Because You're Smarter Than Me
We need a vacation. I mean, I need a vacation. At this point, EVERYBODY needs one, am I right?
Let's all dream of vacations together, shall we? Seriously, I need some ideas, oh wise people who live in my computer.
I've spent the past several weeks trying to figure out a great place to take a vacation this summer. I'm thinking something short, just four days or so, but there are some criteria that are needed. I can't seem to get past them. Maybe you will have an idea that is alluding me?
The first requirement that is making my brain hurt is that it has to be cheap. Buh-bye Disney World! It was nice knowing you! Maybe we'll be back in a few more years!
The next requirement is the one that is really getting me, though. It's the one where this is still totally true. Alexis STILL does not like the ocean or the beach or any of it. She's completely miserable within minutes of setting foot near an ocean. If she's miserable, it's not really a vacation.
So. Cheap. Not the beach. A good place to be in June or July.
Any ideas?
(Thank you muchly in advance!)
Thursday, March 13, 2014
Reader Comments (20)
My vacation this year actually fits your criteria. We're renting a private house just outside of Ohiopyle for the week. It's not too expensive and only an hour and a half away - enough to feel like we're "away" without the tedium of hours of travel. We plan on doing lots of biking and hiking, and maybe a bit of swimming in the public pool there or Blue Hole. I know those activities would be up your alley, but there is the matter of the Tiny Human, so I'm not sure what activities you're looking at. The house is actually very nice and has some luxuries, like a hot tub (!!!) that make it feel a little more decadent. With access to a kitchen, we plan on making most of our meals and thus saving a lot of money there. We currently don't have access to outdoor grill space, so the mere thought of having a grill to use is exciting to us! Hope this spurs some good ideas...
Smoky Mountains - there are a ton of rentals, so they're cheap, the weather is awesome, and there is a lot to do. We go nearly every year.
I was going to suggest Cedar Point in Sandusky, OH but that's not exactly cheap- just more affordable than Disney, and more roller coasters, if that's your thing.
This one depends on how nerdy Alexis is about history, but my grandparents took us to Williamsburg, VA when I was her age and I loved it. There's a lot to do in colonial Williamsburg itself, and we also went to Monticello, Newport News, and Busch Gardens.
I agree with Lauren. Colonial Williamsburg and Busch Gardens is a great vacation, I did that at Alexis' age...and LOVED it. We've talked about doing this ourselves mostly b/c we'd have free room & board at my BFF's house.
Also, there's the cabin in Gatlinburg idea I'm thinking about for me & my fam.
Beyond that I'm useless. I'm wishing for cheap vacay ideas myself. Not having much luck w/ a family our size.
Vermont? Lots of nature but not ocean. Family friendly. Ben and Jerry's factory tour. (Cabot cheese also has a factory tour.) Lots of cottages for rent and/or resorts.
I was actually going to recommend Williamsburg, as well. We took a family vacation there when I was maybe 12? My sister would have been 10. It was fun, and we hit up Busch Gardens, as well. Took a boat tour of the Chesapeake Bay to see the ships, etc.
Some other ideas:
- Deep Creek, Maryland. Maybe rent a little place and just hang out, do outdoor activities, etc.
- Adirondacks. Same idea as above.
- Niagara Falls. Not sure how much it costs for a hotel there, but if you're only doing a long weekend, doesn't seem it would be too out of reach.
- Washington, DC. Don't know if Alexis is old enough to appreciate some of the stuff there, but a good number of the museums are free, lots to see, great places to eat, etc. Only downside is that it's HOT there in the summer and you're growing a human, so...
- A lot of people I know vacation in northern Michigan. I don't know much about it, but supposedly it's amazing. Maybe something to look into?
I think I'm spent :)
Come HERE!!!
Or, around here, rather. The mountains are really nice in the summer. Shenandoah is perfect for doing nothing, turning Alexis semi-loose in nature and keeping it ridiculously cheap.
Williamsburg and Busch Gardens sound like a good long weekend, something I've been meaning to make happen for years. FYI, there is a ... I think ... 50% of Groupon out right now for Busch Gardens tickets. Bonus would be being close enough to Virginia Beach that you could pop over for the day if Alexis suddenly developes a love of the ocean.
The Smokey Mountains are a top favorite for us (though I doubt you want to keep it as cheap as we do - running water and indoor showers are probably a must ;-). Summer weather there doesn't get too bad, there are five million and one attractions to check out and then you can drive out of town to your cabin and be in the middle of nature. Definitely a top recommendation.
Jellystone Mill Run
I agree with Colonial Williamsburg. We took Maren when she was 6. We had read all the Felicity books (I know how you love AG;) and she had an old time dress made. It was a lot of fun for her and us. Jamestown is close by and a LOT of fun as well. A lot of hands on stuff that oozes fun and education.
I was also going to recommend Cedar Point.
How about Hershey? They have an amusement park and a chocolate Museum. I'm staying at the White Rose Motel in 2 weeks & it is really affordable. Mmmmmmm...chocolate.
Gatlinburg. You guys would love it.
Years ago, we rented a cabin/house in the WV mountains near Berkeley Springs. There's a resort near there called "The Woods", and we had access to their pool and other facilities. Lots of hiking, biking, frog hunting, etc.
Hershey is great. Cook Forest is wonderful, too. My family has cabins and I've taken weekend trips there my whole life. You can rent a cabins; smooth & shallow canoe/innertubing on the river; horse rides; there were some waterslide/gocart/bumperboat parks; hiking through the forest is cool (temperature) and beautiful; there's a "destination" called the Farmer's Inn that I grew up going to and took my babies for the first time last year - part restaurant/petting zoo/real zoo/driving range - and it's way better than when I was a kid. I know some of those are not so pregnant-friendly, but you take the lumps with the good stuff.
We spent a week at a beautiful house in West Virginia (Hedgeville?). It was cabin-style, but really nice (with air conditioning, a MUST for us). Full kitchen to make use of, but a short drive to a little town. On a lake for swimming, hiking around, fishing available, etc.
It was a QUIET vacation. So, it also depends what your looking for in that regard. We did pretty much nothing but cook, hike, swim, and read.
Knoebel's Grove is about 4 hours east(ish) of here, and you can rent a cabin there. The amusement park has free parking, free admission, and you only pay for the rides you want. Rides are anywhere from 50 cents-$2.00, or you can get a daily handstamp for $25(i think).
Not to mention the funnel cake, birch beer, and old timey wood carver, blacksmith, and other fun shoppes. :) We go every year, we just don't camp.
Hershey, pa
Come North....check out Cook Forest, near Clarion, PA.
http://www.knoebels.com/
Awesome farmers markets in the area, Amish store near there that I LOVE!!
I second renting a cabin near Berkeley Springs. There's a great area about 10 miles away in Great Cacapon right on the Cacapon River, where we've rented a house. You can walk right to the river and tube down it for hours of fun! Berkeley Springs is also a great little town with an old-fashioned movie theater and the whole nine yards.