ilovetulips

I just saw this article in Budget Travel and I thought it was interesting since I have a one year old.

http://www.budgettravelonline.com/bt...032901186.html

I can't say that I agree with the Alamo- I don't think it is that earth shattering, but some of the other ones I thought would be great like the Grand Canyon.

What 5 places should everyone take their kids before they grow up? Here are mine
1. San Diego
2. Alaska
3. Smoky Mountains/Blue Ridge Mountains
4. Washington DC
5. To the beach

iamq

I don't have children, but I wish my brothers would take their children to:

New York City
Rome
Paris
Hawaii
Yosemite

utahtea

The list was heavy on history. My first choice would be Yellowstone.

Utahtea

utahtea

Ooops..you asked for 5

1. Yellowstone
2. Washington DC
3. Williamsburg
4. Drive the Alaska Highway to Alaska
5. As many National Parks, National Monuments, National Historic Parks as we could fit in.

(this is more a list of what we did do.)

Utahtea

nytraveler

1. New York
2. DC
3. Boston
4. Yellowstone
5. Hawaii

(I've left out europe - since many people can;t afford it - but if that's available - at least London, Paris and Rome - with Prague and St Petersburg if possible).

Last: Disney anything

SAnParis

New Or1eans, Maine, NYC, Hawaii & The SW (so they can experience the desert). Tried to think of places in the US where -both- have not been, as yet. We travel to the Mts. & beach all the time + both have been to the Caribbean & the oldest to Europe several times (they are almost 5 & 2). I guess I have plenty of time...but not as much as I would probably like to have...

BTilke

I don't have specifics but in general:

1. A mountain range with amazing vistas and miles of open space
2. A clean, sandy beach by the ocean where they can play and breathe deep of the tangy, salty air
3. A vibrant big city with great museums and a good mass transit system so they can see that people CAN get around without cars.
4. A pretty small town where the people are friendly to each other and welcoming to visitors
5. Anyplace else that inspires the soul and imagination

girlonthego

1.A big city: 1st on the list would be New York. San Francisco would be my second choice.
2.A european vacation if affordable. Enjoying a different culture and language are so valuable in life. Applying language learned in school is a wonderful experience. (teen years would be best for this).
3.Hawaii (again if affordable) So neat and yet still the USA!
4.The Mountains. Any wonderful large mountain range in the US would be a great vacation for skiing or hiking or camping.
5.Last but not least, the ocean. Whether the Atlantic, the Pacific or the Caribbean Sea, it is a great family vacation to go to the beach!

girlonthego

I also think that it is important to take your kids to nice restaurants and hotels if possible. (Not all the time, but for the experienc.)Then they know how to act and they know that there are finer places in life. They will learn to appreciate them again when they get to go as adults and have to pay the tab.

CAPH52

I'm not sure about coming up with five. But high on my list would be Custer State Park. I think it's a fantastic place for families.

SuzieTrue

BTilke, I love your list!

We always took the kids on vacations during the summer and most spring breaks. We even did a few Christmas trips.

My favorites are:
-Washington, DC
-Yellowstone/Tetons
-Colorado [skiing,NP's]
-Hawaii
-Florida

There are so many others, but these are the ones I enjoyed the most with my family.

highflyer

Five places....

1. Europe. Very general but if only one city I'd pick London or Paris or Rome.
2. US. NYC or San Francisco.
3. China. The Great Wall
4. Australia. Sydney and the Great Barrier Reef
5. The beach (preferably the Caribbean or Hawaii)

Dreamer2

Cool thread. Thanks for posting!
I like GirlontheGo and BTilke generalized suggestions. All great ideas!

claire_bluesky

-Grand Canyon
-Any beach that has really great snorkeling
-I agree w/others about the National Parks - as many and as often as possible
-Washington, D.C.
-NYC

signmeup

-Somewhere in S. America
-A trip to Europe
-On a mission trip
-Somewhere in Asia
-To a homeless shelter to help

seetheworld

1. The east coast
2. The west coast
3. Mid America or the Heartland
4. Europe
5. A place that is the polar opposite of where they live

bashawdi

Mine is:

1) *Paris
2) *London
3) *All over Europe (started)
4) New York City
5) *Washington, D.C.
6) *Philadelphia
7) Yellowstone
8) Grand Canyon
9) *Disneyland
10) Disneyworld
11) Venice, Italy
12) Iceland

Travel is big in our home. Our son had a passport around 5. He's since been to Paris, London, Germany and Amsterdam.

*These places we've already taken our son.

happytrailstoyou

Nigeria
Bangladesh
Haiti
Sierra Leone
Afghanistan

So they can get a glimpse of how lucky they are and to learn that they won't die if they don't have a cell phone and $150 sneakers.

Jolie

I would pick some place that either the kids won't enjoy once they reach adulthood (like Disney), or won't be there 2 decades from now, like a safari or GNP (and I acknowledge that people will dispute whether the glaciers and/or elephants are really disappearing from the Earth).

starrsville

1. The beach
2. Camping
3. Mountain vacation in a cabin with fishing in a lake
4. Grand Canyon
5. Someplace that matches their interest - Gettysburg Battlefield, Military museums are two examples of one special kid now all grown up.