Best Family Vacations Spots...

[prayercloth sis]

Where is your favorite family vacation spots?

You can list them all or just one...and we would love to hear about them or where you are going this year....

I guess ours was Destin and Tennessee.....

Don't know if we are getting to go this year or not...

Destin Florida was gorgeous...white sand blue water...and my brother took us out in the Gulf of Mexico on his yacht...we loved it...

we actually saw dolphins following the boats and flipping around in the morning...it was fabulous...

can't wait to go again....

Can't wait to hear some great stories...

Rhonie

[Jason]

Growing up, my family would often travel two hours north to Prescott, Arizona. My step-grandparents had a cabin in the pine forest there.

[Bocchigirl]

We have enjoyed visiting family in Colorado. There's so many beautiful sights to see....Pikes Peak, Red Rocks, the Royal Gourge, etc. I felt it was very family oriented there. So much to do!

[luvmyrottie]

Roaring River State Park near Cassville, Missouri. It's in the southwest corner of the state. They have a trout hatchery there and you can camp and go fishing and hiking. It's beautiful!

Also, North Padre Island in Corpus Christi, TX. Not South Padre, where everyone goes for spring break. But North Padre where they have the National Seashore. It's 30 miles of beach on the Gulf of Mexico. It's just awesome!

Those are my two favorite places.

[wbthornton]

Although we don't live that far away.....our family had never been to Gatlinburg until this spring. We made a return trip a few weeks ago. We might make this a regular spot....especially since we can drive down and take short vacations.

[mindyhere]

I have to second Colorado - staying in the mountains is so much fun, our kids want to go there every year.

We all talk a lot about our Washington D.C. vacation we took last year a lot too - the kids loved that trip. You can see the Capital (if you arrange for a tour pretty far in advance) the White House, Monuments, the Mint (that was sooo neat to see!!), Smithsonian - just a lot of great places to learn about History.

[prayercloth sis]

By the way all of those sound fantastic...if you can...we 'd love to see photos....i still haven't figured out how to post a photo here...after al this time...

Hot Springs Ar is awesome and not far from here as well as Camp Albert's Pike....love it there...we used to go with thechurch group when I was a teen ...it's been 10 years since we have gone...

also if you like amusement parks...Magic Springs...I think is in Little Rock...Ar it has alot of rides but it's in the mountains with a cool breeze and places to sit...and it's not as packed at 6 Flags...we just love it...and they get to ride the rides more because they odn't have to stand in line and th efood isn't as expensive...

Wanting to go to Branson again...but don't know if we will get too...would love to go to Silver Dollar City...I loved it.....it's in the mountains too...cooler weather...

6 Flags in Dallas is ssooooo hooootttt! this time of year....

God Bless and hope you all get to get away...lol
Rhonie

[wbthornton]

We have never been to Branson, but we may take a trip there someday.

[RevZeek]

Rhonie...I'm actually going to Destin for a week in August! I'm so excited! I'm planning on just hanging out on the beach with my guitar and a glass of iced tea just worshipping and writing and praying all week! YAY! :D

I'll let you know!

PS: I think y'all should check out good old (pun intended) Williamsburg, VA.
www.history.org

[mindyhere]

Destin is AWESOME. My hubby and I went there for just a few days a few years ago, but really enjoyed it. The water is beautiful. You'll have an awesome time!

[mindyhere]

We just got back from San Francisco and had a great time!! Our kids really loved the ship tours, the Aquarium of the Bay, and Alcatraz. I've got a slide show of our trip here:

July 2007 Vacation to San Francisco and Eureka CA (http://www.slide.com/r/oy8GvqWd4j-VSQVMQNuvPAOOIDFURpkj?pre vious_view=mscd_embedded_ url&view=original)

[prayercloth sis]

We just got back from San Francisco and had a great time!! Our kids really loved the ship tours, the Aquarium of the Bay, and Alcatraz. I've got a slide show of our trip here:

July 2007 Vacation to San Francisco and Eureka CA (http://www.slide.com/r/oy8GvqWd4j-VSQVMQNuvPAOOIDFURpkj?pre vious_view=mscd_embedded_ url&view=original)




Loved the slide show...looks like you have a wonderful time...never been there Thank you for sharing...i loved it!!!!!!

Rhonie

[prayercloth sis]

Rhonie...I'm actually going to Destin for a week in August! I'm so excited! I'm planning on just hanging out on the beach with my guitar and a glass of iced tea just worshipping and writing and praying all week! YAY! :D

I'll let you know!

