Where ELSE do you vacation??

[kkayluvsdis]

Do I dare ask?? Where is your favorite family vacation spot? We are a family of five (kids ages 7, 4, 2) that LOVE Disney but thinking of exploring other options for a get away this coming winter.

Thanks!!
-Kelly

 

[RDawn]

We rented an oceanfront beach house at Myrtle Beach this summer & both kids (ages 8 & 10) broke my heart when they told me that they liked it better than Disney! They have since agreed to go to WDW again if we go to a water park or drive to the beach also. Anyway, Broadway on the Beach at Myrtle Beach had a bit of a Disney feel to it because there are rides, shops, mini golf, aquarium, & themed restaurants. We also LOVED the Pirate Adventure Dinner Show. There were several other things that we planned to do but skipped because the kids enjoyed going out our front door & running to the beach so much.

 

[Zabnee]

We love to cruise, but we don't do it with DCL.. too expensive! For the price of our Disney vacation,we could actually spend TWO weeks on a cruise ship with a different line, that have the Fun Ships. (Not sure if we're allowed to list a different company or not!)

We like to cruise, because it's a new adventure with each new port.. food is included, and there's always activities for the kidos (DS8 & DS9) at the kids club. (DS8, who was 6 at the time, chose the club over dinner in the dining room a couple of times his first cruise!)

 

[Luv Bunnies]

We do a lot of Disneyland/Southern California trips since it's only a 7 hour drive for us. We also like to cruise. We've taken our kids on 3 (twice to Mexico and once to Alaska; DH and I cruised twice before the kids came along). Next summer we're spending a week in Vegas since DH has a convention to attend. The rest of us will hang out at the hotel, see some shows, check out the other resorts, boys want to hit some arcades, etc.

 

[luvmy2babies]

Great Wolf Lodge, Virginia Beach, Myrtle Beach. We also like the mountains, but you mentioned getting away from winter. I'm starting to look at cruises again now that my son is potty trained. Previous one was 6 years ago.

 

[mrsp1030]

San Diego, Hilton head, myrtle beach, Caribbean

 

[shell8558]

Besides disney - Destin Florida , San Antonio Texas & weekend trips to New Orleans to watch football games !

 

[donac]

We are headed to Alaska next year. We will cruise for a week and then 4 days in Denali

 

[Fivesacharm]

Prior to our Disney trip in July, we rented a beach house at OBX in June and had a wonderful family vacation!

 

[tzeitel]

We went to San Diego this past April and loved it! There was so much we did not get to do I am already planning another trip for next year

 

[kmb584]

NYC and Washington D.C. round out our top 3 vacation spots. There is just so much to do with all of the different museums and shows, and very beneficial as most of it's a learning experience as well.

During the summertime we also like to spend long weekends in Hershey. The park itself is fantastic and a great way to spend the time between our April and October WDW trips, but I could stay in our hotel for the entire time and have a great time too. I love the ambiance and comfort.

Once my little one is older we'll start exploring abroad. I grew up traveling internationally and can't wait to share those experiences with my daughter. Because of the cost though I plan on waiting until she's at least 8 so she'll at least remember some, if not all, of those vacations. And next summer we'll be taking our first cruise ever. I've never been on one nor has she, so I thought it'd be a great way to spend a part of August as she starts Kindergarten at the end of that month (where'd my baby go? ).

 

[Mrs. Ciz]

South Carolina - Edisto Island & Hilton Head Island
North Carolina - the Outer Banks, Lake Lure, Sapphire Valley
Virginia - Massanutten, Virginia Beach, Williamsburg
California - San Diego, Los Angeles, Lake Tahoe, DLR
New Hampshire - skiing at Loon Mountain, Waterville Valley, Attitash & Bretton Woods
Florida - Naples, Miami, Bonita Beach, Ft Lauderdale, WDW
New York - NYC
Pennsylvania - The Poconos
Wyoming - Jackson Hole/Grand Tetons
Colorado - Keystone
Hawaii
Mexico
St Thomas

Next up is Arizona - Sedona & the Grand Canyon
Also saving for a future dream trip to Kenya for a safari

 

[amym2]

We've traveled a lot with our kids (11 and 9):

San Antonio
San Diego/Anaheim (DLR of course!)
Alaskan cruise/Vancouver
Washington DC/Williamsburg
Outer Banks NC
Asheville and Lake Lure NC
Boston
St Louis
Springfield IL
Cincinnati
Bahamas cruise
Galveston, TX

For winter, you might consider San Antonio (Sea World, Riverwalk, Alamo, etc) or San Diego. We have lots of friends who go to other places in FL (Sanibel, Destin, Naples) but we haven't. Hoping to get to Vero Beach sometime. Have you considered that?

 

[Goldilocks07]

I totally agree with the whole Myrtle Beach thing. It's AWESOME for families. Tons to do. I grew up going there, my grandparents had a place on the beach. We've since gone a few times, but it's a hike for us now that I'm in New York City.
If I could, I would make a trip there for a week at least once a year.

Washington DC is fun, but not in the winter.

If you can afford it, the Atlantis in Nassau is SICKKK. Wow, what a place.

Going on a cruise is another wonderful family option, we actually just got back from one today.
If you need help with cruise info, let me know, my mom's a cruise planner and I can at least point you in the right direction. It can be overwhelming.

I hear the Great Wolf Lodge is a lot of fun, but not for more than a couple of nights.

My ultimate favorite place to go (aside from Disney, of course) is South Miami Beach, the Loew's is family-friendly- and if you are up for it, the night-life is something out of a movie. It's decadent. Of course, you'd have to get a sitter.

 

[jtowntoflorida]

Our kids are still very young (3&6) so Disney is the perfect vacation for them. The six year old is asking to go to other places, though she says that Disney is still her favorite. We have been to New England (New Hampshire, Boston, and Cape Cod) and Ft Myers with the kids, but I think it will be a year or two before we go much further. My six year old has made several requests to go to Europe (!!!) already. I just went to Europe for the first time a few weeks ago! LOL. I did a stopover in Iceland on my way there, and that's definitely at the top of the list on places to take the family when the youngest is old enough. Others include:

Grand Canyon
Caribbean
Alaska

 

[Mama Mouse]

I'd suggest St. Louis, Kansas City, Dallas or Galveston.

In Dallas there's quite a lot to do but our favorites were (for the older kids) learning about the Kennedy Assassination. For ALL the kids, Klyde Warren Park was simply wonderful.

They also went to another park, Fair Park maybe? They also made the drive and spent a couple nights at Galveston. I didn't go to that one since half of the trip my ds was with my Mom/family and I was visiting a dear friend. I joined them for the second half.

I live near St. Louis and KC and both have a lot of very fun things to do with kids.

 

[yeheyprincex2]

We love San Diego. Great place for families, lots to do. Also Atlanta, Hawaii( have not been (2009)since we had kids but I'm planning on a Hawaiian trip fall 2014)

 

[set1208]

Prior to our Disney trip in July, we rented a beach house at OBX in June and had a wonderful family vacation!

Another vote for the Outer Banks in NC for the summer. We get a beach front house with a pool for a week or two every July. I think December may be too boring though.

Austin and San Antonio were a lot of fun too.

 

[anjalee6]

We usually do Outer Banks, North Carolina but not sure you would want to do that in winter.

We like Great Wolf lodge in Williamsburg, but do that for no more than 3 days.


We like Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, but prefer Outer Banks.

Until the government shut down is over, wouldn't suggest National Parks and such although there are some beautiful ones we have tried.

 

[AntFarm]

San Diego, Arizona, San Antonio, NYC, D.C., Atlanta, Hilton Head Island