Help with vacation destinations

[sdlaura]

I'm hoping some of you might have some ideas for destinations for my friend and I to meet somewhere with our families in the middle of the country for 3-4 nights at the beginning of August.

BFF lives in Atlanta with her DH and 2 kids (ages 6 and 4) and we're in San Diego with our 3 kids (ages 7, 5, and 2 this summer). She doesn't want to come here because she's from this area and would end up feeling pressure to see family instead of vacation with us if she comes here.  We don't want to go there because just turned 2-year-old boy on a long flight.  All locations in the middle are going to be ridiculously hot and humid around that time.

Would you try to go somewhere North/at elevation or something?  Just suck up the heat and go to a beach or lake?  Rent a house with a pool and stay in the A/C or pool the whole time?  We've never been to one of those Great Wolf Lodge type places, so that could be an option.  Ideally if we go to a resort we'd like the option of a kids club so at least the older 4 kids could be entertained a little bit.

Any ideas?

[waverly]

Personally in August, I would not go south. I really can't think of a ton of resorts with kids club type thing in the Midwest though.

Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, Illinois (Chicago) would all be nicer in August, and you can still swim if you want. Also throwing out Denver and surrounding areas.

IF the kids were older, I might suggest National Parks (Yellowstone and Dakotas etc.), but I feel like that is a lot with a 2 year old and probably needed more pre-booking. Friends of ours are doing a houseboat on the MN National Park, but again don't really want to do a boat with a 2 year old.

There is a Great Wolf near Chicago by 6 Flags, and also one in Traverse City, MI. We went to one and the kids had a blast, but check in lines (in the afternoon) were long and the games were not fully staffed. It's really a 1-2 night thing maybe not a 4 night thing.

What about Wisconsin Dells, and all the waterparks there? Again mostly aimed for older kids, but some stuff for younger.

I feel like Denver area would have the most resorts.

[sdlaura]

waverly I like your ideas on Chicago and possibly Denver area. I'm going to look into resort hotels in those areas. Thanks!

[2chatter]

I love SLC as a family destination. Plenty to do outside, cools off some in the evening, a million kid friendly activities.

Also could VRBO an awesome lake house - we have done some with fenced yards for peace of mind - this is what I would probably choose. Heat doesn’t bother me on the water. Missouri/Arkansas have awesome lakes.

Big Cedar Lodge is a resort with kids club.

We are doing Sky Ranch in Colorado and I wonder if there are other family camps? No cooking, fixed price and child care included.

[waverly]

I know a lot of people around here go to the Ozarks. I haven't personally been there.

[sdlaura]

Thanks 2chatter! I love Park City but really trying to limit flights for either family to 3 hrs-ish. I'll definitely check out your other suggestions.

I just texted her to see if maybe we could do Labor Day instead. Maybe temps and humidity would be slightly more bearable.

DH and I grew up in the DC area so we can handle heat and humidity, but my kids might be miserable.

[madringal]

May 8, 2019 13:52:31 GMT -5 sdlaura said:

waverly I like your ideas on Chicago and possibly Denver area. I'm going to look into resort hotels in those areas. Thanks!

Chicago is a 4-5 hour flight to So Cal.

[sdlaura]

May 8, 2019 15:12:15 GMT -5 madringal said:

May 8, 2019 13:52:31 GMT -5 sdlaura said:

waverly I like your ideas on Chicago and possibly Denver area. I'm going to look into resort hotels in those areas. Thanks!

Chicago is a 4-5 hour flight to So Cal.

Yep 4 hours, so I've ruled that out too.  Denver is still in the running though   2 hours for us and 3 for them.

[rere]

May 8, 2019 15:22:47 GMT -5 sdlaura said:

May 8, 2019 15:12:15 GMT -5 madringal said:

Chicago is a 4-5 hour flight to So Cal.

Yep 4 hours, so I've ruled that out too.  Denver is still in the running though   2 hours for us and 3 for them.

Denver is really close or just kind of runs into Boulder which is a cute town.  It's only about 1.5 from Estes Park and the national park which is beautiful.