Where should we vacation next year?

[Minnie824]

Where should we vacation next year? Our DDs will be 5.5 and 3. We have 2 options. 1) California 2) Myrtle Beach. No Disneyworld, we're going there this year. Originally had planned all along on CA....Beach, Hollywood, Bev Hills, Legoland, Universal, Disneyland. But, doing more research, not going to go to Universal, not much for the kids to do at that age. Can't do alot of stage tours. DH said maybe we should wait on CA until the kids are older, but then they may be too old for other things, like Legoland.

So, our other option we thought of was Myrtle Beach. Which would you choose, or do you have any other suggestions? Just a few notes...we're in the Chicago area, don't want to go to another country, and CA would be the furthest plane ride. We're not really 'beach people'. We like to have things to do. I think we're still leaning towards CA, then just go again when kids are older, but not completely decided. Thanks for any suggestions!

 

[munchkin bunchkin]

I myself am a beach creature! I'm sure ther are plenty of other things to do at Myrtle Beach besides sitting in the sand. http://www.mbchamber.com/

 

[mickeysgal]

My vote is for California. We recently came back from Anaheim/San Diego. I will admit that we're tried and true fans of WDW and were skeptical of what we'd experience in Disneyland. Well let me tell you...we absolutely LOVED it. In many, many ways we like Disneyland better than the Magic Kingdom. I know, the horror!!! We would rather go back to DL than WDW. California Adventure was fun, ok. San Diego was a blast. We loved the zoo. Your kids are the perfect age for these type of activities.

 

[mamacatnv]

There is so much to see and do in So. Ca without ever going near DL. The LA Zoo is great along with San Diego Zoo. The Tar Pits are really cool and the big dinosaurs will amaze little kids. Knotts Berry Farm is fun along with Lego Land. Get a good "what to do with kids" in So. Ca. book. Having never been to Myrtle Beach, this would be my pick.

 

[ozarkmom]

Myrtle Beach is great and if you'll look up some information about the area you could see if there are other things that would appeal to you. I have some friends there right now and I wish I was with them.

 

[willis37862]

My vote would be for CA. Never been but planning a trip there in the next year. So much to do and see, can't wait. We did Myrtle Baech once. We didn't like it. We found one or two things that we liked there but overall it wasn't the kinda beach town we like. We preferred the Outer Banks. But to each his own. We all have different likes and dislikes. I would just do my research and see which one appeals to your family.

 

[EthansMom]

Which would you choose, or do you have any other suggestions?

Have you considered taking a cruise?

We just took DS4 and DD2 on their first cruise and they were begging to go on anther one on our drive home from the port. We went on the Norwegian Dawn out of NY and the Kids Crew was the best part of the cruise. We had plenty of time together as a family, lots of entertaining things to do, and the kids had a blast playing with the Kids Crew counselors while DH and I had a little time to ourselves.

 

[golfgal]

I would take San Diego over Myrtle Beach any day for a family vacation. Myrtle Beach is pretty much an over grown tourist trap in my opinion. There is SO much more to do in San Diego.

Our kids favorite trip, besides Disney, has been to the JW Marriott Desert Ridge in Phoenix. We did a lot of day trips to Sedona, Grand Canyon, Mesa and around Phoenix. The pools at the JW are AWESOME. They have a great lazy river for the kids.

St. Louis would be another great family vacation place especially if you don't want a beach. With the Arch, the zoo, City Museum, Grant's Farm, etc. you would need weeks to do everything there. We have been there several times and still haven't done everything.

San Antonio is also supposed to be a great family vacation but I have not been there.

The Black Hills would be another option. There is a TON of stuff to do there with little kids and the lodging is pretty reasonable. You could also do a driving trip to the Grand Tetons or Yellowstone in conjunction with the Black Hills depending on how much time you have.

Being in Chicago, the Wisconsin Dells is not far and a blast, although it might be a little too much with kids that small.

 

[golfgal]

I just thought of another place, I know you don't want to go to another country but Canada isn't TOO far. We did a trip to Winnipeg when our kids were almost exactly the same ages as your kids will be and they had a BLAST. They still remember parts of the trip even. They have a great zoo, children's museum, Canadian Mint. We stayed at a fun hotel with a great water slide and kid suites. At the time the exchange rate was very favorable for us and our hotel was like $30/night for a NICE room.