Summer vacations

[BABiscuit]

So, my dumb wife has it in her dumb head that we need to go on a summer vacation somewhere with a beach. So far I have managed to limit vacations to midwest locales. She seems to think we should go to Florida. She doesn't read HROT so she has no idea the kinds of people that inhabit the state.

But, if I had to go to Florida for a family vacation, where would I want to go? Kids are 7/5/3 so all activities would be geared to them, which means fine dining and bars do not matter. Thinking it would be nice to find a location that Allegiant flies direct t0 from Des Moines.

Any alternate destinations I should consider so I can avoid Florida?

 

[Herkmeister]

Well, here's an idea.

One of the top beaches in America is on Lake Michigan at Grand Haven, MI. In lieu of flying you could drive through the Wisconsin Dells. Spend a night water parking and all that. Then a short drive to Milwaukee where you could board the ferry and boat to Muskegon, MI. Then......... you could find a bunch of stuff in Grand Haven and Grand Rapids. But the beach at Grand Haven is just unreal.

You might see Tom Izzo too. He has a summer home in Grand Haven.

 

[QChawks]

So, my dumb wife has it in her dumb head that we need to go on a summer vacation somewhere with a beach. So far I have managed to limit vacations to midwest locales. She seems to think we should go to Florida. She doesn't read HROT so she has no idea the kinds of people that inhabit the state.

But, if I had to go to Florida for a family vacation, where would I want to go? Kids are 7/5/3 so all activities would be geared to them, which means fine dining and bars do not matter. Thinking it would be nice to find a location that Allegiant flies direct t0 from Des Moines.

Any alternate destinations I should consider so I can avoid Florida?

Alligent flies direct to Tampa, or at least they do from MLI. They have nice beaches. Plus it would be a lot cheaper than say Orlando.

A few weeks ago I saw round trip flights for $150 per person.

 

[LuteHawk]

If your wife has given you three children, then it is time
for you to give her a thank-you vacation on the beach of
her choice. Your children are too young for a full-assault
on Disney World. So go to the Gulf side of Florida and
visit Tampa. Your children might enjoy the animals at
Busch Gardens in Tampa.

 

[naturalmwa]

If your wife has given you three children, then it is time
for you to give her a thank-you vacation on the beach of
her choice. Your children are too young for a full-assault
on Disney World. So go to the Gulf side of Florida and
visit Tampa. Your children might enjoy the animals at
Busch Gardens in Tampa.

This is perfect. Offer to stay home with the kids and give your wife a weekend pass. Hire a Korean nanny and you could have one too.

 

[joelbc1]

Just remember that Florida in the summer is hot and HUMID as hell. Critters the size of beach balls.....enjoy!!

 

[PCBHAWK]

Florida's best kept secret for families is Navarre Beach. Its between Pensacola and Destin. Very laid back and not a lot of people.

I would go in October. The Gulf is still warm and the temps are in the upper 70's.

 

[BABiscuit]

Also, wife's a teacher so I have to go in summer. Leaning toward late June right now.

 

[MitchL]

Just remember that Florida in the summer is hot and HUMID as hell. Critters the size of beach balls.....enjoy!!

This is what I was going to say. Stay away from Florida between June thru late September.

I know it's not as glamorous, but I agree the Great Lakes or Alaska in summer are pretty nice.

If small children need to go... take them out of school and go in November or April.

But hey... just keep the wife happy.

 

[ping72]

Does Southwest still have cheap flights from DM to Puerto Rico?

 

[jamesvanderwulf]

Have you ever stuck your toe in Lake Superior in July? You'll get brain freeze.

 

[MitchL]

Have you ever stuck your toe in Lake Superior in July? You'll get brain freeze.

Good point!

 

[Hawk_4shur]

Forget Florida, and forget flying. Go to the Lake of the Ozarks. Stay somewhere with a pool. Take the money you would have spent on airfare and rent a boat for a couple of days. Everything is reasonably priced and everyone is a midwesterner.

 

[joelbc1]

Forget Florida, and forget flying. Go to the Lake of the Ozarks. Stay somewhere with a pool. Take the money you would have spent on airfare and rent a boat for a couple of days. Everything is reasonably priced and everyone is a midwesterner.

And this is necessarily a good thing?

 

[Hawk_4shur]

And this is necessarily a good thing?

 

[HawktimusPrime]

So, my dumb wife has it in her dumb head that we need to go on a summer vacation somewhere with a beach. So far I have managed to limit vacations to midwest locales. She seems to think we should go to Florida. She doesn't read HROT so she has no idea the kinds of people that inhabit the state.

But, if I had to go to Florida for a family vacation, where would I want to go? Kids are 7/5/3 so all activities would be geared to them, which means fine dining and bars do not matter. Thinking it would be nice to find a location that Allegiant flies direct t0 from Des Moines.

Any alternate destinations I should consider so I can avoid Florida?

Disney World.

 

[Wendy79]

Delaware. Rehoboth Beach is fun.

 

[The Tradition]

Okay, if you really want some good Florida advice, with kids that age, stay in Tampa and hit the beaches with a day trip to Legoland. The zoo parts of Busch Gardens is cool for that age, too. As is the Busch water park.

You're welcome.

http://www.legoland.com/florida/

 

[HawktimusPrime]

Hotel idea, great pool.

 

[The Tradition]

F&#% the rat. There's so much more to do in Florida than WDW.

