our 2nd favorite vacation destination after WDW is Hilton Head Island, SC. That said, I dont think I would want to go there in Feb/March. I would still head to sunny FL if I were taking a winter vacation even if you didnt do WDW (but I would definately hit it up). Your little one may like Sea World as well for all the animals. Another selling point...your baby is free at these parks
We took our youngest to WDW for her first trip at 3 mos and then again at 17 mod (and she has been 3 more times). Every trip was great and she loved different things at each age. There is so much to take in and enjoy when they are little.

 

[Skywise]

We have a trip to WDW all booked/planned, but we are honestly thinking about going somewhere else. We are not sure yet

Las Vegas can be kinda fun...

We will be going for a 1st birthday for my little one.

Oooh... Never mind!

 

[DisneyHumbug]

Woodloch Pines Resort in the Poconos.....has something for everyone .

 

[Colleen27]

At that time of year, with a child that age, I have a hard time thinking of anything better than WDW. Maybe a FL beach if you want something slower paced? The weather for anything further north is going to be iffy if not downright cold, and while there are some very fun indoor and winter-fun destinations all up and down the east coast a 1yo is too young to enjoy most of the activities those places offer.

 

[JillianMarie]

We love love loved Charleston. There's a little bit of everything there. And if you wanted, you could always rent a house on Isle of Palms or something if you wanted to just do the beach thing.

 

[cel_disney]

I know you said NOT disney...but I am having a hard time figuring out alternatives without the facts...why not disney? Is it too much of x? Too little of y? Those things might help come up with other options!

We took DS at 11 months old and DD at 4, 12, 15months old...they were all great trips those even with little kids! I liked that the kids were free to get in and eat and that everyone had kids, so when mine was having a tempor tantrum or was traumatized by a character people hardly noticed because all the kids were doing it!

 

[cuteinnocent]

I love all-inclusive beach resorts, like Beaches or Club Med are good for little ones. Cruises are fun too.

 

[meajuly5]

The breakers in palm beach fla is great for kids that age

 

[wesleybean]

Those are the only things that come to mind. It will be fairly cold in Myrtle unless you catch a break and get a few good days. That said, there is lots to do there year round, even for the little ones. I know you said East Coast, but San Antonio isn't too long a flight and that's a great destination with lots of cool stuff for everyone. Clearwater has lots of stuff too right there at Tampa. I'm actually going there in late Jan and really looking forward to it.

 

[rab1022]

Just another note about that time of year. This year we got off the Disney Wonder in Miami to 80 degree weather and started our drive back home to Myrtle Beach. 12 hours later we arrived home to 26 degrees and snow.

There is a chance that the weather in NC/SC/GA will be nice that time of year, but you can pretty much guarantee that it will be nice if FL.

 

[wiigirl]

Woodloch Pines Resort in the Poconos.....has something for everyone .

 

[crisi]

At that age my kids LOVE aquariums. Looking at fish was endlessly fun. Baltimore is supposed to have a good one (I haven't been).

In my experience, at that age there isn't such a thing as a relaxing vacation away. If you want to relax, you are better off staying home and having a week long grown up movie festival - where you don't need to worry about sleep schedules or strange rooms or baby proofing or your new little walker getting away from you in a crowd or falling into the pool or pulled out by a wave. They are too young for kids clubs, have the potential attention span of a gnat, and you parent 24x7 - even when they sleep you have an ear on them. Getting them anywhere can be a hassle, planes aren't easy and car rides can turn into hours of torture.

You kind of want somewhere where the hassles are limited. A cruise could be nice for that reason - pretty much everything would be taken care of for you.

The good news is that eventually changes and you can sit in a lounge chair with a margarita on a cruise while they enjoy the kids clubs, or have fun in the pool, they'll sit through a long dinner. But that isn't yet.

 

[vinotinto]

Mexico all-inclusives. We did 4 Mexico AIs from the time my youngest DD was 4 months old until she was 2 years old. Seriously, it was our go-to vacation when they were little.

Also consider Puerto Rico. You do not need a passport and you can either stay at a resort or at a condo. Lots of stuff with the little ones - beach, forts, Old San Juan, rainforest. I have family, so we must have gone at least 7-8 times when they were infants-toddlers.

Also, Colorado. Many of the big ski resorts have daycares. They'll bundle the kids up, take them outside to play in the snow, while you go skiing. Lots of fireplaces, hot chocolates, etc. Only issue is that February and March are prime ski time, so it's $$$$$.