What OTHER vacations compare to Disney?

[SelfEmployedDebtFree]

I put this here, because I have children. I am hoping for feedback from other parents of children in the 4-10 range.

OK, We've done Disney 3-4 trips a year, for the past.... lost track... of years.
I need a break from the crowds, sweat, buses, and dare I say... pixie dust.

Dont get me wrong... We'll be back... but I want to have some new adventures for a year or two.

We were considering the following activities:

Beach combing
kayaking
whitewater rafting
fishing (but not as much... I love to fish, but the children arent into fishing)
sailing
camping
horseback riding
flying (local planes or helicopter)
caverns
panning for gold or jewels
grilling shrimp while watching the sunset
and general relaxing (we dont do much relaxing at Disney)

Any ideas?
Where have YOU had an AWESOME time? (aside from the obvious)

I'd like to keep it under $1000ish, and time is negotiable. A weekend or whole week. I'm (obviously...) self employed, so I can go when crowds are low, and temperatures are more comfortable. No limitations. We're adventure seekers too, and the children are good at making the best of things, so it don't have to be lavish.

I'd prefer to keep it on the East Coast of the U.S., but any ideas are better than none.

Ideas anyone???

 

[eliza61]

Hey Mom,
First, don't compare to Disney. Disney is a different animal all together. A lot of those activities you can combine in one vacation. One year my family and I did a resort in PA (I'm trying to remember the name) that had swimming, horseback riding, white water rafting and other things to do. We loved it. We live in Southern NJ so of course we do the shore thing but in my mind that is not a relaxing or inexpensive vacation.
Since this steel trap, I call a brain isn't functioning right now, google PA tourism. They have a great guide to fabulous vacations in central and western PA. We are big fans.

 

[jenb1023]

The Hershey, PA area may be a good place for you to visit. I live near there and there are lots of things to do some of which are on your list.

There are lots of campgrounds for camping and hotels if you prefer that option.

If you want to do the amusement park thing, you can go to Hersheypark which is a nice family park.

If you don't want to do the whole theme park thing, Chocolate world before you enter the park is free and you can do just Zoo America (attached to the park), for I think $7.

Indian Echo Caverns is minutes from Hershey. You can tour the caverns and I also think they offer panning for gold or gems or something like that. You might be able to find more info on their website.

There is also the Hershey Gardens with the Childrens Garden and Butterfly house.

There is plenty of good fishing in the area. I think there are some horseback riding places but I am not sure.

If you want to venture a little further, you can head to Gettysburg and all of the things there to do.

Good luck with your decision!

 

[mrsa1993]

It won't be under $1000 (more like $10,000) or on the east coast but I would suggest an Alaskan Cruise. We did that this year with 7 kids ages 3-12 and grandparents. It was INCREDIBLE!!! Alaska is just incredible and then when you add in stuff to do on the ship and shore excursions it makes it even better. You can do many of the things you mentioned... fishing, panning for gold, horseback riding, helicopter sightseeing, etc. We, in fact, did many of those things are more. Disney is a fun vacation but it is not even in the same category as Alaska. If you have questions, I'd be happy to answer them.

mrsa

 

[JoBird]

Hey Mom,
First, don't compare to Disney. Disney is a different animal all together. A lot of those activities you can combine in one vacation. One year my family and I did a resort in PA (I'm trying to remember the name) that had swimming, horseback riding, white water rafting and other things to do. We loved it. We live in Southern NJ so of course we do the shore thing but in my mind that is not a relaxing or inexpensive vacation.
Since this steel trap, I call a brain isn't functioning right now, google PA tourism. They have a great guide to fabulous vacations in central and western PA. We are big fans.

Was the resort Nemacolin?

 

[3jsmommy]

Try checking out Acadia National Park, Mt. Desert Island Maine.
I haven't been there yet, but when my one year old is big enough to keep up we are def. going.
Anyone else been there yet?

 

[DVCLiz]

If you want a less expensive option, the NC mountains are beautiful and you could do many of the activities on your list there. The Asheville/Brevard area is lovely - my daughter goes to summer camp up there and I have always wanted a house on Lake Toxaway (dream on!)

The other vacation that we loved, loved, loved was Key West. It was different and exotic enough, but still Florida and tropical. We stayed for 3 nights at the Hilton (I think) on Mallory Square, and then 2 nights out at the Sunset Key cottages. What a great experience - although it would put you well over your budget to stay there!!! You could have a great variety of things to do there, especially the fishing/boating/water activities.

 

[3jsmommy]

I was going to say Key West too. My parents took us there when I was young & DH & I have been there. It is a little expensive though. You will definitely get your sunset though!!

 

[Darcy03231]

My kids love to cruise. You can get some inexpensive 3-5 day ones during off times of year. We've cruised both Carnival and Royal Carribean and like both. You can get some ideas for pricing on www.vacationstogo.com.

 

[Worfiedoodles]

Another vote for cruising, especially if you can leave from a nearby city w/out airfare. My ds9 cruised at 7 & 8 and had the time of his life. On his second cruise, we took a 5-minute drive to the port, and after debarking had a 5-minute drive home. You just can't beat that...it wasn't under $1,000, but depending on your cabin type it can be a fantastic value for a week.

We are also planning to lay off the Disney vacations for a bit. We intend to go to Washington DC, NYC, and Niagara Falls. I'd love to go to Hershey, but dh refuses to enter PA (he's driven across it twice when we moved, and he says it's the longest state ever...).

We have also had a great time at Santa's Village in NH. The White Mountains offer many of the activities you mentioned, and you could throw in a day at the theme park.

Next summer dh and I are going to San Francisco for an anniversary trip. Don't worry about ds -- he's going to St. Louis for the week with his grandparents. He thinks he's getting a better deal!

