DS is 4 and SD is 7. We are trying to come up with a family vacation idea for this year. We have never taken the kids on vacation. And even DH and I have only been camping together twice.
Anyway, my main ideas are Chattanooga, TN (we live in TN) or a cruise. I don't really want to spend a while lot of money. $2-3000 in a cruise is as high as I'll go. We can spend a week in Chat for $1000 or less.
So my question is what do y'all think of cruising with children this age? Would you pass it up for something else like Chattanooga?
Re: vacation ideas
I feel like there are a lot of things between Chattanooga or a cruise...what about going down to the Destin FL area, Myrtle Beach, western NC (asheville).... Unless you really love cruising, then I would do that, since Chattanooga sounds like it is pretty close to home, could you do that for a weekend sometime instead of making it a weeklong family vacation? (or maybe there is more to do in Chattanooga than I think?)
We go to the FL/AL gulf coast every summer with DH's family. Destin and Ft Walton are nice and have a lot to do besides the beach, but Navarre is my favorite b/c it's less crowded, less condos and more family-friendly. Perdido, Orange Beach and Gulf Shores in AL are nice and a little cheaper, but I find the FL beaches prettier.
Another fun idea for kids your age is DC, the Smithsonian museums are free and the Natural History, Aerospace, American History and Zoo are great for kids!
I ready am leaning more toward Chattanooga. Maybe that is because I am just IN LOVE with that place and would love to just uproot us and move there right now with a look back. I would accrual like to make that a yearly family tradition, if the while family ends up liking it.
I am not a beach person. I like the mountains. When the kids are a little older, we might make the horrible drive to the beach, but I don't think we dare yet. Yes, I know a cruise would be just as long as a drive, but I thought it might be worth it.
After taking with some coworkers, though, I just don't think I want to travel too far from home while the kids are young.
Especially not if we're also trying to buy a house right now too. Don't want to overload our plate.
I'm sort of curious about the not traveling far from home when the kids are young, aren't they 4 & 7? What is the concern (assuming no medical issues)? IMO taking them different places starting at young ages will make them more open to travel, experiencing new things & seeing new places, but that is just my .02.
My kids are pretty easy (4, 6, and 7) and we just traveled to visit family by car 18 hours away ; ).
I loved cruising before kids, have no desire to do it with kids. I just don't think we would all enjoy it right now.
This past summer we traveled to New Hampshire about a 2 hour drive and spent the week hiking and the boys loved it! It was the best of both worlds, the place we stayed had a pool (I prefer the sun and water) and the kids were worn out from the hiking.
There are so many different eating venues, different types of restaurants (vaudeville cafe is a must experience audience interactive dinner theater appropriate for all ages), and the southern belle (romantic or family lunch and dinner cruises).
The art museum is wonderful. Chicamauga is a really cool civil war battle ground with a neat museum and one of the largest reenactments is held in November with like 10000 soldiers. Then of course you have tons of camping and river rafting experiences available.
The Huffington Post listed Chattanooga as one of the top family destinations in an article I found a few weeks ago. I dare say it was number one, but don't quote me
on that.
Yes, I would love to move there. But unfortunately, my H would never go anywhere. So since I have found a wonderful job here, as long as I can find my perfect secluded home, I can make myself content here (I'm not from here myself).
So I came here for vacation ideas, and ended up going with what I had in my mind already. Thanks for helping me agree with myself. lol