I need help planning our summer vacation.
We will have only $3000 and would like to go on a 10-12 day vacation from July 18th for the next 2 weeks.
We are from Indiana. It will 2 adults, 12 year old, and 5 year old.
We love Disney, but do not want to go there again this year. We do not go camping and I am picky about hotels. We like relaxing, but also like to have things to do. We love the beach and water.
Give me any suggestions that would be able to be done for all four of us, the entire trip, only spending $3000.

From where would you be traveling?

They said Indiana.

What do you like to do? Shopping, relaxing, hiking, scenic drives?

Utahtea

We like shopping, swimming, relaxing, sightseeing, museums,but not too much hiking.
We are drawn to the beach, but would like new ideas.

Cape May NJ? Beach, shopping, restaurants, Victorian home tours, community theater, zoo, and much much more. You might not want to spend the entire 2 weeks there, but while "in the area" you could go to Ocean City's Assiteague Island National seashore, or the Winthur Museum in Delaware (http://www.winterthur.org/ ). All the B&B's in Cap May are NOT high priced and there are also some motels.

Look into Myrtle Beach, SC. Good beach, lots to do, alot for kids.

And historic Charleston, SC is a few hours away by car. You can see Ft. Sumter, WW II aircraft carrier, destroyer and sub and tour Charleston.

Although it will be hot you can get great rates for hotels in Mexico or the Caribbean, esp. when you use Priceline.

Visit San Diego, California. It is a beutiful city with many things to offer for both adults and children. The weather is perfect during that time of the year. I recommend you to stay in Pacific Beach. Nice beach community with a great boardwalk. My favorite hotel there is the Best Western Sea Lodge right on the beach. You have The Zoo, Sea World, the Wild Animal Park and Tijuana Mexico for a nice day trip. Hotels do get expensive during that time of the year, but try using Priceline and see if you can get a good rate on a 4 or 5 star hotel.

Have you been to Yellowstone? Every family should visit that area at least once! My kids are now 16 and 14, and we went when they were younger, and we all loved it!

For July I would suggest New England - you have a bunch of choices with good beaches, shopping snd some cultural things to do - and it should be pleasantly warm but not unbearably hot.

Some options:

Cape Cod
Costal Maine

But with a limited budget, your best option might be to see what destinations offer really inexpensive flights. I'm not sure about your airports/airlines, but this will control if you can fly somewhere or if you'll be limited to a driving vacation.

Come to Gulf Shores, AL! You can drive it in one day and your $3000 will go a lot furhter here than some other places. Beautiful beaches and plenty of stuff for the kids to do. Great seafood, too. Check out www.gulfshores.com.

$3000 isn't a lot for oceanfront accommodations but you could find some places a couple of rows off the beach. I would suggest renting a house at one of Charlestons many beaches. Folly, James Island, or Edisto Island would all be good choices.

July is low season in Florida. Treasure Island is a great place for kids that age, lots to do, reasonable.

You don't mention that you'd like to stay in the US. That's also low season in the Caribbean. Try Jamaica for a real adventure. It's relatively inexpensive.

Also, Mexico is great though airfare can be high. Again, once you get there, everything's cheap.

I would also suggest Mexico (Playa Del Carmen is a little better for families). Beautiful beaches, gorgeous blue water and it can be pretty cheap. Do some research either way but all-inclusive with airfare and food would be your best bet. Your airfare would be the most expensive part of it.