Want to take a family summer vacation but cannot decide where! Read details, please.?

Question

Last summer we had a blast at Washington D.C. We live in NE Florida so that plane ride wasn't long. We are originally from Ohio. We have not really been over in central or western U.S. We pretty much have been from Ohio and down LOL. Any ideas where we should go? We were thinking about possibly a national park like yellowstone. Doesn't have to be but we are open to suggestions!

Thanks!

Answer 1

The Grand Canyon.

If you can ever make it out there, you won't regret it! It is so beautiful and you could literally spend days there. Depending on whether you fly into Las Vegas or Phoenix, you can visit either the North or South Rim. I'm sure both are equally impresive, but I've only been to the South Rim. You could make a whole vacation out of it if you were to fly to Phoenix and drive up to the Grand Canyon (about 3-4 hours depending on where in Phoenix you'll be driving from). On the way to the G.C., you'll pass Sedona. I've only seen Sedona from the interstate but from what I hear and pictures I've seen, it's absolutely beautiful.

Also driving from Phoenix you'll take Interstate 17, which is probably the most beautiful stretch of highway I've ever driven on.

Answer 2

Go to San Deigo. i was born in Irvine, and it is an awesome place. from there, you can stay at a hotel, and then go to the WORLD FAMOUS San Deigo zoo and wild animal park. Also, there is a LEGOland amusement park not far from there, depending on where your hotel is. You can also go west towards SeaWorld, and Disneyland is around that area, too. also some hotels in southern california have excellent staff there, and some serve free breakfast each morning. The only problem mght be te long plane ride, but if you were already considering going to yellowstone, you might as well go the extra miles. A lot of the good hotels are in Orange County. On your way to Southern california if you decide to go there, you could make a short stop on you trip there or back, and take your family to the Rocky Mountains.



hope this helps!:)

Answer 3

Black Hills region of South Dakota: Mt. Rushmore, Badlands, Devils Tower, Custer Park, Caves, the list goes on. One of our better family vacations.



The other big National Parks are great as well: Grand Canyon, Zion, Bryce, Arches, Moab, Yellowstone, Teton, Rocky Mountain...several of those can be combined in a week.

Answer 4

the problem with a place like yellowstone is that it is isolated and not much to do once you leave the park--that isolation also leads to more expensive plane tickets and that would add up quick for a family...



you can fly into Denver and visit those national parks in colorado--with denver beinbg a major hub plane tickets would be cheaper..plus there is plenty to do in the area besides the parks



or you can fly into boston or portland, maine and rent a car and see coastal new england--acadia national park is very popular and so is the rest of the maine coast

Answer 5

if you never been to yellowstone. i would recommend it. there is alot to see out there. plus if you are driving all the way out there. you have the rocky mountains to drive through and if you go through s dakota you can see the badlands, mnt rushmoore, crazyhourse, custer state park, and in ne wyoming is devils tower. all great sites to see. ive traveled all around the country, drove most of it. im from wisconsin and been everywhere west besides idaho, washington state and oregon. thats my next trip. i believe its the drive there that is the most interesting, not so much the destination.... the destination can disappoint you. use your imagination and stop at waysides and look at tour guide books most have layin around there..... good luck on your trip.. have fun

Answer 6

Park city Utah is large spot to pass. there's a lot to ascertain and do there you are able to pass trekking, and cycling, you are able to also visit many of the Olympic parks from the 2002 Olympics you are able to also do others issues at the same time with pass horse lower back using and pass swimming. there is also placed in Farmington Utah an leisure Park that is Lagoon they have a large number of rides and video games, or perhaps a water park there they might like. through the way the elements does no longer get to warm in Park city Utah.

Answer 7

If you go to Yellowstone, there are tons of interesting things to see in the park.



Here is a trip planner

http://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/upload/09tripplanner.pdf



Be sure to see the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. It's really impressive.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Canyon_of_the_Yellowstone



The Norris Geyser Basin in the north west section of the park has the most spectacular geysers.

http://www.yellowstone.net/geysers/norrisbasin.htm

http://mms.nps.gov/yell/features/norristour/index.htm



Take a day trip and go to the Grand Teton National Park and visit Jackson Hole.

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Here are some more suggestions:

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San Diego is one of the nicest cities in the country. It's a major tourist destination and they know how to treat visitors right.



Mission and Pacific Beach are your best bet for fun in the sun. Belmont Park has a vintage wooden roller coaster as well as other rides.

http://www.missionbeachonline.com/

http://www.belmontpark.com/



Some must see attractions are the world famous Zoo, Sea World, and Balboa Park. Balboa Park is the largest urban cultural park in the country. You can get a park passport which allows you entry to a dozen museums as well as the zoo.

http://www.balboapark.org/info/passport.php

http://www.sandiegozoo.org/zoo/index.php



La Jolla offers great views, great food, and shopping.

