Way off topic - Help with my next vacation...

[davethebirdman]

Don't worry not looking for anyone to rent a room...

This year we have decided not to make the trip across the pond to the US... (Its killing me)

So next year I have been given the job of planning the family holiday. My brother in law and his family are coming with us...

I would like to spend 10 days in Florida around Orlando but would also like to spend a week doing something completely different.

I've been to the US many times in the past and done the adult things like New England in the Fall... Xmas New York trips... This time I'd like it to be more family orintated and somewhere where I'm not going to hear too many English voices.... Guess it needs to be fairly close to Florida... Maybe four hours internal flight time....

Have thought about raunching etc... Need to keep the kids (6,9,13 & 17) happy... Things like killing furry animals probably wouldn't go down too well so no hunting... Water is great they all love water....

Have looked at lodges up in the smoky mountains etc... Once had three weeks in a lovely cottage in New England but got eaten alive by Mossies... So they are an issue...

Any hints etc would be most welcome... Any thing off beat...

Dave

[collecture]

Hey Dave,
I'd say hit both coasts of the USA (I think 4-hours is coast to coast flight time).
For a 4-hour drive or 1-hour flight, have you thought about Atlanta, GA with the World of Coca Cola. I haven't been to Hotlanta (as it is known here) in 20+ years, but there is bound to be some stuff for the kids too. Some Civil War historical stuff has got to be there as well as some antebellum homes from the plantation days if you would like some historical family stuff.
Check out this website - my wife uses it for planning trips to places we've never been.
www.discoverourtown.com
It has a lot of info for tons of towns and you could plan little day trips from the hotel in Atlanta. Maybe a river rafting adventure. The possibilities are endless!
Oh - next time get some bug spray and by the way, we speak english here too. 

[bubba]

Dave.. When are you looking to go on vacation? That makes a big difference.. You are looking for 2 weeks to keep busy? I know you did Disney already, but if you are looking at Florida, Disney around Christmas is incredible. We did it last year. I wouldn't go any other time of year.

Tell us when you are looking to go and that may be a bit more help.

[Creighton]

Dave,
You could fly to San Fran. CA. head north on Hwy. 1 for the redwoods, coast, great seafood. That is almost a trip by itself.

Would be easier to go south to the FL. Keys or beyond. Great snorkling, pirate/shipwreck history and also excellent seafood.

Creighton
 

[Sodak Bob]

The Black Hills of South Dakota - Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Trail rides, Crystal Caves, Custer State Park, Etc.  Of course I'm a little partial, but it can't be beat......

[SIGNGUY]

You also have the north Midwest to consider, Not in the winter though, Mt. Rushmore area in the fall is nice, Then you got the Grand Canyon out near the west coast... just a couple things I thought of...

[loman4ec]

This is just a thought but why go to the USA again? Why not take the family to Asia? Singapore is a fantastic place to go with a ton to see. Also budget travel is cheap here so you can go to Bangkok for a few days and the flight is only about $150 USD or less each, then you can go to Bali Indonesia, or take a ferry from Singapore to Bintan Indonesia which is a tropical paradise and is very inexpensive to go to from Singapore because there is no flight cost. The sea is amazing and the resorts are very attractively priced and are amazing with some of the most amazing pools I have seen. Also If you are coming after the new year Singapore will have the largest casino in Asia with the opening of the new Sands Casino and resort. It will be amazing. Then Singapore is just another 4 hours or so from Australia. All of the budget airlines go there and are very well priced. The best thing about Singapore is that its the safest city in the world. you can go anywhere and never worry about anything. In a city of over 4.5 million people there is an average of 7 killings per year and almost no other violent crime. Compare that to other cities where there is more killing than that per week. And they fog the island to curb dengue so you have no Mossie problems Even though the island is tropical there literally almost no bugs. Plus you have a free tour guide while in Singapore. This is just a thought. If you and your children have never seen Asia you really should. I miss home but I love it here.

[davethebirdman]

Hi Guys

thanks for the suggestions so far....

I'm hoping to go to the US about this time next year...

Tom... You guys speak American, not English....I find that out everytime I phone the US... It takes a few moments for the person on the other end of the phone to aclimatize... Georgia is definately worth looking at.. Coca Cola World is on the to do list... and river rafting is exactly the sort of thing I would want the kids to experience... (Maybe not the youngest)

Ken - We did think about Disney at Xmas and also one of those Disney Cruises that they do... Just want to get away from my brother Englishman for a week or so.... And go somewhere off the foriegn tourist map...

Creighton - Had three great weeks in a RV before the kids came along in San Fransisco and LA when I retire from my current job in six years me and the wife (and perhaps the kids if we can't palm them off) are planning a three month trip and will defo go back there then... The Keys are defo another option this time around.

Bob @ John Like the idea of Mount Rushmore and all that has to offer....

I'm very nostalgic and would like to see the real US... The small towns... I'm not sure if really exisits outside Hollywood anymore but that's what I would like...

Josh, The Far East is somewhere I have always wanted to go too... And if it were just me and my wife I think we would do this option... However, with the kids I have found taking them abroad the best place is THE USA. They have been three times and every day all I get is "when are we going back to Florida??" And, there isn't much opportunity of sneeking a gumball machine or vendo coin changer through customs on the way home if we did go east instead of West...

Two years ago I bought home 50 6oz coke bottles in the luggage... Me and the wife would miss the puzzle that sort of adventure offers if we went anywhere else... Boston last year three gumball machines...

Thanks guys

Dave

[loman4ec]

Dave,

Well if you and your wife ever get time alone this is a great place to visit and I would love to be a tour guide. Singapore is definitely worth seeing. seeing. Its a cool place for the smallest country in the world. And like I said taking a ferry to Bintan indonesia is awesome.

There is truly no old vending machines here. I have looked everywhere. I brought back a restored Victor Vendorama to sell and I can't even give it away.

[mznb1u]

Dave,

I have to put in my two cents for the Great Lakes State--Michigan.  This time of the year the weather is usually nice and there are plenty of lakes and other activities.  In the Detroit area there are plenty of sites.  You can tour an automobile assembly plant at the Ford Rouge Complex (that is if they are still building cars there next year).  Greenfield Village and Henry Ford Museum is a great stop.  The Detroit Institute of Arts is another great museum.  You could even take in a Detroit Tigers baseball game!  Additionally, there are many family friendly resorts in Northern Michigan.  The Traverse City, Charlevoix, Petoskey, Harbor Springs area of the state is amazing and is beautiful this time of the year.

For those who have never seen the Great Lakes, it is truly amazing to see a body of fresh water where you cannot see across to the other side!  You could also go across the border into Canada--perhaps Toronto to add yet another country to the vacation list.  The Toronto Science Center is a great stop for the kids and Toronto is not too far from Niagra Falls.

If not Michigan, Chicago is also a Great Lakes destination and there is a lot to do in Chicago.  Also you should be able to get a non-stop flight from Orlando into the Windy City.  For the kids, Chicago has the shoreline, the Shedd Aquarium, the Museum of Science and Industry, the Field Museum of Natural History, the Art Institue of Chicago and the Navy Pier.  For you and the Mrs. there is plenty of nightlife.  You could also take a trip by automobile up into Wisconsin along Lake Michigan.

I would be happy to forward information if any of this interests you.  As everyone has pointed out, you have a lot of options!

  Tim

PS:  I feel like George Perrot--the Michigan guys will know who I am talking about.  Sadly, I cannot find any internet references to yet another one of my childhood TV memories!