Where do you go when you don't do Disney?

[peanut12392]

I live in the Colorado Springs area and would be happy to answer any questions for folks!

I would love to hear more about what there is to do in the Colorado Springs area! I was there as a kid, and we are considering going with our kids now, both teens.

 

[klfrech]

Me too!! Would love to combine a trip to Colorado with a short visit to Vegas. Any tips or suggestions? Vegas is a 10 hour drive from Denver and was wondering about a good midway point. We would fly into Denver and out of Vegas.

 

[kissy]

We always end up going to visit family or friends so California, Texas....
DH and I go on a business trip/vacation every August to Portsmouth, NH. I love it there! We also go to Destin or Orange Beach, AL every summer. We only live aout an hour and a half away so thats a nice weekend getaway for us!

 

[lisajl]

We are headed to the Upper *****ula of Michigan.
Renting a house (cabin), nice kitchen, lots of room to spread out.
We will be near a state park so we can go hiking. This place even allows dogs so our dog will be going with us.
I think it is crazy, but the kids are excited to take Chloe with us.

Lisa

 

[NancyIL]

I live in the Colorado Springs area and would be happy to answer any questions for folks!

I love your photo of the Broadmoor. Two summers ago my husband attended a conference in Colorado Springs, and I invited myself and my son along! We stayed at the lovely Broadmoor, and saw many sights in CS - my favorite being Garden of the Gods. We also enjoyed going to Canon City to ride the Royal Gorge train, and spent an overnight in Fraser - before driving through Rocky Mountain National Park.

I always go to WDW at least once a year, usually solo, but I would never make it my only vacation destination. We've had some great family trips to places other than Florida: northern and couthern California, Washington, D.C., the Grand Canyon and Sedona, AZ, Europe. We've never taken a family cruise.

 

[DebMcDonald]

We go to Myrtle Beach, it's family fun for us. Beach and pool by day, (some of the hotels have GREAT pool ares with water slides and lazy rivers, miniature golf at night and fun family fare for meals.

 

[DebMcDonald]

Hilton Head Island!!! We absolutely LOVE it there, we went four years in a row, stopping last year to go to WDW, and I missed it!

We went to Hilton Head last year instead of our normal Myrtle Beach and we didn't love it and will probably never go back. We didn't find it very family friendly. I think if we just went as a couple we would have enjoyed it more. Our hotel was great, but get a rainy day and there is NOTHING to do with the kids.

 

[HayGan]

Out other favorite vacation spots/activities are:

Outer Banks, NC
Niagara Falls, ONT
Renting a cabin at a state park (this is super fun and very inexpensive!)

We are also planning trips to:

San Antonio, TX
California (for Disneyland, of course)
Hawaii
Williamsburg, VA

 

[rockyroad]

We have been to
Williamsburg/Jamestown/Yorktown/VA Beach/Cape Henry

Chattanooga...battlefields, Look Out Mountain,Tn aquarium

Mountain View Arkansas...Folk Center, music in the square, Blanchard Springs Caverns, hiking

Asheville NC... Biltmore House, hiking (climbed a mountain), Thomas Wolfe House

Buffalo Point Park Arkansas, canoing on the Buffalo River, hiking, camp or rent a cabin

Gulf Shores, the beach at the state park is wonderful, camp or stay in the lodge, explore Fort Gaines, ride the ferry to Dauphin Island

Cruise from Galveston, took a swamp tour in Louisiana going down and went to The Myrtles, the most haunted house in America on the way back

Cruise from New Orleans, explored the French Quarter, walked everywhere

Cruise from Port Canaveral, flew down and stayed at Disney for two days before the cruise.

I always try to combine some learning with fun.

 

[Poohlovr]

If it's not Disney, it''s a cruise. We took our DDs on them when they were younger and this year we are taking our grandson on his first cruise.

 

[delmar411]

a week at a beach house is always really family friendly. Even if you aren't much for swimming in the ocean, many of the houses have their own private pools.

