Family vacation location ideas? Where would you like to go??

[stephogirl]

I'm itching to take a family vacation somewhere, but I'm having a hard time figuring out a location. 

Travelers would include mom, dad, DS1 (age 10) and DS2 (age 5). Live in the Midwest. Driving or flying, okay. No real preference between beach, mountains, urban, etc. Feeling kind of meh on Disney, but would be open to other parks.

Where have you gone/would you like to go with your family??

[ECB]

we've gone to the Outerbanks many times with both friends and family. Love it down there. usually get a big house on the ocean. It's relaxing and DS LOVES the ocean. LOVES.

[madringal]

How about a cruise? Somewhere like the Bahamas with an excursion to the Atlantis pool/waterpark?

[dulcemariamar]

I love going a cruise with my LO. It is such an easy vacation to take with kids.

How about visiting Philadelphia and Hershey Park?

[CrazyLucky]

I really feel like kids, at some point, should visit the major landmarks of the east coast. Your five year old might be a bit young though. I was talking to a guy at work who is planning to take his kid to Disney every year. And I'm like, "But what about history? Boston, New York, Philly, DC, Charleston? There's SO much to see!"
Other places I would want to go: Acadia Park in Maine, Grand Canyon, San Francisco, Denver. We love the Adirondack mountains, but I've never been in the winter.

[boiler717]

San Diego is wonderful.

[Deleted]

Just in the US or anywhere?

We're going to San Diego in Feb. I hear it is pretty kid friendly city. Next year I want to go to Austin and San Antonio because I've never been. I want to hit up SF/Monterey/Muir Woods some point soon. The Grand Canyon is on my list.

[Deleted]

We've went on family vacations with one or more kids to:
Black hills, SD
Chicago, IL
Phoenix, AZ (to see family, don't recommend otherwise, not much to do really)
San Juan and rincon, Puerto Rico
Orlando and cocoa beach, FL
Oahu and Maui, Hawaii
Durango and alamosa, CO (among other places in CO as that's where we live)
Galveston and San Antonio, TX
Outer banks, NC
Florida keys
San Diego
And will be going to Anaheim, CA in a couple of weeks

We are planning to go to southwest Ireland next summer

Every single trip has been awesome. Hawaii, outer banks, and Florida keys were big extended family trips.

I'm of the mid that you can take a vacation pretty much anywhere and have a great time.

[mrssandro]

We are going to Cozumel next month.

We have Bahamas & San Diego on our list for family trips.

[purpleminion]

I'm from the midwest, so here are my suggestions of places you might be able to drive to.

Wisconsin Dells - Waterpark capital of the world. We went this summer and it was AWESOME.

Western South Dakota is fun. Black Hills, Rapid City, Deadwood, Mt. Rushmore. There is so much to do there. PM me if you want more info because I have tons of suggestions.

Medora, ND - I've never been, but I'd like to take the kids there sometime.

[aspentosh]

DC
San Diego
Philly
Outer Banks

[redheadbaker]

Sept 30, 2015 10:50:38 GMT -5 ECB said:

we've gone to the Outerbanks many times with both friends and family. Love it down there. usually get a big house on the ocean. It's relaxing and DS LOVES the ocean. LOVES.

This was going to be my suggestion, too.

[anna7602]

Domestic or international? I am pushing for a Grand Canyon trip within the next year or two. DD is now 7 and I think she would love it. I've never been myself.

Eventually, I'd also like to check out one of the big parks like Yosemite.

I always get thwarted by the logistics of domestic travel, however, and ended up going to international destinations where I don't have to worry about driving and car seats and whatnot. ETA: Or I go to places where I already know people, like Philly and Miami and Houston. 

[elocrates]

Duluth, MN
Boulder, CO
Canadian Rockies

[jorja]

The outer banks. We went multiple times a year when I was growing up and it's so great.

[spankswife]

Woukd you go to the OBX if you lived in FL? I'm worried is be disappointed at the beaches. Are they warm enough to swim in?

[stephogirl]

I'm not certain on time of year, though we'd have to do it around the kids' school breaks, so mid-October, over Thanksgiving or Christmas break, or during spring break in March. In the Midwest, we have done the Black Hills area, Wisconsin Dells, and Duluth.

