meab

We are Floridians looking for a short (probably 4-7 days) trip to see something different than what we have here (ie no beach vacations!) We have a 7 year old, a 4 year old, and a 5 month old. Our travels require that we *return* by September 21. We have a few ideas up for consideration...

--New Hampshire's White Mountains. but will it be too early for fall colors??

--Colorado, probably the denver vicinity, branching out to colorado springs area, and/or up to RMNP. but will the travel time, time change, car time, and altitude be too much for the little ones? I think at least we'd be spot-on with color change there...

--New York, probably Hudson River Valley, maybe working all the way up to the Finger Lakes. again, too early for fall color?

We love the fall foliage, since it's a big change of scenery from where we live. In previous years with kids, we've done vermont, montreal, adirondacks, a foliage cruise out of new york, and asheville NC. We like the outdoors, but are obviously a little restricted now with our baby (ie no horseback, float trips, that sort of thing), but I think there is still a lot available to us.

Any input is greatly appreciated. We've also considered Portland, OR and San Francisco/northern california, but I think there is too much travel time involved for us getting there for a possibly rather short stay. Also thought of Cape Cod area, but it seems a lot of work for us to go to a "beach"... Any suggestions/comments are welcome!

Thanks in advance. This board is always so helpful.

dfnh

You'll be too early for foliage but the White Mountains could still be a great trip. Take the kids to Story Land and Clark's Trained Bears. There are some easy hikes with children or visit the popular Flume. There is also a popular place near Manchester NH called Charming Fare farm with wagon rides and petting zoo. I haven't been there yet but friends give it high rating. Depending on where you stay you could make a day trip to Danville VT (across the border from Littleton NH just above the White Mountains) to visit the Great Vermont Corn Maze. This is a great family adventure plus they have some activities/special play area for little ones. It's a very challenging maze which may take several hours of hiking on a side hill or you can cut it short by taking the "emergency exit" to the top for a nice view. If the weather is warm enough for swimming or just wading you might visit some of the swimming areas in the mountains. We recently waded in a VT river that was popular with locals but wish we had brought swim shoes. You could also do things like picnic by a waterfall. Some are close to the road you just have to know what trail to take and some are a pretty good hike (Arethusa Falls sp) but listed as ok for children.

dfr4848

In Colorado, you'd really need to get in the mountains to have a better chance of seeing fall foliage. Might consider places like Breckenridge area. Easy to get to from Denver. No, I don't think the time change or altitude would affect the kids much (that's only a problem for us old folks!) We took our daughter to Colo. Rockies when she was 4 mo old and didn't seem to impact her at all.

Also might check into Santa Fe/Taos area.

meab

dfnh, thanks for the input. the corn maze sounds fun, and i've read about storyland online.

dfr4848, thanks also for the tip on colorado re: altitude with a baby. i've actually never been anywhere with altitude issues, so i didn't know what to expect! i will check out the breckenridge area.

santa fe is a place we'd love to visit, but while out that way, i wanted to trek down to carlsbad caverns and white sands, but i think for a short trip that's too much extra time in the car, and i think the baby is too small for us to comfortably undertake that option... unless someone points me otherwise! i'm open to anything!

boom_boom

Breckenridge is a great place, short drives to Vail, Dillon or Frisco (old part of town) or over Hoosier Pass for a picnic.
Easy to get arond Breckenridge, lots of stuff within walking distance and Summitt County has a free, and extensive, bus system. But you still might be just a tad early for the PEAK colors.

Dreamer2

If you come up to the White Mountains, I concur with Story Land and would like to add Santa's Village. That's a bit further up near the Mt Washington Resort in Bretton Woods. September is usually glorious in New Hampshire

meab

it looks like the votes are for either colorado or new hampshire. i think it's going to be a tough decision! any other input out there?

Gretchen

Those are FAR distances to drive for that length of time! Are you really talking about a car trip for the entire time.
But even if you are going to fly to the origin, I think you are planning a trip for you and not your children. When they see fall colors, they will not "love" it for a whole day.
The Georgia/NC mountains are very pretty. You could go trout fishing with the older children. The foliage won't have turned.
Do you build in some things that the children like.

meab

gretchen, no we are definitely, definitely flying to our destination!!! my concern about car time was once we arrived, and the amount of driving we'd encounter once there...

we have traveled with our kids several times, and always, always do kid-friendly things. as a result, we all have fun - when the kids have fun, everyone is happy. obviously, most of the desire to travel is ours (not our kids'), but sometimes we all just need a change of scenery.

skatedancer

wow, the White Mountains suggestion is so great for doing stuff with kids; what post is Gretchen responding to??

If you do go to the White Mountains, also check out the area near Loon Mtn. for great mini-golf (very scenic and nicely maintained), Lost River caves and Loon Mtn, itself, which has a number of fun things to do.

Story Land is also really nicely kept, too, and perfect for your age kids!!

soxfanann

I just returned from a week in NH with my 8 yr-old nephew and my 5 and 2 year old girls. The girls LOVED StoryLand, but they've never been to any big amusement parks. If your kids have done Disney, StoryLand may be a letdown. In that area, there's also the North Conway Scenic Railroad - cool old train ride if your kids are into trains. An easy hike is to Diana's Baths - beautiful little waterfalls and the trail is a breeze - even with a baby in a carrier. We stayed over in the lakes region (Newfound Lake) and visited the Squam Lake Science Center (black bears and birds of prey were a hit), which has a nice hike up Mt. Fayal that's not too tough for kids. Weir's Beach at Lake Winnepasaukee (sp?) is fiiled with retro arcades and kitchy stuff - rainy day lifesaver - my kids rode bumper cars over and over and made their own sundaes at Kellerhaus. Enjoy!

WhiteMtsMan

I would recommend the White Mountains of New Hampshire. From Florida, I would assume you could fly into Logan Airport in Boston and rent a car to drive up to either North Conway, New Hampshire (about 3 hrs from Boston, yet you may encounter lots of traffic, especially North Conway) or Lincoln New Hampshire, (about 2.5 hours from Boston, no traffic). You may be able to fly into the Manchester, NH area. I'm not sure the details about air travel in the NH area, I always drive to NH. In the White Mountains region, I recommend Storyland, 10 mins from North Conway, and Clark's Trading Post in Lincoln, 1 hour from North Conway OR Santas Village and Clarks Trading Post. Storyland and Santas Village get pricey when put together, however they are both excellent, well maintained places to go with children, and if you are only planning on going once, make sure to visit both places.

Links:
White Mountains Tourism: http://www.visitwhitemountains.com/

meab

thanks for all of the feedback, especially regarding kid-friendly activities.

we have decided to go to new york for our september trip, mostly due to some family obligations, and instead of hudson river valley, we're going to trek to niagara falls!

however, i think we are going to shoot for NH white mountains in combination with boston next october, when we can really get there for leaf-peeping (maybe i should make hotel reservations now!!!)

thanks for all of the advice!