Maria

 

[cruiserkaren]

My kids love to cruise. You can get some inexpensive 3-5 day ones during off times of year. We've cruised both Carnival and Royal Carribean and like both. You can get some ideas for pricing on www.vacationstogo.com.

Our dd loves to cruise too. She just turned 4. If we ask which she'd rather do (disney or cruise) she always says a cruise.

Cruising is great b/c everything is so convenient. Have fun planning.

 

[Princess Roo]

What about renting an RV or pop-up trailer and driving up the east coast? Or fly up part of the way and go from there. I was raised in upstate NY and we did a lot of camping. My favorite was when we drove up into Maine and Acadia National Park (as someone else here has already mentioned). We also really enjoyed touring Amish country as a family. The RV aspect is an adventure in itself if you haven't done it before.

 

[LaurinG]

Have you done Pigeon Forge/Gaitlinburg? When I lived in NC we rented a cabin (3 bedrooms for about $150/night) for a long weekend every fall. You can do so many of the things you listed in that area. I love touring the waterfalls in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and we usually spend a day at Dollywood as well, we go in the fall when the artisan show is set up there, which is very neat and definitely worth the price of a entrance ticket. We also spend an afternoon at UberGaitlinburg, which the 4-10 age range loves. And you must check out the Apple Barn for dinner. Plus there's lots of outlets and fun shopping. It's also not far from Cherokee, which is a great day trip as well.

 

[Siouxstone]

Have you done Pigeon Forge/Gaitlinburg? When I lived in NC we rented a cabin (3 bedrooms for about $150/night) for a long weekend every fall. You can do so many of the things you listed in that area. I love touring the waterfalls in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and we usually spend a day at Dollywood as well, we go in the fall when the artisan show is set up there, which is very neat and definitely worth the price of a entrance ticket. We also spend an afternoon at UberGaitlinburg, which the 4-10 age range loves. And you must check out the Apple Barn for dinner. Plus there's lots of outlets and fun shopping. It's also not far from Cherokee, which is a great day trip as well.

I was going to suggest Gaitlinburg as well! I just love it there and we went often when we lived outside Atlanta. Dollywood and the Apple Barn are some of our favorites too, but I love, love, love Hillbilly Golf! The Aquarium is really cool as well. We spent Halloween there once and all the shops did trick or treating for the kids. It was wonderful! A day trip to Cherokee with a picnic in the Great Smoky Mountains on the way was always a favorite.

 

[LuvOrlando]

-

 

[ILoveDisney&Cruising]

Another vote for cruising

I agree wholeheartedly! A cruise to .......... ANYWHERE!!!!!!

 

[SelfEmployedDebtFree]

WOW! Great responses!!!!
I didnt expect this much advise! Keep it coming!!!

If you want a less expensive option, the NC mountains are beautiful and you could do many of the activities on your list there. The Asheville/Brevard area is lovely - my daughter goes to summer camp up there and I have always wanted a house on Lake Toxaway (dream on!)

Ive done several of the things mentioned here. October Falls (if memory serves me right) was a great restaurant overlooking the waterfall. But we got lost on that trip, and a 4 hour trip (I'm in NC too!) took 10. That was a bad trip. The restaurant was the ONLY good point. We left early and arrived late. After supper, tired and aggrevated from the drive we found a neat little campground. We got everything out of the car, and started to pitch the tent. But with no light; no tent! We couldnt see, and had forgotten to check the batteries in the flashlights. (this was before LED flashlights and hand crank ones too) So we started a campfire... or tried... I thought ahead on this one, and brought a quart jar full of kerosene that was useless at home. We stumbled (falling often... flashlights were almost dead) through the woods to find anything to make a campfire. We gathered together a nice little start of a campfire, and just as we started to light it, it rained, and rained, and RAINED. It POURED!! Even with a quart of kerosene, it still wouldn't stay lit, so, wet, exhausted, and disgusted, and with NO tent, and no light to assemble it, we packed all the drenched stuff back in the customized Taurus wagon (miss that car) and drove back home at midnight. We got home at 6:00AM. At least the drive back didn't take as long.

I do plan to try it again though! This time I'll have better directions and LED flashlights with good batteries. I'm also bringing a plumbing torch. Darn it, its gonna burn this time!!!

Ive also done the Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg trip countless times. Its a great place too. Last time we wanted to do the helicopter ride but it was closed for the weekend.

We're considering a trip across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge into that area.

We've also considered a trip to Washington DC, but I have road rage really bad, and Ive been warned about DC driving.

We're considering Boston MA also. We have family there. I did it once as a kid, but not sure theres much to do there for the kids.

We considered the cruise too, but I'm hoping to avoid crowds, and I always picture a cruise ship as being crowded.

We also looked into the Disney Vero(?) Beach.

Keep the ideas coming.

 

[kacaju]

what about Lake George? We went there last summer and had a great time.

 

[momof2n2]

rent yourself a house on Chincoteague Island. It is wonderful.

Kayaking, beach, bicycling, swimming, shopping. You feel like you are in a little book!

 

[momof2n2]

Have you done Pigeon Forge/Gaitlinburg? When I lived in NC we rented a cabin (3 bedrooms for about $150/night) for a long weekend every fall. You can do so many of the things you listed in that area. I love touring the waterfalls in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and we usually spend a day at Dollywood as well, we go in the fall when the artisan show is set up there, which is very neat and definitely worth the price of a entrance ticket. We also spend an afternoon at UberGaitlinburg, which the 4-10 age range loves. And you must check out the Apple Barn for dinner. Plus there's lots of outlets and fun shopping. It's also not far from Cherokee, which is a great day trip as well.

YES< YES< YES<!!!

We love it down there.