 

[HawktimusPrime]

F&#% the rat. There's so much more to do in Florida than WDW.

I'll take it to Minnie, but how do I do that without going there?

 

[The Tradition]

If your wife makes you do the Florida beach thing, make her go on a fishing charter. You and the kids will love it.

 

[fredjr82]

Delaware

 

[N_fuego]

San Diego

 

[The Tradition]

San Diego

Too many Mexicans.

 

[N_fuego]

Too many Mexicans.

You don't have anyone Florida?

 

[BABiscuit]

Okay, if you really want some good Florida advice, with kids that age, stay in Tampa and hit the beaches with a day trip to Legoland. The zoo parts of Busch Gardens is cool for that age, too. As is the Busch water park.

You're welcome.

http://www.legoland.com/florida/

Thanks. What areas of Tampa would I want to stay? Hotel or condo/airbnb?

 

[The Tradition]

You don't have anyone Florida?

Mostly Cubans and Puerto Ricans here. Unless you're up in the panhandle.

 

[The Tradition]

Thanks. What areas of Tampa would I want to stay? Hotel or condo/airbnb?

That really depends on your budget and length of stay. If it's only a long weekend, just do hotels. If you're staying for a week or more, look to the condo/beachfront rental market.

 

[fredjr82]

Screw Tampa. White trash. Stay on the Gulf side but go farther south. Fly into Punta Gorda/Ft Myers. You have Naples just a short drive from there too. Fly direct from Des Moines. Good kids Museums, small amusement park, and you said something about beaches........

 

[The Tradition]

Good kids Museums,

Yeah, kids love museums...




Good grief, you're in the land of amusements and you're talking about freaking museums.

 

[fredjr82]

Yeah, kids love museums...




Good grief, you're in the land of amusements and you're talking about freaking museums.

Sorry I called your hometown white trash. It could be worse, you could be from Clearwater.

The museum is more of a science center with a lot of little kids activities. His youngest is 3. Young kids love those type of places as would his 5 year old. We have a LegoLand in Schaumburg, IL so that being your big clincher isn't real impressive.

 

[HawkAttackDial911]

Delaware. Rehoboth Beach is fun.

Too many people at most of the Delaware beaches. Parking is a nightmare at Rehoboth. Natural may like it as it has a vibrant LGBT community.

 

[The Tradition]

Sorry I called your hometown white trash. It could be worse, you could be from Clearwater.

The museum is more of a science center with a lot of little kids activities. His youngest is 3. Young kids love those type of places as would his 5 year old. We have a LegoLand in Schaumburg, IL so that being your big clincher isn't real impressive.

I'm on the other side of the state, so your insults are a big fat FAIL.

Anyway, does Shaumburg, IL have a children's museum? Yeah, I thought they did.

That's something you do when the weather sucks and you can't go to the beach.

 

[UNIowaHawk]

I'm on the other side of the state, so your insults are a big fat FAIL.

Anyway, does Shaumburg, IL have a children's museum? Yeah, I thought they did.

That's something you do when the weather sucks and you can't go to the beach.

Florida in the summer is miserable. I lived in Tampa for 5 years. If you go in the late summer the gulf is too warm and isn't refreshing to jump into.

 

[Wendy79]

Too many people at most of the Delaware beaches. Parking is a nightmare at Rehoboth. Natural may like it as it has a vibrant LGBT community.

I have free lodging a few blocks from the beach, so I've never worried about the parking. Crowds also weren't bad around Memorial Day.

 

[fredjr82]

I'm on the other side of the state, so your insults are a big fat FAIL.

White trash picks up and moves all the time. Good for you.

That's something you do when the weather sucks and you can't go to the beach.

Like Legoland? That was your big sell for Tampon, FL

You think the 3 and 5 year old will not get bored with the beach after a day or two? They're going to need other kid friendly things to do. A science museum with a built in aquarium would be perfect for them.

I'll let it go know because we're hijacking the thread. I'd chose Ft Myers over Tampa Bay any day of the week.

 

[Big Hawk D-Port]

So, my dumb wife has it in her dumb head that we need to go on a summer vacation somewhere with a beach. So far I have managed to limit vacations to midwest locales. She seems to think we should go to Florida. She doesn't read HROT so she has no idea the kinds of people that inhabit the state.

But, if I had to go to Florida for a family vacation, where would I want to go? Kids are 7/5/3 so all activities would be geared to them, which means fine dining and bars do not matter. Thinking it would be nice to find a location that Allegiant flies direct t0 from Des Moines.

Any alternate destinations I should consider so I can avoid Florida?

Anywhere from Destin to Gulf Shores Alabama. Rent a house on the beach through VRBO for the week. You might even drive it if you were ambitious or budget minded. Great beaches, awesome weather.

 

[The Tradition]

Florida in the summer is miserable. I lived in Tampa for 5 years.

Not when you're on the beach. The hotter the better.

 

[The Tradition]

White trash picks up and moves all the time. Good for you.



Like Legoland? That was your big sell for Tampon, FL

You think the 3 and 5 year old will not get bored with the beach after a day or two? They're going to need other kid friendly things to do. A science museum with a built in aquarium would be perfect for them.

I'll let it go know because we're hijacking the thread. I'd chose Ft Myers over Tampa Bay any day of the week.

Nothing against Fort Meyers. Sanibel/Captiva is awesome, too. But you're getting farther away from the wallet-vacuuming attractions.