When is the best time to visit with 3 kids ages 15 - 5?

[HodgesMom3]

We have 3 kids & wondering when the best time to go would be. We've been in June and August when school was out but don't want that heat.

 

[Mousemommy1]

Do you have an April vacation? End of April is our favorite time to go.

Other than that, we go end of August because even though it's hot, the crowds are super reasonable.

 

[Vijoge]

We mulled over our options for taking four of our granddaughters, 17,11,8,and 6, and have decided to go the last week in January.

 

[mrsp1030]

We have 3 boys, two of which are school age and we have chosen Thanksgiving week as a great week to go. The crowds are no more than Summer and less than Spring Vacation and Christmas vacation. Plus you get pretty decent weather and the holiday decorations are already up!

 

[100AcreWood]

If you don't mind taking them out of school September is great but can be hot/rainy on some days. October is our favorite time to go but it is getting more popular. If I could pull the kids out I would go the beginning of November when he Christmas decorations are out but before Thanksgiving week.

 

[kohlby]

I agree that April vacation may be your best bet, if that's when your break is. Avoid the time around Easter. (Though, I've known people who went the first week of April when Easter fell then and said the crowds weren't nearly as bad as they expected). Taking a 5 year old out of school isn't usually a big deal - though it is in some states. But taking a 15 year old can easily be a big deal. You can also look for smaller school breaks so your children don't miss as much. For example, in-service days or other things that give you a 4 day weekend. Then your kids won't miss nearly as much.

As for time of year without considering school, I would stay away from Sept since you don't like the heat. We went the first two weeks of Sept of 2014 and it was brutal - as in heat indexes over 100 sometimes! I live in the southeast and we still struggled with the heat. We usually go in Nov/Dec, avoiding the holiday weeks. The crowds have always been quite manageable then and the weather great. The crowds are moderate, instead of low, but still easy to deal with when the weather is nice. Dealing with the weather is harder to do than dealing with crowds IMO. We did the last week of January one year and it was record lows and so incredibly cold. It was too cold to swim and even super cold in the parks. The crowds were very light though.

 

[heywagners]

Our favorite time of year is November. We have gone the week of Veterans Day and the crowds weren't horrible and the weather was nice. We are going that week again this year because Tuesday is election day (day off of school) and Thursday is Veterans Day (day off school) so they will only miss 3 days of school.

 

[Cadiewampus]

We usually go the Saturday or Sunday before memorial day and then stay through that first week in June. Weather has never been too hot and the crowds are not too bad.

 

[aaarcher86]

As much as I love the festivities and decorations of October, I still think February/early march is my favorite time.

It's not crowded, the weather is nice, and with things closing earlier I don't have to be out too late to see fireworks and things I want.