Family Looking for Destination
 

Hi, Folks!

We're a family of 6: Two adults and 4 young children, ages 9, 6, 3, and a newborn.

We're planning on a 10-day trip at the end of June (i.e., less than 2 months from now).

We live near NYC and are looking for a destination that is:
* Affordable to fly to ($200 of less per ticket from NYC/Philly area);
* Does not require lots of driving while there (the kids are not big fans of on-the-road trips);
* Interesting to all of us.

I know that this description is kinda general, but it hadn't led us yet to any particular ideas besides Florida (and I'm not saying Florida is a bad idea, I'm just trying to explore some more; anyhow, we're not into that Disney-and-other-parks kind of a trip).

In recent years we already went to New Orleans, LA; Washington, DC; and most of New England.

Any ideas would be much appreciated,
Yours,
Arnon

I don't have a recommendation, per se. Just wanted to say I am so impressed you are ready to travel with a newborn!

Well, he'll be 2.5 months/old by then ;-)

A few more questions to help you along. Are you also considering a driving vacation, and what would be the maximum amount of time you would drive each way (and then you could stay put in one place once there)?

There are very few places that you can fly to from NYC for less than $200 per person. Florida is the most likely because of the airfare competition, but even that is difficult for your time frame.

How would you describe "Interesting to all of us" ? Museums? Hiking? Beaches? And how much are you willing to spend per night for rooms. I assume you need a suite or condo since you can't get that many people in one room, even with small kids, and the kids are too young to be alone in their own room"

Here's one thought:

Fly non-stop round trip from LGA to Burlington VT on Delta for $136/person all inclusive (regardless of what day you leave, it appears). Inexplicably, flying to Montreal is 3X as much and an open-jaw with Quebec City is even more! This is one of those cases where flying 2 hours drive outside your final destination is the only way to go unless you have unlimited funds.

The remaining $64/person you still have from your flying budget can be applied to a rental car and/or parking.

Rent car upon landing in Burlington and drive to Montreal, Canada (a little less than 2 hours one way.

Stay in Montreal for 4 nights. Rent an apartment on VRBO (in old town). Park car for duration of Montreal stay or use it for getting around (you COULD get by leaving it parked). Eat the parking costs - you'll still come out ahead with the weekly cart rental rates.

Drive to Quebec City - for 6 nights. Rent an apartment on VRBO in old town (you can park at city hall garage in old town for only $10/day with in/out privileges). This allows 3-4 days for seeing Quebec City (no car needed) and 2-3 days for some <red>amazing</red> day trips via car - the best ones are up north from Quebec City along the St. Lawrence river.

Get up early last day and drive back to Burlington airport (about 5 hours) and fly home (90 minutes).

What do you think?

bardo, that is brilliant!

If the cross-border rental car is too expensive, they could take a bus or train to Montreal and VIA Rail to Quebec.

bardo - thanks for the fantastic itinerary. We did visit Montreal, but the rest of it sounds very interesting.

nyer - I'd say "interesting" for us is a combination of (not all of the following) children-friendly nice attractions (not in the magnitude of Disney parks, but more like small museums), nice parks for the kids to run through, factory tours and/or visitor centers, light walking trails, nice street strolling, good food (for me ;-), etc. Price per accommodation - how about <$150/night?...

Burlington is a great city! And you could take a short drive to Cabot Cheese and Ben and Jerrys for tours.

The older kids could go with one parent and do this:
http://www.ausablechasm.com/

Or you could take a flight to Porland Maine. I didn't check prices, but it should be on the cheaper side. Lots of fabulous restaurants. Numerous beaches, light houses, etc. Portland does have a Children's Museum too.

I would think you could get to Williamsburg VA pretty inexpensively as well.

rizzo0904 - as I mentioned in my first message, we already visited most of New England, Burlington included, Ben & Jerry's included (3 times ;-). Before living near NYC, we lived in Central MA and had frequently visited VT, NH, and ME.

Niagara Falls can be fun for a family vacation... fly into Buffalo and its a short 30 minutes to the Falls... lots to see, plenty of kid friendly attractions such as Butterfly Conservatory, Bird house, Clifton Hill, and several hotels have waterparks.. there's the WEGO bus shuttles...

