Family Vacation Ideas. Cruise in October?

I've not been on a cruise ever so I won't be much help in that area. What I can tell you is that I'd stay totally clear of Mexico right now. I work for the DoD & there's currently no military members in the country allowed to travel there for personal reasons at all, period, so that's got to tell you something.

How about going up to the Seattle area? It might not be a warm weather destination, but it's beautiful & the weather, while cloudy, is mild most of the year.

What about a Caribbean cruise? I'm pretty sure hurricane season is over in October (I visited my brother in Florida at that time when the hurricane risk wasn't there). I know you can get good cruise deals there.

I took a Carnival cruise to Mexico that time of year and it was fine. Just too cold to sit out on deck (we timed it when the weather wasn't perfect on the way down there), but Mexico's weather was nice. Given all of the travel advisories to Mexico now, though, I don't think I'd travel there.

Another thought is to travel around Southern California. Santa Barbara, LA and San Diego will still have nice weather in October.

I took that same cruise three or four years ago also in October. Like you, I worried about the weather. The weather in Mexico was still extremely hot! In fact, I said after that that I would never try to go to Mexico during the summer because it must be sweltering given how hot it was in October. According to the locals, cold weather is in the 70's! It was a great vacation and my husband and I have vowed to take that same cruise again. I also wouldn't worry too much about anything else. The Mexican government does a good job of protecting the ship and its passengers. You will probably notice at some of the ports that the ship is surrounded by military gun ships and some of the marinas are also protected by armed military police. You will be safe. Enjoy!

We took a cool weather cruise to Mexico in January. We didn't have any problems at all.

You can take a cruise in the caribbean too. October is part of Hurricane season, but the cruise ships alter their itineraries so they don't get involved with hurricanes.

I wouldn't hesitate to take a cruise in the caribbean or Mexico. (We will be going on our 18th cruise in January 2012.)

Good luck to you and yours.

Not sure what time in oct you are wanting to go on vacay...but if it is early october you could consider the balloon fiesta.... Albuquerque isnt that far from CA, the weather is awesome that time of year and its not an expensive place to visit at all.
And I would stay away from mexico, for the most part it is safe in the touristy parts but I would be hesitant to go anywhere near mexico with my kiddos.