Need a recommendation

Hey all,

I need some recommendations for a family vacation. Here are the fun details. 30 people. 6 families. ages from 3 months to 60+. 12 adults with the rest being age 17 and younger (7 of which will be under the age of 4) Must stay inside the US, no travel to Canada or Mexico. time frame for trip is July 6 or July 13 of 2008 and the trip would last 5-7 days. I would appreciate some unusual ideas or places to stay. The best part of it all is that the parents are paying for it.

Thanks

Originally Posted by conbrio

Hey all,

I need some recommendations for a family vacation. Here are the fun details. 30 people. 6 families. ages from 3 months to 60+. 12 adults with the rest being age 17 and younger (7 of which will be under the age of 4) Must stay inside the US, no travel to Canada or Mexico. time frame for trip is July 6 or July 13 of 2008 and the trip would last 5-7 days. I would appreciate some unusual ideas or places to stay. The best part of it all is that the parents are paying for it.

Thanks

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Going to Disney World is always a number one choice for us, but I don't think I would EVER go there in July. Given your timeframe, I would go to Yellowstone (Wyoming) or Montana, Idaho, Minnesota.

Theme parks are sooo expensive.

Come to Florida and stay at the beach.

Or we went to Stone Mountain GA in the summer and it was fun. Also, Gatlinburg, TN

Disney has been an option but I am under the belief that Disney World/land is an adult place that has a few things for small kids. Rather go there without the kids. Two of my siblings agree with me as do my parents. But thanks for the recommendations.

I am in TN and Gatlinburg is a little too close home for most of the family.

I don't know if this will interest you but have you heard of St. Simon's Island off of Georgia? Here's their calender site;
http://glynncounty.com/Local_Lowdown/Calendar/

http://www.saintsimonslighthouse.org/calendar.html
That's the historical lighthouse's link but when I was there a few years back they were having an outdoor festival with entertainment, artisans, games and of course, food! It's a very beautiful island and it has a wonderful beach! You probably will have to bring bug spray though because there are those little no-see-ems/gnats as with any coastline has.
My family went there and rented a 3 story beach house for my sister's wedding. It was so beautiful!

Disney not for children?! OK perhaps Paradise Island is for adults, but the last time I was there I was bored because of all the little kid things (I was 14). At least at the Magic Kingdom.

Disneyland has a good mixture for all ages.

What about renting an RV or two and going camping? You could also look into small resorts or cottages. There are many places all over the U.S. that have this.

Yea Disney is VERY kid based! But I agree theme parks are horribly expensive for big groups. We go to Ocean City Maryland every year and absolutely love it! You might want to look there. Or even the Outer Banks and you could go island hoping during the day!

Are you thinking about mountains, rivers, lakes, campfires with a big cabin for all or something like a beach vacation?
That is really busy vacation time...
wherever you go, you will need to make reservations really early.
Sounds like fun.

Some of the place I've been that I loved are:

Lincoln City, OR/the OR coast. It is really pretty, if you are going for an outdoor vacation, it is perfect. Different kinds of scenery - forest, ocean (it is a little cold, you might be able to swim) and sand dunes. You can find ocean front hotels for around $100 a night with a kitchen. Mount Vernon and Crater Lake are nearby.

San Francisco it is expensive but there is a lot to do.

Vegas could be good. You can go to the Grand Canyon and the Hoover Dam for the kids.

For our next vacation we are going to DC. Now there is a lot to do there, museums, a free zoo etc. Good for the kids they could learn some history.

Anyway those are some ideas...

Originally Posted by xoxolyn

Some of the place I've been that I loved are:

Lincoln City, OR/the OR coast. It is really pretty, if you are going for an outdoor vacation, it is perfect. Different kinds of scenery - forest, ocean (it is a little cold, you might be able to swim) and sand dunes. You can find ocean front hotels for around $100 a night with a kitchen. Mount Vernon and Crater Lake are nearby.

San Francisco it is expensive but there is a lot to do.

Vegas could be good. You can go to the Grand Canyon and the Hoover Dam for the kids.

For our next vacation we are going to DC. Now there is a lot to do there, museums, a free zoo etc. Good for the kids they could learn some history.

Anyway those are some ideas...

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Oh man I completely forgot about DC! I Loved going there! I could have spent a week in the Smithsonians! You could maybe do a 2 part vacation with that too! Go there and then head to the coast for a few days or something!

Next summer we are planning to go back to Connecticut to visit family and taking a side trip to NYC. My youngest has had a fixation with NYC for the longest time and I want to take her to see the Statue of Liberty (her favorite
) and ground zero.

Originally Posted by xoxolyn

For our next vacation we are going to DC. Now there is a lot to do there, museums, a free zoo etc. Good for the kids they could learn some history.

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Hey, I'm right next to D.C. and I would highly suggest that anyone who visits there to bring some really good walking shoes. You'll want to walk and take the metro than face the traffic here, trust me. I would also suggest going to the museum of natural history. What kid can't resist seeing huge diamonds and jewels, dinosaurs and meteors?! Then there's the Aviation museum that has these 3D fighter jet 'rides'. One type goes around 360 and you pilot it while another is for the kids that doesn't go around 360 but it's still fun for them. Hehe, my husband and I took the 360 one and got the highest score of planes shot down.

Originally Posted by Lizsto1

Next summer we are planning to go back to Connecticut to visit family and taking a side trip to NYC. My youngest has had a fixation with NYC for the longest time and I want to take her to see the Statue of Liberty (her favorite
) and ground zero.

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Not without me you arent!!!

I agree Disney is AWESOME! I am a kid at heart really, and i have always and will always love Disney. There is plenty to do there for children of all ages. July will be quite hot, however, you may not have to worry about snowbirds. . .

I also loved DC but it almost seemed too adult oriented. I was 10 when we went, and I dont think I truly appreciated exactly what it was that I was seeing.

Perhaps you could come down to florida and stay on the beach. Take a day trip to Cape Canaveral, and go see the space program! That is always fun!
Good luck deciding!

Another couple of fun places would be Boston (but warmish in the summer) and Maine. I would love to go to Maine! Also I've heard Hilton Head (South Carolina?) is very nice.

Originally Posted by NoRachelHere

Not without me you arent!!!

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Start saving your pennies!!

There is a 4 star daycare up the road I can call for ya... the good thing is... there is a mental institution near by so when the 12 adults go insane after the first day, they have a place to chill and relax.......... ...........J/K!

IMO, I love the mountains!!!!!!!! Usually, it would be much more lower of cost than a resort such as disney. We have 6 under the age of 4 and the mountains, by far, was the best trip with Disney being another.

Disney is great but with that many young ones on a hot day in July, when they park is in peak season, and only getting time to ride... Maybe 10 rides in a 10 hours span at $85 or so a head........ Is it worth it??? In a way, it is priceless for the children. BUT... 4 is a little too young to probably remember.

Go with the mountains somewhere, that's my vote.

A beach somewhere would be too much of a pain getting everyone ready to go the "actual" beach. Then you have time limits for the children being in the sun, and at that age, there are always a few being stubborn.

Where ever ya'll go.... if your renting just one place with 7 under four.. I feel for you at nap time and especially bedtime..........good luck... it's hard for us!!!

I love the outer banks of North Carolina, especially around Cape Hatteras... but they'll be crowded then, I'm sure...

What about a Mississippi riverboat cruise? I believe there are boats that go all the way from St. Louis down to New Orleans and back...