Mom

We are planning a weeklong family trip in Jan. We live on the east coast and love nature. Our children are 9, 6, and 1. Could you help with suggestions and ideas for a memorable trip. What was your favorite?

Doris1

So glad to hear that you want to take a family trip with going to WDW. For the life of me I don't understand the draw. How about educating our kids and showing them nature instead of ridiculous american commercialism and consumerism. Cheers to you!

emmy

How about around the Crystal River area of Florida. The manatees spend the winter in the river. It's kind-of near Tampa if you're flying. If you're driving, stop by the Okefanoke (I am sure the spelling is wrong, but I'm too lazy to go look it up right now) in southern Georgia. Also in Florida is Everglades National Park full of alligators and birds and other wildlife.

bennie

As my family is still young (5&8), we haven't taken many vacations but here are my thoughts.

White Mountains NH - specifically the Nordic Village in Jackson NH. Its a condo development with lots of rentals. Always clean and beautifully landscaped.Entertainment at night. Many colleagues from Boston area go there. The attractions are numerous - StoryLand amusement park - geared for young ones and very well done. Enough to keep the 9 year old entertained too. Mt. Washington Auto Road - drive to the top of the mountain. Golfing, horseback riding, swimming in the pools. Skiing in winter. Really fun

Toronto, ON - about 10 hr drive from Boston. Had a great time at baseball game, CN Tower, zoo, amusement park, Royal Ontario Musuem, Niagara Falls. Stayed at Delta Chelsea Inn - also great for families.

Stowe VT - visited a working farm for the day, rode bikes on the recreation trail, gondola rides to top of Mt. Mansfield. Lots of fun.

Also did the cottage on Cape Cod thing - okay if you can afford a rental on the beach but otherwise skip it.

Next year I think its either the mountains of Quebec or a drive along the Pacific Coast Highway (depends on finances).

This year we stashed all the junk the kids had collected along the way and made memory boxes. Craft boxes decorated and painted as they wanted and the swizzle sticks, rocks, pennies, brochures etc are inside.

Karen

Probably my favorite when our children were young (maybe 10 and 12) was our trip to Kennebunkport, for tidepool wading, lobster eating and a ride on a lobster boat, stopping over on the way at Concord, Mass., for a delightful history lesson at the battleground and visits to Walden Pond and Louisa May Alcott's home. Of course January is no time to do this one!

Reality check

Didn't Mom say she was going in January? Um, I think some of these ideas are a little wide of the mark.

Momtoo

We had a wonderful family vacation with out daughter last year. It is not in the US, but I would suggest Cancun, Mexico! Specifically, we stayed at the Crown Paradise Club an all-inclusive beah resort. Kids, stay, play, and eat free with paying adults! the resort had a terrific beah for exploring and we also took daytrips to the Mayan ruins at Tulum and a day trip to Isla Mujerres. Fun and cultural with walking and hiking on Isla Mujeres. This was inexpensive too when you realize that all you meals are included (except lunch on the two days we were off the resort. We got our package through Apple Vacations and the cost was $900/ea for adults for one week (including airfare) As for children, you only pay airfare for each (about $250 and nothing else) This place was great and had tons of hildren's ativities on the resort as well as a babysitting servie for the evenings. We didn't use the service but did send out daughter to "kids camp" (free) one day while we played golf and she LOVED it. The pools were huge and beach great!

Ginny

Have you thought about a ski trip? Steamboat is a great place for families. Another thought is Yellowstone, it's cold, but the animals are out and with the snow it is breathtaking.

Boots

If you're going in January- why not go somewhere warm? I'd recommend southern Arizona. We're east coast folks and our favorite family trip by far with preteens was to Arizona (Grand Canyon, Sedona and Tucson over 9 days). As an alternative, consider Southern California - San Diego and the desert areas. The Florida Keys are nice (we've been to Islamorada and Key West) but not great for hiking of course! Have fun!

