Kid Friendly Vacation

All the ideas listed sound great, but no one mentioned Blue Harbor Resort in Sheboygan. It's about 50 minutes north of Milwaukee and is part of the Great Wolf Resorts. They have a nice indoor water park and it's located right on the beach of Lake Michigan. Also near by is the Field House which has indoor mini golf, a rock climbing wall and air bouncy things for the little ones.
Have a great vacation!!

I see lots of people mentioned the Wisconsin Dells and I totally agree with them. A great place to stay there is at the Glacier Canyon its part of the Wilderness. We just stayed there a few weeks ago and we had a blast. You have access to all the waterparks (5 different ones in all)for all the hotels on the property and the best thing is there is a shuttle bus that will take you to all of them so you don't have to walk (it's huge) or take your car and get it all wet. I highly recommend them also because you can get rooms with a kitchen in them and a full size fridge saves some money on eating out the whole time you are there. A fun thing to do there is ride the Ducks they ride on the road and go in the water its a blast! Have fun on whatever you decide!

Don't know where you live....

We are doing the Dells in Wisconsin for a few days in July. Madison is close by with a free zoo and a children's museum.

P.,
I live in Wisconsin and we take our kids to Wisconsin Dells and stay at an all inclusive waterpark (my kids are 2 and 5 and we started last year with them). I don't know how long of a trip it would be but it's worth it!!! We stayed at the Wilderness and it was not too pricey. The best part is when the kids are tired out you can go to your room and relax. We get a 2 bedroom "condo" that has a full kitchen and we shop in our town and bring our food to cut down on eating out.
I know that there has been alot of news about the flooding in that area and Lake Delton being gone but there are many things to do out side of your hotel too! They do have a website where you can check them out. Good Luck and make the most of it no matter where you go!!
M.

You could do the Dells, or another, slightly more exotic and exciting adventure would be to come to Milwaukee, take the Lake Express ferry (www.lake-express.com) across Lake Michigan and visit Michigan where they have very sandy beaches (Oval Beach was named one of the top 10 beaches in the US), sand dunes...and Grand Rapids is simply fabulous to visit with kids: outdoor sculpture garden (with separate kids area), great zoo, blueberry picking, children's museum, etc.

I'm just north of Milwaukee, Wisconsin and we took that trip with our kids a year ago and are going back this year...we had such a great time! The kids LOVE being on the boat going so fast and being in the middle of the lake not being able to see any land, and we loved being able to take our car on it and save gas money! Look into it, you won't be disappointed!

Hey P. ~
Try out the Great Wolf Lodge - there's several locations. (I see there's one in the Dells.) I've never been there since my kids are just getting to the age where it might be a possible vacation idea, however we have friends that love going there for a mini-vacation. Google it if you're interested. Have fun!!

P. i agree, disney really a nice place to go, but until they are older and can actually ride most the rides, its hard, we went with our 3 sons, with the youngest not able to do certain things, one of has to stay behind with him, while the others got to enjoy the rides, wait a little while, but hmmm anice fun spot for kids? camping is always good, lots of hiking? campfires? but if you are not into it, that also may be hard, sometimes , kids just enjoy having the time to spend with mom and dad, we always took our boys to like chucky cheeses, kings island although an amusement park was nice, themed parks, with characters running about, but then you are in aplace like disney, just have some good ole fashioned family time, it dont matter where you go or what you do, just enjoy each other while doing it, your kids are young enough, just go where you want to go and they will enjoy the time, buy them gifts along the way, souveniers, etc, just going out to dinner and places are enjoyable, to see things like the mountains, and wonderful beautiful places , is always a big hit, just enjoy life and each other, D. s

We were looking to do something similar this year with our children. We wanted to take them on some kind of fun vacation, but not spend alot of money. We decided to go to Chicago and stay for a few nights. You can buy a "Chicago City pass" online for around $60/person that allows you to go to the Shedd Aquariam, Hancock Obsevatory, Field Museum, Museum of Science and Industry and Adler Planetarium and Astology Museum anytime within 9 days of your first use. Some of those places or maybe all your 15 month old might not even have to pay to get in so you may not even have to buy her a booklet. Something to check out anyway.

Where do you live and how far do you want to travel? We've covered most of the country several times by car with kids in tow and I have ideas for most of the continental US. Write back!

SAHM of seven, car trips on a shoestring are my specialty

Silver Dollar City in Branson, MO is an awesome family friendly place. Branson itself is a great place with LOTS to do. Silver Dollar City (if you've never been) is an amusement park type place with way more to do than just park rides and such. It is based on an old mining/western town. They have lots of buildings to check out, lots of little small homey shops, lots of food and rides. Even plenty of rides for the smaller family members. We have been there twice now with our kids, last year and this year and hubby and I went in 05 for our honeymoon and we loved it so much we had to take the kids there and then they loved it so much we went back with his family (sister, her hubby and 2 of their kids and my hubby's folks). We just got back 3 days ago from spending a week there with our kids and my hubby's family (11 of us total that went together). My nieces went to Wisconsin Dells last year and they both said they liked Silver Dollar City (and Branson) better than Wisconsin Dells. We haven't really been to Wis Dells (just kind of 'sight seening' once, but didn't hit the water parks) so I can't really compare. And we are planning on doing Wis Dells maybe next year, so I'm not trying to "dis" the Dells by any means. They do have a water park in Branson and also another amusement park that is only open from 3pm to like 10pm and is kind of like "old time" boardwalks. (I think that was the theme/look/feel they were going for). If you want to know more, feel free to send me an email.
I think it just depends on what kinds of things you like to do.....

