 |
| Source |
So as I mentioned in my 12 goals for 2020, I would like to be able to go on a vacation with Bill and the kids. We are in the beginning processes of thinking about where we want to go. Basically some of our parameters are:
- Within driving distance. We are willing to drive up to 12 hours from Columbus, Ohio.
- Family friendly-- remember we have Bill, myself, and a 13 year old, 10 year old and 8 year old.
- Budget friendly
- Things to do like aquariums, zoos, nature hikes, etc would be great.
- Timeline: Summer (after kids get out of school at the end of May and before they go back in the middle of August). Ideally we would like to go away for a week.
We would love to go back to Indian Beach, North Carolina but not sure we can make the budget work. Some other places we have gone in the past include Gatlinburg (several times), Pittsburgh (several times), Indianapolis, Traverse City Michigan. I would love to maybe go to a state I have never been too--- Minnesota, Georgia, Alabama, New York come to mind. I am just not feeling inspired today.
So I am asking for ideas. If you live in an area that you would recommend or have an area you have visited in the past that you would recommend could you let me know in the comments? Thanks so much in advance!
I‘d like to suggest the Indiana Dunes National Park. It would be well within driving distance (5 hours more or less). The Dunes are beautiful...it would be mostly a beach vacation probably, but there are also plenty of opportunities to hike within the park. I’m not sure what else you could do - I grew up there, but have not been recently, so not sure about newer area attractions. For sure you could park your car at the nearby train station and take a day trip to Chicago. The nearby town is Chesterton, with a number of hotels and restaurants.
ReplyDeleteI am going to give you a little Alabama information. If I were coming from Ohio with kids I would make it a 2 day trip and stop in Huntsville for the night. The space and rocket museum is fantastic for all ages. Gulf Shores and Orange Beach are gulf communities with white sand beaches, and a lot of activities. You can rent standard hotel rooms or almost any type of condo you can imagine. The gulf is emerald green and the water is warm. I would guess the drive is about 12 and a half hours total.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Anne. Halfway between Huntsville and Birmingham where I used to live in Cullman is the Ave Maria G rotto. Look it up. I am mentioning it not as a religious experience, but as something that exists nowhere else. We stayed at Navarre Beach twice in the past, and island where there were no fast food joints or commercial endeavors. We did take food for breakfasts and went back to mainland when we did not want to go to the beach on the gulf. We thought it was a good option to the commercialism all around.
DeleteKansas City is a great place ;) However, of the options you named...I vote Minnesota. Every time I've been there has been great from when I went on girls' weekend with a friend and again with our family (Minneapolis) to 2 years ago when we went to Duluth. Another option to throw at you is Washington, D.C. You might need to get creative with lodging but all the museums on the national mall are free and super interesting! Metro's there for transportation and the downtown area is very walk friendly. Zoo is free as well...on my list to get back there just to visit the zoo. Happy travel planning!
ReplyDeletewe love St Louis,
ReplyDeleteI would highly recommend Hershey, Pa. We have been there, and loved it! There is so much to do...Hershey Park, The Hershey Gardens, an amazing zoo...Take a look online! : )
ReplyDeleteAllegany State Park in New York, between five and six hours for you, is our family’s favorite spot. In season camping is the last week in June until Labor Day, and the cost is slightly higher, but park naturalists have multiple program choices daily. Both sides of the park have beaches on a lake. The Red House side is our preferred side due to paved bike trails.
ReplyDeleteYou can tent or rent cabins. The cabins are basic two or three room spaces with stove, frig, shelves, and six beds.
Two main drawbacks:
1. communal bath house with individual showers stalls and toilets in each camping area
2. No sink or running water in the cabins...... water is available from outside faucets, but you provide your own buckets. Some families carry dishes to bath house to wash in sink. We took dish pans, two buckets, and a stockpot to heat water.
Lots of family friendly activities.
Check out Allegany State Park Red House NY.
