So... I'd like to go somewhere over spring break. I have been considering Disney, but that means DH and I both have to take the entire week off, and use a week of vacation. The baby is a year old and won't remember it anyway, and although I'm pretty sure she'd do okay for a day in the stroller, I'm not sure how she'd fare for 2 or 3. Then you have the whole drive/fly dilemma, and I don't like to fly. So... I'm trying to find something to do, something different. With the weekend included, I'd like to do like a 4 or 5 day trip. Maybe leave Thursday night, come back Monday night? I'd like it to be within driving distance (4-6 hours) and although I love NC's Coast, we'll save the beach trip for the summer. What do you guys think? Any suggestions? Hidden hotspots?
We have enjoyed several drive-to vacations over the years. Some of my favorites: Virginia in the Williamsburg area, with Busch Gardens and the Great Wolf Lodge, along with the historic Williamsburg area, then possibly scooting over to the Virginia Beach area for shopping or boat tours. Savannah is also very interesting, with great shopping, dining, and history. It can be fun to take in via horse carriage ride. Maybe a plantation tour. Make sure you bring a baby backpack as well as the stroller/baby jogger. Washington DC can be interesting in the spring, especially if you can hit it during the bloom-time for the cherry trees. Great dining/food options, you can find indoor activities as well as outdoor activities. The zoo is great for all ages, and the Duck tours are different and might keep baby's attention while you get educated.:jester:
I second Williamsburg, just because its very affordable, very easy to get to (about 2 1/2 hours of an EASY drive), easy to get around, and a million family things to do. Pennsylvania is fun too. Washington DC.
I actually like Busch Gardens better than Disney b/c it is kind of woodsy, not so manufactured and eerily manicured like Disney. Much shadier, although I guess that is not an issue this time of year. They also have a whole section of rides and playground equipment for toddlers/older babies. We got a deal where you could spend a few days and get tickets for BG and HIstoric Williamsburg(get a map and figure out what things you want to visit in advance if you go there) from the BG website, I think.
Charleston, SC I haven't been there for "fun" only work conferences so I don't know all the fun things to do, but thought I would throw that out as I know alot of folks do go there quite a bit.
Girl, I've been looking at long weekend trips to DC. This is something we will do for a 4 day weekend or something like that. Charleston is awesome! I'm also in need of vacation ideas for the summer... of course we'll do the beach, but I'm looking for something different, than our usual week in OBX. I think we'll do like 5 nights at the beach this year in either early or late summer. I'm trying to decide what to do for our whole week vacation. Yes, the kiddo's will be with us... Here are things I've been pricing and looking at, but DH and I can't make up our minds...ugggg 1. Cruise from Charleston, SC to Bermuda 2. Cruise from Fl to Bahama's and stay in Bahama's a week 3. Panama City Beach, FL 4. That DC trip and then on to Williamsburg...I'm a huge history buff, so all things will be historical..LOL 5. I need more suggestions...... No, we don't want to do Disney right now, maybe we'll take the girls again in the fall or spring next year. It's only been a couple years since we went. I'd never go there in the summer anyway, too hot. DH and I are going to MB in May for Bike week, staying at a nice oceanfront condo...for like 3 nights, so don't want to go back there so soon.
My dh and I took our kids 5 and 2 to the Georgia Aquarium last year. It was fantastic. I think it is the largest in the world. Prices weren't too outrageous. I had been to the Mystic Aquarium in CT. several times and this far surpassed it. We also took them to Stone Mountain Park which my daughter loved. We got to take a skyride up the mountain and a scenic train ride. There is also a really cool childrens museum. I really want to take another trip soon because I know there is more to see that we didn't have time for.
Now, we've been to the Tennessee Aquarium, which is the largest freshwater Aquarium in the world. It was fun, but don't want to do it again.
Yes, its near Atlanta. Can't believe you've never heard of it.... We used to go when I was little (40 some yrs ago) cause it was the closest amusement park around, LOL! We went about 3 yrs ago. It's good - lots a fun! Atlanta also has a great water park, can't remember the name, might be Wild Water or something like that. We stayed with some friends that live there. We also went up to Helen, GA (about an hour north I think) and went river tubing. We had a great vacation week that yr! :lol: If you're into camping, Stone Mtn has camping sites.
We are going back to Hershey Park this summer. Hope it's a little warmer this time. Early June was still a bit "breezy" for the waterpark side. :shock: Also going to camp for a whole week at Pirateland at Myrtle Beach, I need to get DS to Disney sometime, but might be next year at this rate. I hate to spend all that money at Disney, I will be checking out the Disney thread later. 8)
We went to Hershey park last summer also, it was great! It's especially good if you have younger kids, seems geared towards them. Busch Gardens IMO is for older kids and adults. We love Pirateland in MB too, if you like camping it's great fun, there are so many things to do there you never have to leave the campground!
If you are a history buff, after you hit Williamsburg, check out Jamestown. It has been years since i was there but it was so authentic it was unbelievable
We've done Busch Gardens and Kings Dominion, and I prefer them both in the late summer/early fall. I hadn't thought about DC, and that might just be the ticket too, tons of stuff there to do... Charleston is beautiful, but that sounds more like a romantic getaway than a family thing, wouldn't you think? Hmm, I don't know, but these are great ideas. Keep 'em coming!
PM me when you decide....we'll get you some discounted tickets. You wouldn't believe all the places we have them too......:hurray:
Find a nice place with an indoor pool at Myrtle Beach and do the stuff there that you don't want to do (due to crowds) in the summer. Ideas... Medieval Times, Dragon's Liar, Nascar Speedpark, Carousel Park, Captain Hook's Adventure Golf, etc. More ideas here... http://www.myrtlebeachtrips.com/attractions.aspx
Ems, Savannah offers so much for so many. They have the largest St Patty's Celebration in the South, probably the 3rd largest in the US. That will have completed the week before school s here are out. It has history galore, from the original colonies stuff, to Modern War birds at he Air Force Museum nearby. Several movies were fil,med there, Forest Gump..and if you eat at Love's on 17, you'll be eating at one of the top 25 seafood restaurants in the nation. This was also the restaurant Jenny was working in, when Forest was featured on the news on his coast to coast runs. The Mercer House, still owned by Jim William's sister, is featured int eh Movie, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. Lady Chablis still entertains downtown. Shopping on River Street will offer you tons of shops and stores..free samples of candy at candy shops...and a great dive/oyster, Bernies on River Street... Great aquarium on Skidaway, where MAREX, Georgia Marine Education Centers are located. Nearby is Tybee Island, home of the Crab Shack, a great place to eat low country seafood. Fort Pulaski is between Tybee and Savannah. eat stuff all around. 5 hour drive from Clayton. Savannah is one of my favorite places to be.... Enjoy! Carl
Charlottesville, VA - http://www.charlottesville.org/Index.aspx?page=176 With a number of fascinating historical sites near buy - Monticello - Jefferson's Home http://www.monticello.org/ Montpelier - Madison's Home http://www.montpelier.org/ One of my favorite finds was when me and my SO were wondering around the University of Virginia campus and noticed a dorm room all lit up, turned out to be Edgar Alan Poe's dorm room recreated/decorated as it was in his time there.
