nkluedke

Hello! I booked tickets to for spring break (MKE-Ft. Myers) for my family (2 parents and 3 boys - 5, 3 and 7 mo). Ultimately decided to cancel as the rental prices for the week were so high. So, I have $1800 sitting in my Southwest account that I need to use. My husband is a teacher, so our next opportunity to travel is June - I'm thinking the week of June 12 when he's done so as to avoid interfering with swim classes, etc. Only now I'm not sure what to do! We took the two older boys when they were 2 and 3 to Anna Maria Island in April and loved it - low pressure, pool to beach to nap to ice cream to pool and back. I wanted to do that again this year, but not sure if it's still worth it in June. Would love to hear any opinions. My preference is to go on a direct flight to the destination from Milwaukee because: 3 kids, 3 car seats. Oh man, what was I thinking anyway?!

nkluedke

I should mention, we do have passports for the kids.

janisj

How about San Diego? Beaches, great animal park/zoo, LegoLand, etc . . . And non stops from Milwaukee

MmePerdu

I agree, San Diego is an excellent suggestion. Stay at the Hotel del Coronado if it's in the budget, pool & beach, short drive to the zoo.

lindagj

Love this idea. As much or as little activity as you want. I still like places where. I can decide night before what I want to do. Works great with little kids.

fishee

One thing about San Diego is that the trip will likely involve a lot of driving as everything is pretty spread out. I like vacations where I can leave the rental car parked for a couple of days and we can walk to restaurants and outdoor activities. Getting our kids in/out of car seats can be a goat rodeo.

Are you thinking Fort Meyers will be too hot in June? We are going to Sanibel in late May for the first time and we look forward to biking (in the mornings) all week. We figure our kids will be napping during the hottest part of the day.

MmePerdu

Not sure why going to San Diego necessitates a lot of driving. Staying in Coronado they can park the car and stay put if they want to. Go to Balboa Park & zoo one day, no need to be running around every day.

MmePerdu

Check NY Times travel section for ideas, '36 Hours in San Diego.'

marvelousmouse

Generally I'd go with something more active, as I'm not a big beach person anyway...but I agree with kids that age that a beach resort sounds really tempting.

San Diego would be great. Zoo one day, beach the rest. Cape Cod National Seashore would also be fun.

I guess what I'm wondering...is: does that credit on your account expire anytime soon? Because if it involved three car seats, anyway, I'd probably opt for a driving holiday near your home, like one of the beach towns on the Great Lakes. Your kids would probably be as happy in a sand pile in in the backyard as they would be in Florida or California. And then you could save the credit for later date when something comes up that you really, really want to do.

DebbieDoesDulles

Roundtrip nonstop to Boston is $268 and The Club at Cape Cod in Dennisport has tiny condos for $125 per night, 2 queens and a sofa bed...kitchenette, private backyard with picnic table & bbq grill, and two pools (one indoor). Nearby both Mayflower Beach & West Dennis beach are great for small kids & shouldn't be overcrowded in mid-June. You'll need a ($75) weekly beach parking pass.
Riviera Beach Resort in West Yarmouth has smaller rooms, but you'd be right at the beach.

So there's an idea on a budget.

fmpden

We had a bad third week in June in San Diego due to what the locals called "June Gloom." It is was so cold we had to buy sweatshirt for everyone. No beach and no pool. The locals thought it was a big joke on tourists because this condition occurs annually about the same time each year.

marvelousmouse

Still what we call beach weather up here, fmpden

And I can't tell if you've been to west coast before, OP, but probably should mention that SD is not as warm as Florida. Water wise, I mean.

DebitNM

That is a really great time to be in New Mexico. Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Carlsbad Caverns, or even up into SW colorado Durango, Mesa Verde NP.

Southwest flies into ABQ.

fishee

June gloom is an annual thing along the coast (can also be Grey May.....) -- it often burns off by mid-day but it kinda sucks to wake up to it. I lived on WindanSea beach in La Jolla and mornings were routinely grey in late May/early June and mouse is correct -- the water is quite cold. If you choose San Diego, make sure you find accommodations with a heated pool as the kids may spend most of their time in there.

nkluedke

@marvelousmouse the credit expires 1/30/2018, so an alternative option for us to travel would be the week after Christmas. We usually go to Door County each year and I totally agree that kids are generally happiest with the simple things, which is what we spend most of our summer doing. I hit a point each winter where I momentarily lose all common sense and need to escape the long winter inside with all my children and that's when I usually book the plane tickets!

@lindagj agreed. we loved anna maria island because it was no pressure- nothing we HAD to see or do. just a warm weather escape.

@fishee yes, wasn't sure about FL in June, but not opposed. reading back in the archives, I noticed a lot of posters encouraged travel to the panhandle in June, but not much south of that. Unfortunately there's no direct flights from MKE to any of the panhandle cities.

I like the idea of San Diego, although we're taking the kids to the Illinois Legoland next month and have a Milwaukee zoo pass (I know it's not as good as SD's, but to a 5 year old, they probably wouldn't know the difference).

Kind of love the alternative ideas of Boston for Cape Cod or New Mexico. Had considered Denver, as well, and finding a rental house.

Thanks, all!

tom_mn

San Diego: just looked into this and near-beach rentals are $200/day or more. What were the Ft Meyers ones that were too high? Also admissions are high, SD Zoo is $52 for example, Legolas's about $100.

Anyway, Puerto Rico involves a transfer but it's always warm there.

tom_mn

Legoland, weird autocorrect for that.

marvelousmouse

Lol- yes, January is when I get itchy feet too! I'd save it for Winter, since you know that always happens. And door county sounds glorious! It's on my bucket list

BuffaloGirl

With kids that age I would just hit the beach. Rent a condo with a nice pool. Captiva and Sanibel islands are beautiful (but very shelly). They are a short drive from Ft. Meyers airport.