PS: I think y'all should check out good old (pun intended) Williamsburg, VA.
www.history.org



I love History...so that sounds great to me...ok Lord I need you help...

enjoy Destin...and write me a song that touches the heart...can't wait to hear what the Lord gives you...

Have a fun and blessed and safe trip...:D

Rhonie

[kiwisongbird]

One of our favourite destinations is Whangamata in the Coromandel in New Zealand... it used to be a sleepy seaside town and still is most of the year, during the summer break - you know, Christmas holidays... it has a huge population... going there any time of year is great - my aunty has a little bach (said "batch") there which is a kiwi (north island only) word for beach house - we love going there :) oh, it's an awesome surf beach :)

[rhjanes]

Also, North Padre Island in Corpus Christi, TX. Not South Padre, where everyone goes for spring break. But North Padre where they have the National Seashore. It's 30 miles of beach on the Gulf of Mexico. It's just awesome!

We go there every year, for about the past 10. stay out on the island. Cook out etc. And speaking of dolphins! Go over to Ingleside and check out the dolphin-connection. He has been befriending the wild dolphins for about 25 years. Knows and understands their family structures. He gets them right up next to his 8 person boat! Where you can hear them "talk", tickle them with a feather, feel their spray. awsome. It's expensive, but it is really neat. These are wild dolphins out in CC bay. There is also a dolphin watch our of Port Aransas.

[prayercloth sis]

Wishing I was on a secluded beach somewhere just enjoying the peace and quiet...


God please help me...

Is there such a place...????


I sooo need a vacation!

Rhonie

[luvmyrottie]

We go there every year, for about the past 10. stay out on the island. Cook out etc. And speaking of dolphins! Go over to Ingleside and check out the dolphin-connection. He has been befriending the wild dolphins for about 25 years. Knows and understands their family structures. He gets them right up next to his 8 person boat! Where you can hear them "talk", tickle them with a feather, feel their spray. awsome. It's expensive, but it is really neat. These are wild dolphins out in CC bay. There is also a dolphin watch our of Port Aransas.
I go over to Port A all the time and go to the beach. You have to take the ferry from Aransas Pass and there are usually dolphins playing in the channel. It's really fun to watch them. I've seen them playing out in the Gulf, but never in Corpus Christi Bay. Of course, I don't go to the beach in CC that much. They have dolphins at the aquarium in CC now. I'm going to take my grandson to see them when he comes down in Sept. Last year we even had a lost whale in the Bay. It was all over our news.

[prayercloth sis]

OK...

I heard Jamaica wasn't that great..anyone been there...

Rhonie

[kiwisongbird]

Cave Lodge, Northern Thailand - you can have a look at it if you Google it - peaceful, wonderful caves, fun kayaking, good food, relaxed atmosphere, in the jungle, fun treks - all sorts of stuff... the guy who owns it is from Aussy and has lived there for about 13 years - he's lovely - we can't wait to go back there... :)

[gracenjoy]

...sorry, prayercloth sis, I couldn't get the quote thing to work, but...actually, Magic Springs is in Hot Springs...as those of you who went to the awesome Third Day concert there exactly one month ago today know...:D

...I looove the beach...so I would recommend Myrtle Beach, SC...we haven't been on a family vacation there...but my husband and I went there on a business trip...and loved it...it's very family-oriented...I'd describe it as "Branson by the ocean"...we went to a really cool Ripley's Believe It Or Not Aquarium...and not too far down the road is a really cool place called Brookgreen Gardens (google it)...it has over 200 sculptures by just about as many different artists...lots of beautiful flowers and trees...and a zoo...we just got to spend about 2 hours there...but you would need at least a whole day there to see it all...and I'm not sure you could even then...but they have multiple day passes...

...but really anywhere by the ocean is wonderful to me...;)

[prayercloth sis]

[QUOTE=gracenjoy;1699472]...sorry, prayercloth sis, I couldn't get the quote thing to work, but...actually, Magic Springs is in Hot Springs...as those of you who went to the awesome Third Day concert there exactly one month ago today know...:D

...I looove the beach...so I would recommend Myrtle Beach, SC...we haven't been on a family vacation there...but my husband and I went there on a business trip...and loved it...it's very family-oriented...I'd describe it as "Branson by the ocean"...we went to a really cool Ripley's Believe It Or Not Aquarium...and not too far down the road is a really cool place called Brookgreen Gardens (google it)...it has over 200 sculptures by just about as many different artists...lots of beautiful flowers and trees...and a zoo...we just got to spend about 2 hours there...but you would need at least a whole day there to see it all...and I'm not sure you could even then...but they have multiple day passes...



I have always wanted to go there...if you can...put some pics up...i would love to see it...

