Where else do you vacation?

[bellaprincess98]

We are a family of 4 with DS(4) and DS(15months). We did DW last summer with just DS(4) and left the baby with grandma. This year we want to take both but we can not do DW until at least another 2 years.

So where would you go (We live in Jersey) that has fun, sun, beach, amusement parks, but also dont want to be on a plane for more than 2-3 hours tops.

Thanks for the advice.

 

[texasmomoftwins]

San Diego is fun. I'm not sure how far of a flight that is for you, but there's all of the things you're looking for there. Beaches, obviously, Sea World, Mission Beach also has a small amusement park area right on the water, great shopping, etc. Not to mention the San Diego Zoo is by far, on of the best zoos in the country!

 

[texasmomoftwins]

Sorry, I'm a complete moron, the flight is a wee bit more than you're looking for. Hopefully someone else will have some suggestions for you.

 

[musical2]

We go to Williamsburg, VA. Bought a Marriott timeshare there we liked it so much. Busch Gardens Williamsburg is a very nice theme park. Themed to old Europe. Lots of shade in the summer. There is also Colonial Williamsburg, Jamestown, and Yorktown for the experience of some history. If you want to go to the beach you can drive down to Virginia Beach for the day. There is also a nice waterpark that is owned by Busch Gardens nearby in Williamsburg.

 

[cogero]

We go and visit family. We are also planning a trip to either Hereshey park or Lake George too.

But we go to WDW yearly too.

 

[summermac]

Our 2nd fave vacation spot is Myrtle Beach, SC. TONS TO DO!

Also, Hilton Head has a Disney resort but I am not certain you can rent if you aren't a DVC member. I just know they have one b/c my uncle is a DVC member.

http://dvc.disney.go.com/dvc/guest/...id=ProspectsHiltonHeadIslandResortLandingPage

Also, we LOVE St. Augustine Beach but there aren't any amusement parks to speak of right in that area. Granted you could always drive to Orlando for the day and take in a non-Disney park. St Aug isn't far from Jacksonville either. No idea what they offer. We were there on a trip w/out kids so we pretty much beached it and drank...a lot.

 

[momtoBrandon&Jacob]

We are a family of 4 with DS(4) and DS(15months). We did DW last summer with just DS(4) and left the baby with grandma. This year we want to take both but we can not do DW until at least another 2 years.

So where would you go (We live in Jersey) that has fun, sun, beach, amusement parks, but also dont want to be on a plane for more than 2-3 hours tops.

Thanks for the advice.

Hands down Ocean City, MD! Much better than the Jersey shore...PM me and I can give you more details. We go there every year and this year the kids are looking forward to that more than Disney. Go figure...

 

[Annabelleasb]

Well, I am assuming that since you're from Jersey you may have already gone, but, we go to Wildwood along with Disney every year. I've heard from many people that Myrtle beach is great, but my feeling is if your going to drive to SC, you might as well drive all the way to Disney.

 

[Tasmen]

We haven't really done 'family' vacations yet as our LO is only 8 months old. If we keep our vacationing trends in tact now that we've got our DD, we'll probably vacation to Whistler, BC a lot. We /love/ to snowboard. Whistler is a 4 1/2 - 5 hour drive from Seattle and some of the best snowboarding/skiing in North America.

In fact, our first family vacation (not including a trip to go to a wedding) is going to be to Whistler this coming March!

 

[nessz79]

We do Washington D.C. often as DH has family who lives in the area. Tons of stuff to do there- museums, the national zoo, a 6 Flags nearby (we haven't been there yet), shopping, good restaurants, and lots of beautiful parks. You're also relatively close to Shanandoah National Park which we loved.

 

[npmommie]

Point Pleasant NJ......amusements for the little ones, a nice boardwalk, nice beach, theres an aquarium on the boardwalk.

Cape May NJ......nice beach, good shopping and restaurants, no amusements though, the Cape May county zoo is not far up the road, also wildwood is right next door for amusements.

Pennsylvania.......Hersheypark, Dutch Wonderland, Chocolate World

York Beach Maine.........nice beach, lots to do with the kids, amusements, and a zoo.

Ogunquit maine........beautiful beach, nice restaurants, right next to york beach

Cape Cod massachusetts.......nice beaches, lots to do, different areas of the cape depending on what you want

its not the beach but
White Mountains NH........Storyland, Santas Village, Clarks Trading post, there is so much to do in this area

 

[summermac]

Oh an friend of mine also love the Bethany Beach, DE and Rehoboth Beach, DE area.

Not sure on the spelling of that 2nd place.

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

When I was young, we went to Disney World every once in a while, but my parents really wanted my brothers and I to see what the country had to offer, so we went all over. I've been to 49 states now (missing Alaska) and I'm really glad my parents did that for us. My wife and I want to do the same for our kids. So the answer to your question is: all over!

 

[Leleluvsdis]

I've always done Myrtle beach or VA beach with my parents and both are nice. There are PLENTY of things to do both as couples and as familes.

DH really like Ocean City. i've never been , but he goes every year for bike week. He hasn't said anything about the beaches, but says it's pretty, and there's lots to do.

 

[LadyShea]

I live in Gulf Shores, AL. We have a good sized water park, lots of miniature golf and arcades, a multi-track go-kart and amusement center, white sand beaches, warm clear water, a Zoo (featured on Animal Planet's "The Little Zoo That Could"), a Civil War fort, easy access via ferry to the Dauphin Island Sea Lab and another fort on the Island, less than an hours drive to the Exploreum in Mobile and aviation museum and airshows in Pensacola.

 

[chickenlipps]

Hershypark!! Chocolate World!! What more could anyone need??

 

[Belle & Ariel]

What about a cruise? They are great with kids because you have port days where you all can hit a beach of see the sights. On sea days the kids go to the kids club and you can hang out with hubby.
Bermuda has many georgeous beaches and many ships departing from the northeastern seaboard over the summer.
The only problem is once you go, you're hooked.

 

[MomToARedhead]

We enjoy going to Gatlinburg, TN, Santa Claus, IN, Myrtle Beach, SC and on cruises. Cruising seems to be the best overall value if you're able to go in the off-season.

 

[summermac]

And if you don't have a passport, that's quite an expensive if you just do it once.

 

[TravelinMommy]

We go on cruises as our other vacation, we decided to do disney this time instead of the cruise, so I will see which one i like better...I think there are some cruises that go out of new york up there...