My girls are 13, 3, and 1. Spring break is coming up in March and I'd love to go somewhere with DH and the girls, but can't figure out what might be fun and relaxing for all.

I thought family camp would be fun, DH nixed it. He does not like camping, had his fill as a kid LOL. We were thinking about Disneyland but may want to wait until the anniversary celebration... so many rides are closed now. And it's not really great for a 1 year old.

We are in northren California but have enough frequent flier miles to go anywhere in the US and enough American Express points to stay at any Hilton for a week (dh travels a LOT) free.

We have enjoyed Las Vegas, New Orleans, Los Angeles, New York, Hawaii in the past but with a larger family with such different ages I'm stumped.

Where have you gone or where would you like to go with your family to relax, eat something good and have fun?

Thanks mamas!

we are going on a family vacation in May/June. We are renting a private ocean front home with it's own private beach on the north end of Oahu. They have everything at the house...kids books/videos/snorkeling stuff/kayaks/boogie boards/surf boards... Something for everyone. We plan on hanging around the house for most of the 10 days but will definitely do some touristy stuff too.

If you want, I can pm you the link to the vacation house...it's beautiful!

Originally posted by LifesaBeach

If you want, I can pm you the link to the vacation house...it's beautiful!
That sounds great! Please do :)

pm'd ya. :)

I would actually like a link for that too!

Oddly, the cheapest most relaxing vacation we went on was the Mayan Riviera. It cost us $1200 total (not a cent more) for the 3 of us (dd was under 2, so she was free.) All the food, transportation, airfare was included. The hotel (The Palladium) was AMAZING! And, lots for kids to do. I would recommend it. (I don't think there is a Hilton though..)

I also liked Hilton Head, SC, but I don't know what the weather is like in March. It was really relaxing, but a little pricier.

Last year we went on a family vacation to Playa del Carmen and stayed at the Gala (everything included).

It was fun and family friendly....but I love Hawaii!!

We always rent a home from the site: vrbo.com.
If you go to Oahu....I would recommend staying in the town of Kailua. It has the most amazing beach for kids ever!!!! We rented a home just a walk down a lane to that beach!!!

Club med Ixtapa is awesome for kids too!
A beach home in north carolina....

my vote is for maui! :thumbsup:
i've been to oahu once & it's pretty yes, but too touristy imo.

if you go there you should look up westy, she recently moved to oahu from maui.

maui rocks ;cool:

i've always stayed @ the Royal Kahana ~ condos..oceanfront, kitchens, laundry in room, etc.. (and delicious mai tais every friday eve..lol FREE) tennis courts, & pool just stpes away from the ocean, - really lovely!!!

dh isn't a sand/beachy type person:rolleyes: but i'll get us all to maui in due time...LOL!

have fun!~!~!~!~!~

Kauilua in Oahu is Not at all touristy....no hotels or motels...

I always thought that about Oahu too!!!

We are off to Maui and Kauai in April
And my signature pic is from that awesome beach I was talking about in Oahu!!:thumbsup:

have fun nanci!!
the last time i went it was for a good amnt. of time & was first backpacking kauai ~ so gorgeous! and then maui ~

I think Hawaii would be fun. We are hoping to take a family trip next spring (a year from now) and we will have young children.

Another suggestion is Vancouver, British Columbia. Not a long way to go and there is so much FUN stuff to do there!

Emily

My 2 pennys

My 1 year old LOVED Disney World. 8 months later he still talks about "mouse" every day and shouts "wee" when we go down our inclined driveway.

Trick with doing it with a 1 year old is going at their pace.

Since so many rides are closed usually they have discounted room rates.

julies

I would love that link too. Please pm me.

Thanks!

Ok, I'm soooo jealous! We can barely afford a few days at a beach in Maryland a year. Sigh, I wish we were better with money. Hawaii? In my dreams.

Just trying to picture going from Maine to Hawaii with 5 children. hmm...

I think Hawaii would be fun in the fall, I'm sure it's too late for Spring Break. Plus I'm a little afraid to fly for 5 hours with a 1 and 3 year old LOL

I think Vegas would be pretty cheap but not much to do with babies.

We have to stay in the US and stay at a Hilton to get the free stuff from the Frequent Flier miles -- I'm looking through their website now. A house just seems so much more practical with 3 kids...
:)

Meet me in Buffalo, NY.

That's where we are going for the kid's March Spring Break this year. Not sure what we'll be doing yet. DH will actually be working while I plan day trips for the kids.

I'm partial to Florida. :)

In South Florida, you have the Keys, the Everglades and lots of various attractions in the tri county area of Dade/Broward/Palm Beach. Those can all be day trips - or you can venture farther down the keys for an overnight trip. You could do a day trip to the west coast and check out Naples or Sanibel Island (I remember lots of bike rentals there - family style bikes where babies/toddlers can ride on the bikes). This time of year, the parks are nice to visit - lots of great parks. Even beach time is in the cards in March in South Florida. The water is so much warmer than Pacific Coast beaches. A few hours north is umm...what's it called in Daytona Beach...NASA place.

Of course, leave it to me to remember the mall stuff. :) There is a pretty big mall near Ft Lauderdale - I want to say it's the shape of an alligator. I remember it has a Rainforrest Cafe and tons of stores - almost a "great" mall kind of thing. There is an IMAX in Ft Lauderdale and a museum - wanna say a Discovery type museum. You can take a tour of the intercoastal and they show all of the fancy-smancy homes that cost 2 zillion dollars (but then you can get that in our own Bay Area too!).

Some other kid friendly places I remember from the area...

Butterfly World - thousand of square feet of butterflies and sub tropic feel to the whole place...I wanna say right near there you can ride horses and I think they have ponies for toddlers.

Lion Country Safari - you drive thru and look at animals. Think there is park/petting zoo. ??? Can't remember about the zoo.

Miami Seaquarium

Parrot Jungle Island

In Boca Raton (where I lived), there was Gumbo Limbo, a nature center near the sea w/ hands on stuff. Also, Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens which is kid friendly.

I know many good restaurants that I miss so much. Banana Boat in Boynton Beach and Cap's Place Island Restaurant (really an island where you park and take a short ferry ride to get to restaurant) stand out in my mind.

There is often various entertainment around south Florida- concerts and stuff.

You can take about a 3 hour boat ride over to the Bahamas for the day. We did this about a month before Elisha was born. We rented a cabin on the boat for a slightly higher ticket so we had a place to rest during the trip to the island. Entertainment on the boat.

I am sure there are rentals around the area where you can just chill out and enjoy the nice weather. Sun, sand and sea.

*sob* I miss Florida!

last summer we went to Paramount Kings Island in Ohio. I thought I would hate it (because I do hate amusement parks) but it was nice. The kids area is nice and shaded and there are oodles of fun rides for the younger kids. And of course there are lots of fun rides for the older kids and dad. Also, it's not too hot that time of year so it's not miserable.

rent a nice beach house in Gulf Shores Alabama? It's purty there.

another vote for disney here lol.. I've been taking the kids since they were a month old lol.

but Im also gonna suggest
Cape Cod Ma & Marthas Vineyard
Virginia Beach/Colonial Williamsburg/Busch Gardens
Toronto Ontario
Hershey Park/Sesame Place
Ft Lauderdale Boardwalk sand/sun/fun!