Laura
So I googled driving and you are about 11 + a bit of driving to Minneapolis. IN the summer months-Minnesota has it all form renting cabins, to amusement parks, to zoo's, to state parks, to museums, and shopping. Plus, there are tons of local community festivals. If you decide here, as I love travel planning, I would be more than willing to do some research and leg work on sample itineraries. My son who lives in California even raves to his friends about how nice Minnesota is in the summer.
ReplyDeleteI second Anne's suggestion--the Gulf Shores of Alabama, or the Panhandle of Florida. Destin is the major Florida destination in the Panhandle--tons of accomodations, but Miramar and Rosemary Beach are less populated. I would probably get a condo.
ReplyDeleteI would also consider Sandbridge, Virginia, which is a less popular Virginia Beach destination, and a bit less of a drive for you. There's a really cool aquarium nearby, but I can't remember the name.
We were in Destin late last March and loved it. The beaches are beautiful and would love to go back.
DeleteCheryl,
DeleteWe owned a second home on that coast. I've been to A LOT of places in the Caribbean/Central America/Hawaii, and the beaches on the Panhandle rival them all!
Maine! Stay at The KOA Oceanside bar harbor (they have cabins and shuttles to Acadia and Town). The cabins have mini kitchens and grills, on the water for crab catching (kids love this, they all hang out and swim and catch crabs!) and has rental scooter/bike things my kids rode while we relaxed in evenings. Bar harbor is touristy. Acadia is beyond beautiful. We did it two years ago with our kids and they still say it’s the BEST vacation ever (and they went to France last year, have been to tons of states, etc!). If you go I can share our itinerary if you want...Daybydayof at gmail. Second closer suggestion is Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in Michigan. Also gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteHOW TO GET BLANK ATM CARD AND WITHDRAW
ReplyDeleteUNLIMITED CASH
This is the happiest moment of my life having no longer to worry about paying bills as i have been settled for life. A lot has been said about atm hacking and blank card for cash withdrawal but it all seemed like a myth to me until i eventually lost my job few months back and the world seemed to be moving backwards. I went online in search of jobs and means to an end and there i found comments about blankatmdeliveryxpress and how they deliver this card in less than 7 days with no risk involved and a far much lesser price compared to what the card itself can give you, i then made contact and purchase one from them with almost my last dollars I took the risk and in exactly 6 days latter my card and a manual was delivered to my home address here in California and that same evening i used the card was able to take out $5000 for a start its been just 3 weeks and my life has taken a new shape. I simply want to say thank you to this electronic company and help spread their fame abroad. If you ever are in need of this card contact them via email :blankatmdeliveryxpress@gmail.com.
Don't mail them if you not really ready for this card is gonna cost you money to buy the card note that,they offer card to firms, orphans,individual and business personnels mail them immediately .
Hi everyone, I saw comments from people who had already got their loan from
ReplyDeleteAnderson Loan Finance. Honestly I thought it was a scam, and then I decided
to make a request based on their recommendations. A few days ago, I
confirmed in my personal bank account amounting to 12,000 $ , which I
requested for business. This is really good news and I am so happy that I
advise all those who need a real loan and who are sure to reimburse to
apply through their email (text or call) +1 315-329-6320 There are sincere
loan lenders!
They are able to lend you a loan.
Contact Mr Anderson
E-mail: andersonraymondloanfinance@gmail.com
Telephone: +1 315-329-6320
Visit the office address @ (68 Fremont Ave Penrose CO, 81240) .
Hello Guys!! I'm Brenda I live in Ohio,USA. My husband and I are here to testify about how we used Dickson harry BLANK ATM CARD to make money and also have our own business today. Get your blank ATM card today and be among the lucky ones. The blank ATM card is capable of hacking into any ATM machine,anywhere in the world.It has really changed our life for good and now we can say we have enough money for our family and business. The card can withdraw maximum of $5,000 daily. We got it from him last week and now we have withdrawn about $120,000 for free,though it's illegal but it helps a lot and no one ever gets caught or traced.Dickson sent the card through DHL and we got it in three days. We are happy and grateful to Dickson because he changed our story all of a sudden. It also has a technique that makes it
ReplyDeleteimpossible for the CCTV to detect you. The card works in all countries that is the good news email him now on dicksonharryblankatmharckers@gmail.com .....