The Black Hills are really cool. There's Bear Country, Reptile Gardens, Badlands, Mt. Rushmore, parks with buffalo and other wildlife, Cosmos, Caves, Crazy horse, water parks, Wall Drug and more. There is a ton of stuff to do and it is beautiful out there. Just be careful to make sure you don't plan vacation during Sturgis (the biker rally), that week gets crazy and not the best time for family vacation. (It's in Aug sometime)
When we go out to the hills we have a blast.

How about a trip to the Wisconsin Dells? You're not too far away, it's very affordable and a great deal of fun. There's a lot to do for the age of your kids. We've taken our boys (they're 4 years apart) and had a lot of fun. Good luck!

Hi P. -

I don't know if you are looking for a driving or flying trip, but we went to Orlando a couple of months ago (for Disney), but our kids loved the place we stayed better than Disney. It was called the Marriott Grande Vista Resort (it's a time- share, but they rent out condos, just like one of their hotels). It was resonably priced (we had a 3 bedroom with full kitchen). The resort had several FUN pools for kids (zero entry with lots of water sprayers, etc.), it had a beach area, climbing wall, paddle boats, pontoons, inside play area, game room, golf course, volleyball, and surrey bikes, just to name a few things. We will definately go back and not have to leave the resort.

Try the Ozarks in Missouri.....kid friendly things in Branson...Silver Dollar City. Try looking online first, of course!

Omaha Zoo!
2nd most visited family vacation spot. # 1, of course involves large dancing mice and princesses.

Hi P.,

I will say for me it can be nice to have a vacation where I get lots of quality time for my kids...and also time for myself.

Since my daughter was 2 we've taken a lot of cruises...safe kids programs (on just about all cruise lines), and great opportunity for kid time and adult time.

We do a lot of carribean cruises (probably the cheapest), so she loves time at the beach.

You can usually get an inside cabin for under 500.00 a person for the first two people, and then you pay very little for the third and/or fourth for a 7 day. Much less for something shorter.

For really cheap there is always camping at state parks.

The black hills are great. There is a lot to do we just got back from there with our 3 and 2 year old. The reptile gardens, old mcdonalds farm, hiking, gold mines, there is a small dinasour museum in Hill City, the 1880 train ride in Hill City, Mount Rushmore... google Black Hills, SD and you will find lots of info.

Wisconsin Dells is an awesome place and very family oriented. Most of the hotels have their own waterparks and there are several other tourist attractions, like mining for gemstones, duck boat rides, robotworld and the Tommy Bartlett watershow. The House on the Rock is nearby and that is spectacular (make sure you allow a full day to see everything in his collections). Make sure you contact the Lake Delton chamber of commerce or the hotel you want to stay at as the whole area is flooded right now and roads in are closed. Not sure how long they will be closed just yet or what effect it will have on the tourist trade. Another place that is awesome is the Duluth/Superior area on the shores of Lake Superior. Lots of attractions and also family friendly and not as expensive as the Dells. A.

We went to Lutsen and stayed at a cabin on the north shore. We did some hiking and sight seeing, etc. It was wonderful. (A little different than going to our cabin for the weekend) Grand Marais is also super fun, with lots of sight seeing, walking/bike trails and shops.

We also went to Seattle Washington when our daughter was almost 2 and we had a blast! The downtown Seattle area is a really fun place with the fish market, etc. Lots to do and see. We walked along the piers and went to the Seattle Zoo, as well as took rides on the ferry boats. Very fun. Not sure what prices are like this time of year, but we plan on going there again.

National Parks have so much to offer families! We went to North Carolina and walked under waterfalls and went hiking and so much more. (my kids are 2 and 6)

Hi P.,
I have to agree with Jamie. Wisconsin Dells has great water parks and attractions for kids of all ages 1-100 :). Another place that I really like for my kids who range from 2-14 yrs. is Cedar Creek Water Park which is up near Wausau, Wisconsin. Good luck.

We have gone to the Club Med all inclusive in West Palm Beach Florida twice for my inlaws family reunion. They have a kiddie program for all ages that you can pay to have the kids attend if you want a break. But you never have to leave the resort. Playground,pools, live entertainment every night. We rented adjoining rooms so we had one and the kids. They have cribs, baby food tubs. Everything you can think of.

The food is probably their biggest downfall. But VERY edible.

If you have any more questions let me know. You can look online and they show you all they have to offer.
Have fun whereever you go.
A.

Look into something close to home...(what is 4-8 hours away from home) So you are not pulling your hair out with long car trips...and some sites they have not seen that THEY would enjoy!! Those are the best trips

Hi P.,

Two summers ago we took our kids to the Wisconsin Dells. We stayed at the Chulavista resort which has an all inclusive option. The kids had a blast, they have tons of waterslides and things your 7yr old would love, they also have a kiddie area for your younger child. If the weather isn't cooperating they have a new indoor waterpark as well as outdoor. Being all inclusive is great too because you don't ever have to leave the place, the buffet is included so the kids can eat as much as they want. It's not right in town it's on the river and in a gorgeous area. It was around $1200 for our family to stay there but we have a family of seven, so I'm sure it would be more reasonable for you. Plus it's only a 3 hour drive away. I would definitely go there again. Cons: The food at poolside is not included in the all inclusive, only beverages. It can get very busy at check-in, we had to wait in a very long line, so you may want to try to get there early or check in on a weekday.

Good luck and I hope you have a great vacation whatever you decide to do! :)

I have to go with the majority, Wisconsin Dells. We have four children, 14 yrs, 7 yrs, 14 months, and 12 weeks...the Dells suits us all. In addition, we travel with another family with three children in the same age ranges and it really makes for a good time since there is a little something for everyone. We've always stayed at Mt. Olympus Treasure Island in a family suite and that includes your tickets to the park for every day that you're there. This year, were headin' to Noah's Ark. So, I would definitely have to say, Wisconsin Dells. Good luck!