Check out the surfers at historic Windansea Beach. At low tide you can walk out onto the tide pools. Walk along the Cove and check out the caves. Visit the Museum of Contemporary Art. Take a stroll on Prospect St and check out the shops, galleries, and have some authentic Mexican food and Alfonso's. Then head to the Birch Aquarium at The Scripps Institution of Oceanography. It has a spectacular view of the bluffs over the Pacific Ocean.

http://www.dreamlajolla.com/

http://www.mcasd.org/

http://www.alfonsosoflajolla.com/

http://aquarium.ucsd.edu/



North County San Diego is home to the Zoo's Wild Animal Park. There are multi acre enclosures where herds of wild animals roam plus lots of hiking trails.

http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wap/index.html



Check out this site for discount coupons and other info

http://www.sandiego.org/nav/Visitors

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South Lake Tahoe

http://www.bluelaketahoe.com/



The Sunday brunch at Harrah's Forest Buffet is one of the best I've every been to. It's on the top floor and has a beautiful view of the surrounding mountains and lake.

http://www.harrahslaketahoe.com/casinos/harrahs-lake-tahoe/restaurants-dining/forest-buffet-detail.html



The Vikingsholm Home & Castle is an interesting tour.

http://www.vikingsholm.com/tours.html



Visit Ehrman Mansion

http://www.tahoecountry.com/oldtimetahoe/ehrman.html



Hike to Eagle Falls

http://www.tripwiser.com/trip_thing_to_do-Eagle_Falls_Hike_South_Lake_Tahoe_California_USA?itiNodeId=8ad198040d86fd44010d87b2a5d87727&eType=activity&tripEleTabName=details&fromSearch=true



Heavenly has a gondola ride.

http://www.skiheavenly.com/lake-tahoe/lake-tahoe.aspx



Take a riverboat cruise and dinner on the lake

http://www.zephyrcove.com/cruises/index.cfm



Sutter's Mill is day trip down U.S. 50. It's also a nice drive along the American River. It passes through Strawberry CA. which has a lodge that was a stagecoach stop.

http://www.coloma.com/

http://www.strawberrylodge.com/



Virginia City is an interesting day trip. Made famous by the TV show Bonanza, it was the center of the Comstock Lode, the biggest silver strike in history. They have an old steam locomotive mining railroad you can ride and you can tour the actual mines. The city looks like it did in the late 1800's, complete with wooden sidewalks, saloons, gambling halls, and boot hill.

http://www.virginiacity-nv.org/info.aspx

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Utah canyon country is also great. Try going through southern Utah to see Zion, Bryce Canyon and Arches National Parks. Bryce is one of the most fantastic sights in the southwestern U.S.

http://www.nps.gov/brca/

http://www.nps.gov/zion/index.htm



At Bryce Canyon everyone stays at Ruby's Inn.

http://www.rubysinn.com/



Utah Route 12 is one of the most scenic roads in the country. Red Canyon and Big Thunder Road in Dixie National Forest is the inspiration for Disneyland's Big Thunder Mountain (see the picture I took in link below)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:RedRockUtah.jpg

http://scenicbyway12.com/

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Visit Historic Boston



Walk the Freedom Trail in Boston. It takes you everywhere you want to go, including the North End, which has the best Italian food in the world. The gelato is to die for. Other stops include Paul Revere's house, the Old North Church, Faneuil Hall, Old Ironsides (U.S.S. Constitution), and Bunker Hill. The tour of U.S.S. Constitution is really neat. Faneuil Hall is where everyone goes to meet, shop, and hang out. (Lots of street theater and other interesting things.)

http://www.faneuilhallmarketplace.com/

http://www.aviewoncities.com/boston/freedomtrail.htm



The Museum of Fine Arts has a great collection

http://www.mfa.org/



There is a real interesting museum at Harvard. They have a botanical collection reproduced in blown glass. It's pretty amazing. Take a walk around the campus and Harvard Square.

http://www.hmnh.harvard.edu/on_exhibit/the_glass_flowers.html



For seafood go to one of the many Legal Seafood locations.

http://shop.legalseafoods.com/?source=google&page=homepage/pd/1



Boston cream pie and Parker House rolls were created at The Parker House Hotel. Stop by for dinner. BTW you can order dinners rolls to go and they sell slices of the pie in the gift shop.

http://www.omnihotels.com/FindAHotel/BostonParkerHouse.aspx

Answer 8

Whenever I read a question like yours I think of only one place...DUDE RANCH!

They are great for families nd everything is included from food to rooms to swimming, horse back riding, things for kids to do..EVERYTHING.

If you think you're interested check out Rocking Horse dude ranch in upstate New York.