Boots

Whoops! I didn't mean to imply that Grand Canyon and Sedona would be warm in January. In fact, it snowed in both places when we were there in April 2001. Southern Arizona (Phoenix and south to Tucson) should be more moderate. (Although I've read that GC in winter is awesome!)

PCW

OUR BEST FAMILY TRIP WAS TO THE USVI ST JOHN. OUR SON WAS 11YRS OLD AT THE TIME. WE STAYED AT ESTATE CONCORDIA ECO-TENTS. RENTED A JEEP (IT'S NECESSARY TO RENT A CAR THERE). VISITED MANY DIFFERENT BEACHES. TOOK WINDSURFING LESSONS, SNORKLED AT TRUNK BAY ON THANKSGIVING DAY AND HAD THE BEACH TO OURSELVES INCLUDING THE SNORKELING TRAIL. TOOK A DAYSAIL SNORKLE TRIP AND I STRONGLY RECOMMEND THE RANGER GUIDED TOUR OF THE ISLAND. WE STARTED AT THE TRAILHEAD AT 9:00AM HIKED THROUGH RAINFOREST AND OLD SUGAR MILL RUINS TOOK A SACK LUNCH AND ENJOYED IT BESIDE WATERFALL WHERE ANCIENT GLYPHS WERE CARVED IN THE STONE, THEN ON TO THE BEACH WHERE YOU CAN TAKE A DIP AND A BOAT PICKS YOU UP TO RETURN YOU TO CRUZ BAY. THE RANGER GAVE A WONDERFUL AND INFORMATIVE TALK. I CANNOT THINK OF A BETTER WAY TO HAVE SPENT THE WEEK OF THANKSGIVING. WE ALSO WENT TO A WONDERFUL AQUARIUM ON ST THOMAS CALLED CORAL WORLD. WE HAD THE TIME OF OUR LIVES AND PLAN TO SPEND THIS THANKSGIVING WEEK ON VIRGIN GORDA IN THE BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS. MAY TAKE A DAY TRIP TO ST JOHN. WE FELL IN LOVE WITH IT AND THE ECO-TENTS WERE GREAT!

Dad

Yellowstone (I 2nd that motion)
or San Diego (zoo in particular)

jnathan

We just came home after spending an incredible week in Florida. The first part we stayed in Crystal River. We swam and played with manatees, took a ride on an Airboat, Scuba'd in Rainbow River, visited Homosassa State Park. In season you can take a 4 hr tubing trip on the Rainbow River. Not alot to do at night so we recuperated from the daily acitivity.
The 2nd part of our trip, after driving for 2 1/2 - 3 hrs, was Amelia Island. The Ritz Carlton is a fantastic family resort. Look for sharks teeth. Nearby is Ft Clinch State Park, my favorite back-to-nature area. The beach is untouched by human hand, biking, walking, swimming, bird watching. Minimal entry fee.

cheapbutnice

Unless you have the best 1 year old in history be careful to not overdue it.Summer is for roadtrips;winter is for vacations.Pick 1 place and stay there!The best options would be any reputable ski resort in NE or (honestly) a B&B in a suburb of Dublin. The airfare to Ireland is cheap, the weather less snowy & icy than NE, great public transportation and no language barriers.

Chele60

I would third (is that even possible??) a trip to Yellowstone. Not sure about doing it in January, but I went there when I was 6 and I still remember it as being almost magical. It was by far the best family vacation I'd ever had!

radiofanatic

Our annual week vacation in a Cabin in Old Forge, NY (the adirondacks) on the Fourth Lake - very peaceful but lots to do!

GoTravel

I wonder where Mom decided to take her family?

BetsyG

Ditto for St. John, although we have only been in June when it is cheaper.

Dreamer2

Well, the original kids are now 12, 9, and 4 - and who knows if "Mom" ever returned to this site! Wonder where they went, and if it fulfilled their objectives.

Hey, Jonathan, glad you enjoyed your family vaca to Florida.

Pumpy

The one's where I leave the wife and kids at home.