I am looking for suggestions for a fun vacation for my 10 and 12year old and myself. We will be traveling at the end of April. We are looking for something more fun than educational.

go camping

Some ideas:
Washington, DC for the Smithsonian's Air and Space Museum

NYC to see Mamma Mia or The Lion King

Cooperstown, NY for the Baseball Hall of Fame

Canton, OH for the Football Hall of Fame and Cleveland for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

San Diego for the zoo and maybe rent a place on a beach for a week

a dude ranch in Arizona

a Carribbean cruise

My kids are somewhat younger than yours but these are the family vacations we have enjoyed so far:

1. Toronto/Niagara Falls - the value of the Canadian dollar makes this trip not only fun but a bargain. Highlights included - Red Sox/Blue jays game. Royal Ontario Museum and Canada's Wonderland (Paramount amusement park but not likely to be open in April). Lots of other stuff available too.

2. Williamsburg/Busch Gardens - in addition to Colonial Williamsburg, jamestown settlement was great. Busch Gardens is a great amusement park too.

3. Hershey Pennsylvania - kids loved it but it wasn't my favorite. Near Amish country and Gettysburg too.

4. New York City - too much to list but great place for kids to experience.

Maybe Texas - San Antonio (Sea World, Waterpark, the Alamo, etc.) and/or S. Padre Island. We are going to S. Padre in April. Oceanfront condo complex with tennis courts, pools, hot tubs, etc. Prices are very reasonable because they consider the Monday after Easter to be off-season. I know going to the beach is not exactly original thinking but if you are from a cold climate like us, it's our idea of spring vacation fun!

The best family vacations I remember as a kid were:

1. Washington, D.C.: yes, I guess this falls under educational, but I loved it and still remember so many highlights. I was 12 and it made a huge impact on me. There is so much hands-on history to see, and the Smithsonian itself will make them googly-eyed.

2. Yosemite National Park. Stay in a cabin or camp. Night hikes under the million stars, the waterfalls, rock climbing, horse-back riding, bicycling, river rafting, campfires. Every kid should spend a vacation here.

3. Glacier National Park in July. I was amazed at the scenery. Went fishing for the first time in my life and caught and ate the fish. We stayed in a camper and spent a few nights above the snow line. Truly amazing.

Of course, there's always San Diego and the beach, Sea World and the Zoo. Or Hawaii. Can't go wrong there no matter what the ages of your kids. Have fun!

Definitely ATLANTIS resort. It's in the Bahamas. Atlantis is a world unto it's own. Kids will love it because it's all about water. Slides, tunnels with fish overhead, huge aquariums (if you can call them aquariums...they are HUGE, and extremely well-maintained). Go to Atlantis. You'll love it.

Does it have to be in the US?

Here are some vacations that my kids love besides Disney,

All-inclusives in Mexico or the caribbean, lots of other kids, loads of activites (archery, mini golf, basketball, kids camp, theatre, swimming, banana boats, games), all the food and drinks (virgin pina coladas) they want without paying extra. Kids love them.

I'll second a cruise. Disney's the best for kids (and no, it's actually a beautiful ship and you won't die of Disney overkill) with RCCL a very close second. The kids programs are fantastic and keep the kids happy all day long.

Kingston Plantation in Myrtle beach (great resort with on-site waterpark), plus lots of kid-type activites in the area

or, one of the Pointe Hilton resorts in Phoenix, again, like Atlantis and KP, they have great pools and waterslides, also horseback riding and trips to the Grand Canyon.

I've heard dude ranches are fantastic, but very pricey. I'd love to do one when we have 12,000 to blow on one vacation.

In general I find kids that age have a limited tolerence for cultural and architecturally focused vacations, so it's a safe bet to find a nice, big pool to break it up with.

One more question, girls or boys? It makes a difference.

Allison,
Where do you live?

When I was a kid we used to rent a cabin on a lake for a week every summer in the Sierras. It was great - swimming, fishing, hiking, boating, grilling out, exploring the little towns in the area, checking out other lakes. April would be too cold for the mountains, but you might be able to find a similar atmosphere along the coast maybe along the gulf.

I don't know what your price range is, but last April my son (age 13) and I alone went to Mexico (Riviera Maya, which is an hour south of Cancun) and stayed in an all inclusive. I'm not sure I would suggest all inclusive for everyone, but it was perfect for a single mom and a kid. We stayed at Iberostar Parieso which was absolutely fantastic. Their pool is 1/2 mile long. Perfect for kids. Lots of activities. Check out the Parieso on their website Iberostar.com just to see the pool. Unbelievable. We took day trips also (snorkeling, dolphins, etc). Riviera Maya is family oriented, without the college kids like Cancun. And there are great package deals.

Beaches, Turks and Caico

Hands down! Safe, wonderful beaches,
snorkling right off the beach, great
kid (and adult) waterpark area (small)
and if anyone scuba drives - included
in the package.

My children never forgot this vacation.

I don't know what your budget is or where you live, but I would recommend Kauai, Hawaii. My kids ( 5 and 10) loved the island - swimming, snorkeling, and hiking. It is a "kid-friendly" island. They can't wait to return.