I'm intrigued by the Outer Banks. Is it warm enough to swim in the ocean during the fall/winter/spring or is that mostly a summer activity?

[soso]

Duluth is fantastic -- just don't go marathon week! Lots to do and so so pretty.
Black Hills
Chicago
Minneapolis -- catch a Twins game

If you want beach, Destin/Sandestin is nice -- resort/relaxation area.
Hawaii would be nice too for that age. How about Alaska? Like PP said budget would be helpful

[docholly]

Do the western parks. I went to Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon, etc as a kid. It was awesome.

[wavepool]

Yellowstone!!

[Deleted]

San Diego is great for families. Aug-October are generally pretty warm. October they do free museums for kids and places like the zoo and seaworld are free for kids then too to be mm

[lilac05]

Sept 30, 2015 17:15:42 GMT -5 docholly said:

Do the western parks. I went to Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon, etc as a kid. It was awesome.

This would be my suggestion too, as long as your parents are able-bodied.  I have two boys & am really looking forward to when they're old enough to visit (& at least semi-appreciate) the National Parks.

[Marmee]

Show your kids our National Parks! The OBX are overrated, I'd go to a beach further south (FL or San Diego...or Hawaii/Caribbean ) over the OBX any day.

[Marmee]

Sept 30, 2015 15:46:46 GMT -5 spankswife said:

Woukd you go to the OBX if you lived in FL? I'm worried is be disappointed at the beaches. Are they warm enough to swim in?

No, the good beaches in FL are way better.  The biggest perk of the OBX is that it is not crowded, it's family friendly (not a bunch of bros or partiers) & you can get a house right on the beach for a reasonable price.  It's windy, the water is not clear, there are riptides, the sharks (OK only this year), etc.  I've been a dozen times because it's my DH's family tradition...but I don't get the appeal to go there from where we are (CO) when there are so many better beaches.  

[sent]

Hawaii. But it's a 10 hour flight with us and DD is too young to survive that. 1 hour on a plane with her earlier this month was 1 hour too long.

East coast cities would be good with kids those ages. Lots of history in Philadelphia that they probably learn about in school and would be excited to see. I remember loving the Franklin Institute at that age. Philadelphia is a small enough city to navigate for a weekend trip. I never think of those as vacations since we live here.

[spankswife]

Sept 30, 2015 21:47:03 GMT -5 Marmee said:

Sept 30, 2015 15:46:46 GMT -5 spankswife said:

Woukd you go to the OBX if you lived in FL? I'm worried is be disappointed at the beaches. Are they warm enough to swim in?

No, the good beaches in FL are way better.  The biggest perk of the OBX is that it is not crowded, it's family friendly (not a bunch of bros or partiers) & you can get a house right on the beach for a reasonable price.  It's windy, the water is not clear, there are riptides, the sharks (OK only this year), etc.  I've been a dozen times because it's my DH's family tradition...but I don't get the appeal to go there from where we are (CO) when there are so many better beaches.  

That's kind of what I figured. I'm sure it's nice if you are from the NE, but I'm afraid is be disappointed. Although a house right in the beach is appealing.

[Deleted]

Sept 30, 2015 18:51:16 GMT -5 h said:

We have enjoyed family vacations to San Diego (Legoland, zoo, beach), NYC, and the NC coast. All were really fun with kids.

We have also had fun doing Disney, a Disney cruise, and ski trips, but it sounds like that may not be what you are looking for.

We are taking the boys to Costa Rica for spring break in March, and I they'll love it.

Ooh sounds fun! Can I ask where you are planning to stay? Are you taking your toddler? Sometimes I look at the activities that certain resorts offer like ziplining or horseback riding, etc. and I think the boys (7 and 5) would love that! But dd is too young and she refuses to be left with a sitter. How do you handle that with your third?

[londoncalling]

And besides the OBX past August put you in Hurricane season and the water starts to cool. My parents are going in a few weeks, but my mom sits on the beach in sweatpants and a hoodie and loves the salt air and wind. It's nice enough, but generally not bathing suit/swimming weather in October (a lot of the houses/condos close their pools in October-May, so that tells you even the locals don't think it's swimming weather).

[magpie]

Maui!
I think San Diego would be good too.