My fiancé and I just went on our very first vacation with our daughter. We had an absolute blast and really helped us feel closer to one another and it also refreshed us.
I would like to take more family vacations. Where are some places you have enjoyed taking your kids? Where are some places you’d recommend?
What did you enjoy the most about the places you visited?
My favorite vacations: Sesame Place in PA, Hershey Park in PA, Disney World, Nashville, TN and Amelia Island, FL (to relax by the beach and eat in town).
We have more fun at the beach. It is relaxed and laid back and we come and go as we please. Last year we went to Port Aransas and the kids had a blast. Another year we went to Sanibel Island in Florida and loved it. We book tours and little side trips like dolphin watching or shell hunting on a remote island.
One summer we went to Sea World and it was awful because it was overcrowded and it was really hot. We had paid sooo much money to go so we felt like we needed to stay even though we were miserable. I'd like to go back but will do a better job choosing WHEN to go! Not a weekend in August on the day of a special event!!! :)
when i was young we went to wildwood nj everysummer for at least a week the beach is the best place to me.. we stopped going once all of us kids got older but its been picked back up again now that some of my cousins have kids of their own .. as for a long weekend vaca. my neighbors parents used to have a house in the poconos pa. that was awesome being in the woods seeing deer in the yard everynight
Long weekend ski trip to Steamboat Springs, CO
We used to take our kids to Lake Superior up the Minnesota side. It is an extremely tranquil place with a ton of small town feel. The lake is gorgeous to wake up to each morning and my kids have a blast seeing all the old lighthouses along the north shore as well as doing hikes to Gooseberry Falls (more of a walk, so it's great for small kids). Also, I don't think my kids could get enough of the boat rides and throwing rocks! It's definitely a fun family place!
Another place my kids love is Park City, Utah. They have activities year round in that town, it's awesome! They have a traditional Alpine Slide that my older two (5 & 8) have a blast on and just taking the ski lifts up the mountain and hiking back down is a phenomenal view!! Plus, the restaurants in that town are out of this world!!
We had a great long weekend in Baltimore, so much to do and nice hotels, not real expensive. We used to spend a week at a rustic lodge in the Adirondecks, water skiing, swimming, boating, hiking, wild life..... The best part about some vacations is getting together with cousins for a whole week!
When I was growing up, my family (mom, dad, 2 little brothers) would camp for 2 weeks at a time at Assateague Island, MD. We did that every summer for 13 years!!
I haven't taken my own kids yet, but my brothers and I decided that, starting with this coming summer, we're going to start the annual tradition again, as adults, with our families :) I CAN'T WAIT!!
Destin was so much fun last summer. We rented a 2 bedroom/2 bath condo right on the beach. We went on 2 dolphin viewing excursions. Ate some meals in but enjoyed the fresh seafood. Beach was beautiful and so clean.
10 years ago we took my husband's sons (my stepsons) to Disney World for the first time - they were 6 and 7 and had a blast. When we lived in MA, we made regular weekend trips to Cape Cod. We also own a time share apartment on Block Island, off the Rhode Island coast, and even though we now live in MI, we still travel out there every summer for our vacation week! Cape Cod and Block Island are awesome for kids! We also did a week's vacation in Myrtle Beach 4 years ago, when the boys were 13 and 14, and DD was just a baby. That was a great family vacation too - other family members enjoy other parts of the coast Carolinas, like Outer Banks, Charleston, and Folly Beach.
Last year we made it back to Disney World with my stepsons and our daughter (their ages were 17, 16, and 3.5). We did all the Disney Parks, the guys did Universal Studios, and then we also did a 3-night Disney Cruise. It was definitely the best vacation we've done so far and everyone had a fantastic time! Later this spring we are planning to do a 2 week Disney Cruise to Hawaii and then afterwards, since we will be in L.A., hit Disneyland as well (we will only have our daughter this time, the boys unfortunately won't be able to make it because of work and school). Can you tell we are Disney fans? :)
Every vacation is the best vacation until the next year! The best vacation my husband and I have been was two years ago when we went to London and Paris for his 50th! That was wonderful.
Last year, we took the kids and went to the Dominican Republic. Wonderful except the air condition wasn't working in our room. The resort was not very proactive about that. I would go back but not to that resort.
Every year since we have had kids our family goes to Destin FL. We drive, but split it in half and stay in LA on the way. I used to always go to the Caribbean or Mexico for the beaches, but when I saw Destins white sand and bright blue water I was so happy there was somewhere closer that is family friendly with SO much to do! There are so many affordable condos etc to rent as well.. Fully stocked kitchens so you can cook in room as well. For a shorter trip we love Branson MO. I used to think only old people like it but there is so much to do. There is an amusement park called Silver Dollar City that is 100x nicer than Six Flags.. And we went there July 4th and it was 70 degrees. San Antonio is fun too!
For this past Spring Break we took a few days to check out Corpus Christi/Mustang Island/Port Aransas. We are a family of beach lovers so it was perfect -- swimming, playing in the sand, flying kites, playing paddle ball, eating at local restaurants . . . it was great. We've also visited San Antonio and Galveston Island. We've done Disneyworld and Disneyland (you don't say how old your daughter is, but I don't recommend the Disney experience until a child is at least 4 years old), Niagra Falls (the Canadian side), Williamsburg Virginia, spent at least 12 summers at the "Jersey Shore" (we're native New Jerseyans and even after we moved to TX we went back for several summer to spend a week at the shore with family), Las Vegas (yes, you can take the kids!) which included a day trip to the Grand Canyon (awesome!). I am a HUGE fan of getting away on family vacations at least once a year -- completely unplugging from both work and home. And my family really enjoys it, too -- considering my kids are variouls ages -- 17, 13, and 5.
