We are a family of 5, 3 are young kids (4,4 and 2). I am trying to find us an ideal family vacation spot. We are coming from Vegas and would like to visit someplace different. We have done Florida. We thought about Williamsburg but are leaning towards some other place, and I wanted to get other opions/options first. I would like to be near water so we can spend a day or two at the beach/lake. We will be going around Sept. time probably when kids are back in school to avoid crowds and get cheaper rates. We also need a location with "touristy" things to do for the kids, i.e. zoos, amusement park (anything that will keep them busy/happy/interested).
I was thinking about someplace near the Great Lakes, like Cleveland or Chicago. Do they have beach areas anywhere along the lakes? What about Niagara Falls? Stuff to do for the kids in the area, Buffalo or even Toronto?
Or what about an area near where you live that has other lakes that I am just not aware of? We like being outdoors, so NP's are good, also like to be close enough to a big city for the amusement.
Any all help would be gretly appreciated.

Niagara Falls is set up well for young families and can offer you reasonable accomodations as well as activities for your gang... within a five mile area on the Canadian side you will find a Marineland and Game farm with rides for the kids, whales,dolphins,petting zoo...clifton hill activities,mazes.plastic ball bins,...several family friendly restaurants...

You could stay at the Americana, which has a indoor water park or several others that offer the standard hotel pool...

there is also a botanical gardens, bird aviary, and live butterfly greenhouse....

An hour away is Toronto with a world class Zoo, centre island park/beach and kids amusement park... harbourfront has tons of activities for the little ones and Canada Wonderland, featuring Hanna-Barberra cartoon characters and much for the kiddies... with kids that small,this area offers lots for them

I would recommend splitting your trip between the two areas and with some research on the Canada board, you will find plenty...

gary, thanks for your info, this sounds like something I am really interested in because it offers stuff for both the kids and us. I have one quick question for you, are there any areas where we can be outside near a lake or some other water, where we can sit on a lake front somewhere?

Hi vegas -

Old Fort Niagara is about 20 - 30 minutes away on the American side. Directly on Lake Ontario, they have a historic fort that is may be too young for your kids, although they let them shoot muskets, etc. They do however have picnic areas, playgrounds, pools, and beach front areas. I don't know of any lakefront places to stay since we camped. Have fun wherever you decide!
Sharon

September can be very "iffy" for swimming around here. Sometimes the August heat carries into September, but a lot of times there is a drastic change right after Labor Day. I don't mean it would be too cool for sightseeing, but possibly for swimming. The pools at the fort will be closed for the season.

Crystal Beach is a great beach for kids. It's near Ft. Erie, a quick drive from the falls on the Canadian side. The water is shallow and warm with soft sand. However, the snack shop and bathrooms will be closed. But if the weather IS warm, you'll be able to enjoy the beach.

Have fun!

Because the Niagara River runs between Lakes Erie and Ontario you will find hundreds of miles of Lake front... It depends on what you want to do that would determine your plan...

Toronto sits directly on Lake Ontario and you can overlook the water in a hotel like the Westin Harbour Castle... the ferry to Toronto Islands is right outside the hotel and you could ferry to Centre Island where there is a large sand beach right on the lake... there is also the kids amusement park, although I don't how late in September it stays open... closer to the Falls is Niagara on the Lake which is a beautiful village directly on Ontario and offers B&B and Lakefront Cottage rentals... truly stunning although a slower pace... you are still 15 minutes from the Falls... both of these choices could be day trips with a picnic on the lake or overnight stays... jump to the Canada board for more info on both Lakefront possibilities...

Sorry, I spent most of my time in my previous post talking about swimming.....I wanted to say that September is a great time to visit Niagara Falls because the crowds are gone for the most part. Like garyt22 said there's a lot to do for kids and adults!

And Fort Niagara is a wonderful place. I always recommend it. If you like American history, you will love the fort. It's on the American side, a short distance from the falls. The fort has been standing since the time of the French and Indian War. It is in fabulous condition, and the main building, called the French Castle, is the oldest building on the Great Lakes!

