Best Family Vacation for 3 boys 5, 7, & 8. Not Disney
 

Please suggest a great vacation in the US, preferably out west coast, mid west. Looking for an original experience. Boys are into playing outside and sports! Any Ideas?

Anywhere right on the beach or camping on a lake or river.

Yellowstone

San Diego

Utah National Parks

We beach it 3 times a year and have a houseboat on the lake so perfect response that's right up our alley just wanted something different!. Thanks

Any suggestions on where to stay at Yellowstone?

National and state parks are a great choice.

Depending on what types of beach vacations you usually take, you might consider a different type of ocean/coastal area. For example, if you usually go to Florida, then the rocky coast of the CA central coast would be very different for your family. Or maybe go to the Pacific NW - Olympic NP plus some time around the sound.

For Yellowstone, look for in park lodging, which will probably be all reserved, but they get cancellations all the time so call and keep calling. In the mean time, make a cancelable reservation outside. Maybe West Yellowstone or Cody.

I second San Diego area. Lego Land is great, and the two zoo habitats are fabulous. Also love Yellowstone. Check out Yellowstone Association's Lodgings and Learnings programs for families. These include food and lodging and are centered around a variety of activities especially for families.

The last 10 days of July is Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo- great big parades with every type of horse drawn vehicle, rodeos, rides, . You could then find a dude ranch experience for a few days or head up to Yellowstone from there.

Rent a cabin on a lake in Northern Michigan or a beach house. Houghton Lake or Crystal Lake are two suggestions. You are day trip away from Sleeping Bear Dunes, Mackinac Island, and the beautiful coastal towns of Harbor Springs, Petosky, and Charlevoix. You can canoe, fish, beach, bike, and horseback ride.

We have three boys and our two favorite inside the US vacations have been Yellowstone/Black Hills and San Diego.

It is really crazy late to try to book Yellowstone for this year but if this is for next year, then go for it. We stayed in a nice cabin in Canyon and then the Old Faithful Inn. We also spent a couple of days in Cody on our way to the Black Hills.

San Diego was great for the beach, amusement parks, the USS Midway, Zoo, etc.