What was your best vacation

Avatar for jbgattuso
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Registered: 04-29-2003
What was your best vacation
13
Fri, 06-15-2007 - 11:28am

Hi all,

Dh and I are trying to think of somewhere to go with the kids in mid July. We have 16 DS 14 DS and 6 DD. We haven't been on a beach trip in so long cause the boys get board :( We usually go skiing during spring break and everyone is happy. I think that DH and I would love to find a spot where the boys can do some fun stuff, and we could actually sit on a beach and relax. DD is still young enough that she would be happy playing in the sand and the water :) Any ideas or favorite spots you all have?

Thank,

Julie

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Avatar for suzyk2118
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Registered: 07-30-1997
Fri, 06-15-2007 - 12:21pm

We always go to Michigan along Lake Michigan for a week every summer - they have gokarting, mini golf, movies, concerts (free outside), bowling, wonderful sunsets, great restaurants, a very reasonable grocery store, plenty of beach/waves/sand. We go to a converted Victorian house now made into half a dozen 'apartments' so you can cook if you want, or walk down about a block and pick up food at a little shop if you'd rather, and don't want to go further to a restaurant.

This past spring break we went on a cruise - and barely saw ds14 the whole time. That was a blast -they have great kid activities for them if the kids want to/are willing, and the ports are wonderful. DS did the teen club while on the boat, but did the ports with us (and some meals)- nice for all. The boat's obviously contained so you know they're on there SOMEwhere and supervised if with the group. We all had a great time. DS wants to do it again next spring break!

Sue

ETA- pricing - Michigan is about $1000-1200 for a week for the 3 of us; the cruise was 5 nights for about $1K/apiece, but honestly a lot of that was the 350 airfare each. Cruises are very reasonable; it's the cost of getting to the boat that takes some finesse.




Edited 6/15/2007 2:18 pm ET by suzyk2118
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Registered: 03-06-2006
Fri, 06-15-2007 - 1:11pm

We are actually pretty big travelers and our best vacation ever was the past spring break. We went to Amsterdam and it was awesome, awesome, awesome! It was my all-time favorite trip. Considering we have traveled (literally) all over the world, that says a lot. Could be it was because the kids are older now, are capable of a long and full day, enjoy museums, visiting historial landmarks ... but whatever it was, it was our best vacation.

I know that doesn't exactly help you an idea for a restful vacation the whole family could enjoy on a relatively short notice, but it does answer your question. :)

 

 

 

Avatar for mjaye2002
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Registered: 03-26-2003
Fri, 06-15-2007 - 1:35pm

Since I'm a Texas girl and we don't do a lot of heavy-duty traveling, we generally stay pretty close to home. One of the best vacations that we ever had in the summer was going over to Ruidoso, NM. Rented a cabin "up in the cool pines" (that comes from their commercial!) and took some day trips to various places around there: White Sands--be sure to bring something to slide down the dunes with!!--and bring lots and lots of water, and some other places a Ghost town, an old, old cemetary, etc. And, there's tons to do there in Ruidoso itself--besides gambling and horse-racing. :) I love Ruidoso!

We go every year to Austin, but we visit relatives there. But, there's always stuff to do in Austin--if you can stand the heat and humidity. :)

There's always Schlitterbaum (sp?) if you can stand the crowds. Sea World in San Antonio (?) is fun too. We've been a couple of times and it was lots of fun for everyone.

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-28-2005
Fri, 06-15-2007 - 1:49pm

Ah - so many - and definately time for another vacation soon!

Hilton Head was great - we rented a condo for the week, which had a pool, but was also on the ocean. DD went out to the beach with her friend that came with us, and dh and I sat on the patio away from the water, but with a view that would kill. Lots of things for kids to do right there in the condo association we rented from (biking, park activities, etc. Walking distance to most places, including mini golf, Pirates Cove amusement Park, grocery store, mall, etc., plus we went to some local attraction spot (light house, boating trip to swim with the dolphins, kiaking, etc. different every day.

Bahamas was really nice - stayed at the Atlantis Resort which gave everyone their choice of what to do at any time. Pretty pricey though and venturing out of the area was a little scarey for us.

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Registered: 02-14-2007
Fri, 06-15-2007 - 2:32pm
Our best vacation ever was probably last year when we went to the Dominican Republic. We stayed at Club Med and the kids had a blast. They have a special teen program, where they can hang out with kids their own age all day and all evening (however long they choose). The counselors are young too, so they relate really well to the teens. They did swimming, sailing, kayaking, beach volleyball, water polo, movies, etc. There is also a trapeze and the kids can learn to swing on the high bar if they want to. My kids absolutely loved it! They got to meet people from different countries, as well as teens from the U.S., and they still keep in touch with at least one of them. My husband and I were free to spend the entire day at the pool or the beach or enjoying any of the other resort activities. There are tons of activities, and all of the meals are included. We needed some convincing at first. We had never gone on a resort vacation like this--and I think our image of Club Med was pretty outdated. This particular one is very family-oriented. They also have a program for younger kids. My kids were 12 and 14 at the time. We'd go back in a heartbeat! I think the rates are lower during the summer than the rest of the year.
Avatar for jbgattuso
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Registered: 04-29-2003
Fri, 06-15-2007 - 5:53pm

Thanks all for the responses. I used to live in MI and went up north all of the time :) Love it up there, but would bet my kids wouldn't ever get in that Lake Michigan water LOL They have been in Texas all there lives. We have done all of the Texas beaching too, and San Antonio too LOVE it. You guys with the Atlantis, Club Med etc...that was what I really wanted to do, but our Youngest doesn't have a passport and they have just made a new rule that to travel back into the U.S. from any central american or Carribian even the Bahamas you have to have a valid Passport :( Silly about the Bahamas, I thought it was under US rule? Gracie our youngest is from Guatemala and we still have to get her final citizenship to get her passport. Just my lazy that hasn't done all of that. I have taken a 5 yr break from all of the adoption paperwork LOL. Oh well, point there is we don't have time before July :( We are thinking of Gulf Shores Alabama, a house on the beach. It looks pretty good and we are thinking that the boys could each take a friend. Anyone know anything about the area?

Thanks again, I daydreamed about all of your suggestions :)

Julie

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Registered: 08-17-2005
Sat, 06-16-2007 - 8:45am

We had a really fun time when we went to Gulf Shores. We stayed at a condo on the beach. My kids were about 8 and 11 at the time. We spent a lot of time just on the beach.

Karin

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Avatar for jbgattuso
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Registered: 04-29-2003
Sat, 06-16-2007 - 10:04am

Karin,

It kind of looks like a "sleepy" place, is that true or is there other stuff to do besides the beach?

Thanks,

Julie

Avatar for weberdns0
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Registered: 08-25-2000
Sat, 06-16-2007 - 10:30am
There is talk about them delaying that rule because they have been unable to get passports out in time.
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Registered: 08-17-2005
Sat, 06-16-2007 - 11:36am

Julie,

I was going to add more in my original post, but I was having trouble remembering what all we did! I know there were the touristy type stuff--go cart tracks, mini golf--we did do that and had fun. There is also the USS Alabama in Mobile that I was on when I was younger, but we didnt' do it with the kids--we ran out of time. There is also a restaurant we went to called Lambert's that was fun. They bring rolls out and throw them at you!

We were pretty laid back when we were there and just kind of hung out--what I like to do on a vacation! It was the first time my kids had been to the "ocean" so they were pretty thrilled with the whole beach thing!

Karin

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