The fort is situated inside a state park. As I mentioned above, the pools will be closed, but there is a beautiful sloping grass beach that ends at the waters' edge. It's deep and rocky and no swimming is allowed, but it's fun to walk along the water's edge and pick up stones and watch the sailboats. On a clear day you can see downtown Toronto! It would be a great way to spend a day doing some sightseeing and picnicing. It's a great place.

Here are some websites:

www.oldfortniagara.org

http://www.nysparks.state.ny.us/site....asp?siteID=20

Also, there is an amusement park on Grand Island (between the falls and Buffalo). It's a 10 minute drive from the falls. It's not a huge park, but just the right size with several rides for small children. It's inexpensive and open on weekends in September.

http://www.martinsfantasyisland.com/

Have fun no matter where you end up going!

Two thoughts come immediately to mind - Silver Dollar City and Branson, MO. There's plenty to do and see there.

Believe it or not, your kids are actually a great age for the Rapid City, SD / Mt. Rushmore area. If you can go prior to Labor Day, they have a wonderful park called "Storybook Island" with nursery rhyme themed playgrounds. There are the Reptile Gardens, Bear Country, USA. There is a wildlife loop in Custer State Park and there are little lakes where you can rent paddle boats etc. We went to a like...seems like it was called Sheridan Lake or maybe Jackson Lake - I'm sorry I don't remember better - but it has a nice gentle swimming beach.

Chicago and Wisconsin (Milwaukee/ Cedarburg/ The Dells) are fun for families. There are beach areas on Lake Michigan. Here's a link I found: http://www.great-lakes.net/tourism/
It does look like you are more interested than Niagra Falls, although I thought I'd add my 2 cents.

I found Family Fun magazine to be a good reference in planning family vacations. One issue I remember even told how to "vacation at home"; seeing museums and attractions and sleeping in your own bed. The articles always seemed written by people who really had kids. My girls are now 18 and 20 and my 18 year old requested a family trip to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area as her one wish for this summer after she graduates. It feels good to know they still like to travel with us!!! Have fun! (the years FLY by)

I'd like to second AuntAnnie's recommendation about Family Fun magazine. They produce guidebooks for family trips but they also have a travel section on their website familyfun.com or familyfun.go.com You can search by region.

Once upon a time we did lots of tent/trailer camping all over the U. S. with young kids. With such young children I would think there are many possibilities. Due to naptimes and eating and attention span best to think of little ways to entertain rather than traditional sightseeing, i.e., sure Niagra Falls is great, but maybe just some little kiddie park will do. And of course any zoo. Yes, I remember that Storybook Island in SD which was fun for our little ones, although basically we avoided most such touristy spots in favor of nature in the Black Hills. Oh yes, they loved looking into those prairie dog holes! For youngsters just playing in the sand on a beach and splashing in a lake is all you need, like in some Kentucky or Michigan or Missouri state parks. I guess I'm advising to think small!!! Except of course you parents do want some sighteeing.

Seems to me Williamsburg or Old Ft. Niagra or Wisconsin Dells or other places mentioned are much better ten years later (our elementary age kids did enjoy historic spots and nature trails). Someone did mention Silver Dollar City near us which is a good bet for a family and does have kiddie rides, but again your three are so very young.

Our little ones are now well into their 40s.

ozarksbill
[email protected]

Thanks for the ideas and suggestions...keep them coming. Ozarkbill we have acutally been to MO a few times (Rolla and Lake of the Ozarks), nice country! trippinkpj I am still open for suggestions and Chicago sounds great to me. Someone else also mentioned SD and that might be good, a bit closer to home, so not as long as a plane ride I just didn't know what else there was to do besides Mt. Rushmore and the other one (Crazyhorse?). For some reason I think I remember seeing something on the Travel Channel about family hot spots in SD, and it looked pretty good. I have a lot of research to do. I'd like to go somewhere that SW flys into because we have some credit that we need to use up/book by this summer...I know it goes into CHicago, Buffalo from here, have to check on Rapid City.
Thanks a bunch you guys...still looking and researching, so keep thinking!!

www.blackhillsbadlands.com gives some good information.