 

[Jalva22]

Branson, Missouri! Close to home, inexpensive, an easy vacation, and a great theme park in Silver Dollar City. It allows me to recharge my finances and energy for WDW's next go-around!

 

[Sweedee]

We have been to
Williamsburg/Jamestown/Yorktown/VA Beach/Cape Henry

Chattanooga...battlefields, Look Out Mountain,Tn aquarium

Mountain View Arkansas...Folk Center, music in the square, Blanchard Springs Caverns, hiking

Asheville NC... Biltmore House, hiking (climbed a mountain), Thomas Wolfe House

Buffalo Point Park Arkansas, canoing on the Buffalo River, hiking, camp or rent a cabin

Gulf Shores, the beach at the state park is wonderful, camp or stay in the lodge, explore Fort Gaines, ride the ferry to Dauphin Island

Cruise from Galveston, took a swamp tour in Louisiana going down and went to The Myrtles, the most haunted house in America on the way back

Cruise from New Orleans, explored the French Quarter, walked everywhere

Cruise from Port Canaveral, flew down and stayed at Disney for two days before the cruise.

I always try to combine some learning with fun.

I like your list! It sounds like us! We have had the luxury of moving every year for the past 10 years, so we have been able to see some neat things! On your list, the only ones I haven't done are Galveston, Port Canaveral, and Williamsburg (et. al). I haven't been to those specific places in Arkansas, but have been to Petit Jean State Park and to Hot Springs. The two on that list that I enjoyed the most was The Biltmore House (fil paid for us to go on Christmas day, and it was a great treat!), and I also enjoyed Chattanooga. When we lived in Atlanta in 2000, it was a day trip for us, and for 60.00 our family could enjoy both Rock City and Ruby Falls. I was expecting some kitschy experience based on all the roadside advertising, but I was pleasantly surprised! It was beautiful!

 

[EthansMom]

We're another cruise family! Cruises are very kid-friendly. While there are kids' programs for several hours a day, our kids usually only go for 2-3 hours in the course of an At Sea Day (and not at all on many day) & participation in the kids' programs isn't mandatory.

On our recent cruise, there were many family-appropriate activities: rock climbing wall, children's pool with waterslide, ice show, ice skating lessons, beach excursions, children's talent show, etc....

We drive to the port (from CT to NY/NJ) which saves a few dollars. Our price per night, including everything, costs about the same as WDW.

 

[Tinkerbelle32]

Another vote for a family cruise. We have done two cruises in the past. The most recent was last Spring Break. Our kids 6 and 8 loved the kids club and stayed there as long as possible. It gave hubby and I some along time to lounge by the pool and work on our tans.! Anyway, this Spring Break we are flying to Europe. 4 nights in Paris, 2 in Amsterdam, and the rest in Dusseldorf and Frankfurt. Have fun planning!

 

[mamalle]

sugar mountain NC either in the winter or summer- hiking, skiing, lots of great parks and creeks, grandfather mountain, tubing, sledding. I could go on and on!
Fla keys is our 2nd favorite. My kids love the ocean, fishing and I love to just relax!!!


this may we will be at the Biltmore in ashville for a wedding. Im interested to see if the kids like it. We go to NC every year and havent been there yet.

 

[bamamom]

Destin Florida!! We go to the beach every summer. Its just not summer to us if we don't go to the beach We stay on Okaloosa Island VERY family orientated, the most beautiful beaches and soooo relaxing! There is tons to do there..... relaxing on the beach (my favorite), great eating, water parks, go cart tracks, amusement type parks, outlet malls, bass pro shop (DH and DS love this) minature golf, cruises, parasailing, jet ski etc......

 

[Darcy03231]

Here's another vote for a cruise. My kids love them.

 

[mamalle]

we are headed to sandestin this summer. My mom lives in Navarre and my aunt has a place on the beach. Im looking forward to taking the kids up there.

 

[jspoole]

We did Cedar Point, Niagra Falls, Dorney Park and the Amish country in PA last summer and the kids loved it. We live in NC , so we just made a complete circle.

Also, took the kids to DC for a weekend and had a ball.