I am in need of some help on vacation locations. I have 3 little children and they can only be in the car for so long before they really start to get cranky. I am on a budget since I do have 3 children under the age of 5. I am looking for a place that is close and fairly inexpensive but need something that my children will enjoy.
I am also in Maineville. My girls are 8, 5, and 2. My son is 4 mo. We are going to do what we did last year and drive at night. We are going to Virginia Beach this Spring which has lots of fun stuff for kids.
Indianapolis has a children's museum that I've heard is excellent. (Plus if you have a membership to another museum you might get in for free - check with your museum or with Indy's to make sure.)
St. Louis is another option - the Magic House rocks!
Your profile says you are from Maineville so I would recommend doing something close to home too like the Cincinnnati Zoo one day and the Aquarium(sp) one day maybe the Cincinnati mus. ctr. things like that what ever your family is into since your oldest is 5 you can have them help pick places too for something they are interested in. Our family does a family day once a week and usually we can get away with doing it for almost if not free doing things like going to put putt golf and just playing out side togther and having a bbq and a bonfire with smores. These are things that your 5 yr old will remember forever just the time you spend not necessarly where you went but having fun with mom and dad.
Since you don't say where you are it will be hard to truly recommend a place. We use to do what I called Mini Vacations and there are allot of things Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana can offer. If you like water and live not to far from Lake Erie and the Cleveland area there are loads of Museums that aren't too expensive and then there's hanging out on the beach -FREE. There is a really nice naature area near Bay Village west of Cleveland and a really cool playgroung area at one of the beach areas too. It looks like a pirate ship. Then in Cental Ohio there is Cosi in Columbus. Great for kids and I get a big bang out of it too. Down near me in Cincinnati there is Eden Park, lovely botanical garden as well as other parks for leasurly walks, a restored village at Sharon Woods, The zoo which sometimes there are coupons in the summer. I won't recommend King Island. I don't like ride park- get ill and think they are over priced.We have a butt load of Museums too. In Indiana in Indianapolis there is a children's museum.Loads of hands on stuff. Whether you believe in evolution or creationism the Musuem in Northern Ky called Answers in Genesis is another that really makes one question. Cool stuff for the kids dinos and all. I would also say to help you get a good start call 1800buckeye and request info. It says what's about in each reagon. It just depends how far you want to drive and what the kids and you like. A lovely visist to Amish country might be one the kids will like. Loads of horse everywhere. Shops to visit. I also think some of the farms are open to vistors. Petting zoo oportunity. Good luck have fun.