Sorry been to long since i have been to Magic Springs...

God Bless
Rhonie

[gracenjoy]

I have always wanted to go there...if you can...put some pics up...i would love to see it...


...Myrtle Beach or Brookgreen Gardens?...I have a gazillion pictures...it would take me weeks or months to find them...I'm trying to get them organized, though...a little bit at a time...so if I run across them soon...I'll post them...

...and God bless you...

[gracenjoy]

...wow...I think I may have this quote thing figured out...haha...

[Jesuslove]

OK...

I heard Jamaica wasn't that great..anyone been there...

Rhonie

Don't go to Jamaica. I was hounded by drug dealers from the moment I arrived to the moment I left. And it's filthy.

[Jesuslove]

My hometown of Rehoboth Beach, DE is a great vacation destination. It's referred to as "The Nation's Summer Capital" because it's the main beach resort for DC metro area residents.

[hochspeyer]

Jennifer and I really enjoyed tooling around Denmarks Baltic Islands- we stayed in a farmhouse for a week on one of them.

(Of course, that was when we lived in Germany, had money, and only one child ...!)

[EmmoGomer]

Lake Garda - Italy. Absolutely gorgeous. Would LOVE to go back there someday.

[TN3Dmom]

Seaside/Seagrove Beach, FL is my little slice of heaven on earth one week each year. I call it my sanity week. It's about 30 miles east of Destin. The prettiest white sand you have ever seen and the most beautiful emerald green water. It's not "touristy" at all. It's like a small town which happens to be on the most beautiful beach in the world. We love renting bikes and riding from Seagrove to Seaside. Look it up at seasidefl.com. It's great!:D :D :D

[Salome]

Mindy -- loved looking at your slide show. I have 3 boys myself and it reminded me of our family vacays.

Re. Jamaica. My husband and I went there on our honeymoon, 16 years ago, ahem. We stayed at Swept Away in Negril, which is over an hour's drive from the airport if I'm remembering correctly. My husband I will never forget that bus ride. As soon as we got off the plane there was rum punch awaiting. A couple of cups of that stuff + a bus whose airconditioning was broke that day (very hot) + a crazy bus driver = a green face and a nap as soon as we arrived!! HAHAHA!! The drive to our resort definately gave a glimpse of how poor a place it is. Saw quite a few cardboard and whatnot houses on the side of the road. In spite of all this, Jamaica is a beautiful place. I would recommend an all inclusive resort. Which is perfect if you're looking for a vacation on the beach and not into sightseeing. Locals shouldn't be allowed on the beach at an all inclusive so you should be left alone and you don't have to leave the place your entire stay if you wish.

Our family vacations center around amusement parks and museums. We've been to Cedar Point in Sandusky, OH twice and Disney World once -- maybe going again next year. We're roller coaster freaks. Cedar Point is awesome if you love roller coasters. It's worth it to spend the extra money to stay on site. It's maybe a 5 minute walk to get inside the park -- and when you're parked out, you can go sit on the beach and play in the lake. okay, watch your kids play in the lake. ;)

I was very anti-Disney when my husband was planning our trip there almost two years ago. I had no desire to go. He planned it superbly and now I'm looking forward to going back again. The "magic" part -- well, it's true. There's definately that little something extra compared to other amusement parks. Once again, it's worth it to stay on site. They have shuttle buses that take you to any park any time during the day. We'd start at one park in the morning, come back and take a nap (okay, I'd take a nap ;) ) and then go to another park in the evening. We also signed up for the family meal plan which was GREAT!! Usually by the time a vacation is over, I'm so tired of eating out because I'm usually trying to save money by eating cheap. The meal plan at disney gives you two snacks a day, a sandwich, drink, dessert for lunch, and for dinner an appetizer, entree, dessert and drink. ANY appetizer, entree, dessert from ANY of the restaurants in the Disney parks. I never ate so good on a vacation -- well, except for my honeymoon.

We went to Louisville, KY a few years ago. The Six Flaggs there is a smaller amusement park, but fun. The museums were awesome: Louisville Slugger, Frazier and General Patton museums were all very well designed and had lots to see.

[SueQ]

I am originally from Michigan....something special about the lake for me...love Mackinac (pronounced Mack-i-naw) Island....especially the fudge!....Grand Tetons were breath-taking out west....never get enough of the history in Jamestown, Monticello and DC areas....roads of Indiana are wonderful to zoom down in late July when the corn is high against the blue sky....can't beat the weather in San Diego.....haven't come close to exploring all of near-by Chicago....and looking forward to going back to AZ where some special people live....hopefully in 2008.....