We are looking to take a quick vacation this week/weekend with our three boys (ages 7, 3, 6 weeks). Any good ideas? We live in KC and do not want to drive more than about 4-5 hours since we have a little one traveling with us now :) We are looking for something fairly budget friendly and camping with a newborn is not an option for us. Thanks mamas for all your help, in advance!!!! Love all of your advice you all give!
I wish I had the answer, but I do know Great Wolf Lodge isn't exactly 'budget friendly' at $169.99 - $319.99 per night. The waterpark is included though. They have Howl-o-Ween events throughout October. They have special rates (from $144.49) if you stay for multiple nights using promo code MOREFUN.
soooo, being in KC....have you been to the Great Wolf Lodge? It's fantastic!
(Branson) & Silver Dollar City is awesome, but they shut down this week ?coming wkend? & reopen after Halloween....for their Christmas festival, which is well worth the wait.
St Louis is another option: the Science Center, the Zoo, the City Museum !!
BUT, cold weather is headed in....so that might affect your outside plans. Have fun!
i would have to agree about Branson as well - there are lots of things to do down there and with the changing of the leaves very pretty as well. there are lots of cabins to stay at down there but the shows are pricey and dont know how your 3 y/o would do with that. or you can go to Eureka Springs as well. enjoy your vacation
Branson is fun - check with Silver Dollar City to -see what their hours are. -There is a resort close by - Indian Trails Resort ###-###-#### - that has single cabins, doubles, tri's and quad rooms with a kitchen with everything. We stayed there recently and it was great. www.indiantrailsresort.com.
St.Louis has an amazing and fun museum (City Museum) where kids of all ages can climb and run and play on everything! I highly recommend it! Their zoo I believe is free and I'm sure there are lots more budget friendly activities and lodging available. Have a great time!
I have to agree with St. Louis. It's an easy drive and there is TONS to do! The zoo is awesome and free the Magic House (which is a children's museum) is so great you could spend easily 2 full days there and of course there's everything else...arch, Ted Drewes frozen custard, museums, etc.
I've wanted to go to Omaha too and have heard they have a great children's museum as well as zoo, but I'd check the weather before you do that! It could either be super cold or just right in Omaha right now. Des Moines isn't that great in my opinion. I don't think there's enough to do really.
I've also heard Great Wolf Lodge is fun, we've never been though. There is also Coco Key by the stadiums which is lots of fun and my 2 year old LOVES the water park just as much as her older cousins.
Springfield or Branson Missouri is very family oriented,Springfield is only 3 hours from KC and Branson is only an hour South with several great family shows and an indoor water park.Silver Dollar City is going to be having their Christmas lights in November and is a local favorite. Enjoy.
Wichita is always a lovely spot! =) We have a wonderful zoo, and a really fun kids activity place. It's called Exploration place. Both not to overwhelming for price, and the 3 and 6 week I'm pretty sure get in for free both places. lots to do just have to look! The drive down from KC can also be fun with places to stop.
Is there a zoo around? An aquarium? Are there any living museums, like Williamsburg? Farms that have Harvest Festivals, St Louis Arch,
And why no camping with a newborn? I can't think of a better way to completely make me go crazy and get me committed :o) We camped with a 5 month old. never again
I agree with Omaha & St. Louis as good destinations for a quick vacation. Our kids loved the zoos in these two cities, and both have great children's museums. My kids loved being down by the river in St. Louis, and the arch is incredible, even if you don't take the elevator to the top.
We also like Sioux City, Iowa. Our son goes to college there, so we've been there a lot. They have a nice area down by the river with sidewalks for walking along and an interactive Lewis & Clark museum that's a lot of fun. It takes about 4 1/2 hours to drive to Sioux City from our house with kids in the car, but we live north of the river, about 10 minutes from the airport, so it would take you a little longer.
We went to Omaha a few weekends ago and loved it. Our boys are 5, 2.5, and 10 weeks. The zoo is fantastic and so is the children's museum (more like a discovery/play center). We also spent 2 hours at Freedom Park. It's an outdoor park with a submarine and Destroyer that you can go in. Very cool! We stayed at a beautiful Homewood Suites--1 bedroom suite for $93/night. We live in Leavenworth and it took us about 2.5 hours.
Last year we did Des Monies and St Louis. Des Monies has a great zoo and a children's museum (we didn't do the museum). St. Louis also has a great zoo and the Arch. We took the train home from St. Louis (my husband had to leave a day early, so the boys and I took the train to KC--cheap and fun if your kids like trains--pay extra for 1st class!).
Trout Lodge in Potosi Missouri is great!