Just make sure you have Passports for you and wife and Birth Certificates for the kids...

It looks like you may be able to get to Charleston SC for just over your $200 price point. That's a lovely area.

If you pick up and return cat at some location (Burlington airport), there is no up charges regardless of where you take the car. We did this - car was about $40/day.

Another option, similar to Burlington/Montreal/Quebec City, is to fly to Buffalo (about $150/person round trip, non-stop, inclusive), rent a car, stay 2 nights in Niagara falls, Canada (about 40 minutes drive from Buffalo airport) and then continue on to Toronto (about 75 minutes from Niagara Falls) for remainder of trip.

ANOTHER possibility is Myrle Beach, SC which for some weird reason is dirt cheap to fly to (about $80 RT). Surrounding area airfares are 3X that (except Fort Lauderdale, FL which you've eliminated)...

Arnonh, how about closer to home...Have you been to Philadelphia with the kids? There are loads of kid-friendly things to do, from the Please Touch Museum to Franklin Square (not Court, although that may be reopened by that time) to my niece's favorite carriage rides to the Parkway museums and so on. (And Dutch Wonderland or Sesame Place are a nice day-trip if you do want a smaller amusement park for one day.)

Hiking in Fairmount Park is lovely, and the city itself is immensely walkable.

Food is part of the allure, with places like Reading Terminal Market or street stands, five star restaurants and the Italian Market, tiny but tasty Chinatown, and loads more. (We like our food here, we do.)

Herr's Potato Chip factory and Crayola Crayons are daytrips, as well. Both come highly recommended.

There are many kid-friendly historical activities usually in the summer; visit www.visitphilly.com for the latest updates.

I've had family at the Holiday Inn (now a Wyndham, I think) at 4th and Arch for <$150; not sure what it might be running at that point, but of course there's also Priceline or Hotwire.

Plug in your dates and a destination in www.kayak.com. Mid-June, depart Sunday and return on a Tuesday has a $296 RT (was the $200 for a round trip?) available NYC to SFO. Similar pricing might exist for Chicago, Denver, Seattle, etc.

Being from the "other" side of the globe, others here will be much better equiped to help with flight pricing, but having travelled with young children for many years, I can recommend San Diego and surrounds wholeheartedly.

Sea World / Zoo / Balboa Park with all the facinating all-ages museums and galleries / Midway / Legoland / Aquarium etc etc.

We stayed at La Jolla and drove to all the attractions, and apart from Legoland, everything seemed to be within a half hour.

It may blow the budget a tad, but there is plenty to keep the kids entertained and happy kiddies mean a happy holiday.

Wow, thank so much all! Lots to think about...

bardo1 - where did you see such cheap flights to Myrtle Beach, SC?

Have you looked at the Chicago area? If you watch for specials you can find fares well below$200 from NY. Use the city for museums etc and the Lake for relaxation and fun.

arnonh -

Re. Myrtle Beach: It WAS on Kayak "Explore" (really!).

It's now GONE - one of those weird things where a low price for somewhere pops up for a day and then disappears the next. If you had bought SC yesterday....

Sorry.

If you do choose to go the Florida route - I suggest the gulf coast - Clearwater Beach/St Pete Beach vicinity.

My family & my cousin's family - includes a 2 yo & 3.5 yo are staying in Madeira Beach in June. It is a great little beach town right in the middle of Clearwater Beach/St Pete Beach. There are aquariums in Tampa and Clearwater.. state parks within an hour-90 minutes - honeymoon state park, fort de soto park, caladesi island is off of honeymoon state park, egmont key/shell island. There are beach bazaar's/festivals in the area, as well as a very popular boardwalk called Johns Pass and all of it is accessible by a trolley that runs up and down Gulf Blvd. We found a condo on vrbo right on the beach for under $100/day per family. We ARE spending one day to take the kids to Magic Kingdom, but the rest of the week is to be spent exploring all of the beach towns - clearwater beach, redington beach, indian rocks, treasure island, pass-a-grille and st pete beach.

I have more information if you are interested, as I am still researching and making final decisions.

I am from Chicago and can tell you that it can be expensive, even if you do get a deal on a hotel. I would wait until your kids are a little older and you can utilize public transportation with more ease to make that part of the adventure.