My husband and I are trying to plan our vacation for next year. We live in NC and have 2 children who will be 2 and 4 next year. I really do not want to go to Disney again, but we are having trouble with a destination that the little ones will enjoy as well as us. Any ideas? We would prefer not to fly with them yet.
2006-09-11 06:46:02 · 8 answers · asked by Tara R 2 in Travel ➔ United States ➔ Other - United States
Some of my favorite vacation memories as a small child were of car trips to National Parks. We almost always stayed in a mid-range hotel or motel near the Park, which means you're near enough to visit daily, but get to come back to civilization for the night. We weren't much on camping, I guess.
Many of the Parks have horse rentals nearby, as well, and most have things for small children to do. At ages 2 and 4, the children will generally like what you like, and will enjoy just being with you and having the relaxed pace of an outdoor vacation. They may need more 'entertainment' on vacation as they get a little older, but right now, it's time with you they really want. Bring along a favorite toy or two and vary the days a little. Hike one day, swim one day, rent a horse one day, etc.
I have no children of my own, but can say one suggestion my parents would have given you about traveling with small children is to pack lunches (or buy groceries each day) and have a picnic in a park. Not only does it save a little money, but having lunch in a play park (every city you'll be driving through probably has several city parks from which to choose) lets the parents relax while the little ones run around and swing and such. I must say that, nearly 40 years later, I still remember those lunch stops and really did enjoy going to all those parks. We generally had a hot dinner in a restaurant somewhere each evening, but I don't recall those very well. The parks, however, were much more fun!
2006-09-11 08:58:51 · answer #1 · answered by thejanith 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You could try Sesame Pleace in Langhorne PA. Based on the PBS show, it's got all the popular characters. Unfortunetly, there isn't a whole lot else to do in Langhorne, except malls and car dealers. Howerever you are only a short distance from Philadelphia. Visit the oldest zoo in the county, the Philadelphia ZOo. And could also try Baltimore or Washington DC on the way up or back. Perhaps the Aquarium in Camden NJ or at the Inner Harbor of Baltimore.
2006-09-11 15:05:24 · answer #2 · answered by Brian H 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have a 3 year old and a 6 year old and we love cruises. There are usually programs for the children (they have to be potty trained). I think Norwegian is a good line for kids that would be different from Disney.
2006-09-11 15:23:28 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
www.rccl.com they have ports you can drive to. They have an awesome child program.
www.culdmedsandpiper.com in Fla. very nice family place!
Ocean city Md. Has a great boardwalk nice clean beaches
You really want to find something that has a lot for children to do along with down time for yourself and hubby! This way everyone has a great time.
I can't even think how much trouble it was in Disney with young children. It's hard enough with older children. LOLOLOL
Good Luck in your search~
2006-09-11 14:55:25 · answer #4 · answered by travelonmyvacation 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
How about a cruise out of Florida or something like that. But I am sure that the kids will be fine if you do decide to fly. My son has flown ever since he was an infant. He is great. He mostly sleeps when the flight is in the air.
2006-09-11 13:54:22 · answer #5 · answered by surfer grl 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We took car trips when our children were small. My son was about 7-8 months old for his first trip. We went to Kentucky. I laid his bottle on the dash and it was warmed up in no time!
When he was 3 1/2 and our daughter 6 weeks old, we went to Canada. She slept in a cardboard box so she wouldn't roll around in the night. I nursed her, so no bottles. He got the whole back seat. We brought toys and a tape recorder with his music. A car trip is an adventure. Frequent stops so they can get out and run around. Have fun.
2006-09-11 13:54:44 · answer #6 · answered by cowgirl 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When my children were that age, we rented a house every summer at Chincoteague, Virginia. You have the Outer Banks in North Carolina, which offers the same kind of attractions. We played in the water, made drip castles,found and collected shells and pretty stones, made "molded" castles, dug "to China" caught crabs(and ate them...the kids loved banging on the shells), and went fishing. Every night we went on one of the nature trails (on foot and in the car) and looked for birds, deer, rabbits, squirrels, etc. The kids loved it, and it wasn't expensive. We brought games and books, and baked cookies and played cards and drew on rainy days, bought fresh veggies and cooked out. We played miniature golf. For me it was a time of rest and recharging from the stress of work and family. We ate breakfast at home, but always had 1 meal a day out to give the cook a break (we used paper everything so there were no dishes). There was one movie in town, and so one night we went to whatever was playing that the kids would like. We had a large jar that we put our change in all year, and one day we went to Ocean City where we hung out on the boardwalk, played arcade games, ate icecream and cotton candy etc. It was a time we all enjoyed and have all looked back on fondly. Take lots of pictures, and share them each year, so they will have things to look forward to.
Good luck!
2006-09-11 14:33:12 · answer #7 · answered by Bobbie 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Take a cruise it is fun, and there are so many things you can do. Disney is designed for children and I believe you can drive to where they port
2006-09-11 13:52:33 · answer #8 · answered by LaDonna J 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