I need suggestions for a really fun place to vacation this summer. We've done Disney (fun but too hot and crowded). I think we would enjoy the mountains but I'm looking for any suggestions.

By Conni on Friday, January 13, 2006 - 10:12 am:

I have been to Colorado in the summer when I was a kid and it is beautiful and fun!!! We went White Water Rafting.

I think it would be fun to go to a ranch.

How about an educational/historical vacation?

Lake vacations are fun.

Beach vacations of course are one of my favorites! But we tend to go to the beach in May before school lets out. Its cheaper, less crowded and not as hot.

By Dawnk777 on Friday, January 13, 2006 - 10:23 am:

I loved Niagara Falls last year! With the Maid of the Mist, Journey Behind the Falls, Whitewater Walk, and the butterfly conservatory, plus going to visit Niagara-on-the-lake, there was plenty to keep us busy, for about 4 days.

Next summer, we are planning on going to the Black Hills, in South Dakota, to see Mt. Rushmore, the Badlands, the Black Hills and maybe Devil's Tower in the corner of WY.

By Melanie on Friday, January 13, 2006 - 10:49 am:

One of my favorites was renting a cottage at the beach.

By Emily7 on Friday, January 13, 2006 - 10:51 am:

I live in WY about 2 hours from the Black Hills & it is beautiful & there is a lot of things to do.

By Emily7 on Friday, January 13, 2006 - 10:53 am:

FYI though if you do come this way make sure it is not the first week of August because of the Sturgis, SD bike ralley.

There are ton of Bed & Breakfasts in this area too.

By Yjja123 on Friday, January 13, 2006 - 11:31 am:

Cruise vacations are our favorite.

By Amyk on Friday, January 13, 2006 - 11:57 am:

What about Hershey, PA - don't they have a big chocolate amusement park? Destin, FL is nice - but a little $$.

By Kaye on Friday, January 13, 2006 - 12:36 pm:

We went to arkansas this summer and had the best time. We stayed on Degray lake. They had great nature programs that were free or very low cost. The kids went snorkling, fishing, owl hike, and kayaking. We also went to dig for diamonds and into hot springs. They have a theme park in hot springs that wasn't too crazy. It is definitly a trip we'd do again.

By Luvn29 on Friday, January 13, 2006 - 12:51 pm:

See my post in the Beach Vacation thread about Myrtle Beach... Love that place!!!

Also, if you are considering mountains, Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg (withing a couple of minutes of each other, most people visit both when there) TN in the Smokey Mountains would be a great option. There is tons to do as far as recreation goes, and then you can take a trip into the Smokey's for hiking, trails, site-seeing, that sort of thing.

We live about 2 and a half hours away and visit Pigeon Forge several times a year. We actually have season passes to Dolly Parton's Dollywood theme park and her water park next door to it, Dolly's Splash Country.

There's a lot of kiddie rides in town, and things such as bungee jumping, slingshots, etc., along with tons of go-carts, and minature golf.

Tons of outlet stores for shopping, a huge Boyd's Bear Country and Bass Pro Shop, chair lifts, ice skating, Ripley's Aquarium, lots of cool museums such as Ripley's and Guiness Book of World Records. Something called Christus Gardens which is all indoors. Things like Haunted Adventure and Haunted Mansion. Motion Theatres. There's tons of stuff like that, and like I said, you can take a day or two to go into the Smokey's for back to nature stuff.

By Momofmax on Friday, January 13, 2006 - 01:08 pm:

Thanks so much for your suggestions! I'm getting sooo excited about our vacation. I'm going to check out your ideas!

By Eve on Friday, January 13, 2006 - 01:42 pm:

Ditto on the cruise! It was wonderful. The staff treat your children like they are their own--very touching. (Since they most likely miss their family since they go on board for 6 months at a time.) Great kids programs and activites, great food, great veiws and ports! Plus, no making your bed, room service, live shows, pools, spas, and the drink of the day. For me, you can't get any better. Happy Planning!

By Trina~moderator on Friday, January 13, 2006 - 02:38 pm:

I haven't read all these posts, but our absolute best family vacations have been when we rented a cottage at the beach or on a lake. The first year we did this we loved it so much that we have been doing it every summer since! I just booked a cottage for a week this summer on a lake in Maine.

By Colette on Friday, January 13, 2006 - 03:02 pm:

Ditto Trina. check out Cyberrentals.com

this is also a really good place to take kids

http://www.wildflowerinn.com/

By Dawnk777 on Friday, January 13, 2006 - 03:23 pm:

Emily, we can't go in August, anyway. The photography department is VERY BUSY taking football pictures for the special prep football section, so they have outlawed vactions in August.

I had already seen that and decided we would avoid it! It was busy enough around Sheboygan and Milwaukee when they had the 100th anniversary celebration. You could not go outside, without hearing a motorcycle! LOL! So, no Sturgis rally for me! Even one of my co-workers who is big into Harleys, wouldn't want to go to the Sturgis rally, but she isn't real big into crowds and is prone to migraines, so probably not a good idea for her!

By Karen~moderator on Friday, January 13, 2006 - 03:29 pm:

Beach or cruise gets my vote!!!

I *almost* went to Sturgis 12 years ago. I was actually looking forward to it, AND the long ride. I used to go on road trips with a guy I was close to on his Harley and I loved it. However, I won't ride since I've had 2 back surgeries!

By Beth on Friday, January 13, 2006 - 03:55 pm:

Branson, or Wisconsin Dells are nice and lots of stuff to do. I like Gatlinburg also. I am partial to Florida though and would go back to Disney in a heartbeat. Maybe DisneyLand!

By Dawnk777 on Friday, January 13, 2006 - 04:51 pm:

LOL! I live in WI, and we hardly ever get to the Dells. Isn't that funny? There is a lot of stuff to do there.

By Pamt on Friday, January 13, 2006 - 06:25 pm:

We have traveled a lot. We've been on cruises, toursity areas, beach, lake, etc. Our hands-down favorite family vacations have been time spend in a cottage in the mountains or on a lake. We love the northern AR, southern MO areas and you can find very reasonable accomodations. We also had a wonderful week in Northeastern NC. Those are the kind of vacations that are fun for all of the hiking, canoeing, swimming, climbing, museums, etc., but we still get to actually relax as well. I hate going on vacation more tired than when I left. That's one of the reasons I'm not a Disney fan---too exhausting!

By Kym on Saturday, January 14, 2006 - 11:39 am:

I'm with Pam, we have 4 kids, various ages so if we go to a theme park it will not be together, 2 year ago we travelled across New Mexico and camped out of our car at Camp grounds, had our mtn bikes, hiked, read and had wonderful time. last year we rented a house ON the beach, it was again wonderful, This year we are renting a cabin in the Colorado Mountains and spending a 10 days just enjoying our family, and relaxing so we feel like we are on vacation, to us a trip to Disney or something would be a reward for a kid Not a vacation for us.

By Dawnk777 on Saturday, January 14, 2006 - 12:33 pm:

I went to Disney World, with my family, when I was 19! It was exhausting! We spent 2 long days there! It was stil fun, but I remember being very tired at the end of the day.