Jackson Hole, WY or Niagra Falls
 

I live in central il and trying to decide where to go this summer. Family of 5, kids are 12,9,and 6. We will drive. We have 10 days to get there and back home. My thinking is that the Jackson Hole area would be better saved for a trip with 2 weeks of time? Thinking of a dude ranch. If we go east the 10 days might be enough. Stop in Hershey, PA, head over to Plymouth and Boston, then on to Niagra Falls before driving home. Any thoughts or suggestions? And yes, I am really pushing my time limit for reservations!!! I usually have it all planned months in advance :( going end of June and budget is 5-8K.

Thanks :)

Jackson would be about 500 miles further (roundtrip) than a trip from somewhere like Bloomington to Hershey to Boston to Niagara Falls and back.

There's be a lot more to see and do on the way to Jackson (places like the Black Hills, Devils Tower, etc., come to mind) so perhaps you are correct about doing the eastbound trip instead.

Why Hershey? If it's for the amusement park I can think of several better ones that are more or less right on the way.

Hi, we have done the whole badlands, devils tower area. It was wonderful!!! My kids love chocolate and amusement parks. I heard Hershey had both. I would like to know your recommendations for amusement parks. Thanks again!

Cedar Point in Sandusky Ohio outranks Hershey Park in my book
http://www.wkyc.com/story/life/famil...rowds/8948813/
My route would be central IL to Sandusky-Sandusky to Niagara Falls. Do you and the kids have passports? The Canadian side is a little better. From Niagara Falls maybe to Fort Ticonderoga or Saratoga. From eastern NY is an easy drive to Boston.
My favorite amusement park in PA is Knobel's near Elysburg.
Note the spelling of Niagara

Thanks for the correction :) I thought it didn't look right. I'll check out your route tomfuller. We do have passports :)

You and your kids will so enjoy Cedar Point! Stay inside the park if you can afford it: https://www.cedarpoint.com/places-to...hotel-breakers If not, there are other accomodations outside the park. The best park ever!! allow 2 days.

Jackson Hole without a doubt. You could even look for some dinosaur finds in Wyoming en route.

Niagara is perfect for that group... Start at Cedar point for a few days then head to Niagara... Stay in canada at a place like Embassy suites... Make sure to do Maid of the Mist, and Cave of the Winds on the US side as well as the Whirlpool JetBoats... On the canada side there is Clifton Hill and the Butterfly Conservatory ... There is also a Marineland and several water parks ... You can also take a ride up to Niagara on the Lake and even Toronto...

You could add Letchworth State Park and the Finger Lakes or just continue on to New England... I would make that a separate trip and fly there to avoid all of that car time but it's your choice... Have fun!

How tall is the 6-year old?

Cedar Point is famous for its 'coasters and is seriously ALL ABOUT THE THRILL RIDES. Just check its website. I want to take the hobbits when they're old enough and we're in Texas with a bevy of amusement park options nearby. The concern is someone feeling left out . . .

I believe the reason BigRuss asked how tall your 6yr old is, is because some of the rides have height restrictions. I believe 48inches. But there is something for everyone, and it is so large you will not be able to do it all. DH and I have gone to CP most every year we have lived in Ohio and while we are early 70's and no longer do the thrill rides, there are rides we still do and we love the show's.
Gary's suggestions on what to do in Niagara Falls are good ones and staying at the Embassy Suites on the Canadian side is also a good suggestion. We've stayed there twice in a Fallsview room and at night when the Falls are lighted it is lovely, don't stay on the American side as there are no good hotels with views. But do drive to Goat Island on the American side and take the Cave of the Winds tour. You can do Maid of the Mist from either the American or Canadian side.

If you are doing Niagara Falls I would add Toronto instead of Boston. Much less driving and more time seeing/doing. (I love Boston - but getting there is adding 2 long days of driving to your trip - when Toronto is not much more than an hour from the Falls.)

cd - The Maid of the mist now will only operate from the US side... Hornblower Tours has taken the Canadian contract and will operate different boats...

gary, really? Will Hornblower still go to the Falls like Maid of the Mist, just have a different name?

Wonderful replies!! I am checking into all these ideas. Thank you so very much!

Cd. No one really knows what they will do... They are supposedly using a catamaran style boat...

Hornblower outbid Maid for the new contract by millions and then told Maid they had to find their own winter docks... They thought Maid would fold, but NY State offered to build all new docks on the US side... So it's Maid on the US side and Hornblower in Canada for the next 30 years...

Thanks gary. That's a surprise.

I booked our trip to Niagara Falls! Stopping in Cedar Point for a few days on the way. Staying at Embassy Suites near the Falls. Plan on being in the Niagara area from July 1st- July 5th. Would a trip up to Toronto be worth while? Stay the night or just a day trip? We could head home after Toronto going west through Canada and into Michigan. What could we do there with the kids? Thanks again :)

4th of July fireworks over the falls - Nice!

You will love Cedar Point! Hope you have good weather! And you will love Embassy Suites! Get a Fallsview room so you can see them lighted at night. While you are in NF if you want a good day trip your kids might like Old Fort Niagara: http://www.oldfortniagara.org/history and then drive into Niagara on the Lake, walk the town a bit and have dinner. The drive from the Falls to Niagara on the Lake had many wineries but probably not something your children would enjoy. Niagara on the Lake also has the Shaw Festival, again probably not something your children would like.

When we are in Toronto we love to just walk the area, it is so diverse, we also took the ferry over to the islands which your kids might enjoy.

You are in Niagara for 2 holidays... Canada Day is July 1st and then July 4th... lots of concerts, fireworks and family stuff...

Toronto is a fun walking city... take them up the CN Tower, ride the ferries, and visit the Queens Quay waterfront area... there is a fun area on Queen St W with shops, bistros and street vendors that is also fun to wander... you could hit a few of these in a day trip or spend an overnight... have fun