We go up to Wisconsin Dells (a water park haven) frequently for our little family outings. I need to start finding other alternatives. I love going into Chicago. That seems to be a once every 2 year event forfor us for some reason. So, that means we should plan on this summer again... I want to go to our state capital for a few days. Perhaps next month .
Jenlynn, do you know where Green Lake, Wi is? We use to go up there to the American Baptist Conference Grounds. That was always a fun time! As far as Chicago, you can keep it! I'm not a big city fan!
only problem I have with water parks is it costs more than a hundred dollars to get your familiy in the door, then what do you use for food drinks etc? We have a Manteca water park that has camping too, but same thing, it costs so much to get there these days too!
The exact center of the US is close to the town of Lebanon Kansas. Don't ask me how I know stuff like that. I am just weird.
We have family reunions every other year on my side of the family. Right after we made plans to go back east this summer, we got a letter from my cousins who are setting it up this time. It's going to be during the time we're gone! We'll be back east and the reunion will be in California! I love family reunions, so I'm going to miss seeing everyone! Plus, I've wanted to take our children to California, since I grew up there! But it won't work this time. This is my mom's family---her brothers and sisters and my cousins and our kids. My mom has 11 brothers and sisters, and she's 3rd from the youngest and is 73 years old. So they're all getting up there! Actually there are only 5 of them left. My mom and her two little brothers, and another older brother and sister. It's sad to see less each time we meet! But these reunions have really drawn the cousins together! Course between my mom and dad, I don't even know all my cousins! I think I have 63! I hope your family reunion goes well TMom! We ALWAYS played a big softball game sometime during the family reunion! Last reunion we didn't do that cuz we met in a place where there wasn't room, but we all missed it! We also make 8x10's of old pictures and hang them up for all to see. Old pictures from when the brothers and sisters were little on up through them getting married, then the cousins when we were all little, etc. It's like a little family museum that is really cool! Maybe you can do something like that?
I have never been to Green Lake, but I do know where it is. See, I grew up in Chicago, so going into the City every few years is fun. I love all the cultural events and museums and the activity. I also LOVE coming home to peace and quite as well. We usually stay at a place on Michigan Avenue near the infamous Oak Street Beach and Water Tower Place. Go over to Navy Pier and the other Lake Front Museums. It is lots of fun.
Ummmm, there is more than one place to go on vacation? lol: jk) My DH and I did the hotel thing once. We went for the weekend and played hooky from work on a Mon. So we could enjoy a romactic weeekend. We stayed at an Ebassy Suites. It was really fun. That was years ago. A lot of these ideas sound like a lot of fun. Beaches are great, state parks are really nice, camping is fun. Good luck with your decision.
Jenlynn, we always went to Wisconsin Dells every year for the girls birthday when we lived up there, will do it again now we are moving back in that neck of woods. It does cost alot to get in, but one thing I like about it is you can bring your own food and drinks that helps alot.
Yep! It's a tiny town, but there is a monument saying it's the middle of the US. Our VBS a couple of years ago was a Road Trip theme and one of the days was Lebanon, Kansas. Prairie, are you close to Lebanon? We usually vacation at the beach. We can rent a condo for just a little more than a hotel room (plus we'd need 2 rooms for anything over a couple of days). Because there is a kitchen, we cook most of our own meals. The beach is our entertainment, so we don't spend a lot on things to do. We have done local vacations, too. Every once in a while we'll stay in a hotel with a pool jsut so we have a night away form home and the kids can swim.
Marylyn's husband's family own a cabin they rent out in Bar Harbor, Maine. That's where Acadia National Park is located. I've never been to their cabin, but I do love Acadia!
Oh Jackie, we love Acadia National Park. My dh and I would go up there in Oct. to enjoy the leaves and then the park. We even went whale watching one time. We love Bar Harbor, Maine. My in laws laughed at us when they heard we were going to drive up to see the leaves. They sure are beautiful that time of year. It's been a few years since we've been there, but would like to go again.
We went whale wataching. That was the time that Carl learned he and boats don't get along, lol! The weather wasn't the best, but my kids are REAL troopers. We hiked up to Bubble Rock, and went with a Naturalist looking at tidal pools. I'd love to go in the fall, but we're tied down to the public school schedule, since Carl is a teacher. We actually camped near Bass Harbor, on the other side of the island. The day that was REALLY rainy, we found their public library. My kids were quite content to spend a few hours there! It was newly renovated, using a lot of funds donated by...was it Stephen King....? And we found a nice bookstore called "A Port in a Storm", I think.... Attended a very nice Baptist church in Bar Harbor!
I don't know if you were referring to me. I know there are way more areas to go and see. The main reasons I go mostly to the Dells or Chicago is because It is really typically me and the boys alone. DH is always working. I want to go to both our State and National Capital this summer. Because of the time away, it will likely be me and the boys by ourselves. Last Summer we drove to Omaha to visit my brother and stayed there a few days. We have been other areas, these are just my quick jaunt vacation areas that I like to go for 2-3 days. For our 2-3 day jaunts, I don't like driving more than 2 hours to get to. That is why we went a few weeks ago. The kids had thier birthdays on the 14th and the 15th and we wanted to mix a few days of family fun (in which DH came with us).
No, it was a joke. Since you are new here you might not know about Disney obsession. That is where we go for vacation several times per year. As we live on the road and have seen much, that to me is our life. When we go to WDW I am in total vacation mode. It's my favorite place in the whole world. When I think of vacation, I think WDW.
I admit to not reading all other posts in the thread (YET!) but, I wanted to share too! Since it looks as though our income tax return will actually be a RETURN, and a decent one at that, thank goodness, we may finally get to plan (for REAL) our long-dreamt-about little weekend family trip to San Antonio to see the Alamo, Sea World, RiverWalk, etc.!! I am SO excited!!
San Antonio is a beautiful town, Apple! My brother lives there. I visited him back when I was single (AND had money, lol!)
Ok, see if I remember everythign I watned to say..> Deena I love the idea of the photos! I will make sur ewe have several science boards too so each group can do up a display and we all can check it out! I love planning things so it is so much fun, if I cna jus tget everyone together in one place I will be pleased, but for the kids I want the old fashioned gunney sack races and three legged races, egg tosses etc, waterballoons.. then if we do CLear Lake I will see if anyone can swim the lake like my dad did back when we were kids! He would swim across the lake to the other side like they had them do for Fire Fighter training! We could have someon with a boat follow them along to be sure they make it safely now that speed boats are out in the lake though.. What else..... oh someone said they went Whale Watching... y ou mean there are whales someplace OTHER than the PAcific? and ALamo WOW How cool to see teh ALAMO! I would love to see that! Sea World in SanDiego?
